March 19, 2012
Here at City of London storage, we have lots of experience with storing everything from house contents through to individual items. So today’s blog is really designed to give you some general advice on the kinds of things we know get stored regularly and how you can avoid any major mishaps!
Fridges and Freezers
These are stored regularly with us and one of the biggest tips we usually offer is that you allow the fridge or freezer, to defrost (obviously) but let it thoroughly defrost a few days before you put it into storage. You may want to clean as well and utilising a lemon based cleaner will help it to stay smelling fresh! Essentially, you just want to make sure it is completely dry inside.
Washing Machines
Very similar to fridges and freezers, but if you’re going to store a washing machine you will want to ensure it is completely clean and fry. Again, any citrus based cleaning materials can be good for this but obviously check compatibility with your washing machine to avoid any damage.
Clean the items you intend to store
While it’s tempting to simply put the things you don’t need straight into storage, it’s actually a good idea to clean them all BEFOREHAND. This can include items from inside your home but also outdoor items such as garden tables/chairs, outdoor toys and so on. To do this though, you’ll need to make sure you’re totally prepared as it will take a bit of time.
Make sure you have the right packing boxes and materials
If you are arranging for items to be stored, then you will want to make sure that when you pack your possessions that you have more than enough boxes and bubble wrap etc. When time is tight it can be a real pain if you run out! Therefore, give yourself a week or more to get the materials before you pack.
Think about how you’re going to store – ie: what goes at the back and front?
Obviously sometimes when we put things in to storage, it is important to consider which items we might want to gain access to. Obviously if you simply put your belongings in to storage, you could end up having to empty your container just to find that essential item. So, planning is really key here. Sit down and figure out what you really won’t need for a while and then ensure that the items which you know you’ll need at some point are at the front and therefore within easy access for you.
Finally, with all storage get advice! It might sound obvious but you’ll be surprised at what storage actually involves and if it’s your first time, you may want to get some general advice before going ahead with something.
City of London Storage offers both short and long-term storage solutions with no minimum period. You can literally store for as short or as long a time as you wish!
Happy storing!
March 11, 2012
Landlords and property management firms are well aware the one golden rule when it comes to renting and that’s “space = money.” Finding ways in which to make more room can be a common dilemma for people in the game of renting out properties in London and indeed, anywhere in the UK.
But what kind of situations may arise for landlords and property management agencies that they would need to make space?
Well, we’ve had experience dealing with landlords before and the different reasons for their requirement storage usually have to do with renovation works being carried out on one or multiple properties. Building extensions and loft conversions are a source for much usurped furniture and bits and bobs which need to be kept safe and secure somewhere.
Sometimes landlords downsize the number of rooms in a property or increase them, depending on the situation.
If decreasing the number of bedrooms – this could be a necessity of the times we live in. Sometimes cutting down on bedrooms/tenants is simply due to the expense of the rates when more than 4 or 5 people share a property. The more tenants under one roof, the more the cost of electric, gas, heating and water will be.
If a decrease in property size is required then that would mean beds and bedroom furniture would need storage until they can be given new homes elsewhere.
However, this is a rare scenario. Increasing the number of bedrooms in the property is more likely. Often, additional rooms such as the lounge or a study are converted into new bedrooms to maximise tenant occupancy and space. This would mean furniture like sofas, coffee tables, chairs and the like would need storage until they can be integrated into a new property.
Other considerations for landlords and property management agencies are storing spare furniture from televisions to wardrobes to desks to chairs to washing machines. They know there is always requirements often made by the tenants in what they would like in their new homes. Washing machines are common requests and can be the responsibility of the landlord to get installed. Some forward-thinking landlords will indeed have some of these “common request” items already in storage just in case there is a demand for them.
Storage for landlords is actually a pretty handy thing to have on hand. With easy access to whatever has been stored away, landlords can maintain the integrity of their businesses without having to worry about where to put all their excess furnishings. There’s more to this whole landlord storage thing too, which is why we are preparing a second-part companion piece blog to this one.
