The difference between preparing items for relocation and storage

Packing is something that you simply can’t avoid when you’re moving house. Whether you’re relocating all of your belongings, or you’re putting some items in storage, you’ll need to pack everything up and prepare it properly. Of course, there are certain differences between preparing items for relocation and storage. The preparation process isn’t completely different, but there are certain things to keep in mind depending on what you’re packing your things for. In case you’re not sure how to properly get your things ready for relocation or storage units in Florida, we’re here to help. We will tell you some of the key steps you should take to make sure your things stay safe and protected in the moving van and in storage. So, keep reading to find out what you’re supposed to do.

Declutter before preparing items for relocation and storage

Before you start any kind of packing, a good first step is decluttering. By downsizing your belongings, you’ll have less to pack and you’ll reduce your moving expenses. Whether you’re moving or packing for storage, the amount of stuff you have determines the price you’ll be paying.

When you’re working with cross country movers on your relocation, they will charge you by the weight of your boxes. On the other hand, the number of boxes you’re putting in storage affects the size of the storage unit you need. Obviously, the smaller the storage unit, the less you’ll pay. So, this is something you should keep in mind when your packing items for a move and storage.

Preparing items for relocation

Wrap your things to protect them from damages

One of the most important things, when you’re preparing things for relocation and storage, is safety. You don’t want our things to get damaged or ruined inside the truck or inside the storage unit. Therefore you need to work on the protection of your things. A good way to protect your things is by wrapping them. You can use a bubble pack, packing paper, sheets, blankets, and towels for wrapping your things. Furthermore, you can even use newspapers, bubble packs, and packing peanuts to line the boxes and provide ensure the safety of your belongings.

Use high-quality packing supplies and label the boxes

Gathering packing supplies is an important step and there are a few ways of doing it. You can buy high-quality packing supplies from your movers or even get free packing materials. But if you want to properly prepare items for relocation and storage, you should do your best to get supplies that are sturdy and of good quality. By getting good carton boxes or plastic containers, you’re protecting your things from damages. Once you pack up all the boxes, we strongly suggest labeling each box.

Disassemble furniture

Large pieces of furniture are some of the items that are tricky to pack and prepare for relocation and storage. Because furniture can be difficult to pack, carry, and relocate, it’s always best to disassemble what you can. Either follow the instructions and see how you’re supposed to dismantle your furniture or ask your residential movers Florida to do this for you. This step will be very useful once the moving day arrives.

Preparing items for storage

Find out about the prohibited items in storage units

First of all, you need to know that there are some restrictions that come with putting things in storage. Namely, you can’t store just anything inside a unit. There’s a whole list of items that are prohibited in storage. So, before you start preparing items for storage, get to know what you can, and can’t store. On the other hand, when you’re preparing things for a move, you can take whatever you want in your own vehicle. To help you out a bit, we’ll give you a little run-down of the things you can’t store:

• Firearms
• Perishable food
• Anything alive – pets, plants, etc.
• Flammable items and toxic chemicals
• Hazardous materials
• Stolen items
• Vehicles that are uninsured, non-operating, and unregistered

Picking the right storage unit

Another essential step to take when preparing your things for storage and move is picking the right storage unit. This plays an important part in keeping your stored belongings safe while they’re in the storage unit. So, here are a few features you should look for in storage units:

• Climate-controlled storage
• Great security systems
• No signs of mold, rodents, or pests
• Humidity levels below 50%
• Accessibility

Don’t put valuables in storage

Although storage units are a great option for getting some of your belongings out of the way while you’re moving, there are certain items that shouldn’t be put in a unit. Other than the aforementioned forbidden items, it’s also not recommended to store anything too valuable in storage. Why? Because you never know what kind of risks your things could face outside of your home.

So, this is something to consider when you’re thinking of getting storage for your things. When it comes to valuables, it’s better to move them to your new address instead of storing them. As you can tell, preparing things for relocation and storage requires a bit of planning and thinking about the best option for your belongings. 

Protect the things you’re storing

When you finally know you’ve chosen the right storage and you know what you’re storing, it’s time to prepare your things to make sure they stay safe in storage. Here’s what to do to prepare things for storage:

• Clean your things before storing them.
• Wrap the things you’re taking into boxes.
• Label the boxes you’re putting in storage.
• Cover furniture or other bulky items you’re storing.
• Don’t keep your boxes on the ground.

Create inventory lists when preparing items for moving and storage

And lastly, here’s another quick thing to do when preparing items for relocation and storage – create inventory lists! Write separate inventory lists for the things you’re storing and the ones you’re taking into your new home. This will help you notice if there’s anything missing later on or if everything is where you left it.