If you are moving and need boxes or other moving supplies, your local self-storage facility can likely supply you with everything that you need. Many self-storage facilities carry a wide variety of boxes and moving supplies. These boxes are useful for organizing items in storage and are essential for packing for a move. If you are like me, however, you might be wondering why anyone would pay for boxes instead of scrounging them for free from the neighbourhood liquor or grocery store. As I discovered when I recently moved, however, there are actually many good reasons (and a good economic argument) for buying boxes designed for moving rather than for holding bottles, cans, or produce. Finding free boxes is also not as easy as it used to be – in fact, I wasted a lot of time and a lot of gas driving around in search of the elusive “free moving box”!

Most self storage facilities offer many different sizes of storage units to choose from. This can be a daunting task, especially if you've never used self-storage before. Your optimal unit size will depend on both what is being stored and how the storage unit will be utilized. If you think about it, the unit volume will always have to be bigger than the bulk volume of the items being stored. This difference will be a function of the uniformity and shape of the items being stored, as well as the need for access to these items. You can also ask if your storage facility has an online size guide or tool to help, as these can be quite useful!

Brrrrr, it's getting cold out there! We hope you had a terrific summer with family and friends, exploring and finding new roads to travel in your RV. If you have not already done so, however, it's probably time to winterize your mobile adventure unit! Courtesy of our friends at FindStorageFast.com, here is a handy 6 Step Guide to winterizing your RV!

StoreSmart Self Storage offers residential and business self-storage options in Edmonton, Red Deer, Cochrane, Sherwood Park and Canmore. In addition, most StoreSmart Self Storage locations also offer secure RV parking. For your convenience, and except for some statutory holidays, all StoreSmart Self Storage locations are open 7 days a week. As our customer, you may access your storage unit (or RV!) 365 days a year from 5am to midnight (24-hour access considered upon special request).

Decluttering and cleaning out your home can feel like a chore, but it shouldn’t have to. Sometimes, getting rid of things you don’t need anymore can be overwhelming but decluttering your home can be easier than you imagined.

Instead of “getting rid of things”, concentrate on the items that you love and that make you happy. If you can remember to focus on those things, it will make it much easier to let go of others. Donating your useable items is a great way of passing these items to others who can find a use for them! Search your community for businesses accepting donations, or use Facebook to help sell the items you’re ready to part with.

For many people, celebrating the winter holiday season involves digging out a variety of elaborate decorations for a couple of months and purchasing gifts for friends and family. These items often are hidden from children to preserve the element of surprise and to maintain the myth of Santa Claus and his assistant, Subordinate Clause. Self-storage offers a secure option for storing gifts in a location well out of reach of curious children and maintains the Christmas morning surprise. If children find out there is no Santa Claus, their parents will have to rely on the myth of the Krampus to keep them in line.

Self Storage provides a terrific opportunity for contractors operating out of their home or small office to store tools and equipment in a secure space without the expense of renting a full industrial bay. Overhead costs can be minimized while maintaining sufficient inventory to commence a job without waiting for material orders to be filled. Tools and equipment can also be stored securely. If the self storage centre offers no-cost unit transfers, the amount of storage rented can be varied to match seasonal demand. StoreSmart Self Storage allows its customers to upsize or downsize their storage unit at any time without notice and without penalty. This provides a degree of flexibility that is not available when renting an industrial bay.

While self-storage is often considered to be a temporary option for people who are moving and between houses, apartments etc, it is also a long term option for storing seasonal sports equipment such as skis, snowboards, bicycles, kayaks etc during the season when they are not needed. This is especially beneficial for residents of the Bow Valley. Moving to towns such as Canmore and Banff often involves a substantial reduction in living space. Self Storage provides an opportunity for people who wish to downsize their housing and keep seasonal sports equipment without giving up living space.

Whether renovations are done by a contractor or by a home owner, the contents of the house are likely to be in the way or are at risk of being damaged by the renovation operations. Dust and paint can damage furniture and electronics. Using the garage for storage may not be a viable solution. Self storage offers a clean safe alternative to shuffling furniture and vulnerable items from room to room. Items which are sensitive to temperature changes can be stored in a temperature controlled environment, usually at a small premium above the cost of unheated storage unit.

If you are living in Edmonton and need to store some extra belongings, where do you start? Although moving and transportation companies may be able to provide some warehousing or storage options in the Edmonton area, this is generally only for shorter periods and you will not be able to access your items on a self-serve basis. Renting a storage space from one of your local Edmonton self storage facilities is going to be a better bet.

Renting a storage unit can be a great option if you are:

• Staging your home to sell in Edmonton’s hot real-estate market
• Moving to, from, or within the Edmonton area
• Renovating your home
• Storing excess business inventory or business records

There are many self storage facilities to choose from in Edmonton. Here are 10 things to consider when choosing which facility is right for you.