Creating an Inventory List for Your Storage Unit
How full are Australia's self-storage facilities? Quite full, actually. The national occupancy rate is around 80%, and this reflects the number of individual storage units rented. Just how full each unit might be depends on the renter. Are you about to rent a storage unit with a view to filling it to capacity? Aside from being sure that your prospective unit is going to be large enough to accommodate your needs, you really should take the time to create an inventory of everything that is about to go into storage.
An Extended Period of Time
An inventory is extremely useful for keeping track of not just what has been stored, but where inside the storage unit the item in question is located. You might wish to forego an inventory list if you're only using the storage unit for a brief period of time, but when the rental is to be for an extended period of time, an inventory list is essential.
Your Level of Organisation
Just how organised the list will be depends on your own organisational preferences. You can create the list by the order in which items are sorted and placed inside a box or container; or you might wish to arrange your items into categories (clothes, books, kitchen items, and so on) prior to placing them into boxes.
Numbered Boxes
Each box or container will be given a number, which should be prominently displayed on the box, using a permanent marker. Each number then forms a header for your inventory, with each item then listed, in as much detail as you deem necessary.
A Digital List
The list should be digital, as this is easier to amend at a later stage, as needed. Use a web-based office software suite to create your inventory. Web-based software automatically archives your efforts to network online storage (the cloud), rather than solely on your device, so you can recall it later. For example, you might type your list using Google Docs on your laptop or PC, but you can then access the document on your smartphone when you're at the storage unit, actually looking for something. In short, don't create a list that is only accessible on a specific device.
Placing the Boxes Inside the Unit
The placement of the boxes inside the storage unit needs to be compatible with your inventory system, but this is simple. Just be sure that the boxes are neatly stacked with the assigned number facing outwards. Consider placing shelves inside the unit to hold your boxes. This keeps them off the ground, which helps to protect their contents.
Creating an inventory list for your storage unit won't take up much of your time, but it will be time well-spent, especially when you happen to be looking for something specific in the months or years to come.
For more information, reach out to a local storage facility.
