Do you need a place to store furniture, sports equipment, books, clothing, or household items? Many Torontonians need temporary storage but are shocked by the cost of renting a conventional self-storage unit. Fortunately, the sharing economy has provided a great alternative: space sharing!
The idea behind space sharing is similar to connecting people who need a service with those who can provide it. A space-sharing company uses an internet platform to match you with someone in your neighbourhood who has extra room in their house, garage, or backyard shed where you can store your items.
Space sharing is convenient, far more affordable than conventional storage, secure, and environmentally sound. It helps to build communities by creating networks. And a good space-sharing company can help you and the host agree on the terms of the rental and provide you with insurance for your belongings. Find out more about space sharing today!
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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.