Month: May 2023

Whether you’re hiring full-service movers or DIY’ing to save money on your upcoming move, getting at least some moving supplies is non-negotiable. So, unless you completely outsource packing (which will be expensive but will eliminate the need to get moving supplies yourself), you’ll need certain items to protect and transport your belongings. Even if you do pay someone to pack your home, you’ll still need to pack personal essentials for moving day.

Using the right packing material and moving supplies will keep you organized and your belongings safe so your move is streamlined and stress-free. Some are essential, some are just great to have. Here’s our complete list of moving supplies, packing tips, advice on how to save money on packing supplies, how to choose the right packing and moving supplies, and FAQs.

Here are some steps you can take when it’s time to choose your packing and moving supplies.

Figure out your moving budget

The best way to pack for moving is to start earlier, rather than later. Our moving checklist suggests that you figure out your moving budget two months before the move. Before hiring a moving company or committing to a DIY move, figure out your overall relocation budget. Those looking to hire a moving company for a long-distance move should budget around $5,000. A local move, on the other hand, may only cost around $1,000. If moving for a job, be sure to also check with your employer about whether or not they’ll be covering expenses. The budget amount might fluctuate as you adjust, but it’s helpful to start with the ballpark figure at least. Please take advantage of our online moving cost calculator to figure out how much you can expect to spend.

Create an inventory

If you hire professionals, they will do an inventory too (in person or via a virtual survey), but you need to create your own inventory. This is a necessary step for several reasons, including figuring out what moving supplies you’ll need and in what quantities. Go through all your belongings, room by room and closet by closet. Include all cabinets and drawers. Get an idea of how much you’ve got and make notes of what can go. Take inventory of what furniture isn’t worth moving, and also do a closet purge. If it doesn’t fit, is out of style, and/or you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it. The same goes for your children’s closets, linen closets and bathroom shelves. Toss, recycle or donate what you don’t need. Sell your better yet still unwanted items. It’s an undertaking, but it’s the only way to get an idea of how much you’ve got to move and to lighten your load. If there are some items you want to keep but don’t want to bring them to the new home, consider storing the items in a storage unit. You can rent a storage unit (big or small) according to the number and size of the items you want to store. At U-Lock Mini Storage, we have storage facilities and storage unit sizes across Greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Our self-storage facilities include storage units Victoria, storage units Parksville, storage units Nanaimo, storage units Burnaby, storage units White Rock and Surrey and storage units Chilliwack and our team is thrilled to help you with your storage needs! Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Strategize your packing process

About five weeks before the move and boxing up your things, figure out a timeline for the packing process. Plan to pack all non-essentials first. These include items you won’t need in the weeks leading up to the move, including books, home decor items and electronics. Packing essentials should be last. These include kitchen items, dinnerware, clothing, toiletries, and any other items you’ll need in the days leading up to the move.

Plan out your packing supplies

Use our packing calculator to get a good idea of just how much you’ll need in terms of packing supplies. This way, you can be sure to get what you need on the first run to the store. To use the calculator, simply plug in the number of bedrooms in your home, the number of adults moving, your packing style (basic, average, professional), and your lifestyle (minimalist, modest, pack rat). The calculator will also give you the rundown of exactly what kind of boxes you’ll need by size and/or type, and the estimated total cost of your moving supplies. Take it with a grain of salt, as you might need fewer or more supplies as you go. You also don’t have to buy all the supplies. Some you can source for free (more on that below).

If this is your first time renting a storage unit, we can help. Whether you need to temporarily store your belongings while moving or store them long term after downsizing, renting a storage unit provides an excellent, space-saving solution. Storage facilities are a secure, convenient and easy-to-find option for those in need of storage. The majority of short term storage and long term storage facilities also offer a wide range of unit sizes and services to meet your needs. Use this first-timer’s guide to renting a storage unit to learn more about storage types, how storage works, and more.

How does self storage work?

Most storage units work similarly. Once you find a storage unit near you, you sign a contract with a storage company for a specified amount of time to secure a rental on a storage unit of your choice. A storage unit is a space in a storage facility where you store your belongings. Although some companies require a three-month minimum, most offer storage rentals on a month-to-month basis.

Rules and regulations differ among storage companies depending on the services they offer, but you only pay for the time you need the unit for (unless you break the contract, but that’s another matter). Also, it might seem obvious, but it’s illegal to live in your storage unit per state and federal housing laws. It’s also illegal to conduct business in your storage unit. Some storage facilities allow band practice, but there are restrictions like noise ordinances and no access to electricity.

Why You Should Rent a Storage Unit

People rent self-storage for more reasons than moving or decluttering. Some common reasons people rent self-storage include:

• Seasonal storage. Holiday decorations, costumes, seasonal gear clothing, and lawn equipment can all go into storage during the off-season.
• If your new home isn’t ready. New home not complete, but you need to move out of your old home? A rental storage unit can house your stuff till the move can be completed.
• Needing more space in their home. Say, you’re downsizing and decluttering but not ready to part with some of your stuff. Or a family member moves in with you and needs a guest bedroom that you were using for storage. There are many reasons people would need more space in their homes. If you’re not ready to toss, sell or donate your stuff, store it.
• House renovation. Renovating take time and create a lot of chaos and mess. To protect your belongings and clear space, you can store furniture and other belongings in storage until the renovation is completed.
• College storage. Students who don’t want to lug their dorm room belongings back home during summer break might want to rent a storage unit near campus.
• Military service. The members of the military can use this option during deployment.
• To store vehicles. If you don’t have room where you live, you can store your boat, RV, car or motorcycle at a storage facility.

