Category Archives: Storage Tips!

Storage Inn Christmas Solutions

It’s that time of year again, and The Storage Inn is ready to help you make space for all your holiday cheer! Whether you need to store your Christmas tree and decorations, or just need some extra room for all those presents, we’ve got you covered. Our secure and climate-controlled units are perfect for keeping your belongings safe and sound during the hectic holiday season. And with our convenient location and friendly staff, you’ll be able to access your unit whenever you need to. So why not give yourself the gift of extra space this Christmas?

– sack full of toys and gifts

Some tips for the final pack up come next week! Proper storage can help extend the life of your holiday decor and make decorating next year a breeze. Here are some tips to help you store your holiday decorations like a pro. First, make sure to clean and dry all decorations before storing them. This will help prevent mold and mildew from forming. Next, invest in sturdy storage containers that are specifically designed for holiday decorations. These containers will protect your decorations from dust, moisture, and pests. Finally, label your containers so you know exactly what’s inside and where it belongs. Taking these steps will help ensure that your holiday decorations are ready to go when the next holiday season rolls around.

We want to thank our customers, new and established alike. Thank you for choosing our facility to store your belongings, we truly appreciate and value your business.

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!

 

 

 

Storing your Tailgate Party

So, September has arrived here at The Storage Inn in South Jersey, along with a brand-spanking-new football season – and what fun would football be without tailgating? There’s nothing like meeting up with your friends, firing up the grill, and getting pumped up before kickoff – but this yearly ritual also comes with a fair amount of work attached. The last thing you want, is to be running around scrambling to find your tailgating gear on game day. Here are some tips to help you stay organized, and make your tailgating  adventure a bit easier.

Keep it Clean

Whether you’re putting it away just until next week, or until next season or packing up for the season and placing your vacation stuff into a storage facility until next year, be sure to thoroughly clean all of your gear before you put it into storage – especially anything that might have food residue on it.The smallest amount of food residue can easily attract insects, and rodents. Consider pressure washing your grill at regular intervals throughout the football season, and especially at the end of the season, when you put it into your storage unit.

Tote It

Typical tailgating gear can include everything from team flags, to plastic utensils, table cloths, cups, radios, and more!  This is where plastic tote bins become your best friend. Not only will they hold just about everything that you need, but they’ll also stack nicely in your game day vehicle –  just be sure to distribute the weight evenly so that they’re not too heavy to lift. This also makes for easy placement back into your garage or storage unit after the big game.

Be Safe

Do not store hazardous or flammable materials such as propane tanks, lighter fluid, or any other flammable materials in your garage or self storage unit. Propane tanks should be stored outdoors in an upright position. Other items such as lighter fluid or fire starters should be stored at home in a secure  temperature controlled area.  Also remember to remove batteries from radios, flashlights, etc., while in storage between seasons, to avoid leakage.

Make it Easy

Whether you’re a football-only tailgater, or a year round baseball, soccer, NASCAR kind of crew, part of successful tailgating is having a system that makes it easy.  You will want to be sure that your tailgating items can be easily accessed. If you find that you’re having a hard time doing this at home, you may want to consider a small self storage unit. The ease of driving up, throwing open the door, and loading your vehicle, could make the small monthly investment well worth it! Stop in to your local self-storage facility like The Storage Inn and check it out – We’d be more than happy to help you. Happy Tailgating!

 

Fall is the Best Time to Move Your House or Apartment

Fall is the Best Time to Move Your House or Apartment

Fall is the best time to move!

There sure has been a lot of activity here at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township and Ocean City, New Jersey this past month – lots of folks renting storage space and moving items into our self-storage units. In speaking with our customers, I found out that many of them were in the process of moving from one home to another. This made me wonder why Fall seems to be such a popular time to move, so I did some investigating, and here is what I found.

According to experts in the moving and storage industry, Fall just might be the best time of year to move (should you decide to hire movers) – here are 4 reasons why!

Family sitting in back of van holding keys, smiling, portrait

Great Weather

Fall is arguably the nicest time of year to move. Think about it, who wants to move in 90 degree summer heat, or in winter’s toe numbing cold?  Fall offers a comfortable temperature range which at worst could mean a sweatshirt or jacket, and if you’re lucky, you may even be able to wear shorts and a t-shirt!

Save Some Money

Industry insiders commonly refer to the period from May to August as “moving season”. Moving companies typically charge their highest prices during this time of year, but by waiting until the fall to move, you can get lower rates, along with avoiding the heat of summer. Many self-storage facilities also offer incentives in the fall to folks looking for self storage space. Here at The Storage Inn in South Jersey, we offer things like $1 storage unit rentals for the first month, and free moving boxes, tape, and bubble wrap to help make your move easier.

