Seasonal Storage Made Easy

Are you tired of climbing into the attic before and after every season? Do you have to climb over things in your basement or garage to locate your seasonal items? Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an easy and convenient way to store your seasonal items?

A solution to the seasonal storage blues is a PODS® weather resistant container. The container is ideal as you can keep it as long as you need, so you can take your time moving items in and out of your container (as you enjoy decorating for the holiday season). And, there are several sizes available to provide you with enough space for all your seasonal items. The other cool part is that a PODS® container is at ground-level, providing you with easy loading and unloading access. So it’s easier to move the Christmas tree that seems to get heavier each year, the giant plastic Santa singing Ho-Ho-Ho, and the large decorative Easter Bunny.

Here are some tips on storing seasonal or holiday items in your container:

First, it’s always important to protect your items, by using bubble wrap, paper, etc. to help you protect your valuables such as ornaments or that holiday cookie jar grandma gave you. If you have an artificial Christmas tree, rubber band like colored limbs together to save yourself the step of sorting next year. Save the original packaging tray for the holiday lights. Repack the Christmas lights by clipping them back into plastic holder they came in. It will make decorating for the holiday next year so much more enjoyable when the Christmas lights are not bundled together representing the size of a pumpkin.

Pack your items by season in sturdy boxes or plastic bins. When the box is packed, label the outside depending on the season, what the items are, and any other distinguishing information. Ex: Halloween – The Great Pumpkin, or Christmas – Ornaments. Next is to create a system for easy seasonal identification. A system that worked well for me was splitting the container into 4 sections – Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring. Then I group all the boxes/items depending on the season.

When each new season comes around and my container is delivered, I can easily distinguish the items I need, but also know that I can take my time loading/unloading.

With these tips, you’ll be ready to start storing your seasonal items.

Storing Valuables and Electronics

When moving, renovating or even when you need to safely stow values and electronics, PODS storage is an easy answer. Nothing can be more devastating when temperature or moisture damage destroys your belongings. Whether they’re more recent acquisitions or heirloom items, storage center features are very important.

Storage with PODS just makes sense. Some highlights of our storage facilities are:

• Secure – Storage centers are accessible by PODS employees and customers. Only you have access to your belongings because only you have a key.
• Climate controlled – Our air conditioned facilities provide you with peace of mind.
• Humidity controlled – If you’re storing items that can warp due to exposure to humidity, choose one of our humidity controlled centers. (Not available in all markets)
• Store more! – We bring your stored items to you!  Whether you need to add more boxes or valuables to your container or you need to remove anything stored,  we’ll bring your container to you, saving you time and money!

In the event that you need to remove a large number of items from your container, don’t even consider renting a moving truck. PODS can deliver your container back to your home or to a new location and you can pack and unpack your container at your leisure.

Kitchen Packing Tips: How to protect your plates and breakables

Preparation is important when packing away your kitchen, especially when faced with how to handle your more fragile kitchenware such as plates, glasses and china.  Knowing this, we’ve put together a few tips to consider when packing your kitchenware:

• Boxes: Always remember to use sturdy, thick boxes. This is one area where you should not skimp. Thick, durable boxes are key to ensuring that when packing fragile items, your boxes do not get smushed, putting pressure on your fragile valuables inside.
• Stock up on Bubble-wrap, Styrofoam (popcorn, peanuts or sheets) or thick packing paper. As well, most moving supply locations also sell handy bubble-wrap sleeves that you can simply slip your plates into, making packing that much easier.
• Top,  Bottom: While conserving your packing materials can sometimes be a priority, try and make sure to always place your bubble-wrap, Styrofoam or packing paper in both the bottom and top of the box to help cushion your fragile items from impact or the usual movement boxes make while in transit.
• The spaces in-between: Remember to place your cushioning material between your plates and glasses, not just between them and the box.

When packing your kitchen supplies, it’s always better to go overboard with caution.

Have your own packing tips when it comes to your fragile belongings?  Let us know!

