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.