is an effective way to sort through and clean out items on a grand scale. Below are five easy steps to getting your storage unit organized and clear of unused and unimportant items. Call 844-464-7868 or Book Online. Clearing your storage is not hard if you prepare in advance. At LoadUp, our costs typically run 20% – 30% less than other storage unit clean out companies. Since we do a lot of storage unit clean out service jobs all over the state, there are many suggestions to offer but we’ve boiled all the information down into a short field guide. The path to a tidier storage unit is to head to your self storage rental and begin to sort through the items inside. It is important to remove everything from the unit, or you will likely be charged a hefty cleaning fee by the storage facility. Sweep it out and clean up any spills. Even task-oriented people can get sidetracked. The result: everything seems to end up in our garages and attics. The premise behind this technique is using four empty boxes for sorting — a keep, toss, donate/sell, and store box. This step applies whether you inherited a storage space, got it at auction, or had it sitting for months. Try not to transport too many items back home. If you followed the steps above, you should have the storage unit organized into four sections (toss, keep, store, sell/donate). Use GoShare to hire 1-2 delivery professionals with a truck or cargo van to help you clean out your storage unit. What you’ve likely discovered is storage units are supposed to be short-term solutions. Sort stuff into categories like keep, sell, toss. When to Clear Out a Storage Unit. Popular online venues include, This guide will show you how to find the value of antique furniture. 20% – 30% cheaper. JUNK GENIUS WILL CLEAN OUT YOUR OLD STORAGE UNIT, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO. This is what these units are most ideal for but do not make financial sense over the long-term. Cleaning out the storage unit was kind of terrible but we made it through. It was revised on August 21, 2020. You also can’t block anyone else’s unit with your stuff. So, be sure to clean it up. Who knows, there could be some valuable merchandise in there that you’ve long since forgotten about. We never anticipated having a storage unit for long but month after month (and 1 1/2 years later) we found we were still shelling out $77 every month for it (!). 7. If you’ve gone through the above steps and find yourself stuck, you may want to enlist a professional organizer. Find your local store’s contact information for more guidance. About Helene Segura. (480) 397-6503 or support@storagetreasures.com, The Best Strategies For Cleaning Out A Unit. If you have a storage unit and have items you are no longer using and want to clear it out and save some money (the average storage bill is about $2,500 a year! Will you need extra people? These steps will show you how to clean out a storage unit and filter through unwanted junk quickly. How to Pick the Best Storage Unit Size for Your Needs, How Does Self Storage Work? Finding a few hundred dollars worth […] Because you have the only key, if you leave your lock on, the space is still occupied by you even if you know there is nothing inside. In a nutshell, this is how you can successfully clear out a self storage unit, which will lead to less stress and increased productivity! Facility dumpsters or trash cans may not be used. It is a tried and true strategy for clearing out closets, it will most definitely help you clear out your indoor storage unit. This step applies whether you inherited a storage space, got it at auction, or had it sitting for months. Remember that cleaning out sentimental items can be an overwhelming process. Most of it I had just forgotten about. The unit should be left in the exact same condition that you found it. Practical Bathroom Organization Ideas for Real Life... How to Pack Dishes for Moving and Shipping, How to Keep Your House Organized Easily All Week Long. Pick a time to do the actual clean out and come back equipped with moving supplies, garbage bags, labels, and sorting totes. 3. Your local Life Storage facility will have information about storage unit clean-out services on hand. We have talked about why you might need a storage unit, and we have also talked about how to organize your storage space. As I sorted each box, I kept a critical eye and thought about the last time I used or even saw the item. All units are sold “AS IS” (this falls under being in the Right Frame of Mind), Always call the facility before you head out to retrieve your treasures! Ask for help in advance and be sure to have all the support you need, meaning both emotional support (if you’re cleaning out a loved one’s unit) and some extra muscle. We’ll show you an effective method for how to clean out a storage unit, when to consider donating or selling items, and how to get rid of whatever is leftover. Clean out your storage unit floors, walls and ceiling using your broom and mop at your leisure. Instead of trying to accomplish a lot in a little amount of time, break up your clean out process into small and manageable tasks over a period of time. You may need to clear out the unit immediately and sort through the items at a separate location. Tap “Clear Storage” or “Clear Cache.” Be aware that selecting “Clear Storage” will reset the app, signing you out, and clearing all data. Some common sorting methods people use when cleaning out storage units include making a donation, junk, and “keep” pile. These would be things like baby pictures and favorite toys things that cannot be replaced. Here are a several that might help with your Cleanout Strategy Plan. To lessen the chances of being overwhelmed, it’s essential to prepare yourself for what’s to come. Garages, Storage Units, & Attics Let Us Clean Out Your Garage, Storage Unit, or Attic A quick and easy solution for cleaning out your garage or attic Few homes in Texas have basements to store things in. Remove all of the items from your unit and place them outside of the locker while you clean. Cleaning and emptying a storage unit you inherited, won at auction, or haven’t visited in years is