Big Box Self Storage Blog
When choosing a self-storage facility, security is the most important consideration for most people.
Having the right security measures in place gives you peace of mind that your possessions are safe from theft and burglary.
1. Secure Gated Access
2. Security Lighting
3. 24hr CCTV Monitoring
4. On-site Personnel
5. Alarm Protection
1. Control who has access to your unit
- Pin number access control lets you decide who has access to your unit. This is useful if you are using your unit as storage for a business, allowing you to restrict access to trusted employees and restrict everyone else.
2. Keep a Record of Access to your Unit
- If multiple people are allowed access to your unit, it is important that you keep a record of access. By combining CCTV with access records, you can easily track who accessed the unit and when.
3. Monitor what is Taken
- With each secure unit protected by CCTV, you can not only monitor who accesses the unit but also what goods are removed. This is an important consideration if you have allowed other people to access your unit on your behalf.
At Big Box, we operate one of the most secure self-storage facilities in Queensland. Our Labrador facility is well lit and monitored 24/hrs a day by CCTV surveillance cameras. Access is also strictly controlled by individual pin codes, while secure fencing helps to keep potential thieves at bay.
There are many reasons why all kinds of businesses need self storage. They range from creating a territory distribution point for a sales team to a mini warehouse to store trade supplies. Let's examine some of the main benefits and reasons why businesses need and use self storage.
The benefits of Self Storage for Business:
Costs:
- You pay month to month with no yearly leases required.
- There is no large bond required to rent a storage space.
- The rental rate for self storage is competitive with the cost of office space.
- Office space is better used to generate income than for storage.
- You can pay for periods in advance to receive a discount.
- Some storage facilities will offer to assist you to move in your goods for free.
- Shelving can be made available (at cost) to make the best use of your storage space.
- A free receipt and dispatch service means you don't need to employ someone to receive deliveries.
Security:
- 24 hour security gives you peace of mind.
- Offsite storage protects your valuable documents in case of fire.
- You rent your own individual lock up space and you keep the keys.
Convenience:
- 7 day extended hour access to your storage provides great convenience.
- Drive up roller door spaces makes using storage easy and saves time.
- Having a forklift on site means you can receive pallet deliveries easily.
- Pallet jacks and trolley's make moving your goods around effortless.
- Some storage facilities have use of a free serviced office for meetings.
- Any packaging materials you may need to ship your goods are available on site.
- Document destruction can be arranged for your stored archives.
Flexibility:
- You can store month to month with very short notice required to vacate.
- As your business changes you can alter the amount of storage space you need.
- Downsizing and up-scaling are easy with Self Storage.
What are the main business uses for self storage?
- Archive storage
- Sales team sample and product storage
- Point of sale equipment storage
- Office relocation furniture storage
- Trade business storage such as plumbers, builders, plasters
- Storage of imported and exported goods
- Small business stock overflow storage
- Seasonal demand such as Christmas stock storage
- Government self storage needs
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Pharmaceutical samples and sales material storage
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Mobile business equipment storage
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Home office storage
Self Storage offers great opportunities for small and big business alike to save money and increase productivity. Self Storage offers secure, convenient and flexible storage solutions that free up businesses to do what they do best.
For all your commercial storage needs please contact Big Box Self Storage. We will make Self Storage work for you.
If you have a specific business storage need that is different from those listed above we would like to hear it or if you would like to provide feedback on the article then please e-mail jdoyle@bigboxselfstorage.com.au
WHY DO PEOPLE NEED SELF STORAGE?
There are many reasons why people need self storage. They range from creating more space for living to temporarily having no home at all. The reasons also vary from country to country. Let's examine some of the main reasons why people need and use self storage.
Selling a home:
Self storage can be of great use when selling your home. It is not a well kept secret that the less cluttered your home is the more spacious it appears. This appearance of extra living space in your home can translate into more interested buyers and a significantly higher sale price. This is why one of the first recommendations you will receive from your real estate agent prior to putting your home on the market is to "de clutter" your home.
