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Save money by making the most from self-storage

Self-storage really can offer great ways to store your domestic valuables and business assets at ridiculously low prices. And it is all so easy. Just find a storage provider near you, rent out a unit, fill it up and relax. That’s it. The self-storage company will keep it safe and accessible for when you need to get to your stuff again.

Ok that’s easy, but there are ways to make the storage process even more streamlined and in the long run – save even more money. Take a look at our clever ideas for making more room in your unit, store your valuables safely and make the best of what is open to you:

First of all, a cardboard box may seem boring, but they are not all the same. The cheaper cardboard boxes, or the ones you are likely to get free from supermarkets tend to be very weak. They will crush easily and so will not protect your valuables well -especially if they are going to be stacked. Invest in double strength cardboard boxes. They are more resilient and longer lasting too. Think about the size of the box. You may be able to get more in a big box but heavy boxes are difficult to carry and move around. Smaller boxes are easier to transport and easier to stack.

You may be storing temporarily or for long-term. Either way it is likely you may need access to some of your storage sometime. So organise your storage. Try to keep to certain categories in each box and label what each box contains. Divide up your unit space so that certain categories can be found easily. Leave an aisle between your valuables so everything is accessible and keep a map of where categories can be found.

Us the storage space you already have. If you have luggage, or dressers and wardrobes with drawers, use this space to store your smaller valuables.

Nowadays most furniture can be disassembled to a degree. This can really offer a great deal more space in your unit. But be careful. When they were originally assembled you had a manual. Now you have to rely on common sense. Keeping a disassembly cheat sheet is essential. Don’t forget to keep screws bolts and nuts somewhere safe.

Blankets, sheets and cloths can take up a lot of space. Vacuum bags keep your belongings neat and tidy and also very flat – therefore creating much more room. Your valuables are also now protected from dust and damp.

Whatever the reason you need that little bit of extra space – self -storage can provide the answer and at a price you can afford. It is flexible to allow access at any time and offers the kind of security that gives you peace of mind. To learn more about Need A Space based in Faversham in Kent click here

Top 10 tips for packing a removals van

removals van The more you repeat an activity, the easier it becomes and the more skilled you are at doing it. Unfortunately, (or perhaps we should say fortunately due to all the stress involved) moving home is one of those things you do not do on a regular basis. The majority of people will not have to go through it more than 2 or 3 times in their lives. So, at a time when you need to cut costs, look after your most valuable possessions and take your life up by the roots, here is a little guidance to make sure you stay on track.

When looking at the physical side of moving we tend to concentrate on the movement of valuables from the old house to the van and the movement from the van to the new house. Why should you worry too much about the van when professionals are involved? Funnily enough, we do still worry when our precious possessions are in the hands of someone else. The fact is you can cut the cost of moving by using your own van. Here at Need A Space, we offer the use of a free van when you use our storage facilities for a period of two months.

So, if you are going to do the moving yourself or want to make sure Mr Shifter is doing his job right or if you are moving valuables for storage often, here are a few tips to get you on your way:

Loading onto the van, arranging where the items will go and taking the items off the other end can be physically exhausting. Especially when you are dealing with heavy stuff. Make sure you understand how to lift safely and will not overstretch yourself. It is a good idea to have a friend or colleague who can spread the load.

It is also likely to be time-consuming, so get a good idea how long it is going to take to load, unload and store, so you can pace yourself and keep the cost of the van hire as low as possible.

To maximize space, fill the front of the van first and work back.

Keep white goods such as fridges, dishwashers and ovens etc upright (make sure the fridge was de-frosted at least two days before). Spread the weight of the heavier items throughout the van.

To use ceiling space, you are going to need to stack items. Always place the heaviest items on the bottom. Make sure each item is secure with a straps, tapes or cords.

Use soft items such as cushions, duvets, etc. to protect more vulnerable items such as mirrors.

Turn furniture with drawers towards the wall of the van. This way drawers will not open and put the chest of drawers at risk of becoming unstable. However, it is also useful to tape drawers shut for extra safety.

Utilise the bigger furniture to transport the little stuff. For instance, the drawers under your bed can be used to great effect.

Label all boxes and stack them so the heaviest boxes are at the bottom. Ensure all boxes are wedged or strapped in tightly.

