Take care and protect your valuables!

I run a mobile storage company and once in a while I get to see what customers are storing in their units -- and I've seen everything, from the hilarious to the tragic. Often times people are willing to pay money to store their belongings and keepsakes but don't take the time or effort to properly protect or pack their belongings. Moisture is usually the biggest contributor to damage and there are a couple ways to combat it. Here a series of tips to keep your valuables safe:

• Appliances: A refrigerator or freezer should be thoroughly dry and stored with its door slightly ajar. Some items can be stored inside large appliances. Cartons can be stacked on top of stoves, refrigerators and freezers. Make sure that stove and cooking equipment are cleaned before they are stored.
• Bicycles and other metal items: To retard rust, wipe all metal surfaces with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil. One of the best features of wooden containerized storage (mobile storage) is that they are covered and weather proof when outside and then when the storage units are returned to the warehouse, wood breathes so the moisture can escape from the unit.
• Books and documents: Pack books flat to protect their spines. Do not place boxes directly on the floor. Use pallets or skids to prevent moisture. Use packing to fill out empty pockets in the cartons. Do not pack fragile items in the same carton with books. Do not overload.
• Bedding, Clothing, Curtains, Drapes & Linen: Clothing, curtains and drapes should be stored on hangers. If hanging facilities are not available, such items should be carefully folded and stored in dresser drawers or cedar chests along with bedding and linen. Some facilities sell wardrobe style, cardboard cartons which help protect you clothes. Food crumbs or stains should be removed before storage. Avoid storing anything that will attract rodents.
• Dishes and Glassware: Place a layer of packing inside the bottom and top of the cartons containing glassware. Label all cartons. All glass items should be individually wrapped. Nest cups and bowls and stand plates, saucers and platters on edge. Wrapped glasses should be placed toward the top of the carton.
• Furniture: Place a pallet, cardboard mat or plastic sheet on the floor and stand sofas and mattresses on end. Disassemble beds and tables and wrap the legs in paper. If a table will not disassemble, place padding on the floor and place the table on its top with the legs pointing up. Use dresser tops for stacking cartons and dresser drawers for linens or small, delicate items. Keep upholstery off the floor. Most lightweight chairs should be stacked "seat to seat" or placed upside down on tables which cannot be disassembled. Place a light dust cover over your furniture.
• Holiday Decorations: Save original cartons which contained delicate ornaments and pad the ornaments with packing paper or newsprint. Wrap strings of lights around a piece of cardboard before placing in a carton lined with packing paper.
• Lamps: Wrap large lamp bases in padding. Wrap smaller lamps and place them in cartons. Pack delicate lamp shades separately. Do not use newsprint to wrap lamps shades or any other goods which may be damaged by ink stains. Do not store heavy items atop cartons containing lamps or lamp shades.
• Mirrors, Windows and Screens: These items should be stored on edge not flat.
• Records and Phonographs: Records should be stored on edge to prevent warping. When moving a record player, the tone arm and turntable should be secured to prevent bounding.
• Tools: Metal tools should be cleaned and wiped with a rag containing a few drops of machine oil to retard rust. Long-handled tools such as rakes, shovels and hoes should be clean, lightly oiled and tied in bundles.

A lillte care and preperation when loading your belongings into long term storage can go a long way to protect your valuables. Happy storing!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (888 463-5392)

Pack right! It's easy with the right supplies.

You’ve found a new place to live, you’re rented a truck or mobile storage units, and you have set a moving date. The last step you will have to take is to buy the right boxes for your stuff. Most people think that any old box will do as long as it is big enough to hold the items, big and small. But this is not true. In order to have a successful move, you will need to buy boxes and other supplies that will ensure that nothing is damaged, broken, or destroyed when it is being loaded, unloaded, or during transport. Even if you are only moving a few blocks away, you will have to take the time to buy the appropriate boxes.

