Self Storage

Boat Storage Tips & Tricks

In the United States, it’s estimated that one out of every ten households owns a boat. If you happen to be one of these households, you know the truth. You know how much fun one of these recreational vehicles can offer. However, you may also know that boat storage can be a struggle. Especially since preparation is a crucial step in doing it right. If you’d like to streamline the process so you do things quickly yet properly. Then the tips and advice below can help.

Why Is Proper Boat Storage Important?

Without proper storage, a boat can easily experience rust. Or mildew and even tarnish to the exterior as well as important parts of the interior. Proper storage can also help keep this recreational vehicle safe from inclement weather conditions. Including hurricanes that can cause excessive damage or even total the boat out. This can save you a considerable amount of money over the time you own the boat. it will also help keep it looking like new for longer. A good rule of thumb is to learn how to store your boat before you ever buy it. This is in order to make sure you keep this investment in good shape.

Tip 1: Always Clean Before Storing

Boats should always be clean both inside and outside before placing them into a storage area when the season is over. Leaving a boat dirty is very likely to result in rust. And can even mean the paint job damage in a few short months. Once you’ve wash the exterior, you’ll want to apply a fresh coat of wax. This is just to make sure and protect the paint. On the interior, you’ll want to condition leather seats and vacuum to get rid of any dirt and dust.

Tip 2: Invest in a Good Quality Cover

Even if your boat is going into a storage unit, a cover will help keep dust, bugs. As well as other debris will not be touching your investment. The heavy-duty canvas tend to be the best. Although the price of these will be more when you compare them to a lower grade materials. Additionally, you may want to look for one that is waterproof so it can provide additional protection to your investment.

Tip 3: Fill the Tank Up

Many owners think that it’s okay to store their boat with any amount of fuel that’s left after the last expedition of the season. However, this can cause corrosion due to condensation. This can leave you with some damage. Especially when it comes time to use the boat again. To avoid this, you’ll want to fill the gas tank to the top before storing for the end of the season. You should also pour in some fuel additive. This will help prevent sludge and carbon from building up over the next few months.

Tip 4: Change the Oil

Changing the oil on your boat isn’t something that should only be done before you take it out on the water. It’s important to also do this before you store in order to avoid carbon from building up inside of the engine. For the small amount of time it takes to do this task, it’s well worth the benefits it has to offer. In fact, a quick oil change can save you hundreds to even thousands of dollars in damage in the long run.

Tip 5: Address the Battery

The engine of your boat is one of the most expensive and important parts of it overall. For this reason, it’s important to protect it when you put your boat into storage. To do so, either disconnect your battery or connect it to a trickle charger.

Tip 6: Maintain the Engine

It’s crucial to flush your engine with fresh water before storage in order to prevent saltwater corrosion. Additionally, it’s recommended to run antifreeze through the water in order to prevent freezing in areas that experience lower temperatures during the winter.

Where Should You Store Your Boat?

Once you go through all of the steps that are necessary to prepare your boat for storage, it will be time to decide where you should store it. This is an important decision. Storage option you choose will determine how to protect your investment. Especially during the several months that it is out of use. In most situations, you can either choose outdoors or indoors. Below you’ll find more information for both options.

Should I Store the Boat Outside?

Storing your boat outside is always an option if you’re tight on space in your garage. However, even with a high-quality cover over the exterior, this can result in damage to your investment. This is true no matter what climate you live in. Both hot and cold weather can take their toll on a boat over the course of the off-season. people typically do not recommend the outdoor storage. Especially if you have a relatively new boat that you want to keep in good shape for many years to come.

Should I Store the Boat Inside?

Indoor storage is hands down the best option for any type of boat. this is because it helps protect it from the sun, rain, wind, cold, heat, and humidity. However, not all indoor spaces are equal to one another. While a garage provides adequate cover, it is very unlikely to be climate controlled. If you want the best protection, then an indoor storage unit is going to be the best route to go. With this, you will have a dedicated space. A space where your boat is protected on all sides from the weather that’s going on outside.

An additional benefit of renting a storage space is the fact that it will be more secure than it would be elsewhere. You will be the only one who has a key and there will be less traffic than there would be outside of a garage. However, you should still make it a priority to check on your boat often. Perhaps once per week until you’re ready to take it out for the next season. Since the boat will likely sit on a trailer while it’s in storage, make sure to check the tires often as well. In fact, most experts recommend rotating those tires monthly in order to keep them inflated and in good shape for the season to come.

Any storage need

While renting a storage unit is an additional cost, it’s one that will give you peace of mind that your boat is being protected. Since it’s very likely that you invested quite a bit of money in this, the last thing you want to do is risk it being damaged when it’s not in use. A storage unit overcomes this risk and helps keep things in good shape for the future. When it’s time to remove it for the next season, all you’ll have to do is haul the boat away and close the unit until it’s time to store once again.

While Box-n-Go cannot store boats, we are here here to provide storage for most any other need you may have. Please feel free to contact us at 1-877-269-6461 should you have any storage and moving needs.