Pack the kettle and cups last (or other items you will need first on arrival) so they are easy to get to.
Don’t take any risks with a large vehicle you do not feel safe in driving. Make sure you have an appropriate licence and it is highly recommended you take the van out first to get used to the overall feel of the drive before you start packing.

To learn more about how Need A Space self-storage can help businesses in Kent and the London area click here

How Need A Space can help London businesses save money now

self-storage

There is no doubt that when starting-up a business one of the first factors which needs to be taken into consideration – especially if you are providing a physical product – is your location. Your organisation needs to be where your target market is. Of course, in the 21^st century, the internet, websites and social media make marketing and communications so much simpler and can turn a restricted area into a global marketplace, but business headquarters still need to be in an accessible location. For the sake of effective product flow, assets, suppliers and distributors need to be accessed with ease and at the least expense.

In the UK there is nowhere quite like London. Just to have a business in London is likely to draw respect, interest, investment and talent. This is all very well – but with large towns and cities, rents are always higher than their rural counterparts. London is the same but on a massive scale.

If you want to have your business in arguably the most commercial region in the UK (if not Europe) then you are going to have to pay for it. For businesses it is the most expensive place to set up and develop. One way the establishment attempts to offset this is by using “London Weighting” (higher salaries than the rest of the UK in comparable occupations if you are working in London) but there still remains the enormous problem of high rents.

How can businesses which need to keep a considerable amount of stock, make healthy profits when they are paying London storage prices?

Need A Space self-storage may have the answer.

Cheaper self-storage in Kent

Situated in the heart of Kent (located on the outskirts of Faversham and Canterbury) Need A Space self-storage facility is within easy reach of the London catchment area which means we can cut storage costs enormously, saving managers huge amounts on their annual budget. Just take a look at some of our facilities:

Over 40,000 feet of self-storage space for start-ups and SME’s, to corporate business and global enterprise
Free van. We can supply a Luton tail lift van for a whole day to help with large removals and awkward bulky goods.
Secure mailbox to filter business communications or create an anonymous business mailing address.
Clean dry self-storage units for all your business archives.
Flexible working hours means you can access your stored items whenever you wish.
Forklift truck services
Parking bays and convenient loading bays
Friendly staff available for support and advice.
Unbeatable security which includes, CCTV, high security infrared beams, state of the art alarm systems and perimeter fencing.

Quality archive storage and cheaper rates

Extra storage is needed only too often in modern business. Documents need to be archived and if this takes place on the main business property it can take up a great deal of useful (and high rental!) property space.

Easy access, flexible opening hours

Businesses which have a seasonal element or use valuable equipment documents and tools for a minimal part of the year will need somewhere to house that paraphernalia somewhere which is secure, and accessible.

Currently we have many business clients who are based in London and have decided to use our storage facilities here in Kent to cut down on overheads such as storage. With all the facilities such as free van hire, forklift truck services and flexible opening hours, our clients know their items will be easy to store and accessible in business hours.

To learn more phone us on 01227 751673 or check out our website by clicking here

Packing a removals van: the Need A Space guide

We pride ourselves on being able to provide everything you are going to need to store your precious valuables and business assets here at Need A Space in Canterbury. As well as offering competitive prices for secure storage space, we can also help you with packing materials, supportive staff, a fork lift tuck and mail boxes, we also provide a removals van.

But moving your valuables can be an awe-inspiring task. There is a skill to loading up a removals van so that you use your space and time efficiently and do not risk breaks, loss and damages. With that in mind here are our top tips for getting your removals to storage safe and sound:

Don’t try and do all of the lifting and loading onto the van yourself. If you are going to be dealing with heavyweight commodities make sure you have assistance from individuals who are able to deal with the weights involved over a long period of time. Don’t forget you will be moving out, loading, unloading and storing. This can be a long and tiring process and needs to be done in one hit where possible or you could have to pay more in van hire. Consider having individuals on the van for loading and others for shifting stuff out to the van.
In order to maximize your space, fill the front of the van first and work back.
Keep white goods such as fridges, dishwashers and ovens etc upright (make sure the fridge was de-frosted at least two days before). Spread the weight of the heavier items throughout the van.
To use ceiling space you are going to need to stack items. Always place the heaviest items on the bottom. Make sure each item is secure with a straps, tapes or cords.
Use softer items to protect more vulnerable items. For instance, you can use sofa cushions to protect mirrors. Other useful domestic items which can be used for packing if you are moving house are mattresses, blankets, and pillows.
Where items have drawers (i.e. chest of drawers), push them up against the side of the van and turn inwards to the van wall. This way the drawers cannot open. Save space again by filling the drawers with smaller items.
Label all your boxes and stack them so the heaviest boxes are at the bottom. Ensure all boxes are wedged or strapped in tightly.

