Category Archives: Egg Harbor Township Storage Space

Backyard Party Season

Hello All! Summer is now here and it is time to let the backyard party season begin! I am having my in-laws over next weekend and we are having a big party in the backyard. I have to the menu ready to go, but setting up the backyard is going to be the biggest effort. We have a smaller yard so we have to be mindful about the equipment we are going to need keep our guests well taken care of. Things I’ll be pulling out of storage this week:

1.) Our lawn mower, weed whacker, and hedge trimmer. To be honest, the only time we ever fully manicure the lawn is when we have company.

2.) The Smoker- for the brisket AND the regular grill for the hot dogs and chicken!

3.) Sprinklers & Super Soakers for my son and my nephew, they are the only kiddos attending the party, so they get free reign of the supplies. Some of the adults are big kids at heart, I am sure there will be a war.

Oversize Flower Pots- so I can run to the local garden market and plant some red, white and blue flowers, VERY last minute, so my yard looks festive!

Canopy Tent, Tables & Chairs- Our relatives are all older and need to stay out of the direct sun, so we need to keep them in the shade and set up some fans. I have about 6 folding chairs, so they are going to have to bring what they have to help!

Large Camping Coolers- to fill with the beverages- I have about 10 kinds of soda in my trunk right now, and I need to keep them all cold.

So thankful that we have a place to keep all these things during the fall, winter and spring seasons! As always it’ll be so nice seeing the managers and yard support on my visit to my storage unit.  Happy Backyard party season from The Storage Inn.

http://www.thestorageinn.net

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsor Spotlight: South Jersey Field of Dreams

The Storage Inn is a proud supporter of the South Jersey Field of Dreams. This is a local organization that caters to families with children with special needs. They can come out to the field, play a great game with their peers, and just enjoy the baseball game! Great uniforms…check, Concessions…check, Stands for the FANS… check, and a great environment with great vibes… CHECK! The organizers have volunteers on hand ready to assist every single player. We just attended opening Weekend last week, celebrating their 20th year! (Originated in 2003) We met some local families, gave out of Storage Inn Goodies and had a great night. Earth day was Saturday, so we had some help coloring from the children so we could decorate our office accordingly! The season will continue through the Spring and early Summer. We are so grateful to be a supportive presence in our community! Play Ball!

https://southjerseyfieldofdreams.com/

Time to Clean Up: 2023 Spring Cleaning

It is almost Springtime and we have been very busy here at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township. It is time for Spring cleaning! Since we have such a great selection of storage unit sizes, we find our storage unit rental log of visitors a little more active than normal this time of year. Our smallest unit, a 5×5, will clear a little bit of that extra space in your garage. If you have a full garage of items needing storage, you will want to consider a larger unit, maybe an 8×8. This typically holds about 2 rooms worth of furniture and boxes.

Maybe this Spring clean is a bigger haul for you and you have plans to get through the basement AND the garage? We can accommodate that as well, perhaps a 10×10 or even a 10×15! These can hold 3-5 rooms worth of furniture and boxes.

WE HAVE MOVING TRUCKS AND VANS

We go above and beyond to keep the space ready for your storage needs. We have staff onsite who help keep the storage units clean before you move in. We also have a golf cart on site to help get around. If you don’t have a pickup truck to bring your items over, don’t worry! We even have moving vans and moving box trucks available to our renters. We offer specials to help you get the best rate on this service.

A FEW STORAGE PACKING IDEAS

Make sure when you pack your items, you pack them carefully in bubble wrap and use plastic storage totes for better keeping – I speak from experience. You can come and go as you need to during regular business hours and grab those items that you needed but packed away!  As we have found to be helpful in our own experience, storing items in clear totes can be helpful for you so you can easily find items without having to open each box to find the item you are hunting for. If you have the time, and are a “list” type person, you can make an inventory list for each box that can be slid inside the box so you can read it from outside.

If this isn’t your style, you can also store your seasonal decorations in colored storage boxes, that correspond with that holiday. Examples would be a pink box for Valentine’s Day, green boxes for St. Patrick’s Day, orange and black boxes for Halloween, or red and green for Christmas décor.  This can help you easily narrow down which box to grab when you need that item.

WE HAVE CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE UNITS

If anything you are storing needs to be kept safe from the bitter cold winter days or steamy hot summer days, ask our managers about the climate-controlled units. We are a proud family-owned and operated self-storage facility in Atlantic County, and we look forward to serving all of our new and seasoned customers this 2023 Spring Cleaning Season!