When looking for strong, durable boxes, you should contact your moving company to see what they would recommend. You can also find boxes online or from the storage company moving rental truck company you will be using if moving yourself. You should keep in mind that if you are using a moving service, many times the company will not insure boxes that you packed yourself and they may even refuse to move items if they are boxed incorrectly. Contact your moving company today to find out more information.

For example, you’ll probably need the following types of boxes for your next move:

• Book boxes
• Dishpack boxes
• Wardrobe boxes
• Mirror cartons
• General purpose moving boxes

If you are planning to load and unload yourself, be sure not to pack the boxes too heavily. This will only make it more difficult to move when the time comes and you do not want to injure yourself in the process. If you will be using a moving company and getting your boxes from them but doing the packing yourself, tell them how many rooms you need to pack up and they will be able to bring the appropriate boxes. For items that require extra padding or an odd shaped box, make sure to tell the moving company in advance so they will bring the right boxes.

Moving can be a lot easier if you have the right supplies. Boxes that will protect your belongings, quality packing tape, markers, and packing materials are what you will need in order to have a successful moving experience. If you cannot lift heavy boxes, or if you do not have the time to pack boxes correctly, you consider incurring the extra expense of having your moving company do the packing for you. This will give you peace of mind and also protect your valued possessions from damage during your move. Best of luck and happy storing!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Plan ahead for a great move!

Moving from one place to another can be stressful, particularly because most people don't get much practice at it (Thank goodness?). Moving all the heavy pieces of furniture, keeping an eye on the workers to make sure they don’t break anything, packing all your things, then unpacking them, arrange everything… these can turn out to be a heavy ordeal. But this whole moving operation could be completed without big headaches if you plan it carefully in advance. Here are a few tips you should apply whenever coordinating a move.

The planning should start a month ahead the moving day. Start gathering all kind of necessary moving supplies like tape, boxes or rope. Get some newspapers for the breakable things if you don’t want to spend money on bubble wrap. You can generally buy all of these supplies from your moving company so this might be a good time to kill two birds with one stone. There are a lot of options and they have different price for different services. You can hire a full service mover, rent a truck and drive yourself or mobile storage is becoming more and more popular everyday as a smart way to move (You can find a local company through the
Mobile Self Storage Association).

As important, you should arrange for your mail to be delivered to the new residence. Contact all your friends, relatives, family etc to inform them on your new address. Inform the bank and other financial institutions on your new residence details. Ask the post office to forward your mail to the new address. Inform your utilities companies of your change of address. And contact the utilities companies at your new residence to sign up for their services. Confirm the moving or travel arrangements and start packing all the things that can be packed in advance. Label all these boxes well and it will save you time and effort when moving into your new house. Look for a new doctor/dentist/vet in the new area that you are about to move into.

The day before the moving day, make sure you haven’t packed the moving supplies (meaning the tape or the bubble wrap). Make sure you have put the most important things (documents, checks, money or jewellery) in a bag that you will keep with you at all times.

And, during the furniture removal day, remember that losing your calm will not help. So try to stay calm, breath deep whenever an unfortunate accident (like breaking your favorite china) happens. Good luck with your move, a little preperation can go a long way!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

A POD is made of wood!

And it should be! The whole point of storage is to protect you belongings and mobile containers, specifically wood ones, have advantages that help protect your belongings and make sure they are in the same condition that you left them in. We use a different style of wooden containers (see related post Many options for portable storage) Here are a couple reasons why wood is good:

• Wood breathes which helps protect items inside from changes in temperature and humidity. Rising humidity can create condensation inside storage containers made from different materials, such as metal. This condensation can then cause water damage to stored belongings.
• Weather proof covers protect your valuable from rain, wind and snow while giving you easy access to you all of your belongings. Our units also sit on pressure treated "feet" to protect against ground water seeping up through the bottom of the unit while still allowing ground level loading.
• Wood is also a great building material and easily modified. You can easily add or move tie downs in a wooden so that you're items are secure and safe in transit.