Can You Share a Storage Unit With a Friend

A self-storage units are a wonderful and convenient way of keeping the precious things you don’t have room for at home safe. However, you may not have enough items to fill up a unit. At least enough to justify the cost. In this case, sharing a storage unit, and the cost, with a friend is a possible solution. Still, like having a roommate, there are some things you need to take into account. Just to be sure the sharing process goes smoothly.

Researching the Best Storage Solution

If you plan to share a storage unit with a friend, it is crucial for you and your friend to determine how many things each of you needs to store. How much space each of you needs for those items. This will guarantee you are choosing the right sized self-storage unit. And are neither renting a unit that is too small. Nor paying more rent than you need to for a unit that is larger than you require. To calculate this, you and your friend will have to decide what items you are planning on storing and the volume of the items. Be as precise as possible, using a height x width x depth formula to determine the total area needed.

You must also decide how the rent will be shared. Splitting the rent equally make sense if you will both be sharing the space equally. However, if one of you just has a few boxes and the other has a motorcycle, camping gear and SCUBA equipment. The person using the most space should probably pay a higher percentage of the rent.

Call Around

Finally, to find the best deal on a storage unit, take your time and call around to all the storage facilities in your immediate area. Inquire what the cost is for the size unit you need at each facility. Don’t fall into the trap of being willing to drive an extra five to 10 miles to save $5 a month on rent. You may save a few dollars if you only visit your unit once every couple of months. But if you will be making regular trips to your shed any savings will be eaten up on fuel and travel time.

Respecting Each Other

While sharing a storage unit with a friend obviously doesn’t require the same level of tolerance as having a roommate. You must both respect each others portion on the storage unit as well as the other’s belongings. Sharing a storage unit will require tolerance and communication from both sides. When sharing a storage unit with a friend, bear in mind that you and your friend both have a preconceived idea of what you want your unit to be like.

Maybe one of you has a vision of a clean and neatly-arranged storage unit with shelves and hooks on the ceiling to keep everything its proper place and the other couldn’t care less about order. This will become a huge problem down the road if you don’t talk about it upfront. Lack of communication, and a willingness to compromise, can be even more of a problem if more than two people are sharing a unit.

Talk it Through

Sit down and sketch out a diagram on where everything will be stored. Try to arrange things so the belongings of one do not get in the way of the other any more than absolutely necessary. Again, this is even more important if more than two are sharing a unit. Once you have the space worked out and your belongings stored in the unit, let your storage roomy use their part of the space as they see fit. There is no need to interfere with how your friend keeps their things. Provided the unit is kept clean and you are able to reach your belongings.

Identifying Security Issues

It is important to identify any potential security problems when looking for a storage facility. As theft can be a big problem at non-secured facilities, it is important to rent a unit that has at least the basic security features of a fence and gate. Ideally, a well-secured facility will have the following security measures in place:

  • A fence with a gated entry that is locked during non-business hours. Ideally, access will be controlled with a PIN pad that will grant tenets 24-hour access. If the facility has hours the gate is closed, you must consider if the hours the gate is open will be convenient for you and your friend.
  • A surveillance camera system that has full coverage of the facility.
  • Proper fire-control procedures.

Create a Policy for Key Holders

You will want to make certain that only the people who have access to keys are the people you are sharing the unit with. The best way to accomplish this is to make a list of everyone who has a right to have a key and get your friend(s) to stick to it. This really should be a contingency for sharing a unit. This way, if things magically begin to disappear, you will know who to ask questions of.

Solving the Rental-Agreement Challenge

Of course, sharing a place for your treasured belongings with a friend does require a bit of trust. Even though you and your friend are sharing the storage unit, typically only one person will be listed on the rental agreement. When deciding who will have this dubious honor, understand the situation. Even though the two of you will be splitting the costs, the person named on the agreement is the party who is legally responsible for making the rental payments. This means keeping track of the rental due date will be the responsibility of the person named in the contract.

Irrespective of whose name is on the rental agreement, this doesn’t prevent you from having your own personal contract with your friend. Everyone who will be sharing in the financial cost of the storage unit should agree to their share of the unit’s rent in writing. If one of you will need more space, structure your agreemnt accordingly. That person will accordingly pay a higher percentage of the rent. Spell it out in the personal agreement. Conversations about financial responsibilities can be a bit awkward. You will be saving yourself a lot of headache in the long run. Should something unpleasant happens down the road.

Insurance

Storage facilities will not insure their tenets belongings. Check to see if your homeowners or rental policy will cover the items you store off premise. If not, check with the facility to see if they have an insurance provider. If neither of those options are viable, consider splitting the cost of a separate policy with your friend.

Paying On-Time

There are risks associated with moving everything into storage. Your possessions may become a reality star in storage unit auctions reality TV! One way to avoid any of this is pay your rent on-time. Regardless if you are using the mobile units from Box-n-Go Storage  or any other company.