This often involves packing away unnecessary ornamentals, old lounges and furniture that are really not needed in the home. Some home owners even go the extreme of storing everything they own and renting newer more modern furniture and plants just for the sale period. Some self storage facilities offer a free no obligation quote at your home to accurately assess the storage space you will need and can even provide a removalist solution.
People who hoard:
The desire to "hold on to things" goes back many centuries and in extreme cases can be referred to as hoarding. Hoarding is about the fear of throwing something away that you might need someday or that if thrown away will cause a problem. More recently our grand parents and great grand parents who experienced the great depression of the 1930's have passed down the need to protect and acquire possessions that they themselves once lost. There are many examples in the self storage industry of people renting a storage space so they can continue to collect items that they can no longer store in their home.
Hoarding can cause problems in the family home due to a reduction in the actual living space. Self storage offers these customers an opportunity to clear some space at home and still fulfill their need for retaining and gathering items. Because self storage can be rented on a month by month basis it is easy for customers to increase or decrease the amount of storage space they need. It is not uncommon for individuals to have 2 or more storage units which they often visit to look through their "stuff". Extended hours access at most storage facilities gives customers the flexibility to visit their storage units when it is convenient for them.
Building a new home:
Most people who have built a new home have done it, yes move in with in laws for a period of time while the new home is being built. However, it is quite rare that our accommodating family will have the space needed to store all our prized possessions. People using secure self storage to store all of their belongings while they build a new home is very common.
Most customers who use self storage during this period like the flexibility of month to month renting due to the uncertainty of when their new home will be completed. Customers also like the fact that they can increase their storage space at any time allowing them extra room to purchase and store new furniture for their home. Some self storage facilities will even receive deliveries of new furniture directly into your storage space on your behalf.
Due to the nature of building a home, storage for this purpose is often at least 3 to 6 months or more. Some storage facilities offer prepayment discount solutions for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months payments in advance. Alternatively you can arrange to have your payment automatically deducted each month from your credit card.
Divorce:
It is unfortunate but marriage breakdowns and high divorce rates are becoming more prevalent in today's society. It is often the case where one person is forced to leave the family home and needs to store the items that were solely theirs. This can often include a car and the contents of the garage. Most storage facilities deal with these situations regularly with discretion and privacy. Should you need to store a car you should check with the storage facility to see if this type of space is available. Most times cars are stored in a lock up garage space but alternatively there may be opportunities to store it in a secured outside space.
Most customers in this situation have a tough emotional time and the need for storage can be sudden. A good self storage company will have trained team members who will have an empathetic and caring approach and provide a complete storage solution including quote, move and store at very short notice.
Traveling:
People often choose to travel for either work or pleasure for up to twelve months or more. With their house often unoccupied during this period they feel more secure placing their treasured possessions into a secure self storage facility. If the move overseas is work related often the company pays the bills and will require quotes. A good self storage company will be able to visit your home, provide a free quote and submit it professionally to the company responsible for making the payments.
Because 12 months is a long time you need to ensure that you save money where possible while also storing at a safe and secure location. The best way to secure the right size and price is to have an experienced self storage consultant come to your home to provide a free no obligation quote. This ensures that you will only get the space you need and will not be paying for additional unused space. Your storage consultant will be able to advise you on the best way to store your belongings for the long term and how to box and wrap them for maximum protection. Click here for information on boxes and wrapping materials. Ask your storage consultant to bring along some samples of boxes, tapes and wrapping materials to show you.
Death in the family:
It is a sad fact of life that at some stage we will all experience the death of a loved one. Many a storage consultant have had the melancholy task of assisting family members store the belongings of a deceased relative when no other options were available. Often time is needed to sort through their affairs and belongings and so a month or two of storage can relieve additional pressures during this difficult time. Storage consultants can help make this difficult task as hassle free as possible by organising everything including removal and packing with just one call.