 

 

 

Chicken Soup

Favorite Winter Comfort Foods

It’s Mmmmm Mmmmm good in the Winter!

It is the end of January here at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and there have been some very cold days lately, but that doesn’t stop our customers from shuttling in and out of their storage spaces. Lately I’ve noticed people storing holiday decorations, as well as removing exercise equipment, presumably in an effort to renew their commitment to better health in the new year.
Earlier this week, on a particularly cold day, one of our customers, Jodi, stopped Into the office to purchase some moving boxes for the items that she was putting into her eht storage unit. “Cold enough for you?” I asked. “I’m freezing” she answered  “I can’t wait to get home and have a nice bowl of hot soup!” she said as she took her boxes and headed to her car. Her soup sounded really good to me, so I decided to do a thoroughly unscientific polling of our customers as to their favorite winter comfort foods. Here some of our Storage Inn customer’s favorites!

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Soup – Of course! Who doesn’t love a hot bowl of soup on a cold Winter’s day?  The two favorites seem to be chicken noodle, and tomato.

Hot Chocolate – Mmmmmm.. The real chocolaty kind with the tiny little marshmallows floating on top!  Not surprisingly, this one was offered up by one of our customer’s children.

Fried Chicken and Mashed Potatoes – Yes please – Make my chicken extra crispy!

Grilled Cheese – Cooked just right, so that the gooey cheese stretches between the two halves when you pull the sandwich apart!  These people should get together with the soup people.

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Sloppy Joes – Well, a burger is just a burger, but a sloppy joe, with a slice of American cheese – Now that’s comfort food!

Macaroni and Cheese – The cheesier the better – BTW goes well with sloppy joes!

Chicken Pot Pie – One of my favorites! I like mine with salt and pepper and a little bit of butter melted on the crust. Mmmmmm!

Spaghetti and Meatballs – A good choice any time of year, but really goes well at the end of a cold day spent outside.

Chili – There’s nothing like a simmering pot of chili. Whether you like it hot or mild, with meat or without, the combination of beans, onions, peppers, mushrooms and spices are impossible to resist when you’re cozy at home and it’s chilly outside.

Homemade Beef Stew  – You know, the type that simmers in the giant stew pot all day long, until the flavors of the beef, vegetables, and spices are mixed just right. Don’t forget the buttered rolls!

Well, there you have it – The official Storage Inn customer’s list of their favorite Winter Comfort Foods. Well, my shift is almost over, and I can’t wait to head home, but first I will be stopping off at the grocery store for Sloppy Joe mix, rolls, and hot chocolate – so much for my New Year’s diet!

Self Storage in Atlantic City | Atlantic County Storage Units

A True Self Storage Pioneer

It’s easy to jump into a business venture when you know there’s a market and money to be made – but to have the “intestinal fortitude” to dip your toes into the water before a concept has been proven makes one a true pioneer. Rudy Meckel is a pioneer in the self storage industry. When he opened The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township, NJ in 1979, storage space rentals were unknown to the area.

The Storage Inn started out on four acres with four buildings, designed so they could be converted to a flea market should the new business venture fail. Instead, Meckel’s business prospered. The business offered an especially good fit, as it enabled Meckel to keep his road construction employees working during the off-season. He even had the foresight to construct his buildings with extra high ceilings to offer 20% more storage space per unit than the industry standard, and with 45 different sizes to choose from, this is definitely not a “one size fits all” operation. The Storage Inn has 900 units with a total of over 100,000 square feet of storage space. It also has automobile, boat and RV storage spaces. Recent upgrades to the facility include newly paved aisles and parking, state of the art security gate, and an upgraded rental office/ packing supply store. The Storage Inn has even gone “green” by adding solar power to their Egg Harbor Township facility. Also considered a gentleman farmer, Meckel has always adorned his grounds with a blue and yellow horse carriage or sleigh. In 1997, Meckel added another location by opening The Storage Inn II in Ocean City, NJ. He converted the former Stainton’s Department Store Annex in Ocean City, into three floors of indoor and climate controlled self storage and retail units. Currently, Rudy Meckel’s son, Greg and his family, run the businesses with him. The family views the storage business as an opportunity to help people. They serve people who find themselves in life’s transitions and those with long-term storage needs. A great resource for small and big businesses alike to expand and organize. They continue to ensure that the facilities offer customers the best in self storage. In addition to low rental prices, both locations offer free move-in truck rental, free porter service (assistance unloading) and climate control. The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township even has a resident security manager. The Ocean City the facility offers drive-in bays and indoor units, just blocks from the beach! Meckel’s future plans include continuing to offer new services, along with a customer service experience that always exceeds expectations. Stay tuned – who knows what this business pioneer will come up with next!  