Mobile storage saves a lot of time and effort, but it's important to remember that it, first and foremost, should protect your belongings. And in that vein, wood is good! Happy storing!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (888 463-5392)

Fall clean up -- Make it easy with Mobile Storage!

Philly has turned chilly and I can feel the change in the weather and the change in people's attitudes when they call us for storage. Everyone is battening down the hatches and cleaning up before winter sets in. Here are some ideas to make winter simpler and clutter free:

• Clear out seasonal tools Prep your lawnmover and weedwacker for its annual hibernation and store it away for the winter months. No sense in tripping over hedge clippers until you need them again in the spring. Your garage and storage space will be nice and clean with easy access to your snowblower and shovels.
• Exchange decorations Swap Easter and Halloween items for your Christmas and holiday lights. Yard displays and lights have gotten bigger and better but they take up more space in the off-season. Rotating them in a storage unit can free up a lot of space and open up your closets.
• Clean out your closets Put away bathing suits and short sleeve shirts and replace them with sweaters and jackets. Closets space is always at a premium and it's silly to crowd the clothes and items you need with summer dresses and sandles that you won't use for months.

A little effort now can make your house feel bigger and more livable all winter. I'm a believer in the convenience and ease of mobile storage and we have lots of customers rotate their belongings every spring and fall. Get organized now and have a great fall and winter!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Storage tip: Baby your Breakables

Avoid telling horror stories at your next cocktail party and carefully pack your breakables when storing or moving. Pictures, mirrors, electronics and china all have special packing needs that you can do easily with the right supplies and a little care.

• Pictures and Mirrors Wrap pictures that are small and stand them on end in boxes. For larger ones, buy special picture moving boxes. Use foam or bubble wrap. It is cheap compared with reframing, damaged art or on a new pane of glass.
• Crystal, China, and Fine glassware Buy the boxes especially designed for these items with built in dividers. Pad and wrap each item with newspaper or foam. Label boxes with glass items and stack these on top. And add packing material to both the bottom and the top of the moving boxes.
• Electronic EquipmentUse the original boxes. If you don't have them, pack these items carefully and use cushion material. Bubble wrap, cushion foam, and even wadded up newspaper will help. Pack items separately. Tie down tone arms for record players. Stack record albums on end to prevent warping and use small boxes to hold down the weight. Consider the temperature as heat can warp CD's and record albums.

Most importantly, make sure everyone handling your belongings, does so with care. Research your mover or do it yourself. There are more options than ever that make self packing easy. The Mobile Self-Storage Association can help you find a local company and many offer some assistance. You can take your time packing the smaller, fragile items and get some help with the heavy stuff! Happy storing!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Storage tip: Save your furniture from unnecessary damage!

When you're moving or need to use a self storage facility, there are a couple tips to protect your furniture that will save you money and a headache in the long run. It painful to pay for storage only to find that your dining room table is ruined from dry rot or overrun with mold and mildew. These tips will help make your storage a success:

• Consider using climate-controlled self storage. Depending on your locale, wild temperature swings can be brutal on wood furniture. Many of the glues used are organic and can breakdown in high or low temperatures causing the joints fail.
• Disassemble bed frames and tie them together. Use zip- lock bags to store screws and bolt and tape them (with a high quality masking tape) to the items that they belong to.
• When you stack furniture, use blankets and pads to protect them from scratching.
• Moisture is a particular concern. Do not use plastic to cover items, especially in non-climate controlled units, as moisture can condense under it. Consider using sheets or cotton cloth. If you're using mobile storage, make sure the unit is built out of wood -- wood breathes and won't trap moisture like metal units or cause rust stains.
• Stand a mattress on its end with pallets or cardboard under them. Wrap mattresses in mattress bags or cover them with paper or cloth. This allows some air to circulate and prevents moisture problems and allows the mattress to "breathe"

Furniture has special needs. You may find free storage in a friend or family member's cellar, but there are hazards if you ignore the special needs of furniture and wooden pieces. Happy storing!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Moving tips: Kids need special attention too!