Moving back into the family home:
So the kids leave the nest and you have all this spare room to do with what ever you want. And you do by creating a study and an entertainment area, not to mention your own in house storage area. Then 12 months later you get the phone call "Mum it has not worked out and I need to come home". You can rustle up a bed but where is your son or daughter going to put all of their recently acquired possessions?
Self storage is the perfect solution. Because siblings often move in and out of home a few times before settling down, self storage allows them the flexibility to store their belongings just for the period required and when needed they can get it all out and move again. Some storage facilities have a free move in trailer and driver service which is very popular among young people who can't afford removalists and have not got too much furniture to move. Big Box Free Trailer Photo
Lifestyle and hobbies:
Some people decide to use storage to improve their way of life. This is particularly the case in Asian countries where living space is at a premium and having a storage unit is just like having a garden shed. It is merely an extension of their home. While this form of storage is not as prevalent in Australia it still exists in the more densely populated cities where apartments and living space in general are smaller and more expensive.
Self storage can also provide those with elaborate hobbies the space to indulge in their favourite past times away from the mischievous hands of children or unsympathetic partners. This may include building trains and tracks, collecting and reading comics or simply storing your valuable coin or stamp collections. With extended access hours to visit your storage space, excellent security and a variety of different sized units to choose from at reasonable rates, self storage can provide that extra space you have always wanted.
So there you have it. These are some of the main reasons why people need to use self storage. The benefits of taking advantage of self storage are more than just peace of mind but often a sense of relief that your affairs are sorted and you are free to get on with living without your possessions tying you down.
For all your storage needs please contact Big Box Self Storageas we would love to help.
If you have a specific reason why you need personal storage that is different from those listed above we would like to hear about it or if you would like to provide feedback on the article then please e-mail jdoyle@bigboxselfstorage.com.au
Why customers use our services
Just in case you are wondering why thousands of customers have used Big Box Self Storage over the years. Here are just a few of the reasons our customers have given us:- De cluttering home to sell and achieve a better sell price
- Renovating
- Setting up a new Man cave
- Somewhere to get away from my husband and build my ornament collection
- Renovation
- Divorce and separation (unfortunately you can't sleep here!)
- Landlord wants to sell the house and has not renewed the lease
- Moving back in with our parents to save money.
- Moving into a furnished apartment or retirement village
- House sitting
- My house was due to be completed next month but the rain has set us back a month
- The baby is due and he / she will need their own room
- My new partner and I have moved in with each other and all of children from previous relationships (think Brady bunch!)
- I am travelling around Australia for 12 months and won't need my stuff
- I am travelling overseas for work or pleasure
- Our company needs archive storage
- Our company has excess stock for Christmas and we need somewhere to store it
- We run a small business and have just taken on an employee, we need more space
- We are building a small business and will need somewhere to store and unload our imported goods for re sale and distribution.
- It's my University break and I am going back home
- I am a back packer and just need a locker space for my suitcases
- I am a retired footy player and need a space for all of my trophies and memorabilia
- My name is Santa and the North Pole has run out of space for all the Childrens toys..................................
If any of these reasons sound familiar and you would like to join the thousands of customers we have helped through these situations then please call our friendly team today on 07 5537-6633, because we would love to help you.
Need more room to play?
There is never a bad time to de clutter your house and make more room for living. You may be in the process of selling your home and looking for a better price or just simply feel like you need more space.
While its always a good idea to "lighten" the load it is never an easy task. What do I keep, what do I throw away and what do I put into self storage? The items you put into storage will have value to you but they are things you don't need or use very often. To help with this difficult task we have put together some questions that you can ask yourself while going through this process.
Does it need fixing or upgrading?
In today's throw away society items are often cheaper to replace than repair. If it is a technology item is it out of date and no longer compatible or useable? If it has been lying around broken for a long time then chances are that you don't need it and are unlikely to use it again. This item would be a good candidate for the scrap heap.
When did I need or use this last?
If something has been taking up valuable space in your home for more than a year without being used is it really of value to you?
When will I use this again?
