Security access door

Security measures around the storage facility are usually fences with CCTV installed at intervals. While this may be sufficient to deter people from scaling the fences, there is nothing to deter them from walking in opening into the facility. Security access gates require the punching in of security codes to enter and this will greatly deter potential criminals. The same goes for security access doors installed at your unit will prevent unauthorised access as keys can always be duplicated.

Alarms

Installation of security alarms within the unit will also help to protect your self storage unit. A security alarm will be placed outside your unit and this will greatly deter thieves. There will also be motion detectors placed inside the unit and you will be informed of any movements detected.
Security cameras

While the storage facility has cameras installed throughout, it is good to install your own security camera. Most of the telco companies out there provide security cameras with 3G access, allowing you to access the images anytime you wish to. This will help to greatly settle any disputes when you have missing items in your possession.

Fire extinguishers

It is also good to place a couple of fire extinguishers in case of any fire. Since the items stored differ in terms of physical and chemical position, you will need a fire extinguisher for all scenarios and dry powder ones fit in nicely. Dry power fire extinguishers can be used in all conditions and all sorts of items, reducing the risk of using the wrong one for the wrong item.

You have invested good money in your self storage unit and it doesn’t kill to ensure proper safety precautions are in place to protect your items and yourself. They do not cost much and will help to settle any disputes fast.

Schedule an appointment

The first step is always to schedule an appointment with your self storage provider. Be a responsible customer and check with them the best time to sit down and have a talk with the manager. Explain to him why you wish to withdraw from the self storage rental and inform him your planned calendar. This will give them ample time to liaise with any potential clients of theirs who would love to take over your unit.

Plan your move

After you have a rough idea when you will be withdrawing, it’s time to start planning for the big move. This should be an easy process as you would have gone through this when you were moving into the facility. If you had a good experience with your professional mover, you can always engage their services again. Start planning where and when you want to move the items and you will need to purchase boxes and moving materials again. As before, you will need to make a list on how best to pack your items for the best efficiency.

Pack and clean the storage unit

After all the planning has been done, it’s time to start packing and cleaning the storage unit. Start to clear away things that you will no longer need to use and you should always be a responsible tenant and clean the unit, at least in the most basic way. If there are scuff marks left behind by your items or stains, you should try to remove them and try to return the unit in the condition it was handed to you.

There are many reasons for one to withdraw form a self storage lease but there will always be a time where self storage is going to be your saviour again. Always remember that it is not goodbye forever but simply goodbye for a little while. Withdrawing from self storage is also an easy task with few steps involved, making it fuss free from the start to the end.

Use mould resistant paints

The easiest method is the use mould resistant paints for your wall especially those in the kitchen and toilets. Mould resistant walls are anti-bacterial and the component inside it will help to destroy any existing ones too. Prevention is better than cure and mould resistant walls should always be the first step you make.

Check for water leakage

Water leakage is a common problem in households especially those that are older. If you have noticed, mould growth is often in places such as your bathroom or kitchen where there are water pipes and extensive usage of water. You will hardly find mould in your bedroom or living room. Ensure that the area around your pipes is not leaking and if they are, call the handyman immediately to rectify the issue.

Dry out wet places immediately

As mentioned above, moisture is the main cause of mould growth. Therefore, you should always dry out wet places immediately. If you accidently spill drinks onto the carpet, make an attempt to dry it out with a microfiber cloth instantly. Do not wait till some time later or you risk having the moisture seep deeper and wider into the fabric. Another habit of most people is that they tend to leave washed clothes in the washing machine due to a lack of drying space in our homes. The wet and warm conditions inside the washing machine are the best combination for rapid mould growth.

Install proper ventilation

Proper ventilation is not just performed by opening the windows. You should install fans in your kitchen and allow it to rotate. You should also install a ventilation exhaust fan in your toilet as it is the place with the highest moisture exposure. For places such as your wardrobe where the installation of fans are impossible, you should place dehumidifiers in it to absorb all the moisture.

Mould growth is inevitable in places that are wet and warm, especially in Singapore. However, there are simple prevention steps which you can take to eliminate mould and lead a healthier lifestyle without any risks of allergens.

Silica gel

Have you ever noticed those small white packs of round beads in the packaging of most electronic devices? Well, they are silica gel which is effectively silicon dioxide in its amorphous structure. Don’t be fooled by its size and shape. Silica gel has a large surface area of 800 square meters per gram. Due to the lower surface energy of silica gel, water molecules in the air prefer to stick onto it as they can minimise their energy. Moreover, silica gel is extremely cheap and widely available. The best property is probably the inert nature of silica gel. Despite adsorbing large amounts of water, the chemical structure does not change and you can easily place the gel in the sun to dry out the excess moisture and reuse it over and over again.

Activated carbon

Activated carbon is a natural desiccant that has excellent adsorption capabilities. It is even much more effective that silica gel! 1 gram of activated carbon can easily adsorb moisture levels the size of 8 tennis courts. Activated carbon is also cheap and easily to find. In fact, you can use the charcoal leftover from barbeque and place them in various corners of your self storage unit and be amazed by the capabilities.

