Self-Storage Made Easy: How to Inventory Your Belongings

Whether you’re in the middle of a move, or just using self-storage to free up some space in your garage, basement, attic, or spare room, one of the best things you can put in place to save yourself time and frustration is a good inventory.

Inventories are great things to have on hand when you’re moving. They can help you to keep track of which items go where, give you a checklist to make sure everything got where it was headed, and help you replace items in the event of an accident. If you’re using military self-storage in Lawton, you may already be familiar with creating inventories for your various moves, whether it was a temporary assignment or a Permanent Change of Station, but even if you’re not moving, it’s a good idea to keep an inventory of what you’ve got in your self-storage unit.

A good inventory can do more than remind you of what you’ve got in storage—it can also help you to find things quickly, without a lot of digging around. For best results, try to group like items together in the same box. This could mean a box that contains all electronics, or a box that contains all kitchen items. Label the box, and keep an itemized list somewhere handy and out-of-the-way. You can even create spreadsheets outlining the contents of each box, and sync those with list-making apps such as Evernote on your mobile device, which can make checking or updating your inventory a breeze. Apps like Sortly or Moving Day can also help you to inventory and organize items. Whether you’re moving or storing, it’s also a good idea to take photos of any items that might be of value. This can help with insurance claims in the event of an accident.

Having a good inventory on hand before you head to Storage ‘R’ Us can also help you to determine how much storage space you’ll need. Our handy storage calculator will let you figure your storage needs without a lot of fuss, and with your inventory in hand, you can quickly plug in the values and add up your space.

When inventorying self-storage, many people find it helpful to create a map of their storage unit. Sometimes that can mean an actual map, with boxes and aisles printed on it; other times that can mean simply a key to which boxes are in which stack, or which quadrant of the unit. Whichever way works for you, a simple map can help make it quick and easy to find whatever’s in your storage unit whenever you want it.

Ultimately, whether you’re planning a move, making some space, or looking for military self-storage in Lawton, OK, a good inventory can make keeping track of all your stuff a snap. It may take a little time to get the initial inventory made, but it will save you a lot of time and effort in the long run!