Made a storage space reservation at Life Storage? The premise behind this technique is using four empty boxes for sorting — a keep, toss, donate/sell, and store box. Most of it I had just forgotten about. And it is a lot cheaper than to throw items away and then rebuy them later, so you’re getting the most for your money. It is a tried and true strategy for clearing out closets, it will most definitely help you clear out your indoor storage unit. As things went along, it was easier and easier to donate the items. Organize and Prioritize Your Self Storage Rental. We have talked about why you might need a storage unit, and we have also talked about how to organize your storage space. If you won the unit at auction, you might have to do this process quickly and in less detail. Consider the following steps to assess the unit: Keep a pen and paper on hand and jot down some large items you can see immediately. As The Inefficiency Assassin™, Time Management Fixer Helene Segura empowers professionals on the go with the tools to slay lost time. All units are sold “AS IS” (this falls under being in the Right Frame of Mind), Always call the facility before you head out to retrieve your treasures! Remember, you must clean out your unit and pick up your mess during business hours. You will save valuable time an money if you get everything you need before you start. She is also a contributing writer at The Spruce and Martha Stewart. We made 4 piles … right there at the self storage unit – 1 for people we know, 1 for donate, 1 for garbage/recycle and 1 for keep. As I sorted each box, I kept a critical eye and thought about the last time I used or even saw the item. Making sure that the facility is safe and secure will help you have low maintenance time consumption. Need Fast Storage Unit Clean Out? If you have a storage unit and have items you are no longer using and want to clear it out and save some money (the average storage bill is about $2,500 a year! Hire a junk removal company if necessary. Facility dumpsters or trash cans may not be used. Lauren Thomann has written about self storage and moving since 2015, making her our storage expert. January 12, 2021 January 3, 2019. Now It is time to talk about the least fun aspect of storage, or life generally if we are being perfectly honest. You may need to clear out the unit immediately and sort through the items at a separate location. We will filter through everything as you stand there and tell us what stays and what goes, and what goes we can lift and load into the trucks for you, (we don’t want our customers lifting even a finger). Find creative ways to get rid of storage unit stuff. At LoadUp, our costs typically run 20% – 30% less than other storage unit clean out companies. This response is natural, so don’t beat yourself up if you become emotional if you inherited a storage unit or used one to store items from a loved one. Use GoShare to hire 1-2 delivery professionals with a truck or cargo van to help you clean out your storage unit. So, be sure to clean it up. Remove the lock – The lock on your self-storage space belongs to you so be sure to take it with you so you can use it again. Failure to clean the unit within 24 to 48 hours of the purchase is a sure-fire way to get yourself un-invited from future auctions. Since the professional organizer has no attachment to the items in your storage unit, they can help you make rational decisions about whether you should keep, toss, sell, or donate an item in question. About Helene Segura. 2. Open as many boxes as you can and take a quick inventory of the contents. Someone who cleans out areas for a living will keep you on task and help you from getting distracted. Using storage to clear away any of the stuff you had left over from Christmas is one of the most effective and secure ways to do so. Popular online venues include Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. If you’ve gone through the above steps and find yourself stuck, you may want to enlist a. . How to Pick the Best Storage Unit Size for Your Needs, How Does Self Storage Work? Divide and Conquer. Find your local store’s contact information for more guidance. , which will include anything that is broken beyond repair. is an effective way to sort through and clean out items on a grand scale. Think about how you can get rid of stuff, so you don’t create a mess elsewhere. It was revised on August 21, 2020. The cleaning deposit does NOT allow a bidder to leave items behind in the unit, please make sure you clean it out completely and the Cleaning Deposit will be refunded. Are you familiar with the chaos and dread associated with a storage unit cleanout? This will ensure that the Cleanout Time required is met. You also can’t block anyone else’s unit with your stuff. Knowing when the time has come to part with some of your little treasures. Our courteous, professional junk removal teams will handle all your items with care and work quickly and efficiently to clear out your unwanted belongings in no time at all! These would be things like baby pictures and favorite toys things that cannot be replaced. There are several ways to sell items from a storage unit. 1. Here are some important pointers to remember while decluttering: Start with one small area at a time and finish sorting it before going on to another. If you’re cleaning out your storage unit for good, consider relocating storage boxes to a garage or basement. The path to a tidier storage unit is to head to your self storage rental and begin to sort through the items inside. Having a rough inventory before you start sorting the items will help you know