March 7, 2012
You may or may not have seen it but currently on Sky is a whole series dedicated to Storage! While this may not seem like the most thrilling of programmes, it’s actually very addictive and works on the principle that in California, if you don’t pay your storage bill for 3 months or more, the storage company will auction it off to a host of buyers – who literally try to outbid each other and generally annoy their competitors.
The premise is simple. The unit or units up for grabs are opened up and the buyers (in the shape of an eccentric guy called Dave, a gambling buyer called Darrell, a couple called Brandi and Jarrod and everyone’s enemy ‘Dave’) are given 5 minutes to look inside. They aren’t allowed to touch anything or go inside the locker they must simply stand looking in and decide from what they see whether they will bid upon it. And it’s a furious bidding war.
So as a viewer, you can be entertained as you watch the buyers slogging it out so they can get new stock for their thrift stores (apart from Dave who is a genuine collector). What’s more interesting is the man that runs the auction who can seriously talk faster than anyone we’ve ever seen before!
What really struck us is the kind of things people actually store. We’ve seen everything from sofas through to walking sticks and even paintings all turn up in the Storage Wars episodes, and perhaps it’s human nature, but there is always an amazing feeling when you see what’s inside and it gets you thinking for sure.
It’s completely thrilling watching and while we love it, we don’t think there will be a UK version any time soon and we certainly find it fun.
So if you want to see the kind of things that do get stored in a locker, take a look at the programme and enjoy!
February 18, 2012
As a follow-up to our previous blog, we thought it might be an idea to give you a little bit of history about the Olympics with a few, light-hearted fun facts!
We’ve been recently assisting lots of people local to London with storage facilities and it occurred to us that while we ‘get’ the Olympics we possibly don’t always know how and why it started!
So, the last time the UK hosted the Olympic games was in 1948, but it also hosted them in 1908!
And in fact, the 1908 Olympic games were supposed to go to Rome but Mount Vesuvius in Naples in 1906 dictated that an alternative ‘host’ would be needed. So, London came to the rescue and despite many time issues the International Olympic Committee said yes!
The 1908 Olympic Games were opened on the 27th of April by His Royal Highness King Edward VII and was an incredible three months long! There were 22 nations and over 2000 athletes who were in competitions across some 110 sporting events.
The one sport that existed in 1908 but that has sadly lost it’s place as an Olympic sport is tug of war!
The Olympic Stadium in White City was specially built for the games and it took less than 1 year to build. Classed as a bit of a technological achievement, it could take 68’000 people and had a running track enclosed by a cycle track.
When the games finished at the end of October in 1908 Great Britain was top of the medal table with a fantastic 145 medals and it may surprise you to know that the USA was second with 47 medals!
Now, in 1948 when we hosted it again, things were a little different to say the least!
Again, it was London that came to the rescue as a last minute host to the games after the Second World War. There was a shortage of not only time but also resources this time though, but London being London, it coped admirably.
The opening ceremony happened at Wembley Stadium in July 1948, this time with His Royal Highness King George VI. The now infamous Olympic Flame was lit by John Mark, an athlete and this time there were 136 events, with some 4104 athletes attending from over double the amount of nations (now at 59).
This time, the USA topped the medals with a total of 84 medal wins.
Perhaps most notably though is the fact that the games were shown on TV for the first time ever, although not many people were fortunate enough to own them of course.
If you are looking for storage solutions over the Olympic Games, which is running from the 27th of July until the 12th of August, contact us for a pack and pick up service!
All items are stored in our secure units with 24 hour CCTV and insurance.
February 15, 2012
Every year there is always hundreds of thousands of students moving to and from university with a whole load of belongings in tow. Sometimes it’s necessary to store for all sorts of reasons that could be imperative or merely convenient but with students it can often be a life-saving solution.
But when do students encounter the need for storage?