I just wrote a well received post about moving with your pets and thought about all the special considerations when moving with kids. Children can have a difficult time with moving because of attachments they have made such as friends, activities and surroundings. Preparing them well in advance for the move and discussing the positive reasons for the move can make the process easier for you and them too.

• Show your children the new neighborhood and home to familiarize them with the new location. Get them involved with the process such as organizing and packing to give them a sense of control.
• Stay involved with your children and let them get involved in activities they enjoy. Try to maintain some routines with the children to help with the adjustment period. A familiar game or activity can go a long way to let them know everything is not changing.
• Have a house warming party. It will help you as well as the children get to know your neighbors and the neighborhood. Encourage your kids to engage with other kids and make new friends and it helps to set an example by doing the same yourself.
• If your kids are little, seperate them from the moving process. Get a sitter or friend to take them away for the day. Watching you move everything out of their house can be tramatic, but more importantly, dangerous. Or keep the children in one room so they are out of the way and nothing could be dropped on them and to prevent them or others from getting hurt.
• Once the heavy lifting is done, get your kids involved in setting up your new home. Organize the kids’s rooms first and let them help. It will give them a sense of ownership and control in their new enviroment and let them feel welcome in their new home

Most importantly, talk to your kids. Reinforce that you love them and you will all work together in making a new happy home for your family.They should feel like they can come to you to talk and don't be afraid to tell them of your frustrations too. It can be a help to know that you're struggling with some of the same issues and are working to overcome them too.

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Moving tips: Fido's special needs on moving day

Moving can be hard on everyone, but can be particularly hard on our furry friends. While you can't sit down and explain what happening your dogs, cats or birds, there are a lot of things you can do to ensure a safe and less stressful move for your pets:

• Plan ahead! Stretch your packing over weeks. Packing ahead of time makes time on moving day to attend to your pet's needs. Taking them for a walk or giving them some attention can be a stress reliever for you too on this busy day.
• Get new ID tags with your new address and contact information. The first days in your new home are the most unfamiliar for your pet and this is the best way for good Samaritians to get your loved dog or cat back to you.
• Visit the Vet. You should get a copy of all your pets health records and have a quick check up to make sure everyone is fit enough for the move. You can also ask for recommendations for vets near your new home. Vets are often members of professional organizations and have contacts all over the country. Sometimes, vets will prescribe a small sedative to calm your pet in transit.
• Check ahead for hotels and motels that accept pets.
• Give your pets a safe room away from the movers and action on moving day. The disruption of their home and routine is upsetting and everyone benefits from a little distance.
• Invest in a good carrier that is the right size for your dog or cat.

Lastly, keep your car comfortable for your pets in transit. Take frequent breaks for walks and water and don't leave them in a hot car. Also, check out The Humane Society website for their recomendations.

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Packing tips: The basics of packing boxes

Moving can be hazardous to your belongings but a little time and some careful packing can greatly reduce the damage your valuables suffer. Here are some quick tips on packing boxes:

• Use high quality packing materials. Using boxes that are the same and high quality helps you load and stack them more securely. Boxes that are the same size are less likely to shift or get crushed.
• The bottom of the box should be lined with crinkled newspaper causing a cushion for items to be place in the box. Place another layer on the top before sealing the box.
• All heavy items should be placed at the bottom of the box with lighter items at the top of the box.
• Wrap items with multiple sheets of packing material.
• Do not overload boxes.
• Boxes should not weigh more than 40 lbs.
• Books and plates should be packed vertically.
• Boxes should be taped extremely well at all locations where the box could open. The tape make the boxes rigid and give them more strength to protect the items inside

Also, consider moving everything less. If you need to store these items as apart of your move, consider portable units. This way you can load directly into the storage container one time rather than loading a truck and unloading and reloading a traditional storage unit only to do it all over again when your new home is ready. Less moving equals less damage! There are also a number of different sized units available and often times that smaller ones are easier to pack securely to prevent shifting (see related post below Many choices in portable storage).

