The Five Most Common Storage Mistakes
At Amberley Self Storage, we provide secure and affordable Ipswich self storage units to meet your needs. To help you store smarter, here are the top five mistakes people make—and how you can avoid them!
Self-storage can be a lifesaver when moving, decluttering, or renovating. But to get the most out of your unit, it’s important to avoid common mistakes that could lead to wasted space, damaged belongings, or unnecessary expenses.
1. Choosing the Wrong Ipswich Self Storage Units’ Size
One of the biggest mistakes people make is selecting the wrong-sized unit. If it’s too small, you may run out of space and need to rent an extra unit. If it’s too large, you’ll end up paying for unused space.
How to pick the right size:
✔️ Visit our Ipswich self storage units to see the available sizes.
✔️ Measure your items and estimate the floor space needed.
✔️ Choose a unit slightly larger than your needs to allow for future storage.
2. Not Labelling Boxes Properly
We’ve seen loads of people visit their self storage units and spend ages trying to find the items they’re looking for. This happens when you don’t sort your items into boxes or label them correctly.
Nothing is more frustrating than searching through dozens of boxes for one item. Failing to label your boxes properly can waste time and cause unnecessary stress.
How to stay organized:
✔️ Use strong, stackable boxes.
✔️ Label each box clearly with its contents.
✔️ Keep an inventory list so you know exactly where everything is.
3. Not organising your unit efficiently
Following on from above, huge problems arise when your unit is improperly organised. Don’t get into the habit of just throwing things in your unit and closing the door. There should be some method to this – and it starts with putting the most unnecessary items at the back.
What do we mean by this? An “unnecessary item” is something you’re unlikely to come back for. It can happily sit at the back of your unit for months or years. By contrast, your most necessary items are those that might be pulled out of storage quite frequently. It’s very common for people using business storage units to come back and get equipment or files.
Throwing things into your unit without a plan can lead to chaos. An unorganized unit makes it difficult to access your belongings and could even cause damage.
Smart storage tips:
✔️ Place items you use frequently at the front.
✔️ Store less-needed items at the back.
✔️ Use shelving to maximize vertical space and keep boxes in order.
✔️ Create a simple floor plan to track where everything is stored.
4. Using the wrong packaging materials
Understanding which packing materials to use can be overwhelming. Cardboard boxes are suitable for most of the things you store in your unit. However, what about your sensitive items, valuables and electrical goods? Make sure you’re wrapping all of your valuables in bubble wrap and tissue paper for extra protection. The same should be done for sensitive items that mean a lot to you. This additional protection stops them from getting damaged when left in a unit for a long time. Similarly, always cover your furniture in a furniture covering to protect the material.
Choosing the wrong packing materials can result in damaged items, especially for fragile, valuable, or electronic goods.
Best packing practices:
✔️ Wrap delicate items in bubble wrap or tissue paper.
✔️ Cover furniture with protective covers.
✔️ Store electronics in anti-static bags and plastic containers to prevent dust and moisture damage.
5. Choosing a Storage Facility Without Security
Finally, don’t make the mistake of picking a self-storage facility without good security measures. At Amberley Self Storage, our Ipswich storage facility has 24/7 CCTV footage and secure pin-code entry technology to ensure your unit is always protected. Every unit utilises pin code technology as well, which means the only people who can enter the unit are those with the code.
Security is one of the most important factors when selecting a self storage unit. Without proper security, your belongings could be at risk.
At Amberley Self Storage, your items are protected with:
✔️ 24/7 CCTV surveillance.
✔️ Secure pin-code entry to all units.
✔️ Individual pin codes for added security.