Hope this helps! Please do not hesitate to ask our supportive staff for guidance!

To learn more about how Need A Space self-storage can help businesses in Kent and the London area click here

Be safe when moving heavy stuff in self-storage

self-storage Faversahm

At Need A Space self-storage we try to make everything as simple as possible when you want to move and store your precious domestic and business valuables. We provide all the equipment and assets such as forklift truck use, van hire, unloading areas and parking to make the project go as swiftly and easily as possible. We also as much support on site as possible. You will find staff who can offer advice and guidance.

However, as much as we will ensure that your valuables are safe (we use CCTV, high security infrared beams, state of the art alarm systems, and perimeter fencing) we want to make sure you stay physically safe when you may be doing a lot of heavy lifting. So here is our guidance for moving some of that heavy stuff:

Before you consider lifting

Check the route

You need to have an idea as to how far you will be taking the heavy object. Is this something you can manage? Check out the route you will be taking and if there are any obstacles in the way. You do not want to be continuously picking up and putting the object down so wedge doors open where you can. Make sure you are aware of sudden slopes and steps. Especially the small ones.

The easiest hold

Check the item to see if it has easy to hold handles. Even cardboard boxes are sometimes equipped with side handles to make them easier to pick up.

Will you be able to see?

When you pick up the item will it restrict your view? Consider the height of the object and whether you will be able to see in front of you when in hold. If you cannot see clearly in front of you do not attempt to move the object – you will need another method.

Can you cope with the weight?

Is the weight acceptable? If you feel strained on lifting – don’t do it. You either need to move the item with someone else or use a piece of equipment to move it.

Ready your muscles

If moving extra heavy objects, or a lot of objects, it may be a good idea to do some warm up exercises beforehand to avoid cramp.

Lifting safely

Position your feet evenly either side of the object at about shoulder width apart. Squat to the floor by bending the knees. Never bend your back and raise. Take hold of the object and spread the weight evenly – ensure you feel balanced. While keeping the object close to the body straighten your legs to stand up. This way you are not putting strain on any other parts of your body – only your legs. When placing the object down do the process in reverse. Bend at the legs to place the object on the ground.

Based in the heart of Kent, and situated on the outskirts of Faversham and Canterbury, Need A Space is conveniently located for both local county and South London clients. Looking for storage space in Faversham Canterbury or Herne Bay? To learn more about how Need A Space self-storage can help businesses in Kent and the London area click here

Security is an essential factor for Self-Storage

secutity Trusting your valuables with a company you know very little about can be very anxiety provoking if you do not do your research properly beforehand. Here at Need A Space our experience of twenty years has told us that the reason we have loyal clients who continuously come back to us is because security, privacy, and confidentiality at the core of our of our services.

Safe storage for precious valuables and business assets

For both businesses and domestic clients alike, the valuables placed with us in storage is not the overspill that should really be going in the loft before it’s thrown out. They tend to be important assets that owners need access to. It could be valuable assets as a company grows, essential materials for sales to help with geographical issues, it could be business archives, or furniture during a house sale – the list is endless.

Need A Space self-storage is based in Canterbury in Kent and we service such areas as Faversham, Herne Bay and surrounding locations. We also welcome clients from London who are looking for cheaper self-storage deals outside of the City. But how do you find a company you can trust if you are located outside of these areas? Here are a few factors we employ and we would recommend you look out for in your search.

Have they been passed by “checkatrade”? This is a great place to start as any company that has this logo on their stationary or website needs to keep up to standards made by this review company.
How many keys are there to your storage unit/s? For ultimate safety there should only be one key which you will hold yourself.
How does the company ensure security over the whole facility? Do they take it seriously? At Need A Space we have a CCTV surveillance security system operating inside and out 24/7.
How does the company deal with emergencies such as an attempted break-in or fire prevention? There should be both robust burglar alarm and fire systems.
Is the company using the most up to date technology? Here at Need A Space we recently installed high security infra-red beams as an extra layer of safety.
Can anyone get into the facility unnoticed? There should be powerful structures to keep unwanted persons out. You should be seeing something like security fencing around the outside of the storage facility.

