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Top Tips on Using Self Storage over the Festive Season
Self-storage really comes into its own at Christmas the New Year, when space at home is at a premium, particularly if you are having friends or family round. Businesses, too, often appreciate the extra room.
Hamiltons Removals provide a range of self-storage units for customers in East Anglia; here are our top tips for getting the most out of your additional space over the festive season.
Doing the Decluttering
The festive season (including the New Year) may be the only chance you get to get a really good declutter done, with several days off work in a row.
You may be contemplating a move early in the New Year and want to get a head start, or perhaps you are finally getting around to doing some redecorating or giving the house a really good clean.
You may want to give some items away to friends or family (call them late Christmas gifts), to charity shops, or sell them on online auction sites. There may also be some items you want to keep or haven’t decided what to do with yet but don’t have space for, which you can put in self-storage.
At Hamiltons we stock a range of decluttering kits which contain all you are likely to need to help you relocate your possessions, even if it’s only a temporary arrangement.
It’s a Wrap for Christmas Decorations
Self-storage is ideal for Christmas decorations. This is because they won’t take up any valuable space at home when not in use, especially considering you won’t be using them for another year. Ground-level self-storage facilities are often also better than attics and basements because there’s less physical effort involved in taking them up or down the stairs, and up ladders.
Taking large decorations apart before you put them into storage will make them more compact and less likely to break.Buying bubblewrap, packing paper and other similar items are all good investments, particularly for lights and lanterns, glass items, and valued ornaments such as large and delicate Christmas tree baubles (above). Using dividers in your boxes will stop items rubbing up against one another and reduce the chance of damage even further.
When it comes to Christmas trees, real ones should be recycled and, like other plants, aren’t allowed in self-storage anyway. Artificial trees are another matter. In fact, some (such as frosted or flecked ones) will survive much better in temperature-controlled environments which self-storage facilities can provide. Again, if they can be dismantled, this will reduce the chances of damage and make them easier to move.
Use Bespoke Containers
Whatever you are putting into self-storage, it’s much better to use boxes and containers which are designed for the purpose, rather than adapting something else which isn’t fit for the task.
If you are moving sofas, settees and similar items, then at Hamiltons we stock Furniguard, whose durable polythene offers greater protection than conventional furniture coverings.And if you, for instance, want to put your summer wear into storage because you won’t be needing it for a few months, then we have special wardrobe cartons. We also have picture cartons if you want to put artwork into storage. Our online shop can be found here and iwe stock a wide range of packing materials for moving house (or decluttering) and is convenient if you live in Norfolk or Suffolk.
Whatever you choose to put into storage, label everything clearly (cartons, boxes etc.), so you know exactly what’s gone where and keep a separate inventory at home.
Self-Storage Units in the Heart of East Anglia
Hamiltons Removals have two self-storage units, at Harleston and Aldeby on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. The Harleston site is where our packing materials shop is located, and offers rooms of various sizes, while the Aldeby base has containers from 5’ to 20’, which are ideal for larger items.
Both sites combine easy access for owners with high levels of security. CCTV cameras cover both depots, and the Harleston premises also has an alarm system linked directly to Norfolk Police.
Our self-storage depots will be open at certain points over the festive season. From Saturday, 24th December to Tuesday 27th December the business will be closed; on from Wednesday, 28th December to Friday 30th December we will be open from 10am-3pm on all three days; and we will be closed again from Saturday, 31st December to Monday, January 2. From Tuesday, January 3 2023 we will be open as normal. If you would like to know more about any of our self storage units, follow this link or call our sales team on 01379 855203.
Why Energy Efficiency is Helping to Drive Commercial Removals
The spiralling price of energy is a real concern for many businesses. One leading accountancy firm, PwC, has just announced that it will be closing many of its offices for two whole weeks over Christmas. With the chance to save money on heating and lighting one of the key drivers in its decision. And, it’s no surprise, with some smaller companies having seen their electricity and gas bills go up by more than 300% in the past 18 months, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.
Hamiltons Removals provide high-quality commercial removals for the business communities of Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as overseas. Here we look at the reasons why a move from one office to another can often be the best solution to combatting the problem of high utility bills.
State of the Art Savings
A move to new premises can be a real boon if you want to save money. This is because you may have to retrofit existing premises if you opt to stay put. For instance, all rented commercial premises must have an Energy Performance Certificate of A or B (the two most energy-efficient categories) by the year 2030. If the building has a rating of F or G (the two lowest) then steps must be taken to improve it. This means you may have to spend money on features such as better-fitting windows (double or even triple-glazing), better-fitting doors, and add extra insulation, or risk breaking the law.
In addition, all the top tips for energy-saving such as ensuring all appliances are turned off when not in use, and limiting the use of the canteen (older fridges and cookers are big guzzlers of electricity) will only go so far.
In the long run, if you opt to move, you could benefit not only from the savings made possible with technological advances such as LED and energy-saving bulbs (pictured), automatic dimmer switches, smart meters and so on, but also from the higher energy and safety standards to which modern premises are built.
Small Can be Beautiful
There’s been a drive towards downsizing offices since the pandemic hit. Last year, according to a poll conducted by YouGov, more than one in four businesses were looking either to close, downsize or consolidate their office space. And the prediction is that this will continue for the next three or four years.
This is because of the increased drive towards working from home and hybrid working (being in the workplace for one or two days per week, then at home for the rest) for a better work/life balance.
All of this means companies don’t need as much physical floor space to accommodate their workers anymore, and they certainly don’t need to pay the extra energy bills for space they aren’t using.
It Can Save Money Elsewhere
A move to a more energy-efficient workplace can help you to avoid difficult decisions elsewhere in your business. For example, MakeUK, the country’s manufacturers’ organisation, says that 12% of firms have already made job cuts as a result of the increased energy bills, and are predicting further redundancies and office shutdowns without further government assistance. Therefore, moving to somewhere more energy efficient could help you avoid redundancies or complete office closures.
Commercial Removals in Norfolk from Hamiltons Removals
At Hamilton’s, we can help your business move, whether it’s to somewhere local or overseas.
We’ve moved all manner of businesses during our decades in the sector. So not only do we know how to handle laptops, PCs, printers and all the other electronics which come with the job, but also bigger items too, such as commercial vehicles and production machinery. And, if you need to move employees at the same time as your office, we will be able to offer a competitively-priced ‘all-in-one’ deal as well.
For more information on our commercial removals service, follow this link. There’s also an enquiry form you can fill in and submit on the page too.
And, if you can’t move everything in one go, or haven’t decided what to take and what to get rid of, then we can offer you self-storage at one of our locations in the heart of East Anglia. To learn more about our Safe’N’Stored storage services, click here.