But most of all, take your time packing. A little care now will go a long way saving your belongings for a long time to come. Best of luck and happy storing!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Many choices in portable storage

The Portable storage industry has seen incredible growth. As PODS have become more popular, other brands and other options have emerged giving real estate professional and consumers much more choice and flexibility when considering all of their options. Most of the brands offer a similar concept: the company delivers storage units to the customer's home so they can easily load them without needing a rental truck or having to pack and unpack twice and lug to a traditional storage facility, and then can transport the units to a customer's new home or into a storage facility. The concept is great but the differences in containers distinguish the brands and can make different boxes better for different applications. Here is comparison:

• PODS are the market leader and the most recognizable brand. There product is great but sometimes limited by their size. There most common unit is 8 feet by 16 feet that have to be loaded directly from the truck, limiting where they can be delivered. Customer must also rent the whole thing, making it expensive to rent a smaller space. PackRat offers very similar units.
• Mobile Attic and Mobile Mini offer a variety of sizes from 8' by 8' to 8' by 20'. It is very nice to have a choice but I get nervous about their delivery mechanism: They come on a roll off flatbed truck so to transport the unit, it must be tilted like a car or dumpster and can cause significant damage to the valuables stored inside.
• There is a third choice that we offer that I think combines the best of both worlds. We (FlexBox Mobile Storage) and many similar companies (including Smartbox, Need Space and Door to Door) offer 5' by 8' wooden containers that can hold about a room to room and a half of furniture. We choose to offer this size because it can accommodate large household items including couches, dining room tables, refrigerators and appliances, yet gives the customers the flexibility to choose the amount of storage they need. The smaller containers are also easier to pack securely than larger containers and you have better access to your belongings (you can't pack your checkbook behind 16' of furniture).

You can easily find the companies and the different containers that can serve you locally by visiting the Mobile Self-Storage Association (ms-sa.org) and searching by your zip code. Best of luck and happy storing!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Moving tips: Buy some time when moving loved one's into a nursing home

Last week I took a call from a customer moving her mother into a nursing home thanking us for our help. I realized that many of the stresses of moving are amplified when taking care of someone else. With a laundry list of things to do when taking care of a loved one, some choices must take priority over other. The logistics can be overwhelming not to mention the emotional stresses, but there are some tips to “decompress” the process and make the best of it for everyone.

• First, acknowledge your role and how it’s different from your loved one’s. Their feelings are not that different than a child who is forced to move with a job transfer or family change. They feel no control and wonder why they have to leave their friends and home. You can alleviate some of their anxiety by involving them as much as possible in the decision making -- a guided or limited choice can be much easier to swallow than having no choice at all and with some luck, you won’t feel as if you forcing this on the unwilling.
• Planning ahead goes a long way to avoiding headaches. There are a lot of arrangements to make from finding a suitable nursing home, arranging financial, insurance and health records, establishing a power of attorney to all the logistics of moving, most of which can (and should) be done well ahead of moving day.
• You can also delay some of these decisions with storage units. Portable storage has made the process easier than ever as units can be delivered right to the home. You have as much time as you need to load and unload them on-site and can be used for a combination of storage and moving. They can also be used to stage the move as everything is available on-site until you figure out the best mix of furniture and personal belongings in your loved one's new home. It can also be helpful passing along antique and heirloom pieces to loved ones as they are safe and secure until people can arrange for their delivery.

This is how we helped this particular customer. She loaded her mother's valuables into four of our units and we delivered them to her new home. They took two weeks with our untis on-site to arrange and rearrange her mother's new apartment so that I was comfortable and familiar as possible and then she left two containers full so that she can sort through what to keep and what to do with her mother's valuables when things settle down and she has more time.

