Set And Forget

When you sign a short-term storage contract, you’re usually just looking for temporary relief until you’re ready to take everything back in a month or two. With long-term storage, you can leave your items in a facility for months or years at a time and not have to worry about them. In fact, most places usually don’t have a limit on how long you can rent a storage unit, so you can keep your items stowed away for as long as you need. If you don’t think you’ll need your belongings in the near future, this is definitely the way to go. Out of sight, out of mind! 

Your Items Are Protected

When you store your items away in a unit, they are always under constant supervision and surveillance. Many storage providers advertise their security measures when trying to attract new customers, so you should know what you’re getting yourself into when you sign a contract. Whether it’s a video surveillance camera system, armed security guards patrolling the premises, or some combination of the two, your items are 100% safe inside a storage unit. When you sign up for long-term storage, your belongings are the number one priority.

They’re Perfect For Home Projects

Decluttering? Renovating? Getting your items out of the way can do wonders during your home projects! You can stow away items that you have no room for but don’t want to throw out, or you can expedite your renovation and protect your items by keeping them out of the way. Regardless of the type of project, having your possessions outside of the house can improve your quality of life during and following the project. Long-term storage is a life-saver in more ways than one!

Sign Up For Long-Term Storage Today

Ready to sign your long-term storage contract? Be sure to do it with Big John’s Moving! Our facility is secure, conveniently located, and has everything you want in a storage facility. Reach out to our team to get started!

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The Convenience

One of the benefits of short-term storage is that you don’t have to commit to a contract that lasts for months or even years. If you need a place to store your possessions for even just a month or two, renting a storage unit can make all the difference. You get to leave your belongings in a secure location that’s guarded by an experienced team, and you can take everything back with you whenever you’re ready. Whether it’s for a move, seasonal cleaning, or something else, you can focus on your project without all the clutter getting in your way. Not to mention, it’ll help you complete your project faster!

The Cost

Renting a storage unit for a couple of months is much easier on the wallet than signing a long-term lease. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option for safe storage, then you should consider pursuing a low commitment agreement. That way, you can do everything you need to do in a timely manner, and you can take everything out when you’re done without worrying about fulfilling a longer contract. The benefits of short-term storage are endless if it suits your situation!

The Flexibility

Like we’ve already mentioned, signing a shorter contract grants you the flexibility that a longer contract doesn’t. If you aren’t sure how long of an agreement you want to commit to, you can keep signing small contracts until you no longer need to store your items. That’s the beauty of signing up for shorter agreements — they’re as low commitment as possible! You don’t have to stress about paying for a unit that you no longer need. 

Learn The Benefits Of Short-Term Storage With Big John’s Moving

The benefits of short-term storage never end — it’s a convenient, flexible, and affordable way to stow your items away until you need them. Looking to sign up? Contact Big John’s Moving today to get started on your low commitment storage agreement!

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Cardboard Boxes

The go-to container when packing things away tends to be cardboard boxes. Many people already have leftover boxes from online purchases, and they are easy to source from neighbors and even grocery stores. Cardboard boxes come in all sizes and can be sealed with strong tape. 

While they are easy to get and usually free, there are some challenges when it comes to using cardboard containers. Cardboard is not as durable as other materials, and it can easily tear, especially if it gets wet. Water not only weakens the material but can also seep through and damage whatever is inside plus can cause mold growth. Perhaps worst of all, cardboard attracts bugs and rodents.

The good news is that most of these problems are concerns in attics, basements, or garages, but are much less of a concern in a climate-controlled environment like a storage facility. Additionally, if you obtain cardboard boxes that are specifically designed for moving, they will generally hold up better then recycled boxes from online orders. These boxes are made from corrugated cardboard, which tends to be sturdier than other cardboard boxes. However, if you are planning on storing your items for the long term, you may want to consider some other container options, as well.