not always an exciting task. Numerous companies can help you get rid of storage unit contents without you needing to lift a finger. Stand Up Guys will come out and completely clean out your storage unit for you, and clear your mind of the nuisance, and for a great price to boot. And it is a lot cheaper than to throw items away and then rebuy them later, so you’re getting the most for your money. Our courteous, professional junk removal teams will handle all your items with care and work quickly and efficiently to clear out your unwanted belongings in no time at all! 1. Find creative ways to get rid of storage unit stuff. ), you can pocket that money and save by using our fast, friendly, storage unit removal service. Even task-oriented people can get sidetracked. Having gloves is also a good idea, and also do some cleaning before you pack and clear out the storage unit. Our Friendly Team is Happy to Meet All of Your Needs! Think about how you can get rid of stuff, so you don’t create a mess elsewhere. Create an open space inside or outside the unit. You could sell the entire unit through an auction company, or you could sell each item individually. She is also a contributing writer at The Spruce and Martha Stewart. Are you familiar with the chaos and dread associated with a storage unit cleanout? Unless you plan on having your storage unit featured on an episode of Storage Wars, why not save yourself some money and let the Geniuses clean out your old storage unit? Take an inventory of storage unit contents. Hire a junk removal company if necessary. Trying to clean out your storage unit in one day is hard and stressful. If you’d prefer the old fashioned route, you could always set up a garage sale. LoadUp will clean out your storage unit when it’s convenient for you, no matter the condition or location. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and Linguistics and has published over 150 articles on moving, storage, and home organization. To conclude – the best way to avoid having to clear out your storage unit too often is to have a good storage unit. (Unit might have been canceled), Cash – bring the correct clean-out deposit and “Total Due at Facility” amount owed (most facilities do not have change), The cleaning deposit is returned once the facility verifies the unit is empty and in “broom-swept condition”, All unit(s) contents must be removed from the facility premises. If you have more valuable items, consider selling on eBay or Etsy. The biggest storage unit clean-out mistake is not getting the job done in the scheduled time frame. Smart Auction Buyers know that to be successful at cleaning out a unit, you need be in the Right Frame of Mind, have Tools of the Trade, create a Strategy Plan and Organize the Clean Out. The premise behind this technique is using four empty boxes for sorting — a keep, toss, donate/sell, and store box. Consider making a plan before starting your cleaning process. Popular online venues include Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Learn more tips on how to use the four-box declutter method, The biggest storage unit clean-out mistake is not getting the job done in the scheduled time frame. Start planning your clean out strategy before you win an auction. How Much Does a Storage Unit Cost in 2020? You don’t want to be inhaling all that dust. Learn more tips on how to use the four-box declutter method. If you’ve gone through the above steps and find yourself stuck, you may want to enlist a. . Great - let's find it for you! Before you clean out your unit, make a mental note of the following: You may need more than one day to clean out your storage unit thoroughly. This guide will show you how to find the value of antique furniture. If you need your storage unit cleaned out and are under a deadline, call College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving® today! Open as many boxes as you can and take a quick inventory of the contents. To implement a plan, pay attention to the Unit Size and Cleanout Time, found on the “Storage Auction Details” page. With all of the contents unloaded, sweep out the entire unit with a broom. Some storage facilities also do occasional flea markets, so you could ask a storage manager if this is ever an option. This inventory will help you answer that question. Make quick notes next to each box if you see something valuable, fragile, or otherwise significant. , which will include anything that is broken beyond repair. In this example, we see music apps as we’re cleaning up the audio files. If you’re cleaning out your storage unit for good, consider relocating storage boxes to a garage or basement. So we paid $1,386 to store our crap. Furthermore, you will find it far easier to actually declutter and clean up if you are organized and label everything. And trust us, you will be around every single object in there a lot. Update: This post originally published on July 21, 2017. Count the number of boxes and write down how many you’ll need to sort through to estimate how much time the clean-out will take. If you’re ready to sell that junk in your storage unit, the first thing you have to do … Assess your storage unit and make a list of the types of items to be sorted Make different piles according to your needs. You can schedule your storage unit cleanout in advance or on-demand. Enlist help from friends and plan a day to declutter. Hiring someone is especially useful if you don’t have anyone able to help you or aren’t physically capable of cleaning out yourself. Talk about a waste of money! Having a rough inventory before you start sorting the items will help you know what work you have ahead of you. Someone who cleans out areas for a living will keep you on task and help you from getting distracted. This will make the process easier and stress free. This response is natural, so don’t beat yourself up if you become emotional if you inherited a storage unit or used one to store items from a loved one. Latest Posts. Keep reading and find out the best way to clear out your storage area or your storage unit with ease. Consider the following steps to assess the unit: Keep a pen and paper on hand and jot down some