Our Wellborn Self Storage Blog

Most of us are guilty of owning a bit too much. Some of us also have a hard time letting go of things we rarely even use because just seeing it still ignites a little spark of joy in us, i.e., it still has sentimental value.
 
This practice often brings with it another problem - storage. This is a kind of a problem where you don’t notice it at first until the very end when you realize that your house is just a bit too disorganized, cluttered, and you can no longer find a thing in your house.
 
For those who have a lot of extra spaces in their backyard, basement, or garage, this may not present itself as a problem, but for those who have limited real estate space, this certainly becomes an issue.
 
The good thing is that in this time and age, solutions are available to help you with storage problems. Self-storage is one innovative solution so that you don’t have to throw out things that still have sentimental value, and at the same time, will not take up any more space in your house.
 
Here are the reasons why self-storage facilities are a great and practical solution to your storage problems.
 
Space
 
The root cause of having storage problems is that you lack space. Self-storage facilities solve that right off the bat. With options ranging from 50 square feet to as huge as 300 square feet, you have the power to choose which storage size fits your needs.
 
Marie Kondo will probably suggest getting the smaller one to deter you from developing the tendency to fill it up. Nevertheless, the options are there for you to choose from.
 
Cost-Effective
 
Even if you have extra space in your backyard for you to build a small shack for storage, how much will that cost you? If you are just storing items temporarily, self-storage facilities are certainly a practical solution to your needs.
 
With costs starting at $59.97 for a 50 square foot space to $139.97 for a 300 square foot space, there’s certainly an option for everyone’s storage needs.
 
Are you living near the beach or the lakeside, but your local homeowners’ association or government forbids you from storing your RV or boat at your house? Some storage facilities can even offer cover or uncovered storage spaces for your beloved vehicles!
 
 
Secure
 
Do you know that some self-storage facilities utilize a coded gate entrance with 24-hour CCTV surveillance (like ours!)? Some are even more secure than most houses!
 
To give you an extra layer of peace of mind, some self-storage providers even incorporate theft coverage in their services so that you can rest assured that your belongings are safe and secure.
 
Flexible
 
As mentioned earlier, most self-storage facilities have a variety of spaces to offer. If you just need minimal space to store some sentimental items, art, or other belongings, then you can start with the 50 square foot space.
 
If you just downsized but need more time to sort out the belongings and other items from your previous house, then you can go with the bigger options. You don’t have to stick with a size that you don’t need.
 
Accessible
 
Most self-storage facilities are within minutes from most metropolitan or suburban areas. This makes accessing it relatively easy and time-efficient. Most self-storage facilities are even designed to accommodate trucks and other large vehicles, to help make moving things more manageable and stress-free.
 
Self-storage has proven to be a great alternative for those who have storage problems. If you are interested to know more details or would like to inquire about our packages and rates, feel free to book now, all from the comfort of your own home. Have questions? Contact us here.

For many people, storing items at your house can lead to a messy and cluttered area. A great solution for this is to consider using a storage unit so you can keep your house organized and clean. However, sometimes when people make the choice to utilize a storage unit, the storage unit becomes the messy and cluttered area, essentially not fixing the root issue!

So in this article, you will find some tips and tricks to keep your storage unit organized and tidy by properly storing your belongings.



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• First things first, you want to make sure you pick the right size of storage unit. Here at Wellborn Self Storage, we offer a variety of sizes to fit your needs. Our smallest unit is 5x10’ and our largest size of unit is 10x10’, however we also have 10x15’ and 10x20’ size units as well. Talk to one of our knowledgeable staff members if you need help picking the perfect storage unit, we are happy to help!

• Cleaning your items is crucial before you store them in your storage unit. For example, furniture should be cleaned and covered with old sheets, blankets or plastic wrap to protect from dust and moisture. Lawn mowers, or any gas engines need to be drained and cleaned well to ensure that any clothing or furniture soaks up any moisture in the air from these items. 

 

• Take inventory of everything you store in your unit. This will ensure you don’t spend time frantically wondering about where you put your mother’s paintings or your prized coin collection. Having an online spreadsheet with all the items you stored is a great way to keep your mind at ease while storing all of your belongings. 

 

• Place items that you know you will not need for a long time in the back of your storage unit. For example, a table and chairs that won’t be needed until you move into your next house. However, if you are storing some winter clothes that you will need in a few months, think about storing them closer to the entrance so they are more accessible.

 

• Another tip is to pack your unit properly by placing larger and heavier boxes at the back and on the ground. This allows you to then stack boxes on top of each other, saving you a ton of space. Also, label each box so you know exactly what’s inside each one of them, making it easy and effortless to find what you need. ​

 

• Consider having a path that you can use to get to the back of your storage unit. This will help you if you need to get something you placed in the back without having to climb over and possibly break something. Some people also draw out a map of where everything is inside, such a great idea.