what work you have ahead of you. Furthermore, you will find it far easier to actually declutter and clean up if you are organized and label everything. If you need your storage unit cleaned out and are under a deadline, call College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving® today! Sweep it out and clean up any spills. Try not to transport too many items back home. This step applies whether you inherited a storage space, got it at auction, or had it sitting for months. Some common sorting methods people use when cleaning out storage units include making a donation, junk, and “keep” pile. Sort stuff into categories like keep, sell, toss. You don’t want to be inhaling all that dust. The unit should be left in the exact same condition that you found it. With our “one-of-a-kind” nationwide network of local Loaders, we’re able to offer a faster, more affordable service. Before you clean out your unit, make a mental note of the following: You may need more than one day to clean out your storage unit thoroughly. Even task-oriented people can get sidetracked. This is what these units are most ideal for but do not make financial sense over the long-term. Garages, Storage Units, & Attics Let Us Clean Out Your Garage, Storage Unit, or Attic A quick and easy solution for cleaning out your garage or attic Few homes in Texas have basements to store things in. These steps will show you how to clean out a storage unit and filter through unwanted junk quickly. Our Life Storage team knows who is the best in your area at cleaning out storage units. This will make the process easier and stress free. Hiring someone is especially useful if you don’t have anyone able to help you or aren’t physically capable of cleaning out yourself. Smart Auction Buyers know that to be successful at cleaning out a unit, you need be in the Right Frame of Mind, have Tools of the Trade, create a Strategy Plan and Organize the Clean Out. Take an inventory of storage unit contents. Learn more tips on how to use the four-box declutter method. Keep reading and find out the best way to clear out your storage area or your storage unit with ease. Practical Bathroom Organization Ideas for Real Life... How to Pack Dishes for Moving and Shipping, How to Keep Your House Organized Easily All Week Long. If you followed the steps above, you should have the storage unit organized into four sections (toss, keep, store, sell/donate). Select one of the categories to clean it up. 7. Learn more tips on how to use the four-box declutter method, The biggest storage unit clean-out mistake is not getting the job done in the scheduled time frame. Avoid Throwing Items Away . Remember that cleaning out sentimental items can be an overwhelming process. Great - let's find it for you! After all, what is a closet but an indoor storage unit in the home? The first thing you should do is scan the unit and take an immediate inventory of what’s inside. The result: everything seems to end up in our garages and attics. Even task-oriented people can get sidetracked. Here’s What You Need to Know, Self Storage FAQs – Renting a Storage Unit, Create a Realistic Moving Budget Using This Guide. includes items you can remove from your storage unit and bring home. Skip this step if the boxes are already labeled. Smart Auction Buyers know that to be successful at cleaning out a unit, you need be in the Right Frame of Mind, have Tools of the Trade, create a Strategy Plan and Organize the Clean Out. Create an open space inside or outside the unit. Get everything you need in advance. This inventory will help you answer that question. You could sell the entire unit through an auction company, or you could sell each item individually. We never anticipated having a storage unit for long but month after month (and 1 1/2 years later) we found we were still shelling out $77 every month for it (!). Update: This post originally published on July 21, 2017. After you've finished cleaning the inside of the unit, you can individually clean and dust the items that you've taken out, before you organize them and place them back inside the storage unit. If there isn’t any room inside the unit, you can set up a temporary pop-up canopy and process items outside the space. If you’d prefer the old fashioned route, you could always set up a garage sale. In a nutshell, this is how you can successfully clear out a self storage unit, which will lead to less stress and increased productivity! If you won the unit at auction, you might have to do this process quickly and in less detail. Get Rid of More for Less! If you have more valuable items, consider selling on eBay or Etsy. If you won the storage unit at an auction, determine how much time you have to empty the unit. Popular online venues include, This guide will show you how to find the value of antique furniture. Will you need extra people? This guide will show you how to find the value of antique furniture. Finding a few hundred dollars worth […] Clearing your storage is not hard if you prepare in advance. Organizing and cataloging the contents will give you clarity on what needs to stay and what needs to go. Having gloves is also a good idea, and also do some cleaning before you pack and clear out the storage unit. Take an inventory of storage unit contents. (480) 397-6503 or support@storagetreasures.com, The Best Strategies For Cleaning Out A Unit. Latest Posts. 