Tips for Storage

While we take utmost care to keep your goods safe with us, we recommend you follow certain dos and don’ts when you choose to rent a storage unit. Let us begin with what precautions you must take:

Don’t cover you belongings in plastic because it retains moisture
Do not store food items
Do not pack boxes, especially books, that are too heavy to carry
Check with your policy holder if the insurance will cover your belongings when in storage
Do not wrap items using printed newspaper
Clean your appliances before you store them
Do not store flammable items or toxins

Here Is What You Should Do

Major Self Storage in Saint John’s strives to make your storage experience a hassle-free one. In addition to our efforts, we encourage you to undertake the following steps for safety of your belongings:

Keep your items off the floor of the unit using pallets, 2x4’s, or plywood
Make a plan and utilize all the space in your unit - this will help you avoid rearranging your unit Leave an aisle, preferably in the centre, to reach the back of the unit; we recommend using freestanding shelves
Make a list of the items you are storing and label the boxes on all sides - this will help you find your items easily
Keep your boxes light enough to carry and always stack the light boxes on the heavier ones to prevent them from being crushed
Keep your boxes off the floor
Use the front of the storage unit for frequently used items
Use moving pads, sheets, or light blankets to protect your items
Check your unit once in a month
To save space, disassemble items such as bed frames and tables and remember to wrap and label every piece for ease of reassembling when required
Put all hardware in bags and mark the bags appropriately
In case of disassembling electronics, such as stereos and computers, colour-match the cord with stickers; we recommend you use the original boxes of your electronic items
Clean all appliances and leave them ajar to prevent mildew
Store couches towards the end of the unit and stack chairs seat-to-seat, but remember to use paper pads while stacking furniture
You can use the inside of drawers and appliances to store smaller items
Wrap mattresses and box springs, and store them on long edges. Make sure to elevate off the floor. Use two or three 2 x 4’s cut to 1 foot long.
For metal tools, bicycles, and equipment, rub a small amount of machine oil to prevent rusting
Clean all debris from equipment, especially lawnmowers
Group breakables together and mark these boxes separately; tape these after wrapping to prevent mistaking them for excess paper
You can use bubble wrap or unprinted paper for wrapping fragile items
Use wardrobe boxes or hangers for clothing and drapery - this helps retain their original shape
Use Rubbermaid type containers because they stack easily and have tight-fitting lids
Keep valuable items towards the rear end of the unit so that they are not easily visible
Keep out-of-season clothes accessible as you may have your belongings in your storage for a longer period than you expect
Stay aware of your surroundings when you are in your unit; in case of a potential problem or suspicious activity, make sure to alert our office