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Owning a storage unit is not all fun and games. Renting or purchasing a storage unit means work and responsibility if you want to keep the items stored inside of it as safe and secure as possible. This task can be a bit daunting to those who are new to the world of storage but overtime storing items safely and securely will become extremely easy.
When you are storing items in any storage facility it is important that you keep the unit as clean as possible. Without cleanliness your items will start to attract all sorts of unsavory things. Dirty storage units often fall prey to rodents such as mice, rats, and even bats along with insects and bugs of all types. The first step to keeping your storage unit clean is cleaning it out before you even move your belongings in.
Many people who will have rented your storage unit before you will not have taken the time to clean the unit out before or after using it. This means you will often find yourself using a storage unit that is occupied by the dirt and dust of several families. Rather than add your stuff to this growing mess take some time and thoroughly clean the unit out. If you are using a climate controlled unit with a carpeted interior give the floor a thorough vacuum. If the floor of the storage unit is hard then consider sweeping it out well. Pay a lot of attention to corners and look for any breaches in the interior that could indicate rodents. Dust the walls of the building and wipe them down with damp rags if possible to remove all built up dirt and mildew. When the unit is clean make sure it is secure from rodents and insects.
During the initial cleaning it is entirely possible that rodents and bugs were able to get clear of you or stay out of your sight. Instead of trusting your eyes be safe rather than sorry and spray your entire storage rental unit for bugs. Also place rodent poisoning and traps down, leave the unit, and return in two or three days. If there are any dead rodents or insects take pictures and let the management company know that this is an existing problem. Even if the storage facility does not offer pest control letting them know that the problem was existing and providing proof will help you avoid arguments later if the company tries to claim that the problems started with you. Once you have given the proof of the problem to the company remove the rodents or bugs (if any) and place thick tarp or plastic down on the interior of the storage unit.
Now it is safe to begin moving your own furniture and belongings into your storage unit. Always make sure that you clean your own belongings before bringing them into the clean storage unit. Failing to do this will lead to you tracking in the dirt and possibly insects that you were attempting to avoid. Bring the furniture into the storage unit first. Make sure it has been vacuumed and then drape plastic over it. From there stack all of your boxes and containers on top of the furniture. Keeping your boxes and containers off of the ground will make it harder for vermin to get into them. When you have successfully moved all of your belongings into your clean storage unit you must start worrying about keeping them there.
Even though it is always best to choose storage facility that offers security it is important to remember that you are partially responsible for the effectiveness of that security. This means that you should never do anything to compromise the safety and security of your belongings. Before placing your things into storage do your best to secure your boxes and containers with rope or tape. This will make it harder for casual intruders to snoop inside of your belongings. Also label your boxes obscurely since it will be harder for potential thieves to decide what box holds your underwear and which box holds your DVDs or collectables.
Always remember to padlock the storage unit with a lock they provide or you have purchased. Never forget to lock the unit since this absent mindedness could lead to another renter stealing items from your storage unit. Most importantly, never let anyone have the security code for a gated storage facility or borrow your key. Doing this will make it very hard to recover stolen property since a thief doing this will only have to insist that you gave them permission to be in your storage unit by giving them the key and access to the premises.