We hope the above advise will help you in your endeavor. Using mobile units helps move your belongings without all shuttling back and forth is. It is the easiest and the most convenient way to move and store. Should you need help with reservations, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Box-n-Go at 1-877-269-6461.

Storing Seasonal Items In Storage Unit

Are you a small business owner who is struggling to find the best space to suit your needs? Do you want to grow your business without having to use your personal living space, and you do not really need a large enough space to rent or buy an office or garage? Do you have equipment that needs to be stored, out of the elements, but you want your garage for your personal use? A solution that may not be so obvious is to rent a self-storage unit and storing seasonal items in it. There are many size options and many amenities that you may not even know about. Read on to learn more!

Self Storage May Help

A self-storage unit may be right for you if you have a business, that you otherwise operate primarily out of your home. While most businesses can be run from a cell phone, they may still require you to store items. For example, a wedding decorator business operates mainly from a website with pictures. But the decorations that they use must have a space to be put until they are needed. Rather than clutter your home with them, carefully pack and label them and then store them in a self-storage unit.

A lawn care maintenance company can rent a storage unit in a central location to the area in which they plan on offering services and store all of their items there after each use. Plumbers, electricians and carpenters can also benefit from this type of storage so that they are not leaving all of their expensive equipment in a truck or van each night that can more easily be broken into.

Storing Seasonal Items – What To Consider

There are several things to consider before deciding on which storage unit may be best for your needs. First of all, be certain that you are choosing a place that has self-storage with easy access. There are full-service storage units available in some places, but those would not be ideal for storing items that you may need to be able to get out and put back in on a regular basis. Ask what sizes of units are currently available, cost per month of each and if a security deposit is required.

You will also want to check to see if your unit will be climate controlled. It may not matter to you if you are storing equipment for lawn maintenance. If you are storing any kind of paperwork, you will want climate control so the humidity does not ruin anything. Finally, you will want to see if they offer insurance or if you need to obtain your own. Some homeowner’s policies include coverage of items in storage. Be sure to check with your insurance company to see what is available to you.

Storing Seasonal Items – Few Other Considerations

While those are the main items to consider, here are a few other things to think about. Depending on your job and what you are storing, these may be of great importance to you. Some self-storage units do have electrical outlets, though they may not be available in every unit. Ask if you will have access to electricity if you think you may need it. Also, they may have hose access available if they are known for storing for vehicles.

This would come in handy if you have equipment that needs cleaning. Ask if you are permitted to clean equipment outside of your unit or if there is another designated area. Some units will have outside entrances and some will have inside entrances. If you are storing equipment that you will need to access often, then be sure to get an outside entrance. On the otehr hand, if you are primarily storing paperwork or decorations, then an inside entrance will work fine for you. If you will have a unit with an inside entrance, ask about lighting. Be sure that the corridors are well-lit for safety purposes. Eliminate any of the facilities that do not meet your most crucial needs.

Storing Seasonal Items – What Size Unit Do You Need?

Now you will need to figure out just exactly what size of a storage unit will need. It is good to have a little extra space, but you do not want to pay for a larger unit than is really necessary. Lay out the equipment, boxes and any other items you will be storing to get an idea of how much space they take up. Ask yourself if they can be stacked, if something needs to lay down or stand upright and how much space you will need around the items to efficiently get them in and out. You do not want this to be a chore each time you enter. Give yourself the space you need. Decide on which size you need and eliminate any of the storage facilities that do not have the right size.

What Amenities Do You Need?

Amenities are considered to be extra, non-essential items. Some storage units realize, however, that amenities can make a huge difference for some people. Depending on what you are storing, you may wish to base your decision of a storage facility on their amenities or perhaps you will just consider them a bonus. Either way, here is what to look for. While most people think that security is a must at a storage unit, it certainly is not mandatory for them to provide security in most areas. Urban areas are more likely to offer security. Most corporate-run facilities offer security, but many privately owned facilities do not. Be sure to check. Know whether their idea of security is just a locked corridor or if it also includes video surveillance.

Another popular amenity is the use of a dollies and carts to move your items. Many require you to bring your own and some have them on each wing of their facility in an area that also has a sink. Most storage facilities do not have restrooms, but even just having a sink is a huge bonus so you can leave with clean hands. Some even offer mirrors above the sink so you can fix yourself up a bit.

Storing Seasonal Items – Get Organized

Once you have chosen your self-storage unit, consider taking some time to plan for organization. Rather than stack boxes on top of one another, you may wish to add some shelving units. This will take the stress of the weight of the boxes off of one another as well as make it easier to access what you need. You may be able to add pegboard to the walls. If so, this can be really handy for storing rakes, wreaths and any other items that can hang. However you organize your items, be sure that the most frequently used items are easily accessible.

A self-storage unit may be the perfect solution for your small business. Please use the helpful tips above to determine what type of unit will work best for you. Then be confident moving forward with your business, knowing that your home is free from work clutter and that your work items are protected.

