Storage Units: Thinking Out of the Box in Toronto, Canada
Centron Storage is YOUR neighborhood place with REAL people who see YOU as real people, too.
Okay…it is a given that when people think about storage units that they think strictly about stashing boxes or old furniture from Aunt Martha…..but it can be so much more. While there are some guidelines for what can and cannot be stored in these units (and depending on whether they are climate controlled) storage units can assist in helping make the transition from one phase of life to another.
Without becoming metaphysical in nature, it is not a hard claim to make when you think about the way it feels to start from a clean slate. Donna Milligan, in Toronto, Canada, says, “We wanted to redo our guestroom but didn’t know where to start. Storage units aren’t that expensive and we were able to move everything out of our guest room and into the storage unit for a month while we painted, redid the flooring, and selected new accessories.” Says Milligan with a smile, “The best thing was when we realized that we had too much stuff and we were able to put some of it up for sale. Not only did we make enough to more than cover our storage unit, but we were able to go out and have a nice dinner, too.”
Others who access and use storage units, especially in the Toronto, Canada area, use the storage units as they leave university and make that big step into the work world. Most university students have more furniture, clothes, and electronic equipment than will, or can, be safely stored, in the trunk of a car. For the cost of a cup of coffee a day a university student can store their belongings long enough to find that new apartment, new job, new life.
When the Starks, who lived outside of the Toronto area, had to downsize and move because of a new job they were able to have the peace of mind that their belongings would be protected while they found a new apartment and decided what pieces they would keep and what they would donate or sell. With the stress of moving and settling in, it gave them peace of mind to know that there was a storage unit company close by.
Many businesses are looking for ways to expand without going into the red, and storage units are once again coming to the rescue, offering a viable expansion option. Local storage units, especially those conveniently located in the Toronto areas, offer useable office space for the storage of old files, folders, records, and equipment that is still needed, but not used often enough to keep on the premises. Display stands for trade-shows, samples, and other items are kept in great condition until needed. Expanding one’s business into a storage unit can save small businesses the cost and trouble of a new office space as the business grows.
With the economy placing businesses, homes, families, and organizations into decisions that they have never considered, keep in mind that storage units (in Toronto or elsewhere) can offer viable options for every phase of life.
Boxily Yours,
Centron Guy
Things to Store: Baby Clothes and Items
Congratulations if you have survived parenthood as a proud mother or father. Centron Self Storage hopes you are enjoying your new bundle of joy… or toddler. We have a question for you, what do you do once your child has outgrown their clothing or items you once used to care for your child? Do you throw them away, donate them to charity, give them to friends or family, or are they taking up space? Most likely you either are thinking to throw away the items. The best option for you is to store baby clothes and items at Centron Self Storage because who knows when your next little one will come and you don’t want to be unprepared.
Baby Clothes and Items to Store
Cribs: If your little one has outgrown the crib into a toddler sized bed, break down the crib and pack it up for storage. You never know when you may decide to have kids again and you will already have the necessary items to prepare for baby.
Toddler Bed: It sounds like your toddler is no longer a toddler and you are in need of storing the pint size bed until needed again.
Car Seats: Check your local vehicle laws to determine when your child now longer needs a child seat but most places the age is 6-7. If your child is over the law limit you can now store your car seat(s) until needed. No need to pack in a box. Wrap nicely in bubble wrap and put aside for storage.
Baby Carrier or Slings: Isn’t it the cutest thing to see a young baby in a carrier or sling. I am sure you bought an assortment of items. They will still be in style when you decide to have your next child. Store them for safekeeping until that happens.
Baby Lamps: Probably after the age of 5 you may want to change the decor of your kids room. The alphabet lamps probably should go for now.
Baby Clothes: Baby clothes are so cute but children grow out of them so quickly. Wash the clothing and pack them in boxes.
Why Store Baby Clothes and Items
Simply put, you should be prepared for the next child or if you are not preparing and are pleasantly surprised you will save money on storing the items compared to buying new ones. Get down to Centron Self Storage to get a quote on your baby storage unit.
Kit Out Your Storage Unit for the Zombie Apocalypse
2012 has been a year where the world heard of zombie like activities take place in Florida and New Jersey. Just because we are in North York, that does not mean we are exempt from the Zombie Apocalypse. Well, maybe you are not afraid of zombies or believe we will not have a Shaun of the Dead moment in our lifetime, but just in case, you should have a storage unit of goods that can be stored long-term.
To avoid the zombie Apocalypse or any disaster that may hit at any time, kit our your storage unit with the following:
Water: You can never have enough water as we need it to breathe, bathe, and just live life. Buy as many bottles or gallons of water necessary for your storage unit.
Canned Goods: You might as well ask Centron if you can build shelves in your unit because you should stock up on as much canned goods as possible, dry or liquid based canned goods. If you have a large family, you will need enough to last until Will Smith finds a cure for the zombies.
Peanut Butter: Besides being high in protein, peanut butter is a quick bite to eat with or without bread. This is a staple of any zombie kit.
Reusable Utensils/Plates/Bowls: Buy as much as you need because if you do not have running water, reusable or disposable items will come in handy. Leave the fancy stuff for the zombies to rummage through our you can use your storage unit to keep all valuables safe.
Baking Soda: No running water or access to toothpaste will make it hard to clean those pearly whites. Keep a few boxes of baking soda, take it back to the old days! You can also use baking soda to keep things fresh.
