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Are you one of the 9 out of 10 homeowners considering a remodel in the next two years and wondering where you can put your furniture and other items while the work is done?

Or maybe you are a contractor who needs a secure space to store construction equipment, tools and building materials for an upcoming project?

If so, renting portable storage units is likely just what the doctor ordered.

Unlike public storage where you can store stuff at their location, portable storage containers can be conveniently stored at your location for easy access.

This means that just because your items are “in storage,” they are still nearby, easy to get to and use whenever you need them.

What Is a Storage Container?

A storage container is a large self-storage unit that is portable and can be delivered directly to your house or business. Normally you will pay for the rental by the month.

You can use these storage units to move stuff out of your way during a remodel or renovations. You can also use them for equipment or materials that you need to store temporarily in a convenient location.

Storage containers come in a variety of sizes, so there is sure to be one that will meet your need.

How Does Renting a Storage Unit Work?

Once you determine the size of your storage container unit and enter into the rental agreement with the storage company, they will deliver the storage unit to the delivery location you specify.

After delivery, you will have the ability to load your items at your convenience and lock them securely inside the unit to keep them protected. You can load as much or as little into the storage unit as you see fit.

When your project is complete and you no longer need the storage unit, simply arrange for the storage company to come to pick it up.

Tips for Packing a Storage Container

Some pre-planning and strategy on how to organize a storage unit will go along way towards making the most out of your use of the storage unit.

It will also help you locate items you’ve placed in the storage container, in case they need to be retrieved prior to fully unloading the storage unit for its return.

Use the following self-storage tips for a successful experience.

1. DO Plan Ahead

Keep in mind that you will likely need to access items from inside your storage unit during the rental period. In order to do this efficiently, you will need to know where your stuff is stored.

Make a simple map where you can list the location of boxes and items that are not packed in a box.

Label your boxes and keep a list of what’s inside the boxes.

2. DO Keep Accessibility in Mind

When planning how you will store your items in your storage unit, think about which items you are most likely going to want to use or have access to.

Pack those items closer to the front of the storage unit or in such a way that makes them most accessible. Conversely, put the items you know you won’t need to access often towards the back.

Thinking about this upfront will save you time not having to wade through other stuff to get to what you want.

3. DO Take Advantage of the Vertical Space

When packing your storage container, pack heavier items on the bottom so you can place lighter items above them.

When possible, turn longer items upright so they take up less of a footprint and reach up towards the ceiling. This includes items like couches, bed frames, mattresses.

4. DO Use Pallets to Keep Items Off the Floor

If you want to keep items from getting wet because you anticipate rainy weather during your rental, putting pallets under your stuff is a good idea.

Especially if you are packing your items in paper boxes and storing paperwork or other items sensitive to water.

5. Do Take Care When Stacking Boxes/Items

To ensure the safety of those entering your storage unit as well as your belongings, stack items with care and in such a way as they won’t easily topple over.

Stack larger and heavier objects near the floor with lighter items above. By doing so, if something does fall over, it will be lighter and lessen the risk of an injury.

6. DO Wrap Sensitive Contents

To keep furniture from being scratched and glass items such as mirrors, picture frames, and drinking glasses from being broken, take the time to wrap these items, preferably in bubble wrap.

Old blankets, towels, and sleeping bags can also be used.

7. DO Pack Your Boxes Properly

Pack boxes so that the heavier stuff is on the bottom. After the box is packed, insert crumpled paper or packing peanuts into the empty spaces to keep items from moving around.

Wrap any breakable items with packing paper/newspaper or bubble wrap to keep the items from banging together.

8. DON’T Cram Items

If you pile your items and boxes in like sardines, the only items you will be able to access easily will be those in the top of the front row.

Keep pathways open in between boxes and your other items.

By doing so, you’ll be able to easily access more items stored in the storage container.

9. DON’T Forget to Tape Boxes Closed

To keep the contents of your boxes safe from dust and insects, be sure to tape your boxes closed.

By doing so, you will also keep out moisture which could lead to either mold or mildew formation.

10. DON’T Forget You Can Use Temporary Shelving

Metal shelving can be brought in to your storage unit. It just has to be temporary, meaning it cannot be permanently affixed to the unit itself.

The shelving will allow you to use more of the vertical space and keep items safe from being damaged. It will also provide you with easier access to them.

11. DON’T Forget to Break Larger Items Down

When it makes sense, break items down to save space and get more stuff into your storage unit.

Some items of furniture such as office/computer desks, tables, bed frames are ideal for this. But anything you think you may be taking in and out of your storage unit does not.

Remember to use masking tape (and a sharpie to write on the tape) to identify the pieces you separate for easy re-assembly later.

12. DON’T Forget to Use Space Inside Furniture/Items

Remember that you can store smaller items inside drawers of furniture or appliances, such as unplugged ovens and dry refrigerators.

Using these locations to store more in your unit. It can also help you locate these smaller items easier and protect them from getting damaged.

13. DON’T Store Open Containers of Liquid

Be sure to tightly seal any container that holds a liquid. This includes paint and other toxic substances. Storage units have no ventilation to allow fumes to dissipate.

