December 29, 2022 | 4 minute read

How To Store and Protect Valuable Items in Self-Storage

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At NationWide Self Storage, lockers come in all shapes, sizes, and prices tailored for residential, business, and student needs. Over the years, we’ve seen all kinds of things come and go out of a self-storage unit – everything from furniture and seasonal decorations to family heirlooms or entire storerooms of inventory. Whatever it is, we know it usually has some meaning and value to the people taking the time to store their items.

When storing items, it’s important you take care when packing and storing things, especially your fragile items. Things like art, breakables like ceramics or dishes, antiques, documents, or anything of that nature need extra protection. The good news is that there are precautions you can take to keep fragile items safe and protected.

Plan ahead: Invest in proper storage boxes and packing supplies

All too often, we see people running out of time or moving their things in a hurry and transporting their belongings in plastic bags or old boxes that are about to fall apart. In other cases, a pile of mismatched items are tossed into an opaque container with the promise that someone will remember what is where (you won’t).

Planning and getting good quality storage boxes, containers, and padding will ensure that all items, especially fragile ones, will be safely stored. Breakable items should be wrapped in bubble wrap or similar protective packing material and packed tightly. Valuable clothing should be wrapped in plastic or garment bags and then hung inside a wardrobe box to keep them wrinkle-free. Mattresses should have a mattress cover, documents should be organized in labeled banker boxes, and electronics should be returned to their original boxes (if possible) and secured with bubble wrap.

With the correct protective packaging, your fragile valuables should always come out of storage in the same condition they went in.

Move with the right equipment

Once you have things well packed, throwing your back out while moving your boxes to your locker would be a shame. It’s equally important to have the correct tools to move things from the vehicle into the self-storage unit, especially if they are stacked or going up on a shelf. 

If you want to keep your fragile belongings safe from being dropped or broken it is essential to move your things with onsite moving carts, dollies, and rolling staircases.

Keep the climate controlled

At NationWide Self Storage, we offer climate-controlled units that maintain a temperature of 10° C throughout the winter. To protect the integrity of antiques, fine art, valuable books and documents, and technology, you want to keep them in a steady, controlled environment, free of temperature fluctuations.

With NationWide climate-controlled self storage in Burnaby, Vancouver and Kamloops, you have the benefit of helping prevent dust and debris from settling in on your belongings and potentially ruining them. NationWide facilities have insulated roofs, walls, and floors as an added shield of protection for your valuables.

Remember the importance of security

Once you have your fragile items packed and stored properly you need peace of mind that your belongings are in a secure facility.

All NationWide Self Storage facilities come armed with over 70 4k video cameras at each facility. This security is much greater than a typical home offers, so you can rest easy knowing your valuables are protected 24/7, 365 days a year.

In addition to heavy security monitoring, NationWide facilities provide entirely keyless, motion-sensored, and individually alarmed storage lockers. 

Clients will have keyless access to the facilities, loading bays, and elevators and restricted access to only the floor they are renting on, along with a keyless locker that is all operated through an app on their phone or a fob if they prefer.

NationWide Smart Access provides easy access that you can share with your employees or family members via an app on your phone. In addition, you can track, in real-time, when the unit is accessed and by whom, as well as revoke access at any time. 

At the end of the day, it’s more than just self-storage – it’s peace of mind for your life. Whether it’s for decluttering to keep your life organized or simply knowing your belongings or business inventory and documents are safer than at home or the office, self-storage can be the perfect solution! 

If you are thinking about moving some of your business or home items into a self-storage facility, check out the many storage locker sizes a NationWide Self Storage facility near you has to offer.