It’s always worth looking for those important accessories. At Need A Space we also offer secure mailboxes. This is useful when your own domestic postal address is not safe or you are in transition, or as a secondary safe mail address for your business.

Looking for storage space in Faversham Canterbury or Herne Bay? To learn more about how Need A Space self-storage can help businesses in Kent and the London area click here

How to maximise space in your self-storage units

self-storage kent

Space to store your valuable business assets or precious valuables costs money and is often in very short supply so you need to make sure that every inch of that space is used to the best possible effect. With that in mind, here are 6 top tips for making the most of your storage area:

Think vertically. There is a tendency when using self-storage to store everything on a single level. This is a terrible waste – you do not want to have to be buying extra units. So before you even start storing, map out what needs to be stored. What can be stacked? You have to think about safety here so ensure that anything on a second or third level cannot topple, sits squarely on goods below and is not too heavy up top. Your bottom level should be the heaviest goods and each level above it should get progressively lighter.

The Tardis effect. Some of the goods you will store are great storage systems in themselves. For instance, a wardrobe, a set of drawers or an appliance such as a fridge or an oven will allow you to store a whole host of things. But the key here is remembering what you have put where, so they are accessible in the future. For instance, fill fridges with a set category: i.e. kitchen goods. Label everything and keep a record as to where you will find everything. Also, as a safety concern, don’t make furniture so heavy that you cannot lift them or have to empty them to get them out again.

Fold it down. A great deal of furniture nowadays is designed to be stored away. Sometimes when we have had furniture in place in our homes for long periods we forget this, so get to grips with folding it down as small as possible. There are all kinds of little techniques you can think of: for instance, even a bed’s legs are removable. Once the legs are taken down it can easily be stored against a wall.

Talking of legs…where furniture needs to be stored in its natural state (i.e. standing up!) use the space between the legs to create a new level of storage.

As much as you want to create as much space as possible do not forget that you need to get back in to retrieve your valuables. So leave space for manoeuvre.

Easy Access. Always place the possessions you are most likely to need most frequently at the front of the storage area for easy accessibility.

Looking for storage space in Faversham Canterbury or Herne Bay? To learn more about how Need A Space self-storage can help businesses in Kent and the London area click here

Packing tips for a safe house move!

There is sometimes a tendency to focus entirely on getting everything packed in the smallest number of boxes whatever the cost. Not only could this be a problem with the overall process and increase cost (see below) but you could also be putting your own health at risk. You may have professional movers to help you move the stuff n the big day, but it is likely you are going to need to move stuff around to make it accessible when you finally move. You will be doing a lot of lifting in a short period of time. Make sure you understand safe lifting principles, so you don’t do yourself a mischief! Take a look here for further info.

A box is more than just a box

Cardboard boxes have had a bit of a bad press, but as with everything, if you buy cheap expect to get what you pay for. Don’t forget the box not only needs to hold your valuables it needs to be able to withstand transit and other boxes or objects being placed upon it. Take a look at our online box supplies. Also, your average common or garden box comes in different strengths as well as sizes. A large box that is also quite weak is a problem because you may only be able to fill a portion of it before the cardboard begins to strain. Also, if the box is big and too heavy it maybe too difficult to lift. Sometimes small strong boxes are the best option.

Secure those flaps

Many boxes are designed to have interlocking flaps but this is not secure on its own and can make the box weak when moved from place to place. Always use strong quality tape to stick down open ends of the box (and the bottom)

Don’t have a smashing time!

With breakables such as glass, porcelain and crockery it is a good idea to bed the bottom of the box first of all with scrunched up paper. Cover this layer with a layer of paper and start packing your heaviest items by wrapping them well in newspaper. Between each layer of articles place a layer of scrunched up paper. At the top should be your smaller lighter items.

Name that box!

Don’t forget you need to know where everything is for easy access at any time within your self-storage unit, so label each box. Try and ensure contents of each box have some relevance to each other for easy labelling.

Get the right filler

You need filler within the boxes to prevent your valuables colliding with each other in transit and to prevent the box crushing easily. Use filler such as bubble wrap to take up that extra space. Remember only to use proper filler material as it could get into the workings of appliances.

