Moving between Homes during COVID-19

Moving is stressful in good times. It is much harder during a worldwide pandemic. With all the different guidelines and restrictions in place, do you know what steps you need to take to make your transition? All it takes is some careful planning and preparation, and before you know it, you will be enjoying your new home or apartment.

At 5A Rent-A-Space, we make it our mission to keep you safer by taking extra precautions to keep our facilities clean. When you reserve your space at our storage facility near Maui, we will have it cleaned and ready for you to move in. 

6 Suggestions for Moving Safely during a Pandemic 

Besides having your sanitizer, mask, and disinfecting wipes handy, utilize these six tips to keep safe while moving during a pandemic:

1. Talk about logistics with your moving company. Businesses are doing much to make things safer for their employees and customers. They may carry disinfectant spray and hand sanitizers or reschedule appointments if you or a family member is feeling ill. Feel free to ask questions and work out the best way to handle your move, including social distancing.

2. Feel free to rent a truck. Rental truck companies are also working hard and taking steps to up their vehicle cleaning procedures. If you rent a truck to haul your belongings, take time to wipe down the steering wheel, gear shifter, and door handles before you get in. When you rent from 5A Rent-A-Space, we will move your items to your self-storage unit for free! You load it up, we drive, you unload, and we can keep social distancing.

3. Limit the number of people helping. This will be hard when you want all hands on deck. It is vital to limit how many helpers you have, to ensure you can practice active social distancing. It may mean you work in shifts or some stay outside unloading while others are carrying items into the house. 

4. Buy moving boxes. You will want to buy moving boxes instead of heading to your local liquor store or grocery for freebies, to limit potential exposure to COVID-19. You can purchase all types of moving boxes from 5A Rent-A-Space, including specialty boxes for your television and other odd-shaped and fragile goods.

5. At your new address, deliver your belongings to the garage and a storage unit. Consider placing your belongings in your garage and rental space. Then you can leave items for a few days before unpacking. Additionally, it allows you to clean your home and then each item that you bring into it.

6. Clean your new home. Take the time while you quarantine your stuff to do a deep clean of the walls, floorboards, cabinets, bathrooms, light switches, and doorknobs. Ideally, you will want to clean everything first, and then follow up with a disinfectant.

Use a Storage Unit for Your Move during the Pandemic and Beyond

Take advantage of the extra space to allow you to thoroughly clean your items before unpacking when you rent a self-storage unit near Maui from 5A Rent-A-Space. You can impose a “quarantine” of items handled by others and feel confident that you are keeping your family safe. Give us a call and let us help you through this transition.

Reserve your self-storage unit online now. Call 5A Rent-A-Space at 808-745-1616 or toll-free at 1-800-5ASPACE (1-800-527-7223) to learn more. Not sure how much space you will need? Use our online Space Calculator to estimate the best unit size for you. 

How to Choose the Right Storage Unit for You

Finding the best storage unit for you doesn’t have to be hard. It pays to do a little investigation and locate the self-storage company that meets all your needs. Where do you start? Start with 5A Rent-A-Space!

Choose a company that offers convenient self-storage solutions for your needs – personal and business. At 5A Rent-A-Space, you can choose from a wide range of unit sizes. When you rent from 5A in the Lafayette area, we will move your stuff to your unit with our free moving van. Need some packing supplies? We have you covered! Come by for a visit and see what we have available for you.

4 Tips to Find the Perfect Storage Space 

Start your search for a convenient storage unit with these useful suggestions:

1. Decide the type of storage you need. Your first step is more than just finding the perfect size of unit. The kind of storage facilities available include indoor, outdoor, and specialty. For example, you may want the ease of being able to organize your area even if it is raining outside. If so, an indoor space is a better choice. However, outdoor spaces are great for driving right up and unloading or loading. Another option is a specialty facility for those that have wine collections or antiques. These facilities are tailored for the delicate nature of goods to be stored inside.