How to rent a storage unit

Storage companies have their own protocols but the process of renting a storage unit has similarities. To rent storage near you:

• Determine what you need to store
• Decide what type of storage you want (full-service vs. self-storage, outdoor vs. indoor)
• Determine what size unit you’ll need based on what you need to store
• Set your budget
• Consider purchasing insurance
• Search for the storage you want to rent (see above)
• Reserve a storage unit online or in person by signing a storage unit agreement or contract (read it carefully before you sign)
• Get a move-in day date
• Invest in a good lock

What Size Storage Unit Should You Rent?

Most residential renters rent storage unit sizes such as 5’x5′, 5’x10’, 10’x10’, 10’x15’ and 10’x20’ storage units. The storage unit depends on the type and number of items you want to store. If you have any questions about storage unit sizes, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

How Long Can You Rent a Storage Unit For?

You can rent a storage unit for as long as you like. Some people even rent storage units indefinitely as an extra space for personal or work-related items. At U-Lock Mini Storage, we offer monthly contracts so you don’t have long-term commitments.

Ready to book your first storage unit? Visit or contact any of our self-storage facilities and we’ll be happy to help. Our facilities include storage units Victoria, storage units Parksville, storage units Nanaimo, storage units Burnaby, storage units White Rock and Surrey and storage units Chilliwack.

What do very old homes and small, ultramodern apartments sometimes have in common? A troubling lack of closet space and clothes storage.

Don’t panic: In these situations, you may have to deconstruct how you think about clothing storage. You’re going to literally live with your decisions, so home decor and design become part of the equation, too. It’s an interesting challenge, but one that can offer unique and colorful results.

Need some help getting started? We’ve compiled 5 simple clothing storage ideas to help you see your closet situation (or lack thereof) in a whole new light.

Add a Shelved Rack or Storage Bench for Shoes

Don’t have a hall closet near your garage to store shoes, coats, and other outdoor accessories and necessities? Depending on how much space you have to play around with, a shelved rack or storage bench could be a great option to add some additional storage compartments. 

You can also use the rack as a home for your socks. Assign each member of your family a bin and fill it with their socks, keeping those easy-to-misplace pairs together and ready to go whenever anyone heads out the door.

Use a Wardrobe Rack

If you simply want to mimic a traditional closet, a clothing rack is an economic option that could work in just about any space.

Sure, this means your clothing will be more on display than in a traditional closet, but with some creativity and organization skills, wardrobe racks can provide your room with an adorable boutique-style visual display. After all, fashion is one of the best ways to express yourself and your personality— so why not display it all in a way that feels fun and inspiring?

If your clothing rack is small, be strategic about how you fill it to get the most out of your space. 

You can also double your hanging space by using pop-can tabs. Slide your first hanger’s hook through the top of the tab and hand a second hanger from the bottom.

Use the Space Under Your Bed

The space under your bed may have been a little scary when you were a kid, but there’s no reason to be afraid: we’ve checked, and there are no monsters. The space beneath your bed is a great place to organize and protect your shoes and handbags when you’re not using them.

It’s also an excellent spot to store heavy sweaters since you’ll avoid those unwanted stretched-out shoulder marks often caused by hangers.

To take advantage of this under-bed space, we recommend using rolling storage drawers, short plastic bins, and other under-the-bed storage containers that fit nicely in this small space. All you need to do is neatly fold each piece of clothing you’re planning on storing and tuck them away until the next time you need them.

Hang Accessories on Wall Hooks

When storing your belongings and organizing your closet, it’s easy to let accessories like hats, scarves, and jewelry become an afterthought. And if you’ve accumulated a bunch of different accessories over the years, you already know that things can get really cluttered really quickly. 

Instead of tucking these items away, why not embrace your flair by making them a part of your room’s decor? 

You can easily use Command hooks, wall organizers, or even just a handful of thin nails to display and organize your jewelry— if you can situate it in an aesthetically pleasing way, even better! When it comes to trickier items, like tights and scarves, a simple clothes hanger will do the trick. Simply tie each item in a knot around the hanger and put it on display. The hanger also fits nicely on a detached clothes rack!

Rent a Storage Unit

If you simply don’t have enough space in your room to store your clothes, rent a storage unit. You can rent a storage unit that’s suitable for the amount of clothes you want to store. You can start small with 5’x5’ and go up to 5’x8’ if you have clothes plus some items you want to store!

At U-Lock Mini Storage, we have storage facilities across Greater Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Our self storage facilities include storage units Victoria, storage units Parksville, storage units Nanaimo, storage units Burnaby, storage units White Rock and Surrey and storage units Chilliwack. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about self storage and our team will be more than delighted to help.