We hope these tips and tricks can help you keep your storage unit clean and organized. Did we forget anything in this article that you would like to add? Give us a message on Facebook or Instagram! We’d be happy to hear your suggestions!

​Self storage units are great for organizing your life by freeing up space. You can store just about anything in them, however, there are certain items you should not put in your storage unit.


1.) Hazardous materials


Any type of material that could potentially catch fire or explode isn’t allowed in self storage units. Although this might seem obvious, sometimes hazardous materials are in common pieces of equipment such as the gas in a lawn mower, or aerosol cans from packing up kitchen supplies. If you are unsure about how to dispose of hazardous materials check with the Public Works Department in College Station.

2.) Plants and animals

Now this might also be a no-brainer, however, it is important to note that plants and animals are definitely not allowed to be stored in a self storage unit. Firstly, the moisture in the soil of a plant could lead to mildew, mold, and insect issues. Secondly, the plant would simply die. Storing animals of any kind even for a short period is inhumane, so if you need to store your pet snake or hampster briefly while moving, try asking mom or dad! 

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3.) Perishable items

Essentially anything that would need to be kept in a fridge or freezer is considered perishable. However, if you choose to store non-perishable food items such as grains or beans, ensure you store them in strong air-tight containers to fend off the potential rodents that can sniff out the foods.

4.) Wet items

No one likes the smell of mildew or mold and this can be caused from storing wet items in your self storage unit. Especially if you have clothes in the storage unit, the damp items being stored will transfer to the clothing leaving a bad smell. If you are stuck moving into your self storage unit in the rain, make sure you bring towels and possibly some moisture absorption packets to put in the corners of the storage unit. Bonus tip - put an open bag of kitty litter in the corner of your self storage unit to help soak up any moisture in the air. 

5.) Very important documents or valuable items

Although we ensure our self storage units are extremely safe and have 24/7 security, it is recommended to not store very important documents or valuable items in your self storage unit. Your passport, birth certificates, or precious jewelry should be kept in a safety deposit box at your local bank. 

If you have any questions regarding what not to put in your self storage unit, please do not hesitate to call, email, or text our friendly staff at Wellborn Self Storage! 

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​So...You've moved out of your storage unit last week and received a bill in the mail or in your e-mail. Your confused and maybe angry right?
By the time you make the call to us you may have calmed down a little bit, but you still want answers. "Where did these new charges come from?"
As a storage manager, it’s very rare for me to have to send someone a bill after they move out, but it does happen.

Why?
Well, for the same reasons that you might send someone a bill after they move out of a house or apartment: they left behind a mess or broke something.
Most recently this happened when the tenant had spilled some sort of oil on the floor of the unit. The tenant noticed during the move out process and came to tell us about it. Because she was upfront about the damage, we tried to keep the cost of repairs to a bare minimum. In fact, we found that we could simply clean up the oil spill using oil-absorbing kitty litter and replace one section of the floor. Total cost to the tenant $20.
But we could have charged her more and might have if she had not been so forthcoming about what happened.

​According to the terms of the contract, we can charge a cleaning fee per hour when necessary.  Unfortunately, the things people leave behind in storage units can be downright disgusting, and we don't want to handle it just as much as you don't.
What we more commonly have to charge after move out is a lock removal fee.

Why?
We don’t keep keys to your storage unit, so when you move out, you need to remove the lock before we can rent the space again. If you leave the lock on, you either have to keep paying for the space or pay a lock-removal fee.
Again, this isn’t a fee we like to charge. We’ll call you and ask you take the lock off, usually giving you a couple days to come back and do so. But if you leave the lock on indefinitely, ignore our calls or promise to come remove the lock and then don’t do it, you’ll get a charge.
Generally speaking, avoiding extra charges is as easy as reading your lease and paying attention to it.
Are you required to give notice? Yes, 10 days, as stated in your lease. Just shoot us an email or give us a call.
Take the lock off and make sure you let the manager know you moved out.
Please please please clean the unit.  It doesn’t need to be spotless, but if you leave behind, furniture, trash, or just random stuff, expect to be charged that cleaning fee anywhere from $50+ depending on the amount of things left behind.
If you broke something, tell the manager. Chances are it’s something minor and easy to fix. If we know about it, we’ll be much more understanding and probably just charge you for the supplies. If you hide it, lie about it or try to sneak out without telling us, we’ll charge you for the repair supplies and the time it takes our maintenance crew to fix it.

Avoid This Altogether​
You can avoid post move out fees by simply being a good storage unit tenant and paying attention to your lease.

Happy storing!