When it comes to going up to university, it might involve the student having to relocate from their area, and perhaps without a family home to keep the things they don’t need to take with them, the need for personal storage becomes necessary.
Other cases may involve the return home form university but the student not wanting to drag back all their bits and pieces, opting instead to keep them in storage for until they return.
Why move all your student stuff back and forth when storing it cheaply and safely is a more efficient and logical option?
For City of London Storage we can cater to pretty much anyone, but if you’re around the London and Middlesex areas it probably will prove more convenient and useful for you to store, whether that is where you are attending university or if that’s where you are returning home to.
Storage times will vary depending on whether students need storage for a few weeks during their holidays, or maybe even for an entire gap-year. Most students are on a budget and therefore driven by value for money so it is important for a student to ask if they just want to get rid of all their “stuff” and get away, or simply make a temporary storage stop to keep textbooks, coursework and materials safe for use later.
It’s about giving security back to people. Worrying about leaving behind stuff should not be an issue for students at all. If they are away on holiday enjoying time off and time back at home they should be safe in the knowledge that their bits and bobs are safely locked into storage unit where they have sole access. A bit of peace of mind for stressed-out students can make a world of difference.
A week or a year, it makes no difference. Peace of mind is peace of mind.
City of London Storage provides a range of storage units that can cater to different items of varying size and purpose thus giving the option of affordable and flexible storage solutions to student needs.
Contact Us for more information on personal storage in London.
February 14, 2012
As London gets ever closer to hosting the World’s most famous sporting event, there are always those that will see it as an opportunity to make some much needed cash.
We are all very aware of the economy issues in the UK at the moment and with any luck it will be a good time for people to let their homes out while simultaneously perhaps avoiding an influx of people to the City itself. It could be time for a long holiday perhaps?
If you’re thinking of letting your home out to international visitors attending the Olympic events then you may want to ensure that all your important documents and personal possessions can be stored securely and safely while you’re away. Or indeed, you may already be registered and have people staying but haven’t yet got around to working out what you’ll do with your possessions.
Whether you’re moving out for an entire month, or see an opportunity to get away for a couple of weeks, if you have things to store we can help during the Olympic games.
We can pack your possessions as well as collect them for secure storage and we can make sure that they are kept under 24 hour CCTV footage at a reasonable cost – with no hidden costs.
The good thing is that we don’t have a minimum contract time. You can literally store for a couple of weeks if you want to, so you don’t need to worry about short-term storage in London as we’ve got it!
So when is the biggest sporting event in the world taking place?
The Olympics is running from the 27th of July until the 12th of August, with no doubt time either side as people arrive early to get themselves settled.
How many people are expected to visit?
Millions of people!
Where are they staying?
There are over 100’000 hotel rooms available in the City of London and probably the same in bed and breakfasts, so you don’t need to be a mathematics genius to see how private accommodation is going to be attractive to visitors.
Where are the Olympic venues?
Well aside from the Olympic Park there are also, things going on at Earls Court, ExCel, Greenwich Park, Hampton Court Palace, Horse Guards Parade, Hyde Park, Lords Cricket Ground, North Greenwich Arena, The Mall, Wembley Arena, The Royal Artillery Barracks, Wembley Stadium and Wmbledon to name a few!
Therefore, you can be sure that if you have properties in any of these areas they will be an attractive short-term let for many people.
So if I’m moving out, what can you do for me?
We can pack and collect your possessions during the Olympics so you have peace of mind knowing that what’s really important to you is safe until the Olympic torch has gone out and you’re ready to get things back to normal.
If you need any advice or require a quote, please do not hesitate in contacting us.
February 10, 2012
A key element to the storage process is the packing. “Well that’s obvious” we hear you say, but read on and we shall explain why this is so important…
When using City of London Storage, you are leaving your possessions with us for what is sometimes an extended period of time. If the items aren’t packed away properly, they can be left in a state that subjects them to pressure from the weight of the other stuff, thus damaging or even breaking the item. So we’ve come up with some tips for packing away your stuff in a safe manner;
- You should sort all of your stuff into groups of items with similar weight and delicacy, then pack all of these items together. Different items require different packaging to ensure their safety. If a delicate item is mixed in with a heavy item then the delicate item is at risk of being damaged.