Ease the Stress of Moving With Portable Storage Units

When it comes to planning an office move, there is a lot to think about logistically. From locating and packing boxes to finding a reputable mover, the list might seem never-ending. Portable storage units save you the time and effort of choosing a moving company and dealing with high costs and complex contracts. The Box-n-Go storage solution makes packing a breeze. Just walk into your storage unit and load up your belongings. We will collect your units when you are ready.

Portable storage units offer temporary storage with half the work required to load them. What’s more, they can be collected and delivered on the date of your choice to the location of your choosing. No need to send your employees to rent a truck, drive it, etc.

Storing Seasonal Items – Storage Containers You Only Load and Unload Once

Portable storage units offer a convenient self-storage solution without the hassle often associated with traditional storage facilities. When delivered to your home or business premises, parking the container at the curb provides loading ease. If needs be any other practical or permissible location. Fill them at your convenience. Once ready, your storage container will be collected and taken to its final destination for unloading. You also have the option of a storage facility until primed for delivery. These robust portable storage units allow you to load and unload once and give you peace of mind. This process furthermore assures you that your belongings are safe and secure at all times.

The Practical Self Storage Solution for Businesses

Planning an office move or storing surplus stock is easy when you choose a temporary storage solution. In a store environment where products are on display at their best to sell, having somewhere to temporarily store stock can be a huge advantage. Especially during busier seasons, such as Christmas. You can also choose to move surplus stock to other stores or branches where they may sell better. Load up your portable storage units and arrange collection and delivery to suit your needs. Office moves and staff relocations are also simpler with storage units as you can load up what you need and arrange door to door collection and delivery.

Have you ever associated After Christmas with self-storage? Most likely not. Well, we get it. You were too busy spending a good time alongside your loved ones. Cozy dinners, parties, cooking, decorating and the list could go on and on. We don’t blame you – on the contrary. What we will do is outline the challenges you may encounter this Christmas after the celebration, storage-wise.

What would Christmas be without Christmas decorations to mark this year-end festive time? That said, there’s a small issue with these ornaments: they need a place to be stored till the next Christmas.This could become problematic depending on the size of your office space. It would be a pity to throw them away and find yourself in the position to shop each year for different globes or tinsels.

Temporary Storage Solutions for Storing Seasonal Items

Storing Seasonal Items
Storing Seasonal Items

When it comes to temporary storage solutions, you need options you can trust that offer the ultimate in security, affordability, and convenience. With your assets stored out of sight, you also need to be confident that they are safe. Box-n-Go storage solutions offer protection from damage and access to your items whenever you need.

While there may be other self-storage solutions available to commercial customers, not all are equal. It is critical that you choose a solution that meets your individual storage needs, in addition to giving you total peace of mind. Fortunately, there are moving and storage solutions that ease the headaches of a traditional self-storage. Whether relocating or requiring storage, choose to have your things collected or stored in a temporary storage facility. The choice is yours.

Box-n-Go Self Storage Service

When it comes to convenience and value, Box-n-Go offers an unbeatable convenience: we deliver storage to your door. This way you load/unload only once. You do the packing on your schedule. There is no truck rental. All those benefits are provided at a very competitive rates. While the traditional storage has a certain niche and Box-n-Go self storage will not work for everyone, we feel confident that our services and prices speak for themselves. Call Box-n-Go at 1-877-269-6461. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Using a Self Storage to Prepare for a Newborn

You have a little bundle of joy on the way, and you’re making changes at home to accommodate the little cherub. This can get a little challenging. But there are a number of things that could ease the workload, like a self-storage unit. Yes, the benefits of a self storage for newborn and expecting parents may be overlooked, but they can be helpful at this time.

Storage for Newborn – De-Cluttering

You are probably planning to put in a nursery, but now you see you don’t have much room.

The reality is you may have enough room in your home. However, you’ve got so much stuff it is hard to make room for the nursery. This is one thing a self-storage can offer: space. All expecting parents have to do is clean house by donating what they don’t need. Throw away any trash, and place things they don’t use often in a storage unit.

Room Evolution

Sometimes, a parent has to change a room completely in order to prepare it for the baby. Depending on what you are doing, it may be necessary to empty out a room completely.

A self-storage unit will give you a place to put things temporarily. This will give you the freedom to remodel or rework in order to install carpet or paint. This storage unit cannot only hold the stuff in the room but also things you’ve already bought for you baby. There is no need to crowd the hallway in the house or some other room because all you need is a little extra space.

Storage for Newborn – A Changing Need

As expecting parents, you are probably getting a lot of gifts and buying all sorts of things. You might stop at a thrift store or some other interesting store and find things that might be great for your bundle of joy.

The thing is, sometimes you find stuff that your baby won’t need for some time. You do not want these things to clutter up your baby’s nursery. You can keep all your precious finds in a good storage facility. Trade things as your baby grows up and his or her needs continue to change.

