As summer approaches, many of us have already started to think about vacations, barbecues, and days spent outdoors. However, with all the excitement and fun that comes with the season, it’s easy to overlook the clutter and storage issues that can arise. This is where self-storage comes in. Whether you need a place to store your seasonal clothing and accessories, outdoor gear and equipment, or college dorm items during the summer break, self-storage can help you make the most of the season by providing you with a safe and organized space for your belongings. Here, we’ll explore the benefits of using self-storage during the summer months, offer tips for choosing the right unit and packing your items, and highlight some of the most popular items people store during this time of year.
6 Benefits of Using Self-Storage During the Summer
Summer is a great time to get outside, enjoy the weather, and have some fun. However, many people don’t realize how much a self-storage unit can help maximize your summer experience. While the obvious benefit to offsite storage is having a place to keep all your bulky winter accessories or equipment, they can be used for several other purposes. Some of the benefits of using self-storage during the summer include:
1. Store Outdoor Gear and Equipment
With the warmer weather and longer days, people tend to take advantage of outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and camping. However, these activities often require equipment and gear that can take up valuable space in your home, even when they’re stored outdoors. Self-storage provides a convenient and secure option to store your seasonal items, such as kayaks, camping gear, and sports equipment, so that you can easily access them when needed without cluttering up your living space.
2. Keep Seasonal Items Safe and Organized
Self-storage can also be a suitable place to keep your winter items, such as snowboards and skis, during the summer months. This not only frees up space in your home but also ensures that your gear is well-maintained and ready for the next winter season.
3. Create More Space in Your Home or Apartment
With self-storage, you can declutter your living space and stay organized. In addition to keeping bulky items out of your home, you can also pack up your clothes and put away seasonal accessories. This gives you more space in closets, bedrooms, and living areas. Just make sure that you properly store different types of clothing to ensure they stay in good condition throughout the season.
4. Keep Your Items Safe During a Move
Self-storage can also be an incredibly useful tool during a move, whether you’re downsizing, relocating, or simply need temporary storage. You can store items that you don’t need immediately but may want to keep for the future. Or you can keep your belongings safe during a transition period between homes. If you’re moving to a smaller place, self-storage can also help with downsizing.
5. Store College Dorm Items
Offsite storage is beneficial for college students during the summer months. Most students vacate their dorms or apartments during the summer break, which means they need a place to store their belongings until the next semester begins. Self-storage units provide a secure, convenient, and affordable solution for storing items like bedding, furniture, textbooks, and electronics. Additionally, students can use self-storage to store their items if they are studying abroad or interning in another city or state.
6. Keep Your Belongings Safe During Summer Travels
Finally, self-storage options are a great way to keep your items safe during long-term summer travels. This is especially beneficial if you plan to rent out your home while you’re gone or go on a vacation in between moves. Just make sure you know what can and can’t be stored before you move any valuables.
Tips for Using Self-Storage During the Summer
Self-storage can be a great solution for storing your belongings during the summer months, whether you’re moving, traveling, or just decluttering your home. To get the most out of your storage facility, consider some of the following tips.
Choose the Right Size Unit
Before renting anything, make sure you choose the right size self-storage unit for your needs. A unit that’s too small won’t fit all your belongings, while a unit that’s too large will cost you more money than you need to spend. Consider what you’ll want to store for the summer and visit a self-storage facility near you to get a better understanding of sizes.
Consider Climate-Controlled Units for Sensitive Items
If you’re storing items that are sensitive to temperature and humidity, like electronics, antiques, or photographs, always rent a climate-controlled unit. This will help protect your items from damage caused by extreme temperatures, especially during hot summer months.
Pack Items Properly to Prevent Damage
When packing your items for storage, use proper packing materials, like bubble wrap and packing paper, to prevent damage. Also, avoid packing items too tightly, as this can lead to damage or breakage. Different materials tend to require different storage containers or protection, so do your research accordingly.
Label Boxes and Keep Inventory
To make it easier to find what you need in your self-storage unit label all boxes and keep an inventory of the items you’ve stored. This will save you time and frustration when you need to retrieve something. If you’ll be storing summer items like kayaks or beach gear, keep these things towards the front of your unit for easy access.
Use Shelving or Pallets to Keep Items off the Ground
Finally, to protect your belongings from moisture and pests, use shelving or pallets to keep everything directly off the ground. This allows for airflow and will also make it easier to access things you need without having to move other boxes out of the way. Summer is also a great time to clean out your storage unit and organize it for optimal use throughout the year.
Popular Items to Store in Self-Storage During the Summer
During summer months, you can store whatever you need in your self-storage unit as long as you follow your facilities guidelines. Some of the most popular items put into summer self-storage include:
- Seasonal clothing
- Heavy coats
- Boots
- Seasonal accessories
- Holiday décor
- College dorm furniture
- Business inventory and supplies
- Snow blowers
- Shovels and sleds
- Winter equipment
- Golf clubs
- Surfboards
- Kayaks
- Large sporting equipment
You can use your self-storage unit in whatever capacity you need to help you make the most out of your summer holiday.
Choosing the Right Self-Storage Facility
Regardless of why you want to utilize summer self-storage, choosing the right facility can make or break your experience. For one, you’ll want to find a facility that helps maximize the safety and security of your belongings. A good self-storage facility will offer a secure environment with features such as CCTV cameras, proper lighting, and secure locks to protect your items from theft, vandalism, and natural disasters.
You’ll want to ensure that your facility makes it easy to access your items whenever you need them. Choosing a facility with good customer service will make the process of storing your belongings stress-free. Flexible rental terms are also ideal, as they provide you with the opportunity to adjust sizes or terms as the seasons change. Finally, always choose a facility that offers climate-controlled self-storage units, especially when you’ll be putting your items away during the hottest and most humid months of the year.
To help ensure that your items stay in excellent condition during the summer or throughout any season of the year, opt for climate-controlled self-storage units from The Lock Up Self Storage. At The Lock Up, we have all the amenities you’d expect in a premium self-storage facility. Plus, since all our units are climate controlled, you can rest assured that your belongings are in good hands and safe from harm. We also offer flexible leasing options, so you can alternate between sizes if your storage needs change. To give you even more peace of mind, our locations are equipped with top-of-the-line security features including security-controlled gate access, motion-sensitive lighting, 24-hour camera monitoring, and perimeter alarms. Many of our locations also offer electronic coded access specific to each tenant. To find a self-storage unit, visit our locations page or call 1-866-327-LOCK to speak to a representative today!