2. Research the facilities in your area. The easiest decision may not be the best choice. It is easy to go to your nearest self-storage facility and sign your name on the dotted line. Resist the urge. First, take inventory of all locations near your home. Then check reviews and look at the ones that have the highest ratings. Look at their gate hours vs. their office hours. It doesn’t pay to rent a unit near your home if their office hours are not convenient for you. It may pay to drive ten more minutes to get what you want.

3. Visit and ask questions. Go to your shortlisted site for a visit. Ask to see a unit in the size you would like to rent. You can ask about any specials, what happens if you miss or are late on a payment, the facility hours and any unique stipulations. 

4. Make notes and then make your decision. Gather all your research and look over what you have. Which facility fits your needs in convenience and access? Once you make the determination, reach out to the best facility for you and sign up!

Make the Best Decision for Your Storage Needs with 5A Rent-A-Space 

The right decisions require reliable information. Give the team at 5A Rent-A-Space a call. We’ll help you find the best storage unit for your needs, be they seasonal items, household goods, business furniture, and more. We offer you many options to ensure you get what you need. We sell boxes and packing supplies and even move your items right to your storage unit for free!

Reserve your self-storage unit online now. Call 5A Rent-A-Space at 925-643-2024 or toll-free at 1-800-5ASPACE (1-800-527-7223) to learn more. Not sure how much space you will need? Use our online Space Calculator to estimate the best unit size for you. 

What To Store and What Not to Store? A Handy Guide for Proper Storage

People use storage units for a variety of reasons. Maybe you are moving and need a place to put your belongings while in between houses. You could be downsizing after your children moved out. If you are running out of space at your office, placing items in off-site storage can free up space so your employees move and work more easily. The reasons are many, but if you don’t follow a few rules-of-thumb, you may find that you end up with more damaged goods than you expected.

Make the most of your self-storage facility near San Mateo when you choose 5A Rent-A-Space. We offer a wide range of sizes to fit your needs. We also sell packing supplies, so you lessen the chance of damage to your fragile items. When you rent from 5A, we will even move your belongings with our free moving van.

What to Store in Your Unit and What to Avoid 

Determining what is suitable for your rental unit and what should be left out can be a little overwhelming. Here is a handy guide to help you:

These Items Are OK to Store: 

Seasonal Items – Do you have a closet full of decorations bulging out every time you try to hang up a jacket? Tucking them in a storage unit is a better idea. The same goes for your camping gear, sports gear, and even your lawnmower after it is drained of flammable fluids.

Household Goods – This is where storage rentals shine! Put away extra books, furniture, toys, clothing, linens, kitchen items, and office supplies. You can take out what you need when you need it and know everything is nice and tidy in your unit.

Business Goods and Furniture – Consider utilizing off-site storage to stow away extra office chairs, desks, and unused filing cabinets. You might be able to place some of your inventory in there as well – be sure it is not perishable, living, or hazardous.

Electronics – A storage rental is not always the best place for electronics unless it is in a climate-controlled facility. However, if you need to store your TV, DVD player, and stereo for a short time, it may be worth it. A storage unit inside a building or hallway often escapes extreme temperature changes and is a safer bet for electronics.

Appliances – You can store appliances as long as you ensure they are wiped clean and dry. You also do not want to have one plugged in while it is in your unit. Types of appliances include refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, washers, dryers, freezers, toasters, coffee makers, vacuums, and paper shredders. Clean appliances can have other things stored inside them, as long as it’s not perishable.  In fact, it’s a good idea to prop doors and lids of appliances open so they won’t mold. 

 

These Items Are Not OK to Put into Storage:

Hazardous Materials – This category includes flammable items such as gasoline, propane, oil, grease, chemicals, cleaners, paint, fireworks, and explosives. Also, remember that toxic materials like fertilizer, asbestos, biological waste, and anything radioactive, are not allowed. Finally, any illegal substance should not be on the premises.