Moving checklist – don’t forget to…

We’ve covered a number of packing tips – especially for those rooms or areas that are difficult or create paranoia (e.g. – “Oh no, my china!”). Moving advice would not be complete without a reminder for those small things that slip through your memory like a sieve.

1. Forward your mail: What seems obvious to most is often on the bottom of your to-do list.  The USPS website offers an easy, online way to do this. [https://moversguide.usps.com/icoa/flow.do?_flowExecutionKey=_c88DB6BD9-24A8-3F2E-DE33-2E5B0BC05703_kACF70886-82E6-D852-5327-DA58B3C084A5]. Keep in mind, when changing your address, the forward is in place for a maximum of 365 days but for 6 months following that year  maximum, any mail sent to you is returned to sender and they’re notified of your new address, so that’s not half bad.
2. Update any regular bills, subscriptions, deliveries or prescriptions: Remember, after a year, your permanent change of address expires.  Any regular deliveries that haven’t been updated by you personally may begin to return to your old address if not updated by you.
3. Update your Driver’s License: Another very common oversight is your driver’s license. Remember, even if you aren’t leaving the state, it’s against the law to have your incorrect address on your license. Check with your local police department to find out how much time you have before you’ll get in trouble over this one.
4. Insurance: This next one can be a little somber but you should always ensure that documents you’ve signed at work for things like long term disability insurance, your health insurance and your life insurance should be updated when you move. Often times, we’re with the same company for years so you’ll want to ensure that your contact information is up to date for these.
5. Services: These days, many people have bundled packages for things like cable internet (or DSL), telephone and television. You’ll want to call your provider(s) to get these services up and running at your new home.
6. Utilities: Some realtors, mortgage brokers or even sellers will get your water, gas, and electric services at your house up and running for you before hand. Make sure you check on this one, though! It’s kind of a given but it needs to be on this list anyway.

Can you think of any other items that should be on this checklist? There’s a comment box below and we’d love to hear your tips (as would other readers, surely!) for making a smooth move.

House Hunting Tips

When looking to sell an old house in favor of a newer one (due to growing a family, ditching a bachelor pad, etc.), buyers can be faced with difficult tasks, old and new.

Step 1. Work with the pros –

Unless you’re a seasoned veteran or the epitome of independence, working with a realtor and a mortgage broker can drastically improve your home-buying experience. No one else knows the city better (growth patterns, property value escalation probabilities, average house type/dimensions) than a realtor. The rules can change from city to city as well as with time and a professional realtor can remove a lot of the headache. Have fun looking around but if you can avoid this stress, you’ll be much happier in the end.

A mortgage broker lives in paperwork and understands the ins, outs, ups and downs of loan types and also when the best time to buy is. They make sure all the moving pieces behind the financial aspect of the engagement stay moving while you’re deciding on the home of your dreams and where you’ll be placing furniture.

Step 2. What area of town can you live in?

“Can” is used here in several contexts. Your budget is going to be a primary factor when looking of course but when it comes to your peace of mind, which neighborhood will be best for your situation? Something may be too urban or too suburban for you. “Howdy neighbor!” may work for some people where privacy is more important for others. Quadrant or section the city and find out which area fits your personality best.  (tools: moving.com/zillow)

Step 3. What tools should I bring?

When house hunting with a realtor, if you can borrow a GPS unit or invest in one that’s reasonably priced, you’ll find it much easier to get from one place to another. This is by no means a must but if you’re unfamiliar with the areas you’ll be looking in (or even when you find your perfect home!) a nice addition to travel is a GPS unit for locating the quickest way to the grocery store, kids’ school and even work. Where is the nearest grocery store, anyway?

Step 4. Do your Homework –

Make sure you inspect your new home and do your research.  This may be the home you spend the rest of your life living in and realizing you’ve bought a money-pit is often one of the more common fears home-buyers face. How old is the home? Are there cracks in the exterior walls/foundation? How is the water pressure? How old is the furnace/AC? What are the neighbors like?

Hint: Talk to the neighbors!  No one knows more about the neighborhood and the former occupant of your potential home than the people next-door.

We know many of you have been there before.  We and other bloggers would love to hear your tips – comment below!