Just because you have not used something for a long time does not mean that you will never use it again but you need to try and make that distinction. For example, you may have done a lot of camping before your baby was born but have no plans to "rough" it with a new born. However, taking your kids camping as they get older is something you are looking forward to. Therefore, your tent and supplies are definitely worth keeping but perhaps just not under your feet. If you don't have a garden shed or spare room in your garage then perhaps self storage is the best solution for this item.
Is it a hidden treasure and worth some money?
Sometimes in our rush to clear a room and make space we can inadvertently throw out items of value. It is always a good idea before discarding older items to check out Ebay and make sure that the items are not worth some quick and easy money.
Is it worth storing for a year or should I just replace it when I am ready to use it?
So you are selling your home and moving in with the "outlaws" for 12 months while you and your partner build a new home. Think about all of your large items of furniture, appliances and equipment. It may well be cheaper to rent a storage unit for this time than sell the items now at a discount only to have to buy new ones at inflated prices 12 months later.
Is there another way to store these items taking up room in my house?
In this digital age, you are less likely to find big home video libraries and cabinets full of photo albums. These are more likely to be stored on a computer and backed up to an external hard drive than sitting on a shelf or in a cabinet. When looking through old paperwork, photos or letters etc consider scanning some of these to not only protect them but to reduce the physical space required to store them.
Could somebody else benefit from having this?
If there is no one else in your extended family that could use the item then you may want to consider donating the item to the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul or a similar charitable organisation. Not only will this free up much needed space but it will also make you feel good while helping others in need.
Why am I attached to this item?
This can be a tough question. However, if answered honestly you will be able to let go of things more easily. Does the item give you good or bad memories when you see it or hold it? How often do you interact with the item? It is fine to keep some special items like your first valentines card from your partner, your "first" wedding dress (really?) or your favourite childhood toy but where do we draw the line? You need to set boundaries about what and how much you will keep. Items that you just can't part with but you don't need to use can go into a Self Storage unit. You may wish to share these with your adult children one day. If you are unsure about an item then ask others for feedback like the ones you love. They will give you some honest answers and help you with the tough decisions. No matter how much space you create going through your stuff, it will be a walk down memory lane and a refreshing and cleansing experience.
So what are you waiting for?
After nearly 20 years in the self storage industry I have seen thousands of storage units and their contents. There are many reasons for needing self storage including: Divorce and separation storage, business archive storage, equipment storage, furniture storage, and household contents storage. Sometimes people are in between homes, de-cluttering their home for sale, have split up with a partner or are downsizing their home.
Often the need for storage is driven by a stressful and complicated event in your life. What often strikes me though is just how inefficiently people use their storage space. Given the often stressful surrounding circumstances it is probably no surprise that this happens.
TRY TO BE RATIONAL:
In the heat of the moment the easy choice is to just grab everything and chuck it into storage. However, if you can take some time out to sort what you really need to store you will benefit in a number of ways.
- Firstly you will get rid of or cleanse yourself of items that you really no longer need.
- There is no point in transferring unwanted items to a new home so take your chance to get rid of them.
- You will save money on removal costs as you will be moving less items.
- You will save money on your storage space as you will need a smaller unit.
- You will be able to use your storage unit more effectively.
In my years of experience I have seen it countless times where people spend money storing items they don't want only to throw them out after a year in storage before going to the their new home.
BE PREPARED:
Ensure that you make the most of your storage space by preparing properly for your move. Make sure that everything that can be is packed into strong storage boxes and are labelled correctly. Place your lounges and mattresses in specially designed covers that help protect them during your move and whilst in self storage. Number all of your boxes and make a list of the contents of each box so that if you need to grab something while in storage it will be easier for you. With 7 days access to your storage space you can choose when you want to come and get things out or put things in. Ensuring that your storage unit is tidy and well packed will help with this.