Think digital safety

Protect monitors, screens, scanner glass and other fragile parts with cardboard or pieces of bubble wrap or foam and tape. Mark glass parts as fragile to avoid leaning heavy objects against them.

For more Packaging tips from Need A Space click here

To check out our packaging products click here

To learn more about our Self – storage services in Faversham, Whitstable and Canterbuty click here

Finding space for your business archive...

archive self-storge

There will always be a need to archive business documents. Many documents can be stored in the cloud on the computer but for various business reasons there has to be original documents in hard copy. Perhaps it is for tax purposes (invoices, receipts, communications etc), customer agreements, past transactions or confidential client information. Whatever the reason, it needs to be stored where it will not physically deteriate, it is easily accessible and most of all safe and secure.

Archiving in a small office can be inefficient and prevent business growth

As a small business grows, it becomes more and more apparent that the broom cupboard, even if it does have lock and key, is not fit for purpose. In bigger offices old documents and archives can begin to take over a huge amount of space. Cataloguing becomes random and difficult and storage gets in the way of normal processes causing chaos. If there is insufficient storage within your organisation you may want to consider self-storage facilities in your area. Here at Need A Space in Canterbury Kent we offer storage space for both business and domestic needs. But what is the best way to store those infuriating but precious pieces of paper?

4 top tips for archiving your documents

Security: Check with your self-storage provider to find out what security provisions are in place. Many business documents and records are confidential and need to be private. Need A Space offer CCTV, a perimeter fence, high-security infra-red beams and state of the art alarm systems.

Label boxes. As well as easy access you need to know where each and every document is. So however short of time you may be, have a clear labelling system.

Office filing system: It is often useful to use an office filing system twinned with the labelling system you use at the self – storage outlet. For instance, labelling a box by a number and then put the relevant details on an excel sheet which is easily accessible in the office.

Be cost effective: Always find a self-storage unit close to your office for obvious reasons, but in some cases (especially with documents which need to be archived for long periods and do not necessarily need frequent access) consider storing outside of your location. For instance, London prices are high, but by storing down here in Kent you could make quite a saving.

The Need A Space quick removals guide

removals guide Need A Space offers more than just self-storage. Our team is well aware that many of the customers using our facilities are often going through the biggest and most stressful project of their lives. That is why, as well as offering a van for rent, we also offer a highly professional and cost-effective removals service. We want to get you there with as little stress as possible and with your budget still intact.

But we hope we can offer you great guidance as well. You can see advice about moving on the big day on the removals page on our website – but preparation needs to start long before that. So, lets look at the factors you need to have in place as you approach the big day:

Pets get stressed too

How can you make it as easy as possible for them? Consider placing them in kennels or a cattery in the area where you will be located. This way they will not feel the impact of the big change so much on the big day. Also, if there are smells (toys, favourite blankets etc) in the new house from the old home – this will help them to settle in much faster.

Leave the kitchen sink

This is a great time to sift through your possessions and decide what you want to keep. This does not necessarily mean you will be throwing stuff away. Consider sending valuables to charity or putting them up for sale to make an extra bit of money.

Packing up

Start packing up well in advance of the moving date. The best strategy is to go through the house room by room and leave the rooms you use most (like the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom) until last. Label each box with its contents and where it will be going in the new home.

I know where I’m going…

Make sure you distribute your change of address and contact details to your friends and companies who will be still offering a service at your new address. Take advantage of the Royal Mail re-location service which for a small fee will, for an agreed period, redirect post to your new address.

Arrange for meter readings and service disconnections

You are going to need to disconnect fundamental supply’s such as energy and water. You may need to arrange these in advance as you do not particularly want it all to happen on the day you leave. Get your final meter readings.

Think digital

If you rely on broadband and digital services make sure that they are available and can be set up easily at your new home.

Organize how your stuff will be packed

Liaise with your removals company. They should come out to you, in order to get a good idea as to how much has to be moved and the type of possessions that need to be transported. For instance, some companies have a special clothes rail on board. Check out how they will transport your most vulnerable assets.

Need A Space self-storage offer removals services in the Kent area. To learn more click here

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Tel: 01227 751673 Mobile: 07841 260 500 Adrress: 1-5, Thunderhill Business Park, Hickmans Green, Boughton-under-Blean, Faversham ME13 9NT

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