Plastic Containers

Plastic containers come in a variety of sizes and thickness. Some plastic can be soft and flimsy so you want to make sure that the plastic you use for storage is as thick and sturdy as possible. Plastic containers have several advantages. They often come in sets that are easy to stack, giving you the ability to make the best use of your storage space. Plastic containers can also create better air-tight seals than cardboard, making them more capable of keeping out moisture and pests. If the outside of the container gets wet, it won’t affect the items inside.

The issue with plastic containers is that they are usually pricey, especially the better quality ones. If you need several of them, the price can really add up. Still, it may be worth it in order to ensure you won’t need to replace items that might become damaged in the wrong kind of container. You can also use a hybrid of containers within your storage unit. Plastic items like children’s toys can likely withstand life in a cardboard box. Items such as clothing or books need to be better protected inside plastic.

Plastic Crates

Plastic crates go one step above plastic containers. They are bigger and sturdier than regular containers, which means your belongings will fit better inside them–especially large or awkwardly-shaped items–and will be better protected. Keep in mind that crates are heavier than other types of storage boxes and are sometimes quite large, requiring multiple people to move them. If you do go the crate route, make sure you have enough manpower to get your crates from your home to your storage unit.

If you are not sure which storage containers make the most sense for your belongings and for your storage area, contact your self-storage company for help. At Big John’s Moving/Little John’s Storage, we can help you select the most appropriate storage containers and can even help you pack! Using the containers that work best for the items you wish to store will help you have a successful storage experience.

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1. Clean Everything Going Into Storage

You don’t want your items to gather dust in storage, but you shouldn’t put them into storage already dusty, either. You may not notice dust or crumbs or dirty areas on furniture or other items that you see every day, but take a cloth and a vacuum and dust everything off, including inside drawers and nooks and crannies. Couches might need to be vacuumed in between and underneath the cushions, as well as underneath the frame. Other items might just need a good wipe down. However you do it, make sure everything is clean as can be before you pack it up for storage. Once you clean everything, make sure it is all dry and that any upholstered items, fabric items, or leather items are treated with a protective spray to prevent the growth of mold over time.

2. Organize Into Categories

If you have smaller items going into boxes, group them into categories so they are packed together and easier to retrieve or unpack later. All books should stay together, dishes should stay together, vases should be packed together, and so on. The more organized you are during the packing process, the easier it will be when you want to locate something in your storage unit later.

3. Pack in Clear Boxes

As you prepare your items for storage, pack them in clear boxes, bins, and bags so that you can see what is inside each package. This way, you won’t have to start opening everything up to find that one set of items you are looking for. You want to walk into your storage unit and immediately be able to see where everything is. Additionally, make sure everything is sealed in some sort of box or bag. Nothing should be stored loose in the storage unit. Even if the storage facility you use is climate controlled and careful about maintaining a healthy environment for the items stored there, packaged items have a much better chance of remaining in excellent condition for as long as you store them.

4. Keep a List of Inventory

As you pack, write each item down in an organized list so that you know what you already packed and don’t go looking for it later or accidentally leave it out. The inventory list will come in handy later, as well, when you are trying to remember where something is and aren’t sure if you put it into storage or if it is hiding somewhere in your house. Instead of frantically searching or hoping it is actually in storage when you can’t find it, you can consult your inventory list!

5. Be Extra Careful With Appliances

If you are storing appliances, they require a particular method of storage in order to ensure they remain in good working order. Cords should be wrapped carefully. Refrigerator, washing machine, and dishwasher doors should be kept ajar ever so slightly to prevent mildew.

At Big John’s Moving, we can help you pack and prepare your items for storage in our modern, climate-controlled storage facility, Little John’s Private Storage. No matter what kind of items you are looking to store, if you follow these tips, you will ensure a successful storage experience!