Insider tip – For the cheapest rate, move on a Tuesday or Wednesday in the middle of October or November. Avoid the beginning and end of the month (when leases tend to start/end), and on weekends (when most people schedule their moves)

Good Experienced Moving Helpers

Because “moving season” has ended, many companies will lay off their temporary help. This is good news for you, as they will retain their core crew. This means that you now have the most seasoned and experienced home movers handling your precious cargo.


Insider Tips:
Hot chocolate + travel cups = happy movers. After being blown away by your kindness, they may be compelled to give your furniture extra TLC.
Wet leaves = potential safety hazard. Keep a broom and rake on-hand, and continue clearing the path for movers.
Dress in layers! With the season being temperamental, you’ll want to stay comfortable.

fall-kids

Meet the Neighbors

Fall is a great time to meet the people in your new community. School is opening for the kids, and Halloween and other Fall events can get you acquainted with the new neighbors. Most towns and schools hold a number of community events in the fall that you might want to attend.

And ! If you’re moving around the Egg Harbor Township or Ocean City, NJ area definitely stop by your local storage facility, The Storage Inn. We know the area like the back of our hands, and we’re always happy to help you in any way that we can. Happy moving!

Vehicle Self Storage in Winter for our Four-Wheel Friends

November is here at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and the phone is ringing constantly with our yearly winter vehicle storage customers, looking for a storage unit to put their car, truck or van to bed for the winter. Most of them are yearly customers – some are  snowbirds heading south for the winter where they have another vehicle waiting – and some are classic car owners who only drive their vehicles during the warm sunny months.

One thing that I have learned in my years in the self storage business is that there is more to storing a vehicle for the winter than just rolling it in and pulling the door shut. There is some preparation involved and precautionary steps that should be taken. 

Here are some tips courtesy of The Storage Inn… 

Clean it up

Clean, dry and preferably waxed is the best condition to have your car in before it goes to sit for months in a vehicle storage facility. Salt and moisture are obvious culprits, so make sure it isn’t just a surface clean either, and make sure there’s a chance to dry before covering things up.

Where to Store Your Car?

For those of us who have no garage, like myself, or have a garage that is packed full of things other than automobiles, Self Storage is the next best thing. Choose a storage facility with good security, that is well-lit, and offers clean, dry units of the appropriate size – 10 x 20 should be your starting point.

Fill it up.

Over the course of a winter, fluctuating temperatures can cause moisture in your fuel tank.  With older cars especially, which means rust and a clogged fuel filter come the spring. The simplest way to combat this is to fill up the tank before you park for the winter, particularly with higher-octane, low-ethanol fuel. A smaller volume of empty air in the tank will help prevent moisture buildup, and will dilute contaminants.
The second thing to do is to invest in fuel stabilizer, which will prevent water from separating from the gasoline.

Check the Pressure

Your tires should always be at the correct pressure, but for those who park their car for long periods, pressure is extremely important. Add a few extra pounds of pressure to avoid developing flat spots – and make sure you’re taking pressure readings when cold.

Another method is to take the weight off the tires completely using jack stands. This isn’t necessarily recommended for older vehicles prone to sagging frames, nor for newer vehicles with air-adaptive suspensions.

One last, easy trick is to park the car with a flat section of 2-inch by 10-inch wood boards or similar under each tire. This provides a mild insulating effect if you’re parking on concrete, and will help keep the rubber from hardening up too much.

Oil and water

Change your oil just before parking your car, and then leave it be. Starting your car periodically without letting the engine come to full operating temperature can cause condensation to form in the exhaust system, rusting things out.

Antifreeze is an obvious check, but one that can get overlooked. You want to have this handled before you park the car, as the proper mixture needs to circulate through the engine’s radiator before you shut down for the winter. 

Keeping water out of the interior is critical too. Use moisture absorbers such as damp check to keep your storage unit dry as possible. 

Cover your baby!


Simply throwing a bed sheet over a car used to be good enough in the old days, and in many ways it’s still pretty effective. Whatever you use, make sure it’s breathable and properly secured. And avoid using a tarp, which can trap moisture!

So now that you’re armed with car and truck self storage tips courtesy of The Storage Inn, you can get down to the business of storing your vehicle for the winter properly. Let’s hope that it goes by quickly – See you in the spring!

 

 

 

 

 

October is time to Organize!

Today is the day!  The weather is great, 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.

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 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 space 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’re 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.

Jerry Brown, 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!

Moving Truck Packing Tips

The dog days of summer are still here at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township New Jersey, but that hasn’t slowed down the number of people renting storage units and moving into the best storage spaces in Atlantic County!

One of the many reasons residents choose The Storage Inn is because we offer free rental truck or rental van use when you rent a storage unit. We also offer non-tenants, affordable moving truck and moving van rentals.

Renting, packing, and driving a moving truck is a daunting task for many people and a good packing plan is key. Here are a few Storage Inn packing tips to help make your moving day easier!