Containers holding water need to be sealed to discourage mold or mildew growing inside the unit.

Along similar lines, don’t leave wet towels or other fabric inside to hang to dry.

Order Your Storage Units Today

Whether you are remodeling or doing construction on your home or business, or if just need extra space to store some stuff for a while, order storage units today.

You’ll rest assured knowing you’ll have the extra storage space when you need it.

Plus, having the delivery date set will help motivate you towards getting the contents together and organized properly ahead of its arrival.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about renting a storage container, contact A.B. Richards today.

Approximately one out of every 11 Americans currently rent some kind of storage container or space.

Whether you’re moving to a new home or need to do some decluttering, a storage container is a great tool that frees up space and gives you peace of mind. It’s especially great for furniture storage and storing other large items

If you’re getting ready to pack your furniture away in a storage container, you might be a little nervous.

Is there anything you can do to make sure your furniture stays in good condition until you’re ready to retrieve it? The short answer is that, yes, there is. In fact, there are lots of things you can do.

Listed below are nine essential furniture storage tips that will help you protect your furniture.

Why Use a Storage Container?

There are lots of perks that come with renting a storage container to hold your furniture, including the following:

• They get delivered right to your door
• There’s no assembly needed before you can use them
• They eliminate the need to load items into a truck and haul them to a storage unit
• They’re more affordable than renting a storage unit
• They’re highly secure and protect against inclement weather, as well as rodents and other pests

Storage containers can be transported just about anywhere, too. This makes them great for both short-term and long-term storage needs.

Furniture Storage Tips

Clearly, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to use a storage container to store your furniture.

If you’re worried about your furniture getting worn out or damaged while it’s in the storage container, keep these tips in mind to ensure it stays safe and in good condition:

1. Clean Everything First

Before you put your furniture in the storage container, it’s a good idea to give it a thorough cleaning first.

If there is dust or debris lingering on your furniture, it could actually scratch the surface during the moving process.

If you give your furniture a good cleaning now, you also won’t have to worry about tracking tons of dirt back in when you take the furniture out of the storage container.

2. Disassemble What You Can

Furniture will fit into a storage container much more easily if you take the time to disassemble it before loading it in. Take apart as much as you can — place a special emphasis on bulky pieces of furniture like tables and shelving.

Remove the knobs and pulls from your furniture, too (so they don’t scratch anything or get scratched themselves) and take out drawers and set them aside to lighten up heavy items.

3. Wrap it Up

Wrap up as much as you can, too.

Use moving blankets, plastic sheeting, and bubble wrap to cushion everything and prevent items from rubbing up against each other when they’re loaded into the container.

Pay special attention to the corners when you’re wrapping up your furniture — give them some extra padding. You might also want to place corrugated cardboard sheets in between pieces of wood. This adds an extra layer of protection.

4. Guard Glass Items

Be extra careful when packing up and storing glass items.

Wrap glass items in packing paper first, but be sure not to take the paper directly to the glass. Then, cover the glass in bubble wrap or place the items in a separate box (by themselves) to give them some extra protection.

5. Don’t Overfill

Avoid trying to cram too much stuff into your storage container. Storage containers can hold quite a bit, but they have their limits.

If you overfill the container, you’re going to be more likely to accidentally damage something when you move or when you decide to unload the container later.

6. Stack Items Properly

There is an art to stacking your belongings correctly. If you take the time to stack things the right way, they’ll be less likely to fall over and break while in the container.

Stack large, heavy items on the bottom of the container, then place lighter, smaller items on top. Don’t stack your belongings too high, either. This also increases the risk of them falling and breaking.

7. Store Items in Original Boxes

If you have the original boxes for things like televisions or kitchen appliances, use them for storage.

These items are more likely to stay intact if they’re stored in their original packaging. You can add some extra bubble wrap or packing paper if you want them to be extra secure.

8. Have a Storage Plan

Before you just start loading items into the storage container willy nilly, take a step back and create a plan.

Ideally, you’ll load heavy items into the container first and place them toward the back. Then, you’ll place smaller objects toward the front.

This makes the unloading process easier. It also helps you to save space.

9. Designate a Place for Spare Parts

Finally, make sure you have a special box designated to hold all the parts left over from when you disassembled your furniture.

For each piece of furniture that you disassemble, place the screw, bolts, knobs, and other small parts in a clearly labeled plastic bag.

Keep all these bags in a box labeled “Spare Parts.” This will make it much easier for you to reassemble your furniture when the time comes.

Start Storing Your Furniture Today

There are tons of benefits that come with using a storage container for furniture storage.

If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll enjoy all those benefits while also making sure your furniture remains in good condition until you’re ready to unload it. No matter what your reason is for keeping your furniture in a storage container, these tips will come in very handy.

Do you need to rent a storage container for your furniture or other belongings?

If so, we can help at A.B. Richards. We offer a variety of storage containers for residential, commercial, and industrial use, so it’ll be easy for you to find an option that fits your needs.

Contact us today to learn more about our options or to get a free quote.

