By Glenna MacDougal

June 16, 2020

Finding Affordable Storage in Toronto

Storage in Toronto

Once you’ve found a Toronto location to store your belongings, you’ll want to pack them properly to ensure that they’ll be in great condition when the time comes for you to unpack. Here are a few tips for storing belongings:

  •  Make sure that the space you choose is clean, dry, and in good shape. It should have a concrete floor and a secure lock.
  • You may want to ensure that your boxes are not sitting directly on the floor. Using pallets is an excellent way to keep them up off the concrete, but if you don’t have access to pallets, you can spread a tarp or heavy plastic over the storage area.
  • Stacking boxes of equal size is easier than stacking unevenly-sized boxes.
  • Pack boxes full – don’t under-pack them or over-pack them.
  • Wrap all items in plastic or to help ensure that no dust or insects get into them. Wrap delicate or breakable items in bubble wrap or newspaper. Don’t pack fragile and heavy items in the same box. Mark “FRAGILE” clearly on boxes where this applies.
  • Recognize that some things don’t react well to storage. Electronics, record albums, and photos can bend during storage or be damaged by temperature changes and moisture.
  • Use wide packing tape to seal boxes. Tape seams for extra reinforcement.
  • Label everything thoroughly. Don’t stop at scrawling general information on the side of the box; tape an itemized list onto the box, and put a copy inside the box, too. Don’t forget to take photos of the items in the box. If you’re storing at a neighbours, you’ll want to document all of your belongings. This is important for you but also for insurance purposes and might be a requirement for the space-sharing platform you’re using.
  • Your host might want to inspect your belongings. Since they’re storing your items, it’s customary to have them take a look to make sure it’s safe. Remember, they’re at risk if something you own is flammable, valuable or corrosive so be a good neighbour and allow them to inspect boxes if they ask.
  • Finally, don’t store items that you don’t need. Consider donating them to a charity.