Be prepared – In order to do a safe and efficient job of packing your moving truck, you’ll need the items below. Most of these are available at your local moving truck rental store, or local self storage facility, like The Storage Inn!

Hand truck and dolly – These are a must for moving heavier items around the inside of the moving truck as well as loading and unloading.

Furniture pads, bungee cords, packing tape, and stretch wrap – Use the furniture pads and stretch wrap to protect your items. The bungee cords and packing tape can be used to keep doors and drawers closed as well as secure your items in general which prevents them from shifting while the truck is moving. 

Boxes – Your local self storage facility should have a variety of moving
boxes available, including some made specifically for packing fragile items like dishes and glasses. Most also have wardrobe boxes to help make moving the contents of closets easier.

Remember to… Keep items such as a small tool kit, overnight items, or extremely fragile items in the truck cab.

Disassemble furniture – Remove legs from chairs and tables where possible. Pull drawers from dressers and cabinets to make them lighter when handling. Reinsert them once you’ve put them into the moving truck or van. 

Visualize – If possible, place as many of your furniture items as you can on the ground outside of the moving truck before loading. This will help you to visualize how the items might best fit into the truck.

Heaviest items first – Be sure to load heavy items such as appliances, file cabinets and boxes of books toward the front of the trailer, nearest thecab. Distribute the weight as evenly as possible because this will help to give you the safest conditions for driving your rental truck. Keep in mind that you are also packing floor-to-ceiling. Place your heavier items on the bottom, while saving lighter items for the top.

Box and Label – Boxes pack and stack best with other boxes. Clearly label your boxes to make sorting and stacking organized. Pack heavier boxes at the bottom and lighter ones at the top.

Summary – Be aware of how your items are packed, and how they might react to a rough ride.  Use furniture pads and stretch wrap to protect your items, as well as bungee cords, and/or packing tape to secure everything for the ride. Use your pillows, blankets, and cushions to fill in the dead spots between items. Your goal should be to arrange your items so that they are as close to one solid piece as possible. Think of your items as pieces to a jigsaw puzzle – solve the puzzle, and enjoy the ride!

 

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Top Self Storage Tips from Customers

It’s summer here at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and the place is bustling with storage customers shuttling in and out from their storage rental spaces, toting lawn chairs, bicycles, surfboards and all sorts of items related to self storage near the beach!

I had an unusual encounter the other day when Mary, one of our storage tenants, walked into the storage rental office carrying an air mattress under one arm, and a box of dryer sheets under the other. “What are you doing with those” I asked? “ I’m going to the beach!” she responded, thinking that I was asking about the raft. “No, I mean the dryer sheets” I said, clarifying my question. “Oh those – I use those to keep my storage unit smelling nice” Mary answered. We agreed, that was a great idea! This encounter prompted me to take a random polling of our storage unit customers, gathering their best storage tips.

Below is a list of my favorite storage tips from our customers…

Mark those boxes! You won’t fully appreciate labeling all your boxes until you’re faced with the task of searching for one particular item in a sea of unmarked boxes and bins. Do yourself a favor and tag your storage boxes. You might find listing the specific items on the side of the box or color coding will further help you in your efficient packing and storage quest.

Dryer Sheets. Not only do they keep your stored items smelling fresh, but a few dryer sheets placed strategically in the corners of your storage unit keep insects at bay too. Replace the sheets about once a month and you’ll have a sweet smelling, bug free storage unit.

Mattress / Furniture Covers. Protect your mattresses, couches, and tables against dust and moisture with a cover. If you don’t have specific covers for certain furniture, a large sheet will do the trick.

Clear plastic storage containers. Clear plastic bins have distinct advantages over cardboard boxes for storing. They are more durable, reusable, stackable and sturdier, and best of all, see-through! When buying bins, get them all in the same size for easy stacking.

 

Pen Knife / Box Cutter. There is nothing worse than having to use your house key, to cut through tape, cardboard or string. You never know when you’re going to need something especially sharp when storing, so you should always keep a pen knife or box cutter inside your unit for those unexpected “I think I may have left my cell phone in one of those boxes” moments.

Vacuum-Sealed Bags. Vacuum-sealed bags can drastically reduce size while protecting your clothes, bedding and other linens, in an airtight seal. They’ll protect your old clothes for whenever the world decides they’ve come back in style.

Wrap it up! Bubble wrap is an important item to have when storing delicate items. If you don’t have bubble wrap, you can protect your breakables by wrapping them in old T-shirts, or by placing them between layers in a box of towels. Avoid leaving gaps when stuffing the box to ensure everything stays secure and in place.

Keep it clean. Keep a spray bottle of household cleaner and some rags or paper towels in your unit to wipe down any appliances or electronics you plan on putting in storage. Storage units get pretty dusty after a while, so keeping some basic cleaning supplies, and a dustpan and broom handy for a quick cleanup when you visit is a great idea.