5. Make three piles, the first pile are things that you absolutely must keep. Pick a time to do the actual clean out and come back equipped with moving supplies, garbage bags, labels, and sorting totes. Instead of trying to accomplish a lot in a little amount of time, break up your clean out process into small and manageable tasks over a period of time. Best Price Guaranteed. ), you can pocket that money and save by using our fast, friendly, storage unit removal service. Since we do a lot of storage unit clean out service jobs all over the state, there are many suggestions to offer but we’ve boiled all the information down into a short field guide. Tap “Clear Storage” or “Clear Cache.” Be aware that selecting “Clear Storage” will reset the app, signing you out, and clearing all data. Below are five easy steps to getting your storage unit organized and clear of unused and unimportant items. Do you need to get rid of storage unit stuff? Call 844-464-7868 or Book Online. LoadUp will clean out your storage unit when it’s convenient for you, no matter the condition or location. It is important to remove everything from the unit, or you will likely be charged a hefty cleaning fee by the storage facility. Start planning your clean out strategy before you win an auction. Talk about a waste of money! When the organizing stage is complete, it’s time to remove everything. Professional organizers are especially helpful when cleaning out estates. When to Clear Out a Storage Unit. The Four-Box Declutter Method is an effective way to sort through and clean out items on a grand scale. If you have a lot of valuable items, it might make sense to rent the storage unit for an additional month while you sell off some items. Step One: Tools Of The Trade In order to clean out a storage unit properly, you should create a “Clean Out Tool Kit.” Tap one of the apps. Some storage facilities also do occasional flea markets, so you could ask a storage manager if this is ever an option. Cleaning and emptying a storage unit you inherited, won at auction, or haven’t visited in years is not always an exciting task. Because you have the only key, if you leave your lock on, the space is still occupied by you even if you know there is nothing inside. This step applies whether you inherited a storage space, got it at auction, or had it sitting for months. Here are a several that might help with your Cleanout Strategy Plan. If space is limited, carve out one free corner, which will become your processing area for step three. The biggest storage unit clean-out mistake is not getting the job done in the scheduled time frame. In this example, we see music apps as we’re cleaning up the audio files. Someone who cleans out areas for a living will keep you on task and help you from getting distracted. So we paid $1,386 to store our crap. How Much Are My Fees If I Win An Auction? You could sell the entire unit through an auction company, or you could sell each item individually. Consider making a plan before starting your cleaning process. With this, you can go to your storage unit whenever you want to pick up whatever item you need. Unless you plan on having your storage unit featured on an episode of Storage Wars, why not save yourself some money and let the Geniuses clean out your old storage unit? Good luck! (Unit might have been canceled), Cash – bring the correct clean-out deposit and “Total Due at Facility” amount owed (most facilities do not have change), The cleaning deposit is returned once the facility verifies the unit is empty and in “broom-swept condition”, All unit(s) contents must be removed from the facility premises. With all of the contents unloaded, sweep out the entire unit with a broom. Numerous companies can help you get rid of storage unit contents without you needing to lift a finger. What you’ve likely discovered is storage units are supposed to be short-term solutions. Clean out your storage unit floors, walls and ceiling using your broom and mop at your leisure. If you’re ready to sell that junk in your storage unit, the first thing you have to do … Count the number of boxes and write down how many you’ll need to sort through to estimate how much time the clean-out will take. Plan accordingly, so you have all the time you need and more to dedicate to the job. Trying to clean out your storage unit in one day is hard and stressful. 3. It may be helpful to have more than one person on hand. To implement a plan, pay attention to the Unit Size and Cleanout Time, found on the “Storage Auction Details” page. And trust us, you will be around every single object in there a lot. Assess your storage unit and make a list of the types of items to be sorted Make different piles according to your needs. You can schedule your storage unit cleanout in advance or on-demand. Our Friendly Team is Happy to Meet All of Your Needs! She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and Linguistics and has published over 150 articles on moving, storage, and home organization. Make quick notes next to each box if you see something valuable, fragile, or otherwise significant. Good luck! To conclude – the best way to avoid having to clear out your storage unit too often is to have a good storage unit. *head shakes with disgust* I justified it just like it's so easy to do with so many other things. Stand Up Guys will come out and completely clean out your storage unit for you, and clear your mind of the nuisance, and for a great price to boot. You will see a list of apps associated with the category. Your local Life Storage facility will have information about storage unit clean-out services on hand. To lessen the chances of being overwhelmed, it’s essential to prepare yourself for what’s to come. Remove all of the items from your unit and place them outside of the locker while you clean. 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