Self Storage Blog - DIY, Tips & Other Storage Ideas | SimplySS - Read the Self Storage Blog from Simply Self Storage! We provide you with storage ideas, DIY tips, and more, updated regularly. Reserve a storage space now!

September 14, 2017 by James Straatman

8 Tip-Top Maintenance Tips for Your Home This Fall

With cooler air coming, it’s time to review the items on this fall maintenance checklist so your home can continue to run efficiently and stay safe throughout the rest of the year (and beyond).

Here are eight tips (broken down into manageable tasks) to help you get everything done.

1. Train Your Family on Emergency Plans

Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace the batteries.
Be sure you have at least one unexpired fire extinguisher (A-B-C rated) in your home.
Make a fire escape plan and practice it.
Fix damaged sidewalks, driveways, and steps as the dangers of tripping are compounded when walkways are covered with snow and ice.

2. Treat Your AC Unit to a Well-Deserved Break

AC maintenance in the fall months is vital to keeping this expensive and heavily-used appliance running well. Vacuum out the internal parts of your air conditioner.
Be sure to cover the unit with an approved tarp or plastic cover. This will prevent rusting of vital components.
Remove window AC units so windows can be closed fully.

3. Tighten Your Seals

Inspect your home’s exterior paint for peeling or blistering. Fix any problem areas to prevent water damage from wet weather.
Does your roof have any missing or loose shingles? Your roof is the first defense in home protection, so be proactive about fixing it and preventing leaks.
Clean and seal your asphalt driveway with a commercial sealer to prevent freezing, cracking, and crumbling in the upcoming months.
Add a fresh layer of caulk around windows and doorframes. This goes a long way in preventing cold air from seeping in, cracks from forming, and mold from building up.
Install weather stripping around windows and doors, including the garage door.
Put screening over all vents that run to the outside. This will prevent pests from making nests or entering your home.

4. Trim Up the Yard

Remove dead annuals and divide, move, and mulch perennials.
Rake up thick layers of leaves. Mulch thin layers of leaves and add them to your flower beds.
Trim dead tree branches so they don’t fall and cause harm or damage during snowstorms.
Aerate the lawn and fertilize it.
Clean and store your garden tools.

5. Tackle Your Toys’ Winterization Process

Clean and put away your lawn mower, leaf blower, chain saw, and other power tools or yard equipment.
Clean, cover, and store your outdoor furniture, plant pots, and barbecue grill.
Prepare your boat, RV, camper, ATVs, and other recreational toys to be stored for the winter.

6. Test Your Water Heater’s Readiness

Before freezing temperatures hit, do your annual water heater maintenance.
Inspect and clean your humidifier’s plates or pads.
Wrap any water pipes that run along exterior walls with heating tape to prevent freezing and bursting.
Turn off the valves to your exterior hose bibs. Then run the pipes until they are empty.

7. Turn Up the Heat

Clean and replace filters in your furnace.
If you use radiators, drain the expansion tank, check the water pressure, and bleed them.
Examine the door gasket of your wood stove or fireplace to be sure it has a tight seal.
Maintain your chimney. Take care of problems such as flue creosote, blockages, and damaged joints.
Check your attic’s insulation and add more if needed.
Remember to change the direction of your ceiling fan blades so they create an upward draft that will redistribute the warm air.

8. Tidy Up the Corners

After the leaves have fallen, but before the snow arrives, clean out your rain gutters. Consider installing new gutters with built-in leaf guards.
Store any extra furniture, clothing, home decor, or miscellaneous items in a storage unit. Climate-controlled units are available depending on your needs.

This list might seem long, but by breaking each item into smaller, more manageable tasks, you’ll be able to check them off in no time. Then, you’ll be ready to enjoy the harvest of your labors as you welcome autumn back home.

September 7, 2017 by Admin

How to Hire a Realtor: Don’t Forget to Ask These 7 Questions

Are you looking to buy a new home? Whether you’re finally ready to take the plunge and buy your first home, or you’re relocating and need to sell your current home quickly, first thing’s first: you need to hire a realtor. But do you know the best questions to ask to help you choose the right one?

Here are 7 questions to ask a realtor before making a commitment.

1. Are You a Certified Realtor?

There are a handful of titles used by people qualified to buy and sell homes, including agent, broker, and realtor. A realtor is a part of the National Association of Realtors, meaning they must abide by stricter guidelines and stick to a code of ethics in their business endeavors, giving you an extra guarantee they know what they’re doing and will follow through.

2. How Long Have You Been in Real Estate?

While everyone has to start somewhere, you might want to stick with someone who’s got more experience in the business for your real estate needs. An established realtor already has a working relationship with other agents, mortgage brokers, and any other contacts you may need along the way.

3. What Does Your Work Schedule Look Like?

The answer you’re looking for here is full time. Hiring a realtor that works full time is pretty important if you hope to see homes as they pop up. A part time realtor may not always be available when you need them.

4. Will I Be Working Directly With You or Someone Else?

Some real estate offices are staffed by several different agents and assistants, none of which are the actual owner. If working with the person in charge is important to you, let them know up front, and check around until you find an office where this is a possibility.

5. What Sets You Apart From Other Real Estate Agents?

This question may be all you need to ask when determining how to hire a realtor. Consider the type of answer you’re looking for prior to asking this question, and find a realtor who says what you’re looking to hear, whether it’s honest, trustworthy, always available, or willing to do anything to close on a deal.