The Storage Inn offers extra space for when you’re downsizing your living space!

Downsizing and Self Storage

There are plenty of reasons why people decide it’s time to downsize their lives and move into a smaller living space including wanting less house to manage, retiring to a active adult community, health concerns, or the need for assisted living. Whatever the reason, downsizing can be a daunting task, but the The Storage Inn Self-Storage in Egg Harbor Township, and Ocean City, NJ can be a huge benefit for you in making that transition easier especially if you’re one of the following:

Empty Nesters
The kids have moved out! You can finally turn their bedroom into that office you always wanted, the dream craft room, or a guest bedroom. The possibilities are endless! So, what are you to do with all that extra stuff taking up extra space they left behind – bed, desk, dresser, etc.?
The Storage Inn can solve your extra space issues – with over 45 storage space sizes to choose from, it’s the perfect solution! It can also ease the transition for you and your adult kids when they move out. Place their items into a storage unit and give them access to it. This gets their stuff out of the way at home, but still makes it easy for them to access everything when needed. 

Retirees
Congratulations on your retirement! We all dream of that day when we can sleep in with no alarm and do all those things we’ve dreamt of for years, like traveling the world, or finding new hobbies.

If retirement means moving to a smaller home perhaps in a 55 and over community, the good news is no more shoveling snow or cutting the grass!  The challenge is that you now have less than half of the storage space that you had in your old home!

Where are you going to put the 30 years of stuff you’ve accumulated but can’t bear to get rid of yet?
This is where a self storage space can come to the rescue! The staff at The Storage Inn is always happy to offer tips to help you sort and save the items that may have sentimental value to your family as well as the ones that you made need easy access to throughout the year.

Assisted Living
Transitioning into an assisted living facility, or helping a loved one through this process, is a challenging endeavor. How do you deal with a lifetime of personal belongings that very likely will not fit into your new senior living community? Often, time is of the essence, and the need for storing these items must be met quickly! This is where self-storage comes to the rescue! Many times, the best solution is to rent a large to mid-sized storage space until items can be sorted and consolidated into a smaller storage unit for long term storage.

 

Whether you’re an empty nester, happy new retiree, or relocating to an assisted living community, The Storage Inn can help make the transition a bit easier. Here are some of the features that we offer…

  • Award-winning, Local family owned business.
  • Clean Safe and Secure Storage featuring 24 hour Video Surveillance and a Resident Security Manager.
  • 7 day office hours and access.
  • 45 storage sizes to ensure that you don’t pay for more than you need!
  • Climate Control units.
  • 10 foot ceilings / 20% more space than industry standard
  • Full array of packing supplies available in our office store.
  • Free Wi-Fi, Copy, Print, Shred and Fax
  • Senior Discounts
  • Home of the $1 move-in/ Free Truck Rental

Our Storage Inn professionals will be happy to answer any questions you may have – from unit size and features, to arranging a unit for easier access. Stop by The Storage Inn in Egg harbor Township, or Ocean City, NJ today for more information on how we can help with your transition to a smaller living space and keep your lifetime of items organized along the way!

 

Storage Inn Tips For Reorganizing Your Storage Stuff

Storage Inn Tips For Reorganizing Your Storage Stuff

Time to organize your storage unit

Today is the day!  You cleared the afternoon schedule, took the key out of the junk drawer, and you’re ready to head to the local self storage facility to finally clean out and reorganize your storage unit. You’ve been meaning to do this for months, but are finally getting around to it today… So you hop in the car, drive to the storage facility, throw open the door, and think “OMG –  I can’t believe that I left it like this!” Boxes torn open and left half empty, sweat shirts hanging from old lamps, and a pile of something that you don’t even recognize shoved in the corner.
How did our storage unit end up like this? At this point you’re saying to yourself “I’m sure I had everything organized when I moved in, and I’m pretty sure I invested in a storage place to AVOID clutter.” Well, it’s time to get back on track, and get organized with a storage plan!  

The Storage Inn of Egg Harbor Township and Ocean City has put together some tried and true planning tips for organizing your storage space. 