Spread the Expense

Parents have all sorts of expenses when expecting a baby. As much as you want to have everything ready, you also know that money doesn’t grow on trees, so getting prepared in a short period of time can be financially straining.

There is a solution though; you can simply buy bulk items before hand, and use a storage unit to have everything in place. This way you can spread bigger expenses over the course of a long period of time to avoid stretching out your wallet too thinly. That is a pretty sweet deal, so do not hesitate.

Storage for Newborn – The Rejects

Everyone you know is pretty excited for you, and they are probably going to try to show you somehow. Sometimes, they might give you a gift that you’ll definitely appreciate but don’t necessarily love.

You do not want to throw gifts like these away. But you really aren’t going to use them, and you do not want them cluttering up your nursery. At this point, a self storage can come in handy for you. You get to put all those unwanted gifts away without hurting anyone’s feelings. You can keep them there until the time is right to find a new home for them if needed, or just keep them for sentimental reasons.

Where Memories Rest

A good self-storage has a number of little features that customers love, like climate control. This is important because it can help prevent mold, which could damage your possesions. It can also keep bugs away, which can be a problem in some storage facilities.

You do not want bugs to invade your precious things, especially because those belongings represent memories. Your baby is going to grow, and you are probably going to want to keep your baby’s belongings. These are things you get to pass down or can show your child when he or she is grown. You are going to love showing pictures, toys, and clothes to everyone. Your storage unit is going to make it easier to preserve those memories and keep them safe.

Storage for Newborn – Beyond the Nursery

There is a lot going on in your baby’s nursery, but that is not the only aspect of your home that is transforming before your baby arrives. You may also decide to start baby proofing your home.

This requires some work, and it requires observation, ensuring you don’t miss a single detail. Some things are easy like plugging up electrical sockets. But some things are a little more complicated, especially as your baby grows up. You are going to want to get rid of sharp edges and tall shelves that are not secured to the wall. What you want to do is place all items you feel are dangerous in a self storage unit until your baby is a little older. Then, you can put them back in place.

Peace of Mind

As an expecting parent, you probably have a lot going on in your mind. You have to prepare a lot of things in your home to get ready and ensure your home is safe. There is a lot to take care of, and it could feel overwhelming.

You are not alone in this because you probably won’t find a parent who did not feel overwhelmed as you do now. Having a good storage unit gives you peace of mind by giving you some of the aforementioned benefits. It may not seem like much, but the truth is any peace you can get is going to mean the world to you. Your family will also value this peace as it helps the whole family.

Keep in mind that most storage facilities offer insurance to customers on top of all the security perks you get, such as 24/7 surveillance and access to the unit at all times. These are just some of the benefits you can get by having a storage unit now that you are expecting a little bundle of joy.

Your life is definitely going to be changing. But the change is going to feel great, especially after taking care of any space issues you might be facing with a good storage unit. Do not hesitate to talk to a storage unit specialist about any questions you might have regarding some of the benefits mentioned or anything about the storage unit itself. The specialist will have the answers you seek.

Need Storage for Newborn – Let Box-n-Go Help

After you live in the same place for a while, stuff will most likely start piling up. Toys, books, clothes, shoes, souvenirs you can’t let go of. And the list could go on. What do you do when you realize your space is too cluttered but you can’t really throw everything out the window?

Moving to a larger space is not a handy solution for everyone, so what about self-storage units? You kill two birds with one stone: you can enjoy both your current home and a cleared space. Open up your space or just redecorate without moving out. Now that you’ve read about these benefits of self-storage, you know there’s an easy solution to store your belongings in a safe and convenient way.

Our Box-n-Go team is here to offer the best services, so make sure you check our website for the full range of facilities and offers. Call us at 877-269-6461 and we will be happy do help.

How to Prepare Your Home for an Open House

While no one likes moving, it’s a necessary transition that practically everyone will have to perform at some point in their life. Before you can even make the move, however, you need to sell your home first. In the game of selling, appearance is everything. That’s why preparing for the open house is so vital when it comes to selling your home. It can be easy to miss certain details, however, that could be the deciding factor that makes or breaks a sale. To ensure that you exceed your expectations at the open house and make the best sale possible on your home, you should consider these tips and ideas.

Preparing for an open house – Lighting

Perhaps you noticed that when you enter a home that is bright and lit up, the entire place just feels a lot bigger and cleaner. For whatever reason, humans tend to react positively to bright homes. Darker homes can often make you feel enclosed and not necessarily in a good way. That’s why lighting is so important to consider for your open house.

You don’t want people to come in and think that your home feels cramped or oppressive. Everyone wants to think that their home is spacious and offers a lot of space to grow in. Even those who prefer tinier homes still want to feel as though each room has a lot of space. You can offer that illusion by playing with the lighting.

For example, the best way to increase the lighting in your home is to let in natural light. If your house has a lot of windows, then this is going to be easy for you. Simply pull back the blinds or curtains and let that light shine into your home. It’s not a bad way to check on the views from those windows either. If there’s a giant bush that has overgrown and blocks most of your window, then it’d be a good idea to chop it down so more light can enter into the room.

