Self-storage units are very much useful for people who are in need of extra storage space for their belongings during a move out, renovation, new living transition, and even storing business inventories. No matter what the reason, it is no secret that self-storage units have become a necessity for both households and businesses.
However, given you can safely store your belongings in a storage unit, it is also important that you keep it organized. One of the ways to keep your storage unit organized is to make an inventory of all the things you store. This will serve as your way to track which items you have included for storage. But how do you make an inventory for your storage unit?
With that, here are tips to help you make an inventory for your storage unit:
1. Get Started Early
If you want to avoid stressing over a lot of items that you need to make an inventory of, it is ideal that you get started early while everything is still manageable. Start labelling your storage boxes, so you can also start making a list of things that you will put up for storage. Create inventory sheets that will match each storage box label, then make a list of the items inside.
2. Take it One Box and Room at a Time
The point of getting started early is to have enough time to check every box thoroughly without having to rush. Let’s say you started with the bedroom; take a box and list down all the items inside. Tape a copy of that list on the outside of the box. Do the same process for the next boxes and rooms. It doesn’t seem overwhelming when you are doing it one at a time, right?
3. Keep a Master Copy
Once you have made a list of items in every box for every room, you now have to keep a master copy of that inventory. A written copy is good, but we suggest that you keep it digital because it is less likely to be misplaced and you will not have any problems updating the inventory when some changes need to be made. Your master copy should include details such as, how many of the same items were put together in a box, the number of boxes you will put up for storage, where boxes were placed inside the storage unit, etc. You can decide on what details you would want to see on your master copy. Just make sure that you are able to easily track the items when you need them in the future.
4. Update Your Inventory
Any changes you will make from the time you put your belongings in the storage unit should be recorded. So if you suddenly decide to transfer a particular item in another box, you need to take note of that and update your inventory. If you neglect doing this, chances are, you will forget transferring that particular item and end up stressing yourself trying to look for it.
5. Use Shelves in Your Storage Unit
Using shelves both help physically organize your belongings inside the storage unit and maintain an easy flow of inventory of the things you include for storage. Shelves can be used to section and categorize items in boxes. Labelling the shelves as well as the boxes will give you quick access to what you are looking for, making it easier to keep an inventory of your belongings.
Making an inventory of the things you store may seem unnecessary and a little bit time consuming, but it is actually a good practice that you can do to maintain an organized storage unit and keep track of items that are still well-maintained. You basically have a list at hand that will serve as your guide in finding the things you stored when you need them and prevent you from repeatedly buying things that you already have.
We hope that this article has been helpful in giving you tips on how to make an inventory list for your storage unit.
In need of a self-storage unit nearby to store your belongings? Contact us today and we will be glad to assist you!