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1. Pack Yourself

Many moving companies offer to pack for you, which saves you a lot of time and stress. However, if you are organized and start early, you can tackle the packing on your own and save a nice amount of money. Moving companies usually charge extra for this service that you can definitely do on your own if you plan well (and maybe enlist some help from willing family members). Even if you leave some more difficult items for the movers to pack professionally, the time saved on packing the majority of your belongings like clothes, toys, books, and kitchen items will still lead to a lower overall moving cost. Moving companies often charge by the hour, so tackling the majority of your packing job on your own will definitely help keep the cost down.

2. Use Free Packing Materials

You can certainly purchase packing materials like bubble wrap, packing paper, and packing tape, but you’ll find that you can actually source many packing materials from your own home or for free from elsewhere. Use towels, sheets, and blankets in place of packing paper and bubble wrap. Ask your local grocery store for extra boxes to be used as moving boxes – they almost always have some to give away. Using free or dollar-store packing materials is an easy way to save money on your move.

3. Move During an Off Time

Moving in the summer is usually the most expensive time to move as it is the most popular. If you can be flexible about your moving date, you may be able to save money moving during the winter, which is a slower moving month. Even if you can’t be flexible about the season during which you move, if you move on a weekday, you may get a less expensive rate than moving over the weekend.

4. Have a Garage Sale or Give Donations

While you are packing, set aside items you aren’t going to be bringing with you. Not only will you save on moving boxes, but you will be able to make some quick cash by selling the items that are still in good condition. You can also donate clothing, books, and toys to free up space in the moving truck and help others at the same time.

5. Hire a Moving Company That Offers Both Moving and Storage

Sometimes, you need to store some of your larger items that don’t fit in your new home or that you don’t need right away. If you need to place some items in storage, you will likely get a better deal by using one company for both your moving and your storage than if you use two separate companies.

Big John’s Moving offers both local and long-distance moving as well as has a storage facility should you need to store anything as a result of your move. We will help work with you and your budget to help you save money on your move so your experience will be affordable and low-stress.

The post Five Simple Ways To Save Money On Your Move appeared first on Big John's Moving Inc. NYC.

Make Space for Cleaning and Reorganization 

When you do a deep clean and reorganization of your home, you need as much “stuff” cleared out as possible. You want rooms as empty as you can get them so you can clean in every corner and crevice, and on every spot on the floor. Additionally, in order to truly create a cohesive space with furniture and decor, you need the room empty until you decide how you want it to look and function. Then you can reintroduce some old pieces as well as purchase new ones to achieve the feel and style you want. 

By keeping furniture and other items in a storage facility while spring cleaning, you can look at your space with a fresh perspective and then pick and choose what you want to bring back into your home, keeping everything else safely stored without cluttering your basement or garage until you decide you would like it back.

Give Seasonal Items a Home

Seasonal items often take up a lot of space in your house when they are only used a few days out of the year, not to mention that piling them together in small storage areas can lead to items breaking or getting bent out of shape. Additionally, items that just sit in your home without being used for months at a time collect actual dust (it’s not just an expression!) that can increase the dirt in your home. Instead of letting them take up space you can use in a better, more functional way, store them in a facility where they will be kept and preserved in a clean, climate-controlled environment and where nothing will be crowded on top of each other in ways that can cause damage.

Hold Onto Valuable or Sentimental Items

Sometimes you know for sure that a piece of furniture or a particular artwork piece, or maybe even a large musical instrument, just has no space in your home for the moment or is not being used right now (as in the case of, say, a piano). However, you don’t want to sell it or give it away because you anticipate using it in the future or it has sentimental value to you. While spring cleaning, you can get these items out of your house without actually getting rid of them by keeping them in a storage facility. Then you can enjoy your bright new space free of clutter and large items that do not fit or do not look right while also knowing those items are safely stored for whenever you are ready for them.