If you have lots of windows

For those who aren’t fortunate enough to have a lot of windows to let in natural light, then you’re going to need to do what you can with artificial lights. Sometimes all you need to do is replace light bulbs with ones that offer a brighter illumination. However, it is important that the light doesn’t offer a blinding contrast that can make the rest of your home bleed out in terms of color. You’re not looking to bleach out everything.

That’s why it’s typically a good idea to have a few lights in key parts of the home that you, especially, wish to highlight and that make a space appear bigger. It’s best to play around with the lighting in your home for a while. See what works best and stick with it. You may want to consider some home staging advice from your realtor at your open house or an interior designer. They typically know a few lighting secrets that can really illuminate your home.

Besides adding in more light to your home, you should also have all of the lights on. Again, this is to make your home appear bright, but it also makes the home cozy and welcoming. It’s easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves living the home if they’re able to walk right in and feel welcomed by warm and bright lights. Any open house needs lots of light to show the property well.

Preparing for an open house – Landscaping

Home staging goes far beyond just how your house looks on the inside. The outside and surrounding area are just as important. Most judgments that potential buyers are going to make at an open house begins right from the front yard as they pull into the driveway. Would you be excited to see the inside of a home when you pull in on a cracked driveway and notice that there are weeds growing in the grass? It doesn’t exactly make for the best welcoming message.

When it comes to selling your home, the exterior matters considerably. As such, you should attempt to mow the lawn regularly and keep the grass freshly cut. To ensure that it is green and healthy looking, you should water the grass about a half hour before the opening of the open house. With a bright green lawn, your buyers are going to easily imagine themselves sprawling out on it during the summer and cooking some barbecue.

Its not just a lawn

Besides just the lawn, you should make sure that the garden–and lawn itself–is free of weeds. Trim the garden, too, to make sure that it looks well-cared for. Even if you have long since given up on your garden, you should at least make it look like there was an attempt to love plants. The easiest way to do that would be to just tear the remaining plants out of it and re-plant only a few fully-grown plants. Since it’s likely that the new owners will want to plant their own garden and will rip out the plants you have there anyway, at most, you just want to make sure that your current garden is limited in scale and trimmed.

In regards to the actual exterior of your home, a good power wash certainly won’t hurt. It can actually make your home look a lot newer and fresh. If your front door is old and battered, then you might want to consider replacing it. The same goes for old doormats that have clearly been used and abused. This is the welcome center of your home. If it doesn’t look great, then you’re not going to make those buyers feel excited and welcomed as they enter your home.

Final touches on the exterior of your home should be focused on appearance. Any trash cans or bins should be placed somewhere that they cannot see them. They don’t want to see your trash. You should also make sure that your mail or newspaper is picked up either by yourself or the realtor during the open house as quickly as possible. Piles of mail and newspapers can look unprofessional.

Kitchen

Home staging in the kitchen is vital. For many buyers, the kitchen is going to be their primary room of interest. If this area doesn’t meet their standards, then you can be sure they’ll be leaving to visit the next house. The most obvious rule of thumb here is to ensure that everything is clean. Wipe down those counters, make sure the oven is clean, and take great care to ensure there aren’t any crumbs anywhere. Your pantry door and cupboards should all be closed. While it doesn’t hurt to have a bowl of fruit or flowers on the counters, you should try to limit the amount of clutter.

It also doesn’t hurt to have a bowl of cookies for buyers to have. Nothing quite feels like a welcome feeling like a warm tray of cookies. To take that up a notch, you may want to be overly ambitious and cook a few different kinds of cookies in order to pertain to guests of varying tastes and dietary restrictions.

Again, you want to make sure that the trash can in the kitchen is placed out of view. You don’t want people looking through your trash. You also want to limit the chance of a bad odor from stemming from the trash can due to a meal your family had the night before.

Fact sheets should be be ready for visitors in the kitchen. This is usually one of the first rooms that people investigate, and so they can take a cookie and read over the fact sheet at their leisure in the welcoming space that you’ve created for them. remember kitchen is one of the most crucial areas when preparing for open house.

Open house – Bathrooms

Perhaps the heaviest cleaning that you’re going to need to perform is in the bathroom. No one wants to go into a bathroom and feel as though it’s actually ever been used in the past. Instead, they prefer to think that the bathroom is new and untouched. You can offer them this illusion by cleaning the bathroom until it shines. There’s also a few little details that can make it look professional and clean.

For example, the toilet lid should always be closed. Not only does this ensure that the inside bowl isn’t visible, but it can also help cut down on potential odors. Again, it also makes it appear as though the bathroom is brand new. This is an excellent detail of home staging that not every homeowner considers.

Another aspect is to remove all of your showering and personal items during an open house. Your razor, soap, deodorant, everything you use to prepare yourself for the day should be away and off of the counter or out of your shower. You want to make your buyers see the bathroom as their own. They can’t do that if they have a physical reminder of you within that space. This is a critical element when preparing for an open house.