For some, the first sign of spring is the sound of birds singing. That may be a beautiful sound, but for a select few, the sound that signifies the actual start of warm weather is the sound of heavy machinery starting up. If you run a construction company, you’ve reached the beginning of the busy season. It can be a time of great opportunity, but running a construction company requires organization and logistical knowledge. You want the job done as efficiently as possible, and that means being able to get your equipment to the work site and if possible keep it there. A.B. Richards can help make that happen.

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You always hear it. Experts always say that your home is your most important investment. But you only cash in on that investment when you sell it. That’s why you need to make certain you can maximize your home’s for sale price. There are many things you can do to enhance the value of your property over time, but once you’ve put it up for sale, you have one final chance to boost your return on investment. You need to make certain you stage your home effectively. A.B. Richards knows that staging a home can be complicated. You may need to rearrange and even do quick renovations. A.B. Richards will keep you organized while you reshape your home.

A.B. Richards Gives You the Storage Space You Need

When you’re selling your house, your life will be in upheaval and A.B. Richards can make things easier. We’ll give you the portable storage containers you need, and if you’re preparing for home staging. We can provide you with a 20ft Storage Container that can be delivered on most residential lots. We also know that you may need ground level storage containers for a lot of other reasons. You can use it to store records and inventory on your commercial property. To secure equipment at a construction site, you can use our 40ft Storage Containers or our 40ft Jumbo Storage Containers which have an extra foot of headroom. A.B. Richards wants to make life more convenient for you, so we want you to know some tips about staging your home.

Organizing Your Home for Staging

The real estate website Trulia lays out some of the basics of home staging. They cite statistics that show that 49 percent of buyers’ agents believe staging affects their clients’ view of a home, while 77 percent of buyers’ agents say staging makes it easier for potential buyers to visualize the property as theirs.

Getting a buyer to picture owning the property takes work. First, you have to get rid of clutter. And you have to be smart about how you do it. You can’t just stuff everything in closets because buyers looking through the house will often look into those closets. You are not displaying your home as it normally looks. You likely are going to remove furniture and you will also want the living space to be bright. Other recommended tips for home staging include:

• Raising your blinds and opening your curtains to bring more sunlight in.
• Adding overhead lights and mirrors.
• Setting up your most important rooms first.

You may be asking; how do I know which rooms are the most important to focus on for my home staging?

According to the Profile of Home Staging from The National Association of Realtors, their findings showed buyers felt that staging the living room was the most important. This was followed closely by the master bedroom and kitchen. HGTV has a list of “don’ts” to keep in mind when staging a home.

When Staging Your Home, DON’T:

• Point out things like a leaky foundation.
• Leave any home projects like do-it-yourself jobs unfinished.
• Leave papers like bills out in the open.
• Forget yard work. If the interior of your home is pristine, the exterior should be too.

A.B. Richards Can Make your Home Staging Run Smoothly

If you’re staging your home, you never know when you’re going to get the offer you’re looking for. It may take a while and you need to stay organized while your home life is being disrupted. A.B. Richards will deliver your portable storage container to wherever you need them. To learn more, contact us today.

There are many things that go into leading a successful business. You need to be able to provide superior products and services. You also need to understand your customers and your market. At A.B. Richards, we know a successful business needs to grow and expand.

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If there is one word that goes to the heart of what we do at A.B. Richards, it would be convenience. We’re in the business of renting ground-level portable storage containers and we make certain that they’re easy to obtain. A.B. Richards has locations throughout the northeast.

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Renovating a store or retail business can be a very exciting prospect. It can also be a very scary one. Renovations allow you to update your business, modernize and have better control of your retail space. But at the same time, a renovation will at the very least disrupt and often temporarily close your business. You want any renovation to be done quickly and efficiently so you can get back to business before running up too many expenses. One important issue to consider while undergoing a renovation is having a place to store your inventory, furniture, equipment, and records. If you are in need of extra storage during a store renovation, you need A.B. Richards.

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You may want to hibernate this winter, but life isn’t going to let you. Winter weather can be annoying and sometimes makes it difficult to get where you’re going. You will have needs for your home and business no matter what season it is. Sometimes you’re going to need A.B. Richards storage more in the winter than at any other time of the year. Let us tell you why.

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Moving can be a happy day for some and stressful to many, but very often we get hung up on the logistics of a move and we forget some very important considerations. In addition to getting your items to a new location, you also want to get them there in one piece. That can mean making certain you have a path cleared between your home and your A.B. Richards portable storage container. This may mean moving your car or truck out of the way. Another thing to keep in mind is to make certain your items, particularly the heavier ones, are lifted properly so you won’t get hurt.

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Excelsior! It’s a great word, isn’t it? It’s usually translated to mean “higher,” “ever upward” or “onward and upward” and it’s the motto of the state of New York. A.B. Richards has its headquarters in the Empire State, and we think the motto captures the ambition and work ethic of our state. We pride ourselves on having locations throughout the northeast and being able to deliver our portable storage containers to wherever you need them. We want to spotlight the many areas that A.B. Richards serves our customers and where better to start than in our home state of New York?

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