STORE WELL:
Think about how you will pack your storage unit so that you make the most of the space. If you are using a removalist they should be experts at this. However, you will need to let them know of items that you may need access to so they can be placed near the front. You should always put your larger items in first at the back and then put lighter items on top to ensure you use the height of the unit. The more height you can use the less floor space you will need and this will save you money as you only pay for floor space in self storage. You should ensure that all items are covered in some way to prevent marks and scratches while being placed into the storage unit. Putting Porta Robe Boxes at the front of the unit will help you if you need access to clothes while using storage.
BE SECURE:
When storing ensure you choose a facility with pin code access and good security to ensure your peace of mind. It is also recommended that you take insurance in this ever changing world of climate change etc.
By following some of this advice you will have a great economical and user friendly self storage experience. For further tips you can read our storage tips section of the web site.
If Big Box Self Storage can help further in any way please contact us.
You may have to move away from home for study in another state but you will still want regular access to your items. With Self Storage you can store away those extra books that you don't need until next semester or that bike that you plan to use on your next summer break. Because you get your own secure lock up space your personal possessions are kept private and safe. With access available 7 days a week you can get access to your storage space on a day that suits you.
Self Storage may seem like an expensive option but with some locker units available from as little as $13 a week it can be quite affordable for those valuable possessions you care for.
Big Box Self Storage has some fantastic incentives to help make using Self Storage easy. We offer pay for one and get one month free, a free move in and $50 for each referral you give us once you become our storer (some conditions do apply). You wont find a better storage solution with services and prices like this in a hurry. If you are a University Student and think you may need self storage then give us a call today on free call 1800BIGBOX. We would love to help.
The Global Financial Crisis now commonly known as the GFC occurred from late 2007 and continued throughout 2008. Not many people actually realise just how close we all came to a severe depression. The aftermath of the GFC is still being felt across the world but especially in Europe (know as the European Sovereign Debt Crisis) and in the US. The struggling US economy is just managing to maintain moderate growth following significant monetary stimulus. So what about Australia?
Well I am no economist but here is my take from what I have read and experienced. Australia managed to avoid the worst of the GFC for various reasons. The most significant of these was the mining boom driven by exports to China that managed to keep Australia relatively insulated from the worst of the fall out. The RBA also did a good job of lowering interest rates late in 2008 to help stimulate the economy (albeit a little bit late in my view). The fact that we had strong well capitalised banks also played a large part. This coupled with Government spending kept the economy ticking along while most others around the world entered recession.
So where are we now? Why is consumer sentiment still poor? Why is retail in particular struggling? Here are some interesting points to ponder that will affect how our economy performs over the next few years.
- Consumer sentiment (aka confidence) is still very low despite the lowering of interest rates and some improvements in Europe.
- The Australian dollar is still stubbornly high despite commodity price drops and a drop in interest rates.
- New house building is at very low levels (lower interest rates should help and small improvements are evident).
- The sharemarket has been in a 5 year secular bear market with investors taking money out of shares and putting it into term deposits.
- Some retailers are struggling with the high $A but more importantly with the threat of online sales and low discretionary spending.
- The Australian "Savings Rate" is still at elevated highs as consumers choose paying down debt over spending (also effects retailers).
- The mining boom looks like it will peak this year or next and will provide a strong headwind to the economy as it pulls back.
- Interest rates are now in a downward cycle which is good for mortgage holders and sharemarket investors but not great for savers and those with cash investments.
So here are some of my thoughts and predictions for what they are worth (predictions only!):
- The Australian dollar will drop below parity with the US dollar over the next 12 months (will help companies that export and have overseas income).
- Interest rates will drop by at least another 25 to 50 basis points.
- Home building will increase on the back of lower interest rates and new home buyer incentives introduced recently.
- The mining boom will temporarily end on the back of a shift in the Chinese economy. This will be a painful but temporary set back as China continues to grow long term.
- Inflation will remain low for an extended period allowing interest rates to stay reasonably low for the foreseeable future.
- Unemployment will rise on the back of the decline in the mining boom but the economy will re balance as a result.
- The savings rate will reduce in the next 2 years as confidence returns and people start to spend again on discretionary items.
- The secular bear market will end in the next 2 years and a strong bull market will emerge in the sharemarket. This will help consumer and company confidence going forward.