Last Details

When your home is clean, push back the curtains. Place the cookies are on the counter. You still have a few last few details that you might want to consider. The first is temperature. While the temperature of the home may vary depending on the weather outside, you should typically try to keep your home within the 68-72 degree range. This creates a comfortable space rather than being too chilly or too warm.

You may also feel like it’s a good idea to add in scents or candles. This isn’t always the case. Sometimes these scents can become overpowering and can give people headaches. You don’t want to drive them away because of a strong scent. Others may believe that the scents are an attempt to cover up an odor in the home. It’s best to just leave them out and keep your home clean to prevent odors from occurring.

Finally, if the weather is pleasant, open all of your windows for fresh air.

Using a mobile storage solution from Box-n-Go is an ideal route to de-cluttering your home and preparing for open house. Southern California residents can have a storage container delivered to their home. This will allow them to de-clutter and have a quick sale. One of the major points made repeatedly by home experts who try and get the best price for a home is that good presentation is vital.  When any general makeover is carried out they always insist on a lack of ‘clutter’. Especially when the finished homes are presented for sale. This “home staging” as it is called is beneficial as real estate agents claim that that a well presented and clutter free home will sell quickly.

Contact Box-n-Go at https://www.boxngo.com or by calling 1-877-269-6461.

Preparing a Home for Sale – Home Staging

When you’re getting ready to sell a house, it’s common to run into one of two problems. If you’re living in the house, it’s probably filled with your belongings and decorated to suit your tastes. If you’re not, it’s probably empty, full of echoes, and looking decidedly not-homey. Home staging can help you remedy these issues and sell your home faster and for more money. It can easily become the most inexpensive and the most profitable solution for getting the most money for your home.

Often staging the home involves removing the clutter. This is where Box-n-Go comes in. We can help you move the clutter from your home and into the storage easily and economically. use the below tips to prepare your home for sale by improving its curb appeal and staging it properly for the visitors to be able to see your home’s value. Box-n-Go is your perfect home staging option. With Box-n-go it is easy to showcase the true character and value of your home.

What is Staging?

Staging is the process of arranging furniture and decor to help your house look its best. This makes it easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there — something that’s not so easy to do when the space is totally empty or cluttered with your belongings. It is easy with Box-n-go! Get a container or two delivered to your home. there is no rush in  loading them. You can do it over several days, after work, or on the weekend. We can even help you with loading the heavy items. Once you are ready, we will come back and pick up the storage units and take them to our warehouse. There your belongings will be safe and secure for as long as you want us to store them.

Depending on the current state of your house, home staging can be simple or involved. It might be as easy as cleaning up and decluttering. On the other end of the spectrum, it might be as complicated as remodeling, painting, and renting furniture. Home staging will help you leave a positive impression with potential buyers. Impression that counts most.

No matter the current state of your house, these tips can help you get your house ready for a sale.

1. Start Outside

Have you ever driven past a house and fallen in love with it? That’s due in no small part to outdoor staging. Curb appeal is real — and it can have a big impact on the number of showings you get.

To start, make sure the lawn and shrubbery are in perfect condition. Re-sod any bare spots, rake up leaves, and make sure to trim the trees. Repaint any areas with peeling or faded paint, and consider refreshing the shutters, door, or window frames with a new color. Once you have a neat space to work with, dress up the entry with a few thoughtful touches. A wreath on the door, beautiful flowers in planters, and an adorable welcome mat can work wonders when it comes to drawing in potential buyers.

2. Get Rid of Clutter

Clutter is the enemy of home sales. It’s distracting to potential buyers, and it makes your house look unsightly and messy. Before you do anything else, go through the house and pack up all of your personal items. This includes:

  • Family pictures
  • Refrigerator magnets
  • Toys and games
  • Knick-knacks and mementos
  • Magazines and stray books
  • Items in “junk drawers”
  • Counter top appliances and cookbooks

Don’t forget about your furniture during the decluttering process. Too many pieces, especially if they’re large, make your home feel small and crowded. To start, cut your furniture down by 25%. If it still looks crowded, take away a few more items.

As you’re packing, resist the urge to put these items in the closet; they’ll just crowd the space and make it difficult for buyers to get a sense of the closet size. Instead, put them in a storage unit offsite. At the end of this process, your home should have a more neutral look that allows buyers to picture themselves living there.

3. Do a Deep Clean

The next step in the home-staging process is cleaning. We’re not talking about a quick refresh — we mean a serious deep cleaning that gets to every nook and cranny of your home. If you’re on a budget, you can do it yourself. If not, it’s a good idea to hire professionals to scrub the house for you. After living in a house for a while, it’s easy to miss dirty spots. A fresh set of eyes can help you spot and eliminate hidden grime.