- Folding! You’d be surprised how much space simply folding your clothes and blankets can provide. This is because when stuffed away your clothes and blankets will expand out, whereas when they’re folded they stay put in that state.
- If you are storing delicate stuff, items made of glass for example, then you need to take extra care to protect these items. Bubble wrap or other polythene products provide adequate protection for such items.
If you wish to purchase any packing materials that you think you may need then visit our Packing Materials page. We can supply you with a range of professional packaging materials to suit your purposes.
We also suggest that you pack away your stuff with plenty of time to spare! Most of us have experienced the crushing realisation that we have left something behind. Our biggest tip for avoiding this is also the most obvious one, just don’t leave all of your packing until the last minute! Plan in advance.
Of course if you can’t be bothered with the hassle of packing away your stuff, we can always do it for you! The services we offer include;
- A full packing service. We offer to pack away all of your stuff if you so wish, and we have a team of staff who are experienced in this. We pride ourselves on our staff being very punctual and efficient.
- We can also part pack your stuff. This means we can just pack away any breakable items that you feel are especially necessary to keep safe, be they valuable or simply delicate. We use strong purpose made protective packaging to ensure the items do not break.
- We also offer specialist packing. This includes the packing of old antique, or unusual items that you may not be sure of how to package properly.
As well as these packing services we offer, we can also provide you with a free removal or a free storage quote. There is no obligation attached to this quote.
For any more information about us, check out the website. Or if you want some more free packing advice, then don’t hesitate tocontact us!
February 7, 2012
If you’ve been lucky enough to have read our latest articles about City of London Storage, you might have noticed we’ve been catering to the commercial side of storage. Well, time for a change!
Of course our commercial clients are important to us, but that’s not to say that we don’t value our personal customers too. As we have previously reiterated, at some point in their lives everyone needs a place to tuck their stuff away for a while. No more so than your everyday student. That’s right students, we can help you guys too.
The student life is a sporadic one, being away from home can be both exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. Couple that with the task of moving to a new accommodation every year, it can be a real slog. We understand that. That’s also why we understand that City of London Storage can take some of that weight off your shoulders… Yes we do mean literally.
Rather than undertaking the near impossible chore every summer of packing ALL of your belongings into a form that allows you to traverse the London underground, we suggest you store it with us! Be done away with the monotonous journey of shifting everything you own back and forth within the space of a few months. Not only will it save you time, it will most likely save you money too.
Of course it goes without saying that we offer more than just a place to store your stuff over the summer. Studying abroad for a year? Or maybe you’re thinking of doing an internship for half a year? Worry not! Store your belongings away and claim that peace of mind, the safety in knowing you’ll come back to find your stuff in exactly the same state it was left in.
Why store your stuff with us I hear? Well I’ll tell you…
Money is of course the first and foremost question you might have, and our solution to that is our Price Comparison page. We do not just simply believe our prices are very competitive for a London based storage company, we know they are.
If the price wasn’t enough to float your boat, then how about we throw in our 24 hour security? The storage facility is monitored under 24 hour CCTV, to guarantee your stuff is as safe as it can be. Stuff is important after all.
What kind of stuff can we store you say? Pretty much anything! That huge desk your parents bought you so you can do more ‘work’, that massive TV you and your housemates chipped in for. Anything and everything is welcome to be stored away here at City of London Storage.
For any more information or queries you may have regarding student storage, feel free to contact us and find out how easy and simple it is to store your stuff with us!
February 5, 2012
This is the question that man has asked since the dawn of time!… Ok, maybe not. But we like to think so in our line of work.