Montmorillonite Clay

Montmorillonite clay is yet another natural desiccant that offers wonderful adsorption properties. Due to the porous nature of clay as well as the surface charges properties of clay, it can easily pull in water and even odour from the surrounding. It also can be reused over and over again by simply drying it out in the sun.

Calcium oxide

Calcium oxide is a natural material that provides adsorption properties of at least 28.5% relative to its weight. However, calcium oxide is a rather slow desiccant material as compared to the above 3. Not only that, calcium oxide tends to swell up when it’s full unlike the others mentioned above, making it less popular and practical.
Moisture removal in self storage units can be easily dealt with through the use of natural materials such as activated carbon, clay, calcium oxide and silica gel. These amazing materials make use of a property called adsorption due to their extremely large and porous surface, making sure that your things remain nice and dry.

Making a detailed list

How do you make sure that everything that ought to be done has already been done? Well, the simplest and most effective way is to make a list, a detailed on that is. There are so many things that you need to do, ranging from purchasing moving materials to liaising with professional movers and updating your new address with respective agencies and service providers. Listing down who to inform based on proximity and importance will help you get this done with no sweat.

Compile important documents

Are you someone who does not have the habit of filing documents such as your insurance policies and tax forms when you receive them in the mail? It is important to keep track of all these information and you may need them when you relocate. Finding them in your house will take time and if you eventually realised that you have misplaced them and need a replacement copy, that will still need to take some time to reach you. Therefore, you need to do these things way in advance in preparation for unexpected scenarios.

Arrange for professional movers

Professional movers are essential during any relocation. Not only do they have the expertise, they can also provide valuable advices. Since relocation day is going to be messy and effectively a race against time, you need to arrange for their services in advance and remind them not to be late as it might have snowball effect.

Label your boxes early

After you have packed items into their respective storage boxes, always try to label them immediately. Not only can you eliminate the possibility of forgetting what is packed, you also do not need to end up in a last minute rush to do things. Be sure to label especially if the contents are fragile.

Time efficiency is not only important in relocation but also in every aspect of our lives. We have only 24 hours each day and it is all up to us to spend it either efficiently or waste it away. With relocation being such a stressful ordeal, we do not want to end up having to face another problem.

Animals

Pets are strictly prohibited in any self storage units around the world and hiding them is almost impossible due to the noises they make and the smell they emit. Keeping animals in a self storage unit is also unethical and may raise concern of animal welfare groups. Pets will need to be taken care of all the time and they tend to defecate wherever they can and this will lead to hygiene issue in the unit itself as well as the surrounding ones.

Plants

Plants are living objects that needs sunlight in order to photosynthesis. Self storage units are windowless and are definitely unable to meet the needs of plants. Keeping them in a dry, dark and cool place while depriving them of food will cause them to die and rotting plants do not smell pleasant.

Combustibles

Combustibles are considered inherently dangerous materials and some common ones include gasoline, compressed gas, propane tanks, kerosene, fertilizer and paint. Fireworks, weapons or ammunition are also a strict no-no. Not only are these materials dangerous to others, they can also cause harm to you when you are moving it. Some are also prohibited by law and you will have to pay a hefty penalty if found in your possession.

Construction equipment

Equipment used in construction is often heavy and bulky and proper storage is needed for them. Due to a lack of storage space, most companies simply leave their tools at the worksite. It may seem convenient to store all the construction tools in a self storage but some are not allowed due to their dangerous nature. Tools like the Jackhammer are dangerous and can cause damages to the entire self storage facility.
Although self storage is an extremely convenient form of storage, it is important to make a list of what you wish to store and go through them with the manager. This can help identify what are some of the prohibited items you have and how best to store them elsewhere.

Standard lock

The standard lock is the most basic of all. It is simple and convenient to use. A standard lock requires only a key to open it and carrying a key is already second nature to most of us. You simply have to insert your key and it will be opened. However, if you misplace the key, you will need to change the lock immediately as people can simply open it. There is also a risk of your key being duplicated by someone else.

Combination lock

The combination lock eliminates the need for a key. It relies on a certain number combination to open it and there is a total of 1000 possible combination ranging from 000 to 999. Since keys are not required, the security is a tad higher than the standard lock. However, you will need to change the numbers frequently and make sure that you are alone while punching in the numbers.

12 pin cylinder lock

The 12 pin cylinder lock is an extension to the standard lock but with added security features. Instead of relying on a series of pins on the keys, it relies heavily on a 12 pin cylinder with differing length and grooves, making it almost impossible to duplicate. Only the right key is able to open the lock as there are fake slots incorporated into the lock to mislead potential thieves. The 12 pin cylinder lock is probably the most high technology lock as it offers 16 million potential combinations of grooves and lengths.
There are many different kinds of locks ranging from cheap to expensive ones, each offering differing levels of security. Which lock to use really depends on the item you are storing. If the items are extremely expensive, you will definitely want to invest on a good and sturdy lock but if the items are low in value, a simple lock will suffice.

