This is a guest blog provided by Patrick Renn of Fulham Big Self Storage.
Landlords storage tips
As every landlord knows, space = money so finding space saving solutions is a priority. Whether you’re looking to de-clutter a property, or store unneeded furniture between tenants, our storage tips will make sure every thing you pack away is kept in top condition.
Wooden Furniture
Before placing any kind of wooden furniture into storage, wax well with wood varnish. This prevents moisture from affecting the wood. Likewise, if your furniture can be dismantled easily, then do so as it will prolong the life of that piece. If you dismantle furniture, collect the nuts and bolts of each item into a plastic bag and tape it firmly to the dismantled set. In addition, place thick cloth such as old carpets between wooden pieces to prevent them scratching one another.
Sofas
It’s worth taking into consideration which type of material your sofa is made from before storing. Generally, it’s better to store vertically on a flat sided arm. Leather handles the pressure very well, as does micro-fibre. Silky high end fabrics are better to kept on their feet as they don’t have the structural integrity to withstand the additional pressure.
For transportation itself, a professional mover knows how to use furniture pads to keep the pressure off the arms. If you are doing this yourself, you’ll need to stand the sofa on end with several double folded blankets to provide a soft surface for the arm.
All in all, an average sofa should be fine when stored on its end in your personal self storage unit for a couple of months. Be sure that there are no wrinkles on the floor blankets or they will leave an imprint on the arm’s material. Wrapping your couch in inexpensive plastic will provide extra protection for the sofa, as well as keep any pests from eating away at the material.
Mattresses
Wrap your mattresses in the special bags available at most supermarkets and DIY stores. These not only prevent them from losing shape but protect them from absorbing moisture as well.
Use a dehumidifier to draw out excess moisture from the unit you use if needed, but the self-storage facility should already be temperature controlled to prevent this. Check on the mattress occasionally to see if it needs adjustments to storage conditions. If you store it for longer than a year, change the plastic covering once annually.
Avoid Rust
If you are planning on storing metal objects like lawnmowers or filing cabinets, it is a good idea to treat them with rust protector first, or at least wipe them down with an oily rag. You can use the cheapest oil available; it makes no difference as you’re just using it for its lubricating qualities.
Patrick Renn
Patrick is the Manager of the Fulham Big Self Storage, part of Big Yellow Self Storage.
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Hi we found that although self storage is a good option
it is expensive for long term and if you let your place for a year it becomes expensive ,We used a company that was recommend by our estate agent they basically are a storage company that collects and stores .The service is realy directed at landlords they collect for between £60 and £120 depending on the storage term an storage cost £10 per 35 sqft great value
hope this helps.Remmember the least you pay the higher return on your rental thanks for reading
There are some really good tips here for making sure you all of your items are kept safe. Oiling machinery is really important as it can seize if left for too long. It would also help if you went back about once a month and checked everything over.