Planning Ahead

Buying your first house?

Congratulations! It's exciting to be a new home owner. The pride that comes with it, the sense of accomplishment.

But there's also a ton of work. Signing papers, getting estimates and every other painstaking detail that comes with the banner of 'owning a home.'

One of the things that may require some of your effort is furniture. Are you buying new things? Bringing some sentimental items along?

You may also need to show your apartment to some potential new renters. Embarrassed of all the boxes? Wish you had a bit more space?

Why not get a Self Storage Unit. You could put any new and bulky furniture in a secure and convenient Unit until the house is ready. You can store the packed and unneeded boxes in a Unit to make room for walk-ins or just for yourself.

Moving? Want a free move? Film it...and you just might get it!!!

Moishe's Moving is excited to announce its first ever Moving Movie Madness competition!

Just record your move with Moishe's. Use style, use creativity, use wit, use humor...use it all to show us the ups and downs, the frustrations and the fun of your move. Then post your video on our Facebook Competition Page* before Labor Day to qualify.
*See website for contest rules and uploading restrictions.

The winner's move will be fully refunded AND their video published on Moishes.com as well as our Facebook Page!

Voting will begin on September 8th, after all videos have been submitted.

The winner will be the entrant with the most votes, SO BE SURE to get all of your friends and family to vote!!!

Voting Ends on October 7th, and the winner – as chosen by Moishe's Fans – will be announced on the next day, October 8th.

– We want to hear the humor and the fabulous one-liners fly!

– We want to watch emotions flare!

– We want to see YOUR Moving Movie!

The winner of Moishe's Moving Movie Madness will have their move refunded in full, and their video publicized on both Moishes.com and Moishe's Facebook page.
**All submissions become property of Moishe's Moving Systems.

Make the Right Self Storage Choice the First Time

Deciding to get a Self Storage Unit is only the first step in the process. You want to make the right choice, and here are a few tips to help make the decision easier:

START BY ASKING YOURSELF SOME SIMPLE QUESTIONS:

Do I need short or long term storage?
Do I need 24 hour access?
Do my items require special temperature/climate control?

Once you answer the questions, it will be easier to choose the right facility for you. Ask friends for recommendations. Do research online. Make some phone calls. But, most importantly, visit the facility!

When visiting the facilities, pay attention to a few details which can help ensure that this is the right place for you.

Quality Control: Make sure the facility, inside and out, is clean. Check security, both man and machine. Inquire as to whether the size storage unit you need is available, don't fall for bait and switch.

Price: Ask if the company provides free pick-up, a free move or free truck. Get an invoice, check it out to ensure that there are no “hidden” charges, monthly deposit, lock and key charge, and electricity usage among others.

Customer Service: You want to be in business with a company that provides a high level of customer service. Does the company have a courteous staff when answering and returning calls as well as a professional on-premises staff?

You'll have to do more work to get the exact fit that you'll need, but these tips are a good way to start.

Closet Space Isn't Storage Space

When looking at anyone's “WHAT I WANT IN A NEW HOME/APARTMENT” checklist, you will undoubtedly find CLOSET SPACE near the top of that list. Ample closet space seems to be as hard to find as Bigfoot.

So, it's hard to comprehend that in nearly all closets, there are boxes of shoes that haven't seen the light of day since 1999. There's at least four outfits that won't be appropriate until your niece's wedding and those suitcases and duffel bags only get dragged out for the annual two week trip aunt Martha's.

If you're not the yard sale type, think about a Self Storage Unit.

Get back some of that valuable in-home real estate...actually walk into that walk-in.

The articles of clothing and boxes of shoes not needed on a weekly basis will be kept safe and secure in a conveniently located storage facility.

Safe & Secure

There's always a level of trust necessary when someone uses a Self Storage Facility.

After all, items of importance or sentimentality are usually the ones selected for storage and these belongings are expected to be retrieved in the same condition which they were stored.

Here are a few tips to make sure that the Storage Facility you have chosen is a reputable one:

1 – The Fence – Whether it's a chain link fence or a brick wall, you want a well maintained barrier surrounding the facility. If there are openings in the fence, forget about the place.

2 – The Grounds – Are the grounds well maintained? Signs like uncontrolled vegetation, broken glass and garbage are red flags, take note of them.

3 – Pest Control – Open spaces and large facilities will have pests. You want to be sure that your Storage Facility is trying to keep the problem under control. Look for well kept pest traps and
ask to see a pest control log.

4 – Safety Features – Look for security devices like cameras; entry alarms; smoke alarms. Take note of the staff, are they professional and courteous. The more you know about where your stuff is and who's watching, the better your decision will be when finally choosing.

5 – The Climate – Climate control, like humidity and temperature, may be important for certain items. Also, think about whether smoking is allowed within the facility. These things will have an affect on what you are storing.

The most important thing for you to do is research. Ask as many questions as possible to ensure that your decision can be made based upon the most information available.

Storage Units Aren't Good For Everything

Storage Units can be a worthwhile expense for anything from relocation to home improvement.

However, there are certain things for which a Storage Unit should never be used.

1 – Perishable Foods – Storage Units do not come temperature regulated. Any food that has an expiration date should be left at home.

2 – Combustible Items – It can get hot in a Storage Unit. Items like pressurized cans or fire extinguishers that need to be kept in a certain temperature range should not be stored away.

3 – Pets – It's just cruel to leave a living animal in a Storage Unit. If you can no longer keep a pet, give it up for adoption...find a loving home.

4 – Yourself – Unfortunately the financial atmosphere is not good right now, and many people are being forced to leave home. Storage Units are not suitable for living. They are not meant for
people, there are concerns about temperature, sanitary conditions and safety.

Use Storage Units for furniture and belongings, for anything else there are better solutions.

Make Storage Work For You

There are so many ways for people to build businesses. Some of them are new and innovative.

Let's look at ebay for a moment. What started out as a place for one person to sell his trash to another person who finally found that long sought after treasure, has now become a home-based business builder.

There are thousands of people on ebay who sell housewares, knick-knacks and baubles, or clothing. These mini-entrepreneurs even sell their own artwork and other creations.

Being that these business are run out of the home, supplies and items often need to be stored there as well, awaiting for the moment they're sold and mailed off. As you can imagine this eats up a ton of space.

For a reasonable fee, a small piece of the businesses profits, these items can be easily stored in a conveniently located and secure Self Storage Facility.

This can help keep your home and business more organized and easy to run.