Lastly, it’s helpful to remember that, ultimately, everyone involved wants the same thing: a comfortable and safe home to enjoy the rest of their lives in. The customer was very relieved to have everything settle and I was happy to help and hear about a happy ending!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Storage tip: Don't underestimate packing your clothes.

Clothing is one of the easier items to pack up for a move or storage. But you still want to take care so that you don’t damage any of your clothes when packing them up. Here are a few tips to make packing your clothes easier:

• Overpacking and overstuffing boxes is the most likely way people damage their own clothes. Too many clothes in one container can make it too heavy very quickly. Use several smaller boxes, rather than one large one. When overstuffed, boxes lose their rigidity and have a tendency to rip and collapse.
• Pack all your loose articles in bags, such as shoes, socks, undergarments, etc. If the wardrobe boxes are big enough, these bags can be stored at the bottom, beneath the hanging clothes. This helps conserve space.
• Your dresser drawers can also be used to pack your clothes in. If this is what you decide to do, take the drawers out of the dresser and move separately. This makes the dresser much lighter and easier to handle during the move. Secure the drawers so that the don't slide out during packing or transport.
• Wardrobe boxes are an excellent solution for packing clothing. Wardrobe boxes have a rod on the top of the box on which clothes can be hanged and will prevent overcrowding and overstuffing
• Don’t stack any other boxes on top of those with clothing in them. This may crush the box and damage your clothes. These boxes tend to be lighter and are good candidates for the top of a stack!

Follow these tips and your clothing will be safe during your move. If storing your clothes, remember to keep them in a dry, cool place. Avoid storing them anywhere that bugs and moisture can damage your clothing and consider using aromatic cedar hangers or inserts as well as moth balls. Happy storing!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Selling your house? Clean out the Clutter before you try to Sell!

I met with a group of Realtors yesterday and the mood in the room was somber. As I listened to agents talk and console each other about subprime mortgage changes and a more challenging market I'm thinking that many of these agents have forgotten the basics in the froth and exuberance of the last run in housing prices: Clean up your house so it shows well!

Clutter is buyer repellant. Before putting your home on the market, get rid of clutter in every area -- closets, attic storage, kitchen cabinets, drawers, bath vanities, and shelves -- everywhere. Remember, this is no time to be sentimental: if you don't use it, get it out of the house. Potential buyers are seriously put off by clutter, and most of us keep a lot more things than we really show buyers.

Also, don't forget the furniture and fixtures when getting rid of clutter -- most of us put too much in too little space, which makes a buying prospect, think your home is too small.

• Then, have a great moving sale with all the stuff you've collected and use the proceeds for paint or whatever other materials you need for repair projects.
• Get storage. Mobile storage providers have made it easier than ever to pack up your belongings and keep them out of sight. They come in a variety of sizes and can often ship to your new home without having to repack. Find a local one at Mobile Self Storage Association.
• Give it away. There are lots of local charities that will recycle your belongings. Call local churches, thrift shops or post a listing on Craig's list in the free section. Often times, people will come and pick it up from you.

After you've cleared out the clutter, it's time to really clean. Have the carpets professionally cleaned, strip and polish the floors, scour the bathrooms, go over the laundry room, polish the furniture, scour out the cabinets, wash the windows and window coverings, and spiff up the ceiling fans and kitchen appliances. In short, clean everything. And don't forget the exterior; paint or power-wash everything that needs the work. Remember, this is a ceiling-to-floor, roof-to-foundation clean-up project.

The market is tougher, but don't neglect the basics. A clean, de-cluttered house is the best way to get buyers to buy your house!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Storage tip: Take special care with your lawn mover and snowblower

Hello nightowls, 

People use storage for multitude of things. I just helped a landscading contractor move from Chicago to Philadelphia and he had 3 large lawn tractors and a bunch of weedwackers and motorized yard equipment. Speaking with him reminded me of all the special precautions you need to consider when storing or moving these items.