Choose the Right Storage Unit for Your Possessions

When you do decide to put items in storage, make sure you choose the best storage facility you can. You want somewhere that is clean, free of pests, and climate controlled so your items are not exposed to mildew or dust. You also want to examine how secure the facility is so that you can feel confident your items are safe. At Big John’s Moving, our storage facility, called Little John’s Storage, is modern, clean, and has several security systems in place so your items remain in the same condition in which you brought them in. Private storage can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your home and gives you the freedom to create the home you want without losing the items you treasure that no longer fit.

The post Why it is Smart to Use a Private Storage Facility While Spring Cleaning appeared first on Big John's Moving Inc. NYC.

DO

1. Store Items in a Climate-Controlled Facility

When you leave your items in storage, they can become susceptible to warping, rotting, and deterioration over time. In a climate-controlled setting, the environment of your storage unit is kept at the right temperature to prevent mold growth, warping, and other damaging conditions. Not every storage facility is climate-controlled, so make sure you do your research before choosing a facility. The storage facility at Big John’s Moving, known as Little John’s Storage, is just one example of a climate-controlled facility that prioritizes the safety of your items.

2. Pack Items Securely For Storage

To truly safely store items in a storage facility, you need to make sure they are packed well. Even in a climate-controlled facility, dust can build up over time, potentially preventing your items from remaining in pristine condition. Wrapping your items such as furniture, musical instruments, and other valuables, in tarp can protect the wood, metal, and other material from dust buildup. Clothing, books, and other soft items should be stored in airtight containers.

3. Store Items Off the Floor to Increase Airflow

Airflow is important in a storage facility in order to prevent dingy smells and mustiness from developing. An effective way to increase airflow is to store your items off the floor. Wooden pallets are excellent for this. They are inexpensive, easily available, and strong enough to withstand the weight of most furniture and other heavy items. Keeping items away from the walls of your unit by even just a few inches is another great way to make sure air continues to flow around them.

4. Label All Your Boxes

You may remember now that the large lumpy item wrapped in tarp is your grandmother’s old armchair while the rectangular container is books and the square box is your daughter’s baby clothing, but you may not remember all of that (and more) a year from now. Considering your items will be kept in storage for a while, you want to make sure everything is clearly labeled so that you can easily find what you are looking for the next time you need it. The last thing you want to do is to start opening everything to see what it all is.

5. Purchase Insurance

Though storage facilities go to great lengths to keep your items safe, insurance adds that extra layer of protection in the very tiny chance something does happen. You are keeping these items in storage instead of donating or selling them for a reason–you want to keep them around. So, in addition to following all the above steps in order to safely store items in a storage facility, it’s never a bad idea to also have insurance on items that have value to you.

DON’T

1. Don’t Store Perishables

While certain canned or non-perishable food may be allowed in your storage unit, perishable food is most definitely not. Aside from going rancid over time, creating smells and growing mold, food can attract pests that can damage your other items. Perishable food is a big no-no in storage facilities.

2. Don’t Store Anything Flammable or Combustible

It goes without saying that dangerous items like propane tanks, lighter fluid, fireworks, and gasoline cannot be safely stored in storage facilities and are not permitted. There are other flammable or combustible items you may not realize are a problem, such as leftover paint from a home improvement project, fertilizer, cooking spray, and car batteries. These items can be a danger not just to your storage unit but to the entire facility.

3. Don’t Store Tires (Most of the Time)

Many storage facilities don’t allow tires because it becomes a problem to dispose of them should their owner decide never to come collect them. Tire fires are also extremely difficult to deal with. Some storage facilities do allow you to store up to four tires–as in, just the amount you need for your car should you, say, switch to snow tires in the winter and need somewhere to store your regular tires for a few months.

4. Don’t Store Plants

Plants are living things. They require sunlight, water, and fresh air. They will not survive in a storage facility and they attract unwanted pests.

5. Don’t Store Pets!

It’s crazy that this needs to be said, but do not store your pet in your storage unit. Not only is it inhumane, but it’s also against the law. Pets belong in your home or, if you are going away and can’t bring them along, then at a neighbor, family member, or at a pet boarding center.