6. Do You Work Often in This Area?

A realtor can be amazing at their job, but if they aren’t familiar with the area you’re looking in, they may be lacking critical information you’ll need to find the right home. If your area’s housing market has unique characteristics, or if the realtor is from too far away, you might want to keep looking until you find someone who is from the area to make sure they know what they’re talking about.

7. Have You Closed on Any Homes in My Desired Neighborhood?

It’s important to find someone who knows how to sell a house in your desired neighborhood (check out our article “Moving Trends: Where Are People Moving and Why?”), especially if you’re looking to sell quickly. Find someone who knows the market within that particular area so they know the best way to market and stage your home to maximize offers and selling potential.

Choose Wisely

It is your prerogative to request references if you’d like and follow up with previous clients to hear what their experience was with any particular realtor. If you do your research and listen to your gut, you’ll be able to find the best fit for your needs.
Do you need help packing your moving truck or storing items while your house is on the market, or before your sale goes through? Self storage units are your best bet. Make sure you find a self storage facility offering secure storage so you can focus on house hunting rather than the safety of your belongings. Happy hunting!

August 31, 2017 by Admin

How Small Businesses Can Benefit From Commercial Storage

If you’re like most small business owners, you don’t have square footage to spare in your work-space, but you also have extra equipment, inventory, or supplies that need to be stored. A commercial storage unit may be the right solution for you.

Keep Costs Down

Maybe you’re part of a startup company that is still in the process of finding the perfect location for your storefront. More often than not, it’s less expensive to lease a smaller retail space and pay for an offsite storage unit than it is to pay for a larger retail space. Plus, you aren’t locked into a 1-5 year contract with storage rental—pay month-to-month to meet your storage needs.

Are you expanding your business and have you outgrown your current office space? Are you a high-profile company and you want to keep a new project under wraps? Need to store equipment and supplies during your off season? Store with a commercial facility and keep your overhead costs low.

On-Site Trailers vs Commercial Storage Units

Construction and other professional industries commonly use mobile trailers as a means of commercial storage, transporting them to different job sites as needed. Take these factors into consideration when deciding to use a trailer or to rent commercial storage space for your small business.

Mobile Trailers

A trailer rental is typically more expensive than a storage unit monthly rental.
Delivery fees, you must pay additional fees, such as for delivery, when you rent a trailer.
Zoning laws may not allow the use of on-site trailers in all areas, or there may simply not be enough space at a job site.
Climate control is an additional fee.
Trailers are vulnerable to break-ins and theft.

Commercial Storage Units

Storage facilities offer full security with passcode-access gates and video surveillance.
On-site property managers are able to supervise security.
The fee for a fully climate-controlled storage space is included in the monthly rent.
No delivery fees when changing job sites.
Commercial storage unit monthly rental fees are generally less expensive than mobile trailers.

Industry-Specific Benefits of Commercial Storage

Commercial storage is a perfect solution for so many industries. Beyond construction industries, many retail businesses need affordable, secure storage space as well.

Construction

With construction, many subcontractors don’t have an office at all but still need space to store all of their equipment. As a general contractor, you may need to store lumber, sheetrock, and other supplies. Easy-access loading docks are perfect for moving large, heavy items in-and-out, as you need them. A self-storage unit is just what you need to keep vital supplies in a cost-effective manner that is also easily accessible, conveniently located, and securely locked up.

Landscaping

Landscapers have multiple tools and equipment which need to be stored carefully. They should be accessible at all times for quick loading and unloading when moving from job to job. A commercial storage unit enables you to remain mobile, taking only what you need for each specific job (as opposed to hauling all your tools with you everywhere).

Roofing

Professional roofers have many supplies that need to be organized: power tools, tiles, shingles, adhesive, etc. A commercial storage unit is ideal for the short or long term storage of roofing tools and supplies.

Contract Painters

Businesses that offer professional painting services can benefit from a space to store paint sprayers, air compressors, and as an organizational space. However, it is important to be aware of items you can’t store in a storage unit.

Retail & eCommerce

Retail businesses with brick and mortar storefronts and online-only sales alike need extra storage space. Retail display fixtures, additional inventory, and trade show booth supplies are large items that need to be carefully stored in a space where they can be protected from conditions that may cause damage.

Restaurants & Catering

Devoting as much square footage as possible to your dining lobby is important to maximize profits as a restaurant owner. Additional equipment such as large appliances, tables and chairs for large banquet and event use, and special occasion decor.

Many catering businesses only have a commercial kitchen space they work out of to keep overhead costs down. Caterers need additional space to store all of their supplies and equipment such as baskets, table decor, linens, chafing dishes, china, and glassware. Loading docks at commercial storage facilities provide easy transport of speed racks and carts used by culinary professionals.

General Commercial Use

There are many general uses for commercial storage space that can benefit small businesses. Files with business and legal documents need to be saved, but they can take up a lot of space. A storage unit protected from extreme temperatures is the perfect place, and the documents can be easily accessed if needed.

Storage units are available in many sizes. If you only need to store files of paperwork you may need a mini storage space. Or, you may be in need of a sizeable area for machinery and other large equipment.

Commercial storage is the perfect solution to lower your overhead costs. Think of your storage space as an extension of your small business. Regardless of where your small business may take you, your business supplies and equipment will be warehoused in one location to the safe and secure specifications you need.