If you’re cleaning on your own, here are some spots to remember:

  • Clean and repaint the inside of cabinets and drawers
  • Remove everything from the counter top
  • Move major appliances and clean under and behind them
  • Dust fans, light fixtures, baseboards, and the tops of cabinets
  • Wash windows and baseboards
  • Clean fingerprints and hand prints from walls
  • Wipe down trash cans
  • Deep clean sinks and fix dripping faucets

Arguably, cleaning is the most important part of home staging. It allows your other efforts to take center stage and makes visitors feel at home. A dusty baseboard or a stained wall is easy to ignore when you’re living in the home. To potential buyers, it can be a huge turn-off.

4. Select and Arrange Your Furniture

Furniture is an underrated part of the selling process, but it can have a big impact on potential buyers. Imagine that you walk into a house and it has a ratty sofa and stained chairs; your attention goes right to those imperfections, making it impossible to focus on the rest of the house.

That’s why furniture selection is important in home staging. To start, evaluate your furniture. Is it neat, clean, and modern? If so, keep it for the staging. If it’s outdated, worn, or an unappealing color, send it to storage. Then, you can rent new pieces to supplement the remaining items. This can seem like a big expense when you’re strapped for cash, but it almost always results in better listing photos and more positive home tours.

As you’re choosing furniture, opt for neutral colors. Rich cream, sand, and beige tones create an upscale look. Lighter shades also help your space feel airy.

Once you have key furniture pieces, it’s time to arrange them. Instead of pushing everything against the wall, try moving it in. This creates a more spacious feeling and allows buyers to examine the entire room. Not sure where to start? A professional home stager can help create a contemporary design that will appeal to your buyers.

5. Add in Tasteful Decor Pieces

Does your house look bare? It’s time to add in a few decor pieces to complete the look. Aim for pieces that aren’t too crazy — this can turn off buyers with very different styles. Instead, aim for touches that make your home feel loved and lived in.

Some options include:

  • Bowl of fresh fruit in the kitchen
  • Centerpiece or runner on the dining room table
  • A few tasteful pieces of art on the walls; abstracts, florals, and landscapes are safe
  • Vase of flowers in the entry or on a coffee table
  • Candles or small pieces of art on side tables
  • Rugs under furniture groupings
  • Colorful throw pillows on sofas and chairs

6. Make Small Upgrades

Sometimes, small upgrades can make a big difference. As part of your home staging, focus on projects that are affordable and easy to do yourself. Some great projects are:

  • Replace old cabinet hardware with new, more modern pieces
  • Repaint kitchen cabinets and backslash
  • Polish wood floors or clean carpets
  • Change out old or stained light switch covers
  • Repaint dirty or stained walls

Do you have visible areas of the home that need repairs? Now’s the time to take care of them. Many buyers are looking for homes that are move-in ready, so by handling all repairs, you can set their minds at ease.

7. Create a Light, Bright Atmosphere

When buyers are looking for homes, either online or in person, lighting matters. To start, make the most of your natural light. Switch out heavy curtains for sheer or light-colored versions. In small rooms, create a more open feeling by replacing them with blinds or shades.

Then, look to your electric lighting. Replace any burnt-out bulbs — that way, buyers can see every part of the house clearly. To that end, make sure you have enough lighting. Add floor lamps or table lamps in darker rooms to create a cozy glow during evening showings. If you have fluorescent lights in the kitchen, swap it out for a more pleasant incandescent or LED fixture. Have a dark hallway? Add a few wall sconces, or simply place a lamp on a hall table.

Don’t forget about outdoor lighting. After all, buyers will be driving past or coming for showings after dark. Replace your flickering porch light with a warm, bright version. If you have a dark walkway, consider adding an additional light for safety.

8. Don’t Forget About Scent

The final part of home staging is scent. Make sure that every odor is scrubbed from the air — this is especially important if you have pets, if you smoke, or if you like to cook pungent foods. Air out the house and use gentle air fresheners if necessary. Don’t forget about common culprits like the bathroom, refrigerator, and kitchen sink. It’s also a good idea to swap your existing trash cans for new versions; that way, old smells don’t hang around.

9. Prioritize Staging Efforts

Between the upgrades and furniture rentals, home staging can get expensive quickly. If you’re on a limited budget, consider prioritizing your efforts. Start with the entry and the living room, move to the master bedroom next, and finish with the kitchen. For other rooms, particularly spare bedrooms, you can opt to leave them empty or use your own furniture for basic staging. That doesn’t mean you should neglect cleaning and repairs in those spaces — the entire house should be neat and spotless.

Home staging takes time and money, but it’s one of the most important parts of the selling process. By turning your home into an attractive, neutral area, you can help buyers imagine their own belongings in the space. Whether you’re staging just for the listing photos or leaving the decor in place for showings, it can speed up the process and bring in more offers. That way, you can get a great price and move on to your next home without dragging out the listing time.

Box-n-Go can help you take away your personal items and clutter and store them safely until you are ready to have them delivered to your new home. Our service is easy on your wallet and convenient. Just call us at 1-877-269-6461 and we will take care of all the details.