Are All Boxes The Same?

You’ve settled on the perfect self storage unit for your needs, signed the lease and purchased your disc lock. Now it’s time to start packing up all the extra stuff in your attic, basement or garage. Should you talk to the local grocery clerk or call around to department stores asking for leftover boxes from the back? Or, should you purchase the brand new moving kit or separate boxes?

Although free boxes can be very appealing (I mean come on, they’re free!), they aren’t the best choice when packing things away for storage. You may end up keeping those boxes in your self storage unit for many months or years at a time – even if you think you will only be using storage for a couple of months. You’d be surprised how quickly time flies and how beneficial your self storage unit becomes. You could very well end up keeping it for a lot longer than anticipated.

Are All Boxes Created Equally?

Boxes you collect from stores are built for short-term use. They may seem sturdy and dependable, but they have been designed to transport goods from one place to another over a very short period; then be discarded quickly. Think about how easy they are to break down and flatten. It takes only seconds to reduce them to mere cardboard. They are often much more flimsy than they appear, and won’t stand up to the test of time. You also need to remember that store employees aren’t worried about keeping the boxes in good shape. They will open them – oftentimes using a box cutter and slicing right through the box. Then they empty them, crush them and flatten them immediately for disposal. Food, grease, oils and who knows what else may also have been spilt on them.

There are many advantages when purchasing specialized boxes from a retail shop.

Boxes Designed Specifically for the Self Storage Industry.

• They are made of superior materials and high-quality liner board that will stand up over extended periods.
• They are treated to prevent mildew and mould from growing and boast specialized glue to improve durability in high humidity situations.
• The edges are crash-tested; meaning they can be stacked up for several months without sagging.

Knowledgeable Property Manager – Here to Help You.

• Our on-site property manager is more than happy to help you figure out how many boxes and what sizes you will need. That task itself can be almost as stressful as the move! Most people don’t even think about how many boxes are necessary and are often scrambling around trying to find enough boxes in the middle of the packing frenzy.

• We can help you with much more than simply finding boxes. Our property manager is a self storage specialist, properly trained to help you with all of your moving and storage needs. He can help you find the right self storage unit size and type to best suit what you want to put into storage. He can help you decide which moving and packing supplies from our retail shop are best suited for your needs. He can even help you set up an online account to make payments and manage your account. Our property manager is also willing to give you advice and tips on packing your items, preparing for moving day and making the best out of your self storage experience.

Remember, all boxes are not created equal! If you want to protect your items from damage while in your self storage unit, you should choose wisely.