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Plan your Work – Work your Plan

The Three Categories of Clutter
Before you begin your work, set up three areas – one for items that you will keep, one for items that you will donate, and one for items that you simply need to throw away. If you’re confined to working within your storage unit or the area immediately outside your unit, you’ll have a space limitation. Instead of pulling all of your belongings out at once, you’ll probably be more successful pulling out a packing box or two at a time and making decisions before moving on.

Repack Smart
As you repack, check to make sure that all of your storage boxes are full. Full boxes stack much more easily than half filled boxes, and are less likely to crush under the weight of the moving boxes above them. Converting your storage solution to plastic tubs can make this process even easier. Label all of the boxes or bins in your storage space clearly, and leave a small area to walk through your unit, if possible, to facilitate access throughout the year. Place the boxes or items that you are most likely to need throughout the year, close to the entrance, or at the top of the stack – planning ahead can really pay off.

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Ask the Pros!
Stop in and visit the staff here at The Storage Inn – We’ve probably dealt with the situation you may be dealing with, and would be happy to help you reach an ideal storage solution. Keep in mind, most storage facilities have moving and packing supplies onsite that are designed to make your job easier. And if you’re in need of a few extra boxes, packing tape, or packing material while you’re doing your repacking at your storage unit, just walk on over to the front office to update your packing supplies.  

Patty Ernst, the manager at our Storage Inn self-storage in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, recommends sizing up the items in your unit, and then taking a minute to visit the Storage Inn’s office store. “We carry many items in our store that can help our customers organize, or reorganize their storage space. We carry a wide variety of boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and even have kits specially made for storing dishes and glasses. For the ultimate in organization, we can even provide you with storage unit shelving that will fit against the walls of your storage area, and don’t forget the mattress and furniture covers!”

Hopefully these tips will help you to get your storage unit well organized once again –  remember, a place for everything, and everything in its place. Now go git’er done!

 

Tips for storing your summertime beach gear

Tips for storing your summertime beach gear!

How to Store your Summer!

Well, the Summer seemed to fly by here at The Storage Inn, located at the Jersey Shore, and now it’s Fall! The temperatures are dropping, and it’s time to start thinking about stowing your summer gear for the season. Let’s see… we have beach chairs in the trunks of two cars, a patio full of furniture, an assortment of bicycles, kayaks and canoes, and closets full of summer clothes. It may be time to consider getting some extra space at a self storage unit facility like our Ocean City self storage location or Egg Harbor Township self storage location! – Here are some tips to help you store your summer fun items!

Storing and Packing Beach Items

Shake off the loose sand, and make sure that your items are completely dry before storing them. It is also a good idea to place a moisture inhibitor such as Damp Rid in the storage unit to help avoid mold and mildew. Be sure to allow enough room for air to circulate around items such as beach chairs to prevent them from getting musty. Most importantly, DO NOT place anything into a storage unit that is still wet!

summer-gear

 

Storing and Packing Wheels and Paddles

Be sure to prep your bicycles, canoes and kayaks before placing them into storage. Oil any moving parts, and use the appropriate protectants on the metal, rubber, and plastic areas as needed prior to storing. You should also cover your stored items to protect your prep handywork!

Storing and Packing Patio Items

Make sure that all your patio furniture, grills, cushions,etc., are clean and dry prior to placing them into your self storage unit. Use patio furniture covers to protect your chairs and tables, and sealable plastic bags, or plastic wrap for your furniture cushions. Table cloths, placemats and accessories can be easily stored in an airtight plastic bin. Make sure that your grill is clean and dry, and that the fuel tank has been removed, prior to placing it into your self storage unit. Fuel tanks should always be stored in a secured outdoor area.

Storing and Packing Shorts, Tanks, & Tees

Be sure that all your clothing is clean and dry prior to storage. Use airtight plastic containers that are labeled on the side, so that you can read them when they’re stacked on top of one another. Placing silica packets inside of these containers will help to eliminate any moisture that might be trapped at the time of packing. Try placing a dryer sheet inside each of the containers to leave your clothing smelling clean and fresh when you retrieve them next spring.

Well, there you have it, the perfect plan for storing your Summer away from the self storage experts at The Storage Inn… at least until the temps begin to creep back up come Springtime!

To reserve the perfect unit to store your summer be sure to call or stop into your local self-storage facility, The Storage Inn! Our friendly staff is always available to answer any questions that you may have.

Tips for storing your summertime beach gear

 

Amazing Guitar Found in Storage Unit

Amazing Guitar Found in Storage Unit

Wow! What a storage unit find! 