Unregistered Vehicles – Not all self-storage facilities near San Mateo allow vehicle storage, but for the ones that do, they must be registered, insured, and operable. Additionally, they must be registered to the person renting the space. This includes boats, RVs, trailers, motorcycles, cars, and trucks. Fuels must be drained and all batteries disconnected and removed.

Weapons – It is against the law to store your guns and ammunition at a storage facility. If you need a place to tuck your handguns, rifles, or shotguns, a local gun store is a better option. You can even get them serviced at the same time. A locked gun vault at home is also a good option.

Living Things – A storage unit is not the best place to put your pet gerbil or houseplants. Humans should not be residing in a unit either. If you are trying to consider if you can put your cockatoo in your rental space, remember that anything that requires light, food, or water is not allowed in storage.

Perishables – We all like to eat, including mice, rats, and bugs. That is why food and other perishables are not to be tucked away in your storage space. That box of stale cereal you tossed in is like putting up an “Eat at Joe’s” sign inviting all types of vermin that can also wreak havoc on your stored items and your neighbor’s.

Storage Solutions Made Easy with 5A Rent-A-Space 

Utilizing a self-storage space efficiently begins with knowing what you can and cannot place in your unit. Reach out to your 5A Rent-A-Space team with any questions. We are glad to help you make the most of your self-storage facility near San Mateo. Call us today to learn more!

Reserve your self-storage unit online now. Call us at 5A Rent-A-Space at 650-338-0016 or toll-free at 1-800-5ASPACE (1-800-527-7223) to learn more. Not sure how much space you will need? Use our online Space Calculator to estimate the best unit size for you. You can even rent on line at our website 5aspace.com

Clear Your Head by Clearing Your Space

While Americans are spending more time in their homes than ever before, the state of our household is something easily neglected yet of paramount importance. It is no secret that our surroundings greatly impact our mental well-being, with characteristics like prominent colors and open space completely changing how we feel. Neutral colors and Earth tones such as greens have been linked to lowering stress. Warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow inspire passion, but can also heighten feelings of anger. 

In addition to design choices such as color, cleanliness must not be forgotten due to its impact on our mental health. For many of us, both the act of cleaning itself and the end result of living in a tidy home can go a long way towards easing our minds. As evidenced by several studies, a clear connection has been determined between individuals' feelings of how cluttered their homes are and their levels of the stress hormone cortisol. 

How to Maximize Perceived Space by Minimizing Clutter

1. Consider High Spaces: One often overlooked area of space in our homes is right over our heads. Either by installing new shelving entirely, or reorganizing some of our less-used possessions, we can remove obvious clutter from our eye-line, thus reducing the impact it has on the overall level of clutter.
2. Wall Storage to Show Off: Contrasting the idea of hiding clutter away above us, we can also use wall mounts to both store and show off some of our most visually appealing belongings. A stylish bicycle or key ring can be mounted on a wall to both clear up space on other surfaces as well as add a touch of personality to the space.
3. Use Baskets: Often made from wicker or other woven fabrics, the increasing popularity of baskets in modern home design exemplify the importance of both form and function. They can serve as an eye catching touch to a room while also storing items that would otherwise clutter and complicate the space.

Consider Self-Storage for Your Less Used Items

It is no secret that we often hold on to items for a variety of reasons besides them coming of daily use. Whether it is due to sentimentality or perhaps them having only seasonal use, we as a species enjoy having the right tools for specific occasions when they arise. For this reason, self-storage is a reliable and rewarding option to keep some items available to us when we need them, while also keeping our household free of clutter. A snowboard takes up just as much space in the summer as a kayak does in the winter, so why not store each in a storage unit and use them at your leisure. 

By minimizing clutter through these techniques, as well as renting out a storage unit, any household can be turned into place of rest and relaxation instead of a place of stress. As long as we are spending this much time in our own homes, we may as well make them as conducive to mental well-being as possible. Doing these seemingly small acts will have a tremendous impact on how we feel, how efficient we can be while working from home, and how well we can get through this time together.