Humans tend to buy things and store them. But sooner or later, we simply run out of room for all the things we have accumulated. Then we have to decide what stuff we want to keep and get rid of the junk we don't. Unfortunately, this is a time consuming and tiring task. The very thought of it is enough to put off the sorting everything out until our attics and basements are filled to capacity. Enter the monthly rental storage unit. It provides a clean, safe, well-lit environment to store our possessions until we have the time and inclination to decide about the good stuff we want to keep and the junk we need to throw out or give away.



Personal storage facilities have sprung up everywhere like wildflowers over the past 45+ years to meet our demand for more personal storage space. Most storage units are permanent metal and concrete structures with roll-up garage-type doors for easy access. There are also weather-resistant portable storage units called pods that are made of steel. These are brought directly to the customer's house. Fill them up, lock them with a pad lock and the storage company will pick them up and store them offsite.

Once, most Americans lived and worked within 15 miles of where they were born. Today, people to live in many different places during their lives. As we move into new, larger homes to accommodate the size of our families, we accumulate more things. Nature abhors a vacuum. Despite vows to throw out the old junk and just buy the things we need, the process begins anew as we continue to postpone the decision to sort out our possessions. Add that some of our things become sentimental over time and it becomes even harder to get rid of stuff.

As we grow older, we begin to look forward to retirement. Many retirees decide to move to smaller independent senior apartments and assisted living homes. The storage unit is the ideal place for their possessions until they are ready to sell them or give them to relatives.

There are other reasons for having a personal storage unit. Unlike home exercise equipment, which is stored under the bed, set up in the playroom or stored in the basement all year, some activities utilize accessories that are only used during certain times of the year. We can store tennis rackets, hockey sticks and bats behind the door, and golf clubs and bowling balls in the closet. Camping gear, canoes, water skis, jet skis, snow boards, surf boards and snow mobiles are too bulky and heavy to keep in our attics, basements and garages. This is especially true if we participate in a number of outdoor activities. Storage units to the rescue!

Once you have a storage unit, you should make the most of it by keeping it organized. Frequently used or seasonal items should be stored in the front of the unit for easy access. Less commonly used or large and bulky things should be stored in the back. Boxes should be packed so that they are easy to move and handle. Boxes should be packed properly to avoid crushing and breakage of their contents. They should be stacked with the heaviest on the bottom and lighter ones on the top. To save time and effort when searching through the storage unit, the contents of the boxes should be written on both the top and sides of box.