Little John’s Storage at Big John’s Moving makes the safety and security of your items a priority. We have armed guards, 24-hour video security, and trained guard dogs to make sure no one gets near your belongings without permission. We personally escort clients to and from their storage units as an added measure of security. Our units are climate-controlled, well-lit, and clean for optimal storage conditions. And, of course, we will help you with packing and moving your items!

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There are so many emotions attached to moving; you may feel excited, ecstatic, sad, nervous, or, most likely, some combination of emotions, one of which is probably going to be–overwhelm. Moving is a lot of work. You need to be organized. You need to make lists. You need to start tasks early, especially packing. If you wait too long to pack, you’re going to add to your stress level tenfold. There is one surefire way to lessen the stress, however–hire a professional moving company! Read on to learn some of the top benefits of hiring a professional moving company. 

1. They Can Pack For You

A good moving company will have trained professionals to help you pack and organize your possessions to fit safely into boxes in a logical way. Additionally, having someone else pack for you relieves a lot of stress and saves you time to focus on other aspects of your big move.

2. Reliability

When you’re moving, the last thing you need are friends who promised to help, then don’t show up, your rental moving truck breaking down, or someone getting hurt because they didn’t know how to properly lift heavy furniture. Professional movers won’t flake on you, make sure your belongings get to your new place quickly and safely, and know how to properly lift and maneuver furniture and boxes of all shapes, sizes, and weights to avoid injuries, delays, and breakages.

3. Avoid Damage

When moving large and bulky items, you can inadvertently damage not only the item but your home or apartment itself. Professional movers understand how to move items through doorways and around bends to avoid any damages from occurring.

4. Fit All Your Belongings

Professional movers know how to fit all your belongings into the moving truck, and will even use a second truck if needed. If you rent your own truck, you may have an issue getting all your belongings to fit and may end up having to do multiple trips–if you’re lucky to be moving somewhere close enough to do so.

5. Parking

Parking can be tricky when you reach your destination, as trucks are large and convenient parking in front of your new home may not be available. If you use a rental truck, you risk getting a parking ticket if you double park or park in an illegal spot. If you use professional movers, you don’t have to worry about parking tickets.

Lower Your Stress by Hiring a Professional Moving Company 

It may seem at first like you are saving money by handling all aspects of moving by yourself, but between the time and energy involved (that may require you taking extra time off of work), damages that may incur, and even the possibility of parking tickets, doing it all yourself may not be the smartest way to go. Hiring a professional moving company like Big John’s Moving will remove a huge chunk of your stress and will make sure your belongings make it safely to your destination so you can focus on getting settled in your new home.

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You may have heard of people “putting things into storage,” but have you ever considered doing it yourself? Garages and attic are great for storing smaller items, but anything large or valuable needs somewhere that’s more spacious and better protected from dust and the elements. A storage facility could be just the answer. There are so many benefits to using a storage facility, if you really think about it.

1. Reduce Clutter

A clutter-free home is a relaxing home. There are actually scientific studies that report that clutter can raise cortisol levels, which leads to stress and anxiety. Just because you have a lot of extraneous items in your home doesn’t mean you have to throw them all out. Placing items that are important to you but clutter up your home into storage allows you to save them for a day in the future when you may want to take them out of storage and display them, pass them on to other family members, or use them in some other capacity.

2. Make Space

Similar to reducing clutter, sometimes you just don’t have space for all of your possessions. However, you may one day have that space, or you may not be ready to part with certain items. That’s okay! Put those items in storage and you can re-evaluate them at a later date when your living situation may be different.

3. Keep Family Heirlooms Safe

Family heirlooms are precious, but they may not have a place in your home. Perhaps they don’t fit with your decor or are too big for your space. Or maybe they are extremely valuable and you want to keep them somewhere protected–somewhere safer than within your own home. One of the many benefits of using storage facilities is they have security systems to protect all the items entrusted to them. A storage facility’s professional security system should help put your mind at ease about the safety of your family heirlooms.

