In Montreal, more and more people are living in condos to be closer to the office or school. But living in a small home also means having to cram all your stuff in every nook and cranny you can find. But what if you have so many belongings in your home and there’s no longer any space to put them? The best solution would be to sell or give-away what you don’t really use. However, if this is not an option then getting a storage unit in Montreal is the next best thing.

Before you start looking for self-storage choices, take a look at some invaluable tips to keep your belongings safe while in storage:

1. Choose wisely.

You should get quotes from at least 3 rental facilities but you also need to think beyond the price. Pick a location that is near your home or office so you don’t have to drive too far every time you need to put or take out things from your unit. Also check if the facility is a member of a professional association. In doing so, you’ll be assured that they abide by a code of ethics and follow certain standards.

2. Consider the environment.

Extreme temperatures can pose a risk of damage to your possessions especially your furniture and electronics. Choose a facility that provides environmentally controlled units so that the temperature remains constant regardless of the weather conditions. You also want to make sure that the storage facility has proper pest control measures so to prevent rats, ants, termites and other pests from damaging your things.

3. Insure your possessions.

Insurance means added costs but it’s well worth the few extra dollars you’ll spend each month. If something is valuable to you, then you need to insure it accordingly. Anything can happen to your belongings in a storage facility – disasters can strike so you want to make sure all your possessions are covered.

4. Properly store them.

Before you put your things inside your storage unit, you need to clean them and organize them accordingly. Wrap your clothes, linen and draperies in plastic; place small items in bins, and cover furniture so they don’t get damaged or dirty. You can purchase storage supplies from the storage facility or you can also use your boxes and containers at home for this purpose.

5. Label your belongings.

At some point in the future, you’ll want to take out a few things from your storage unit. For example, you might want to re-use an old piece of furniture when remodeling your home. Or perhaps you are going camping this weekend and you’ll need to take out your camping gear. To avoid having to remove everything in the unit one by one, you should label your items properly. You should also arrange them based on how frequently you think you’ll be using them. Put the things you will likely use close to the door. Keep a checklist of what you have put inside your self-storage unit as well.

Hopefully, with these tips, your home will look more spacious, clean and organized. If you have some ideas and advice to share, please leave a comment below.