Canned Fruit: Canned fruit surprisingly has great shelf life! Keep a few cans for the kids or if you need to fight off a few zombies, the weight of the can will knock a few out.
What else can we add to our zombie apocalypse storage kit?
Talk to us on Facebook and tell us what else you would add to your zombie apocalypse storage unit at Centron. Give us a few tips on how we can fend off the zombies.
Follow Centron Self Storage on Twitter and Facebook…we might provide tips on how to avoid the Zombie Apocalypse.
Use Storage as Inventory Warehouse Facility
Your small business may not have the backroom storage capabilities to double as an inventory warehouse facility to store items temporarily or long-term. Did you know some of Centron Self-Storage customers in North York use our facilities to store retail items, restaurant appliances, accessories, and other items temporarily until they are needed? If you have looked on our storage calculator page, you may find Centron’s facilities can store large kitchen and home appliances, electronics, furniture, and sporting equipment, among other items.
Here are some examples of small businesses like yours that can benefit from our North York facility for your warehouse needs:
Restaurants- Maybe you own a small boutique restaurant or part of a large chain of eateries, despite your size you may lack storage for larger items that are needed on a seasonal or special occasion basis. For example, does your facility have large tables and chairs used for special events like weddings, birthday parties, special events, charity functions, or anniversary parties? If your establishment lacks backroom space to properly and neatly hold these items, bubble wrap and pack accordingly for your trip to the storage. The best part of storing these items temporarily is you can take out what you need and put them back when you’re done. Create space in your restaurant and get your items back to storage.
Retail Store– Do you own a local boutique or privately owned store but no stockroom? Don’t fret, if you have an abundance of items that are not immediately going on the racks or items that are no longer being sold, pack up your boxes and send them to Centron’s secure and safe facility. Choose a location close to your store as Centron has two storage facilities located in North York.
Sporting Goods Store– Bicycling, rollerblading, skate boarding, and even surfing are in again! If you do not have an inventory warehouse facility to store excess sporting items until you need to restock the racks, we have beautiful secure storage lockers calling your name.
What to do Next
The next thing to do is to determine how much storage space you need depending on your items and call Centron Storage today to figure out ho w best to treat your storage locker as an inventory warehouse facility temporarily or long-term.
Making the Most of your Rental Storage Spaces
Once you’ve made the decision to use rental storage spaces for your excess personal, household or business items, you’ll want to optimize your unit to get the greatest value possible out of it. How can you do that? Here are a few organizational tips that can help you make the most of your storage unit.
Boxes–The more consistent the size and shape of your boxes, the more space efficient your unit will be. At Centron Storage, we offer sturdy boxes for sale in a selection of uniform sizes. Try to divide up your heavier items into small boxes, as this will make moving quicker and easier.
Clothes–To keep clothes in the best condition, you may want to store them hung and loosely packed. You can also purchase our wardrobe boxes which come with built in rods and are enclosed to keep clothes protected from dust.
Padding–Wrap your delicate and fragile items with padding to guard against breakage and handling. If you have excess towels and linens, these can be an effective and a cheap way to softly pad your items. For your convenience, we also make bubble wrap and padding available for sale at each of our facilities.
Labelling–Label each box with a list of the contents inside, and store the boxes in such a way that you can easily view the label at a glance. It’s also a good idea to make a full list on a separate sheet of paper detailing all your boxes and their contents. Keep a copy at home and one at the storage unit so that you’ll know exactly in an instant what you’ve got stored without having to move things around and open up boxes.
Storage Plan–Unless you need large items soon, store them at the back of the unit where they won’t block your access to smaller items inside the unit. If you’re moving house, it’s usually best to keep at the front of the unit any items that you’ll have need of immediately once you move into your next home, such as kitchen and washroom items.
Whether you’ll need your goods soon or farther into the future, using a basic organization plan can help ensure that you get the most out of your rental storage spaces.
How to Compare Storage Rental Services in North York?
There are several storage rental services in North York. When you are looking for a storage rental in North York you will be flooded with a plethora of choices. However, you need to keep a few things in mind to make sure you choose a company that will take care of your belongings.
First, note that you have to compare different services on the basis of several aspects. That will help you choose the most reliable storage rental in North York.
Compare rental services on the basis of prices
Price is one of the main factors that will influence your decision. Depending on how long you will need to store your belongings, you will have already made a budget. Some rental services charge high rentals that cover for care and maintenance of your belongings.
Some rental services charge lower rates, but then they do nothing to make sure your belongings are kept safe and well. You just lock your unit and forget about it.
Premium service providers might charge handsome rates because their storage facilities are a lot better. Based on your budget and what you need, choose a good company. Compare rental services on the basis of type of units
Some rental services build special garages to hold an individual’s belongings for years. These walled in room like garages are built of concrete and are safe from weather changes, water seepage etc.
Ideally, if you are going to store your things for a few years, you’d need to be assured that your belongings are safe. Individual garages would in that case work best.
Compare rental services on the basis of renewability laws
If you don’t know when you will claim your things because you are moving to another country for a while, look into their renewability clauses before you store your stuff. Some companies settle for slightly lower rental charges if you renew the contract with them.
Some companies charge the exact same rate. Some might require you to sign a fresh and new agreement every year. It would help to avoid the paperwork at the end of the year in any case. Choose a company that has simple renewability clauses so you don’t need to run around at the last moment.
These tips are sure to help you find a good storage rental in North York.