4. Help With Downsizing

Are you downsizing but not ready to let go of certain possessions? Or is your downsized situation only temporary? Whatever your reason for holding onto items while downsizing, storage is a perfect solution for maintaining ownership of possessions while living somewhere too small for them.

5. Get Your Home Sale-Ready

If you are trying to sell your home, your realtor or a decorator may advise you to take out some of your furniture and other items from around your home to keep the space looking as neutral as possible for buyers. You may even use staging furniture in place of your own. That means you need somewhere to put all your stuff. A storage facility is a perfect place for you to keep items until you move into your new home.

6. Protect Possessions During Construction

Building on a home can be exciting, but it can often mean you need to move out portions of your home so your belongings don’t get destroyed during the construction process. Putting your furniture, TV, and other items into storage is a smart, convenient way to keep your stuff safe until your home is ready for you to move back in.

Take Advantage of the Benefits of Using a Storage Facility

At Big John’s Moving, we operate a state-of-the-art storage facility called Little John’s Storage that has over one million cubic feet of storage space. New customers even get their first month free! No matter what your reason for needing one, storage facilities are here for you to make your life easier and to keep your belongings secure for as long as you need. 

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New York apartments are notorious for being tiny, cramped, and expensive. This means that not all of your belongings may comfortably fit into your new (or current) home. With the city’s growing population and its increasingly cramped apartments, more and more New Yorkers are turning to different storage solutions. Fortunately, a new storage trend is here for good: full-service storage.

What is Full-Service Storage?

Full-service storage means that a team of professionals will pack your belongings, deliver it to the storage facility, and carefully unload all items. An experienced company will carefully secure your belongings with high-quality packing materials and work around your schedule. This equates to a stress-free, packing-free, and moving-free process to temporarily put your belongings in a safe and secure area.

What are the Benefits of Full-Service Storage?

Decreased Stress

Moving is often listed as highly stressful event. In a study conducted by energy company E.ON, 62% of the 2,000 participants ranked moving as their most stressful life event. While moving your belongings into storage isn’t exactly the same thing, the same principles apply. The tedious and time-consuming process begins with identifying items to store away and requires the packing, transporting, and unloading of boxes or furniture.

Having a professional moving company take care of the process from start to finish relieves the burden off your shoulders, leaving you with both peace of mind and more time to focus on other tasks.

This service is particularly helpful for those transitioning into a new home altogether. In these cases, temporary storage is oftentimes needed before the official move-in day. After all, where can a dining table set be stored? However, personally moving items into a storage center can eat up hours of an already packed day. Utilizing the services of full-service storage can dramatically streamline this process.

Increased Fire Safety

Having a storage space means having storage space “neighbors.” This comes with the possibility that an adjacent unit can contain flammable, perishable, or otherwise hazardous items. However, with full-service storage, a comprehensive pre-inspection eliminates this risk. No perishable or flammable items are allowed within units.

On the flip side, self-service storage units generally do not control for these variables, leaving clients with the risk of unpleasant storage “neighbors.” These scenarios can potentially result in fires, odorous gases, or other unwanted situations.

Top Security

A secure space is a priority for your belongings. A trustworthy full-service storage company should have 24-hour security cameras, armed guards, and trained guard dogs. Unlike self-service storage centers, access is strictly limited to customers. This gives clients the reassurance that unidentified strangers are not wandering on-site and in close proximity with valued possessions.

I’m interested in using full-service storage. How can I get started?

If you’re interested in maximizing the benefits of full-service storage, it’s important to choose a reputable and experienced company, like Big John’s Moving, to facilitate a transition or declutter period. With over a million cubic feet of storage space and a team of dedicated professionals, Big John’s Moving upholds a rigorous and unparalleled standard of excellence in the industry.

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