Inventory App. It’s a smart idea to keep track of all the belongings you store in your unit because, let’s face it, you are bound to forget exactly what you decided to keep there. There are a variety of helpful and easy apps that will do the hard work for you! Instead of racking your brain trying to remember where or if something is tucked away in your storage unit, simply consult your app.

Well, that’s our list of favorite storage space tips! Thank you to our Storage Inn customers for their helpful hints!

The Storage Shed Needs a Spring Cleaning

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz’ – I wonder where my lawn mower is!?! Looks like it’s time to clean out and organize the shed storage space for the warm weather months. So, let’s get started – first, go to the shed and open the door. Now ask yourself what you could possibly have been thinking when you left it in this condition at the end of last season! Be that as it may, we still need to get organized, so here are a few tips…..

Everything out!
I know, this does not sound like fun, but we need to see exactly what’s in there, what we still need, and what can go. Set aside any items that you no longer need, or that need to be replaced. Also create a group for items that you want to keep, but that don’t necessarily need to be in the shed.

Self Storage Solutions

Clean Up Time
Time to sweep out, and wipe down the floors shelves and work bench areas. You may want to check the items that you are storing to see if they need to be wiped off or hosed down before returning them to the shed.

Re-group and Replace
Now that everything is out, and your space is clean, it’s time to reorganize, and place your items back into the shed. Store the items that will be used most often toward the front of the space. Items that get used less frequently can be stored further back. Leave yourself a path to reach all of your warm weather items when needed. Hanging tools on walls or pegboard, as well as keeping smaller items in cans or plastic containers, can also free up additional storage space. If you find yourself still in need of more storage space for items, such as your Fall fire pit, or those Christmas decorations that you found, you may want to consider a small self-storage space. Your local self-storage facility will be happy to assist!

Now you’re organized and ready to enjoy all of the fun of  lawn mowing, weed whacking, weed pulling, painting, gutter cleaning, hedge trimming, etc…. oh well, hopefully you’ll get to use the bicycles and beach chairs once or twice before winter returns!

End of Summer Storage Tips

Well, it’s late August here at the best self storage facility in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey! I’ve been a manager here at The Storage Inn for quite some time. Today, in between storage rental customers, I got to thinking. Wow, it’s over 80 degrees outside, but by this time next month, it might only be in the mid fifties! Before you know it, summer will be over and the cool, crisp feeling of fall will be upon us. With the end of summer so near, I figured it would be a good idea to share a few end of the summer season storage tips!

Time for a Check-Up!

August is when the summer heat and humidity are at their peak. If your items have been in storage all summer long, get in there and check out the condition of your items. This is an important step to take when the seasons change.

Everyone knows the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind.” And this is often the case when using a storage unit. If you haven’t visited in awhile, it’s easy to forget what you have tucked away.

1. Fall is the time to replace your container of Damp-Check. This will help keep the moisture levels inside your storage unit as low as possible and help prevent mold or mildew.

2. Check the condition of your cardboard storage boxes. Often times people gather free boxes from area stores that aren’t in the best shape for long term storage. If your boxes are falling apart you may need to purchase new ones. Our office store is fully stocked with packing and moving supplies.

3. Make sure your lock is in good shape. Clean it and apply some oil. If it’s rusted or in disrepair you may want to replace it. Locks can be purchased at our rental office store.

Beach Chairs in, Leaf Rakes out!

Pool side furniture and accessories along with all your summer gear are commonly tucked away into storage by a lot of folks this time of year. Take the time to clean your items before putting them into your unit. You might also want to move your lawnmower and other yard equipment or tools into storage to free up extra space in the garage. But just remember, if you’re storing any power equipment – drain the gas, oil and other flammable liquids out of them.

Back to School!

For parents of college students, self storage is a great option for packing away your student’s extra belongings. Turn that bedroom into an office or an in-home gym! When they come home between semesters, their belongings are a quick storage trip away.

You might also consider renting from a self storage facility close to campus to keep bulkier items close by, like a bicycle or a kayak. Dorms, in general, are small spaces that are often shared among two or three students with just enough space for the essentials. Ask about our College discount – We love students here at The Storage Inn!

Time to Decorate

While you’re putting away your summer items, don’t forget to pull out your Halloween decorations! That talking skull with the red, light-up eyes is not going to do you any good sitting in a box in your storage space! While you’re at it, grab the Thanksgiving decorations too. Make sure the holiday lights, wrapping paper, Christmas tree and other decorations are moved closer to your unit door; that way you can easily swap out the fall décor for the winter stuff after Thanksgiving.

There you have it folks, a couple quick and easy storage tips for end of summer storage. So whether you already rent a storage unit or you’re looking to rent extra space, now is the perfect time of year to do it!