Most importantly, drain the gasoline. Gasoline is volitile and degrades over time. If you leave gas in the tank of your lawnmover over the winter it becomes gummy and can cause damage to the engine when you try and run it again in the spring. This also eliminates a flamable material inside your storage unit which can be dangerous. These units are not well ventalated and, particularly if your unit is not climate controlled, can be a real fire hazard. If you've ever seen a bucket of oily rags spontaneously ignite you can imagine that you've inadvertantly create a similar situation. And draining the gas is easy, simply disconnect the gas line running from the tank to engine and pour into a gas can and when empty run the mower/blower until it is dry. Most gas stations will take back the gas and recycle it properly.

Clean your mower and wrap in cloth material. To prevent rust and corrosion, you want to avoid moisture traps. Old grass clipping will decompose creating water in the process and wrapping with a plastic or impermiable tarp will trap this moisture inviting rust problems.

Lastly, seasonal items are very conviently stored in portable storage units. I have a customer who we deliver her storage unit to every spring and fall as she rotates her lawn mover/summer waredrobe/outdoor furniture with the snowblower/Christmas decorations/winter coats.

"Winterizing" and storing your equipment is really pretty easy. These simple steps will help your equipment run well next season and make for happy mowing/blowing. Best of luck!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Moving Tips: Give yourself some time

Moving is stressful and amazingly, a whole industry has popped up to make it more so: I amazes me how many rental trucks I see on the road because they generally do a very bad job at servicing their customers.

• At two and a half feet about the grourd, they are difficult to load. Further, they are often so big that it's hard to use any of the tie downs effectively.
• You have to drive this monster truck with which you're not familiar.
• If there is any mismatch in your closing dates, you must rent the truck longer, or face the hassle of unpacking into a storage faciility only to have to move again!
• You must race the clock to return the truck on time or face additional fee and penalties.
• And on top of all this you have to pay for gas and often times mileage charges.

Portable storage units has decompressed the moving process. Units can be delivered right to your clients home and they can take all the time they need to load their belongings. Here are some tips to make it even easier:

• Create a time frame as to when you will be able to pack certain groups of items in your home. For the most part, almost everything can be packed away as long as enough is left out for what you will need, such as clothes, food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc.
• There may be entire rooms in your home that can be packed up days before you move. Alternatively, you may need access to most of your things right up until moving day, perhaps for business purposes. If so, go through closets, storage areas, and cabinets. Get all that stuff that you don’t use daily.
• Go through your things in advance also gives you a good opportunity to clear out the things you will not want to bring with you. It gives you a better idea of how much stuff you need to get rid of. You may decide to have a garage sale before you move due to the amount of things you want to divest yourself of.
• Pack up all your decorations ahead of time, as well. Pictures, vases, statuettes, and other such items can all be packed away with no problem.
• Pack up any movies you will not want to watch, books you are not reading, and music you will not need until after the move.

Remember, the more you pack prior to moving day, the easier your moving day will be!

Christopher Johnston

FlexBox Mobile Storage

www.GoFlexBox.com

888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Storage tip: When less is more!

A friend of mine told me that 4 quarters is the same as a dollar until you need to pay the parking meter. His analogy reminded me of a customer who is happily using a couple of our smaller mobile storage units rather than the more common, much larger PODS brand (one POD is about the same amount of storage as 3 of our units).

Two interior decoraters married and were consolidating into one house. Each had beautiful furniture and after she sold her home, we delivered her 4 units to load all of her belongings into. The couple packed all of her things into the FlexBoxes and then we redelivered them to his house which they were now sharing. They kept the units onsite for a month and a half as they rearranged and decided upon which items they were going to keep and which ones they would eventually sell. Ultimately, they packed everything that had to be sold into storage units after taking some pictures of all the pieces to list them on eBay.