Vinegar

Vinegar especially distilled white vinegar is extremely effectively at removing odours, stains and have an anti-bacteria property. Vinegar is cheap and widely available at supermarkets everywhere. Mix a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water and spray it on the surface of your items. However, vinegar is an acid and it can dissolve away delicate items so make sure that you do a spot test before spraying it on your apparel.

Baking soda

Baking soda is another Holy Grail item. Commercial odour removers do not actually remove the odours. In fact, they simply mask it with their own strong fragrance, giving the impression that the bad odours are all removed. One natural odour remover is baking soda which is sodium bicarbonate. Baking soda absorbs the odours completely as it is porous. Sprinkle baking soda on the surfaces where bad odour is a concern and leave it for some time before using a vacuum cleaner to remove it completely.

Borax

Borax or sodium borate is a natural mineral that possesses excellent anti-odour properties. It looks similar to baking soda but it functions in a slightly different manner. Borax needs to be dissolved in water and applied to your smelly items and allowed to dry. It is then subsequently removed and disposed together with the odour, leaving behind fresh smelling things.

Bamboo charcoal

Bamboo charcoal has a large surface area that is excellent in removing odours. Due to its high porosity, impurities will be adsorbed onto the surface and trapped. Not only is bamboo charcoal low in cost, they are also readily available.

Calcium chloride

Calcium chloride is effective in removing moisture from the air as well as odours. Due to its desiccant properties, you can be easily assured of an environment that is moisture free, leading to a low chance of bacteria growing and bad odour.

There are many natural odour removers that are widely available in the market with amazing properties. Not only are they cheaper than their chemical counterparts, they have a low impact to the environment and are safe to use with kids around.

Professional movers will ensure that your items are all taken care of. They will help you to wrap your fragile items in bubble wrap and place them in good quality moving boxes that are thick and sturdy. It is not easy to find a reliable moving company that provides good service that is value for money. You should always aim to contact a few different companies, requesting for quotes and the services they offer. You will also need to know exactly how much items you need to move. This is often important when requesting for quotes. Some useful tips to help you out include telling them the number of bedrooms worth of items. Not only will you be helping them, you are helping yourself to save excess cost if you over estimate the space required. You should also seek to plan your moving day on a weekend as there is less traffic out there and toll charges are often not required. Not only are you saving money yourself, you are cutting down on possible traffic jams, ensuring that your items arrive at your new home in the shortest possible time. In the event that you are doing all the packing yourself, be sure to use good quality packing materials. It is important to use sturdy moving boxes and durable tapes to hold them close. Although these packing materials may be slightly more expensive compared to inferior ones, they will ensure that your things do not get damaged during the move. By helping yourself, you are also helping the movers. The movers can fully concentrate on getting your things from point A to point B safely without having to worry about your boxes spilling open halfway.

Good quality packing materials can save your day and as the saying goes, help yourself to help others. This way, not only will you receive your items safe and sound, the mover workers can also fully concentrate on what they do best instead of having to worry about your items.

The best and only way is to rent a self storage unit that offers climate control features. Such unit allows you to control the temperature as well as the moisture content in the air. Since most musical instruments are either made of wood or metal, the amount of moisture is thus extremely important. Moisture can cause damages to the wood fibres, warping of wood and corrosion of metal components.

1. Store instruments in their original cases covered with wax

High levels of moisture can cause mildew and mould to form on the surface of your wooden musical instruments. For stringed instruments, remove or relax the strings while storing them to prevent them from breaking due to prolonged periods of inactivity. Place them inside the original case as it was built exactly to its shape and made for it. To better increase moisture prevention, you may wish to place them inside a plastic bag that is sealed. Cover the entire case with a layer of wax as wax is a natural repellent of moisture.

2. Oil metal instruments before storing them

Musical instruments made of metals such as brass require cleaning and oiling prior to storage. The oil will help to keep the parts lubricated and smooth as well as prevent corrosion. Use a cloth made especially for metals, oil them generously but not until the extent of them dripping. If budget allows, you should use a brass wax to keep them nice and shiny before placing them inside their original case. Cases for brass instruments are made slightly larger due to brass expanding and contracting during temperature fluctuations. Thus, it is important to use only a case made for the specific model.

3. Gradual decrease in temperature

This tip is especially important for instruments such as a piano. If you are storing a piano in self storage, make sure the temperature you set is not much different from its usual operating temperature. Drastic changes in temperature can cause the internal components to malfunction, permanently damaging your piano. Start with 1 degree decreases gradually until the piano acclimatises.

No matter if you are storing a small or large musical instrument, climate control is the most important factor to consider. People say that the musical instrument chooses you and not otherwise. Make sure you store it in the best condition so that it can better serve you when you need it.