If you look at the world, particularly the UK, there is just so much stuff! Piles and heaps of stuff! Stuff you need, stuff you don’t; stuff you want, stuff you don’t want; old stuff, new stuff; fun stuff, serious stuff; lots of stuff! Stuff is everywhere and you’re always more likely to encounter and accumulate more and more stuff over the course of your life, especially if you live in a big city like London.
So our argument is; at some point in their lives EVERYONE needs storage. But what about for people who actually are based in London? Why do they need it and what for?
Well, we have to get more specific.
First of all, we have to establish WHY you need the storage…
Is it for personal storage?
Is it for commercial storage?
Then what kind of things do you want to store?
Do you want to store furniture?
Do you want to store documents?
There is any number of things that you may want to store, but considering London being the huge metropolis that it is, we get a lot of business from other businesses. Commercial storage is a very common request that we receive.
That’s not to say that we don’t get a large number of personal storage requests. We do! Most of these are based around home furniture storage where people need to make space or are downsizing. There are multiple reasons for storage needs.
The reason why we’re ideal for people in London is because our services to those who need a local solution. If you are a London business or London based person looking for a storage facility that is central, convenient and gives you the immediacy of access then you need look no further.
Your stuff is welcome here, no matter how much stuff you actually have!
February 3, 2012
As we come to the conclusion of our business storage trilogy you might be asking yourselves (if you’ve read this far) just what in the world could they still have to talk about regarding sorting through the office?!
Well, we’re here to surprise you by responding; “A lot!”
City of London Storage has been in the business of storing and sorting for some time, therefore we are well-versed in the process of sorting through an office or home and deciding what needs to stay and what needs to go. Some items are too precious or valuable to do away with but have no place in the immediate area they have been left in. If your office or workplace does not have the necessary capacity for its own storage, that’s where we come in to save the day!
In the last two blogs PART 1 and PART 2 we gave you our best tips for sorting through and tidying your office, and now we come to the final part of the process, which will help to maintain your new, clean and ordered working environment.
We are of course talking about routine and systems.
What does this mean though you might ask? Well, it’s simple really. You need to create a routine and a system that suits you, or everyone in the workplace, that can help to keep this standard of tidiness and order up.
We’re not talking about “order” as in the Orwellian sense of the word, just making life easier without there being obstacles preventing you from a simpler working environment.
Routine
Examine your daily and weekly routine. Generally speaking, most people don’t really do this very often. People just go with the flow and go about their routines like machine cogs turning in 360 degree revolutions. You don’t even think about it! You just do it and go about tackling your daily tasks and chores without really putting any conscious thought behind it. This is how things can easily be reduced to chaos.
Often, it is a failure of management more than anything else. It shouldn’t be up to the employee to create a more ordered working environment but sometimes you need to step-up and take action! If you are the employer then there should be no excuse – get things in order!
Our best advice is to plan out a schedule, or rota to keep routines in check. Write down all the daily and weekly obligations including tasks and chores for work in order to make the environment less chaotic. This in turn brings a sense of stability, calmness and order, which leads us nicely into…
Systems
Purging clutter and creating a routine to maintain that order is one thing – but there is only one genuine way of keeping things in check – creating a system. This could be for any part of the sorting process from cleaning rotas to literal file systems. The problem with clutter is that it almost always creeps back in but with a structured work routine and a solid system of maintenance you can avoid slipping back into bad habits.
Examine how you work and how many things you have to deal with in an average day. do you have or are you given lots of paperwork? Do you accumulate reports or notes or items throughout any given day? Start building your systems to control the flow of work and fit it into your routine. Create a simple system for everything including paperwork, emails, RSS feeds, errands, projects, filing, personal tasks, cleaning etc. Try to stick to the systems you develop.
If your systems are set up right, you will continually purge clutter you don’t need.
Thanks for reading and we hope this blog series was of some help. Contact us at City of London Storage for more information on decluttering your workplace and storing what you don’t immediately need with us.