Slowly but surely they sold their pieces and as their storage needs changed, they reduced the amount of storage the were renting with ease. They would stop by weekly to pickup the pieces that they sold (mostly to local dealers and antique shops) and have consolidated down to 1 box. Instead of repacking all of their things and moving to a smaller space, or paying for storage that they were not using, they simply emptied the units one at a time and avoided all of the hassles. I'm constantly amazing the new and creative ways customers use our boxes.

Happy storing!

Christopher Johnston
FlexBox Mobile Storage
www.GoFlexBox.com
888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Moving Tips: What to do with your car

Moving can be chock full of questions and decisions that most people don't face very often. A common one is what do I do with my car when I'm moving long distance. And if your family has more than one car it can be even trickier. Well, much like with the rest of your move, you have a lot of choices:

Some full service movers will load your car onto the truck along with your furniture and other household items. That's also the most expensive because movers are required by the Interstate Commerce Commission to charge a weight-based household goods tariff.

Their are also companies who specialize in shipping cars.These are often the same companies that deliver new cars to dealers and can be shipping your car on an open or on an enclosed truck. If you drive your car to one of their terminals, you can receive a discount and some companies have more than 100 terminals across the country.
Other companies have someone drive your car for you. Companies such as AAAdvantage Auto Transport and Schultz International Shipping offer this choice. This method often depends on driver availability and requires more flexibility on when your car will ship and arrive. Still, it can save you $300 to $400, depending on distance and population of your end points.

You can also save money if you use your own auto insurance coverage rather than the transporter's for possible damages. Insurance carried by the transporter should include cargo and liability coverage (with no deductible) that insures your car for its full value. Check with your insurance agent about covering your car during shipment, and whether the transporter's coverage is adequate.

In any of these scenarios, you want to be careful who you choose to hire. Here is a list of thing to check:

Who is the transporter's insurer and what does their insurance cover?
Is the transporter licensed and registered by DOT and ICC?
What's the transporter's motor carrier number and do they have a surety bond? Both are required to legally haul freight in the United States.
Does the transporter guarantee dates for pickup and delivery?
How specific are pickup and delivery times?
If delivery is late, what does the transporter promise as way of recompense?
All this being said, the most popular choice is to drive yourself. One of the benefits of portable storage and self-moving companies, is that you don't have to drive a moving truck and you can drive the car you a familar and comfortable driving. Best of luck!

Christopher Johnston
FlexBox Mobile Storage
www.GoFlexBox.com
888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)

Moving Tips: Packing the ficus with the furniture

I fielded a phone call from a college kid moving from Philly to LA and he want to know the best way to move his plants. All jokes about a college guy and his plants aside, moving live plants can be a challenging. Live plants are typically difficult to pack and protect during the moving process. In fact, there are even some laws which prohibits moving a plant in a moving truck or van. This customer inspired me to do a little research and compile some tips.

• Because of the challenges transporting plants, the best way to move your live plants is in the vehicle that you are driving. Keeping your plants in the car or the cab of your truck has several benefits:
• It allows you to keep track of your plants health and protection during transport and avoids the temperature fluctuations in a van or trailer.
• You can water them as needed although with a little prep work, you'll have better luck. Water them well the week ahead of your move and then keep plants a little dryer than you would generally while in transit. These keeps them from making mess in your car and prevents them from trying to grow or build it root network en route. Much like when you transplant, water a bit more upon arrival to stabilize you plant.
• Plants need sunlight, keep leaves exposed. This also lets your plants breathe.
• Wrap the pot and stems with newspaper or burlap. This protects the plant and limits moisture loss.
  

Consider moving into temporary pots or proctect fragile pots with bubble wrap and packing materials.

Lastly, consider if it is worth the hassle. You could donate your plants to a local nursing home or friends before you move and know that they'll have a happy home.

Best of luck!

Christopher Johnston
FlexBox Mobile Storage
www.GoFlexBox.com
888 GoFlexBox (463-5392)