So what does all this mean for the Self Storage industry? It is all very positive and while it will take some time to play out I think the self storage industry is in for some better years ahead. This will be a result of a decrease in interest rates, increase in home building and sales, increase in consumer spending, a modest increase in property values and improving conditions for small businesses. It will be very interesting to see how it all plays out in the years ahead!
If you are like me you are very proud of all of our Australian athletes that are competing in the London 2012 Olympic games. It does, however, disappoint me to see tears and dismay after wining a silver medal and being acknowledged as the "second" best in the world.
That is what expectations do. Expectations are built up so much that even a good result can disappoint. At Big Box Self Storage we are sometimes guilty of the same thing. We have such high expectations of our service levels and when they are not quite up to scratch we also feel like we have let someone down. This is even though the service may have been reasonable but perhaps it was not exceptional. Luckily this does not happen often.
Over the years we have attracted our fair share of "famous" customers from Olympic sports stars to actors to news readers and the odd politician. Self Storage is a valuable service for those that have to travel a lot or travel for extended periods. Whether it is just a suitcase or two or an entire house we can provide safe, clean and secure self storage for all your valuable belongings. Unlike most self storage companies we also offer weekly storage rates with great flexibility.
So if your sights are set on winning gold in RIO in 2016 make sure you secure your storage unit ahead of time. Just manage those expectations along the way so that like Hungary (has the smallest population to win 2 gold medals at the London Olympics so far) you to can do your best and out perform regardless of the result. Big Box Self Storage will be here to help and support you along the way.
They say that moving is one of the most stressful experiences you can ever have. It is up in there in the top ten experiences including speaking in public. Needless to say, it is not fun and definitely not something that anyone looks forward to. Like anything, the preparation that you put into moving has a large bearing on the success of your big moving day.
However, it is kind of like school where you knew you had this big assignment deadline but you said to yourself "Ah I work better under pressure" and so you left it to the last minute. After more than 20 years working alongside the removal industry I have seen my fair share of people "working under pressure" to move home and it is not fun.
It is not only the dreaded packing, cleaning and organising that makes moving stressful but also the associated costs. You get out the yellow pages (you know that yellow book that gathers dust in your cupboard) or if you are like me, you type in "Removals Sydney" into Uncle Google. Suddenly you are faced with a multitude of options and confusing costs. There are terms used like "back to base" "door to door" "pack and move price" "Bookies" "backloads" "price per cubic metre" etc. Then you finally get hold of someone who quotes you a rushed "$130 per hour, 2 men and a truck, plus travel time, with a minimum of 3 hours".
With this, you hang up the phone and try to calculate what it might cost. Your driveway is too narrow for a truck so they would have to park out the front and carry everything out. However, you do not think you have that much furniture and wonder if it will really take 3 hours. The more you think about it the more confused you get so you put your hands up in the air and decide to take matters into your own hands.......
And you thought getting a removalist was stressful! Wait until you have to make that phone call to your partner to alert him to the fact that he had better get his mates on the phone ASAP and that there will be no golf this weekend. "We are hiring a truck and doing the move ourselves", on top of the packing, and everything else you need to do as part of your moving checklist, Well this is where the story can get ugly. Consider the following issues you may face when doing the move yourself:
- The move will take longer than you think
- The hire of the truck will cost you upwards of $150
- Your friends will not be as reliable as you thought
- Who will drive the truck?
- Are you covered if you have an accident?
- Do you have strong reliable boxes?
- Do you have the tools to do the job?
- Who will look after the kids while you move?
- How valuable and precious are your items?
- Do you have trolleys, ropes and blankets?
So as you can see organising a removalist can be stressful but trying to do the move yourself can really be detrimental to your health, patience and your precious belongings, not to mention your golf game! Big Box Self Storage has been working with reliable removalists for years and can take the stress out of finding a good one. Simply contact us and we can put you in the right direction. If you need self storage and wish to do the move yourself at least we can save you the hire cost with our free move in service.