large items you can see immediately. Organize and Prioritize Your Self Storage Rental. Failure to clean the unit within 24 to 48 hours of the purchase is a sure-fire way to get yourself un-invited from future auctions. Select one of the categories to clean it up. Making sure that the facility is safe and secure will help you have low maintenance time consumption. As The Inefficiency Assassin™, Time Management Fixer Helene Segura empowers professionals on the go with the tools to slay lost time. Step One: Tools Of The Trade In order to clean out a storage unit properly, you should create a “Clean Out Tool Kit.” Organizing and cataloging the contents will give you clarity on what needs to stay and what needs to go. Since the professional organizer has no attachment to the items in your storage unit, they can help you make rational decisions about whether you should keep, toss, sell, or donate an item in question. If you won the unit at auction, you might have to do this process quickly and in less detail. Get everything you need in advance. Made a storage space reservation at Life Storage? We will filter through everything as you stand there and tell us what stays and what goes, and what goes we can lift and load into the trucks for you, (we don’t want our customers lifting even a finger). We made 4 piles … right there at the self storage unit – 1 for people we know, 1 for donate, 1 for garbage/recycle and 1 for keep. Make three piles, the first pile are things that you absolutely must keep. In order to clean out a storage unit properly, you should create a “Clean Out Tool Kit.”  Being prepared can save you time and money. After all, what is a closet but an indoor storage unit in the home? If you won the unit at auction, you might have to do this process quickly and in less detail. The first thing you should do is scan the unit and take an immediate inventory of what’s inside. It is always a good idea to revisit these Tips, Rules and Guidelines. With this, you can go to your storage unit whenever you want to pick up whatever item you need. 5. As things went along, it was easier and easier to donate the items. Best Price Guaranteed. Someone who cleans out areas for a living will keep you on task and help you from getting distracted. Here are some important pointers to remember while decluttering: Start with one small area at a time and finish sorting it before going on to another. Now It is time to talk about the least fun aspect of storage, or life generally if we are being perfectly honest. *head shakes with disgust* I justified it just like it's so easy to do with so many other things. You could sell the entire unit through an auction company, or you could sell each item individually. Tap one of the apps. When the organizing stage is complete, it’s time to remove everything. The first thing you should do is scan the unit and take an immediate inventory of what’s inside. You will see a list of apps associated with the category. If you have a lot of valuable items, it might make sense to rent the storage unit for an additional month while you sell off some items. Skip this step if the boxes are already labeled. There are several ways to sell items from a storage unit. You will save valuable time an money if you get everything you need before you start. How Much Are My Fees If I Win An Auction? includes items you can remove from your storage unit and bring home. The cleaning deposit does NOT allow a bidder to leave items behind in the unit, please make sure you clean it out completely and the Cleaning Deposit will be refunded. Do you need to get rid of storage unit stuff? After you've finished cleaning the inside of the unit, you can individually clean and dust the items that you've taken out, before you organize them and place them back inside the storage unit. Using storage to clear away any of the stuff you had left over from Christmas is one of the most effective and secure ways to do so. 2. Plan accordingly, so you have all the time you need and more to dedicate to the job. If there isn’t any room inside the unit, you can set up a temporary pop-up canopy and process items outside the space. With our “one-of-a-kind” nationwide network of local Loaders, we’re able to offer a faster, more affordable service. The Four-Box Declutter Method is an effective way to sort through and clean out items on a grand scale. If space is limited, carve out one free corner, which will become your processing area for step three. Need Fast Storage Unit Clean Out? For storage facilities, one of the primary purposes of holding a storage auction is to empty out the abandoned unit, and buyers who leave behind their trash and unwanted items are swiftly black-listed. Get Rid of More for Less! Remove the lock – The lock on your self-storage space belongs to you so be sure to take it with you so you can use it again. Avoid Throwing Items Away . Our Life Storage team knows who is the best in your area at cleaning out storage units. This will ensure that the Cleanout Time required is met. Smart Auction Buyers know that to be successful at cleaning out a unit, you need be in the Right Frame of Mind, have Tools of the Trade, create a Strategy Plan and Organize the Clean Out. January 12, 2021 January 3, 2019. Lauren Thomann has written about self storage and moving since 2015, making her our storage expert. Good luck! Consider moving items in the following order: There are several ways to sell items from a storage unit. Good luck! Knowing when the time has come to part with some of your little treasures. Take an inventory of storage unit contents. Professional organizers are especially helpful when cleaning out estates. Here’s What You Need to Know, Self Storage FAQs – Renting a Storage Unit, Create a Realistic Moving Budget Using This Guide. If you won the storage unit at an auction, determine how much time you have to empty the unit. Divide and Conquer. It may be helpful to have more than one person on hand. Remember, you must clean out your unit and pick up your mess during business hours. Valuable items, consider selling on eBay or Etsy sell the entire unit through an,... 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