If only it were at our facility! But truth be told, Beatles drummer Ringo Star was recently rummaging through his storage unit rentals and found some real treasures! Read below to find out more. Now we’ve never had a Beatles member rent from The Storage Inn, but we have had a very unlikely, celebrity guest as one of our tenants.

The Storage Inn Was Once a Magical Place

My name is Jerry. I’m the Sales Manager at The Storage Inn self storage in Egg Harbor Township New Jersey.  One of my duties as sales manager, is to compose our tenant newsletter, but while prepping for this year’s Fall / Winter edition, I came across something very interesting. It was a previous newsletter from before my time, that included the “Fun Storage Unit Fact” that magician David Copperfield had once stored items at our facility! “Hey!” I thought – “ What’s a rich famous guy like David Copperfield doing using a self storage facility? Do other celebrities rent storage space?” I was curious, so I did a little research, and here’s what I found out.

Shooting Stars!

downloadIt turns out that it is not uncommon for actors and celebrities to rent storage space as they travel around the world. Just last year, Beatle Ringo Starr, at age 75, decided to sell the items that he had accumulated in his various storage bins scattered across the globe. The auction included over 800 items,  among which were found, a guitar from John Lennon that’s estimated worth was $800,000. Also included was Ringo Starr’s first 1963 Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl three-piece drum kit that he not only played in over 200 performances between 1963 and 1964, but also used to record some of The Beatles biggest hits such as “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “All My Loving,” “She Loves You,” and “I Wanna Be Your Man.”

 

Robert Pattinson of Twilight Rents Storage Units For Collecting!

Movie star Robert Pattinson of Twilight fame likes to collect clothing, books and other collectibles when he travels for movies. He can’t carry all the items with the crew as they move from movie set to movie set, so he rents storage in different cities around the globe to store them. And it’s not uncommon for Pattinson and other celebrities to rent under a fake name or they have their manager or assistants rent for them.

Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton’s Storage Stuff Auctioned!

Late last year, it was announced that 2 storage units owned by Lindsey Lohan were going up for auction, and a few years ago, Paris Hilton’s storage unit was auctioned off for over $2,500.

Even Michael Jackson Rented Storage Space!

Other notable names, known to have used self storage space include Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Burt Reynolds. Even the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, owned a storage unit that was found to contain over 250 unreleased Michael Jackson recordings done at a time when Michael Jackson wasn’t under a recording contract with a specific company.

This made me think… A couple of weeks ago I had a tenant move in that looked just like Elvis Presley! Hmmmmm. The perfect cover!

Self-Storage for Military Personnel

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Self Storage for Military Personnel

Moving and Storage Tips for Military Families

Moving and Storage Tips for Military Families

Military Families on the Move

Moving is part of everyday life for military personnel. Soldiers and their families may be asked to relocate every 2 to 4 years. These moves often take place with short notice, requiring quick planning.

Military personnel who are about to deploy have a lot of choices to make regarding what items to take with them, and what to place in a storage unit. A self storage unit can be a great option, not only for furniture, electronics, and appliances, but also storing a vehicle such as cars, trucks, motorcycles, and boats. Your local self storage facility will likely offer military discounts for storage units as well as packing supplies, and possibly even the free use of a moving truck or moving van like we offer at The Storage Inn of Egg Harbor Township and The Storage Inn II of Ocean City. Most military bases have self storage facilities located near to them that offer secure gated storage – some even have resident security managers and climate controlled storage units. Many storage facilities also offer your choice of affordable indoor or outdoor space for vehicle storage.

Surface Deployment and Distribution Command are part of relocation departments designed to help military families with their moves. These departments also offer moving check lists like the one below.

Moving Tips for Military Families

Military families are experts movers! Here are some tips for moving with the military that should help make the moving process as smooth as possible!

Have a playbook with the moving orders, important dates and other documentation. Create a detailed list of everything that is to be moved.

Begin decluttering as soon as possible. Sort through items and designate them as sell, donate, and store – having less items to pack and move helps reduce stress on moving day

Have family and friends help with cleaning the old home when it is empty. It is also recommended to pre-clean the bathroom and kitchen in your new home.

Pack a “Go” bag for the first day at your new home with items such as sheets, towels, shower curtains and soap. Military families may not be able to control what goes where on their moving trucks, making it difficult to find items like laundry soap, brooms, mops, and household cleaners until the truck is completely unpacked. Quick and efficient planning is the key, but then, being quick and efficient is probably second nature to most military family members.