As your business grows and evolves, you may at some stage find you require extra storage space, either temporarily or for the longer term, to keep your business running smoothly. Whether you need a place to archive important documents, store extra equipment, or a temporary storage solution while you organise your office space as you move business premises, commercial storage solutions could be the answer. Below we’ve listed our top tips and tricks to consider when looking for storage for your business.
1. Security is Key
Before choosing a storage solution for your business, it’s important to consider security. Spend some time researching the company to understand the security features and protocols they have in place. A good storage company will invest in quality security features, like CCTV monitoring. They’ll also have robust security measures in place, limiting access to storage users and staff only. For extra peace of mind, ask the storage company to talk you through the security measures they have in place or schedule a walk-through of the facility for reassurance. At the end of the day, you want to feel confident that you’re leaving your valuable or sensitive items in the hands of professionals before you sign any contracts.
2. Select Climate-Controlled Storage Units
Climate-controlled storage units are the best option to ensure your items stay in pristine condition. These units are kept at an optimal temperature for durability, preventing damage or degradation occurring due to heat, cold, dust, mould or humidity. When items are stored in units where the temperature varies, there is the possibility of rusting, moulding and cracking. All quality storage providers will offer the option of temperature-controlled units. So, if in doubt, ask if this feature is available. Commercial items it is important to store in a climate-controlled storage unit, are:
- Furniture (particularly wood, metal, leather, upholstery)
- Important documents
- Electronics (including computers, printers)
- Specialist equipment
3. What Size Unit Do You Need?
Figuring out what size unit you will actually need can be tricky, especially if the items to be stored are all spread out. Listing all of the items that will need storing may help you to visualise the amount of space you require. However, if you’re unsure, the best thing to do is speak to the experts. Any good commercial storage provider will have an abundance of experience in helping businesses with their storage needs and will be able to advise you on the unit size you need by popping to your premises to assess. One thing to be aware of is leaving enough space for you to grow into, particularly if the storage unit is to be rented for a long period of time. And if you need ready access to the items in storage, make sure there is adequate space to organise the unit in a user-friendly way. This means, when you need to find things, you can do so quickly, without having to lift everything in and out, and without any health and safety hazards.
4. Design a Layout for Your Unit
Once you’ve decided upon the unit size you require, spend some time planning your storage layout. If your storage unit will be housing one type of item, such as important archives, you could plan to store them in alphabetical order or chronological order, for example. Alternatively, if your storage unit will contain multiple types of items, you can map out different zones for different items, i.e. a furniture zone and an archives zone. Keep a digital version of the layout saved somewhere accessible to those who will be accessing the storage unit to act as a ‘map’ when retrieving items. This will avoid things getting lost. Key to designing your layout is functionality. Always put items that you’re most likely to require in the easiest-to-access place.
5. Understand The Small Print Before Signing A Contract
Before signing anything, make sure you read through the small print of your contract to make sure you understand. The last thing you want is to be bound by policies that won’t work for you and your business. If you’re unsure, clarify any details with the storage provider or seek legal advice. It may be possible to negotiate the terms of your contract to suit your specific needs, so don’t hesitate to ask if there is any flexibility on the terms.
6. Hire a Removals Expert
To help you focus on what is most important to your business, considering hiring removals professionals to handle the packing and delivery of your items to storage. Removals companies that specialise in commercial removals will have experience in disassembling furniture, they know how to lift heavy items safely, and they’re experts in packing and transporting specialised equipment and storing sensitive documents. Delegating this task to the professionals will free you time to focus on the important details, such as the layout of your storage unit, and will mean minimal disruption to you and your business. Removals experts will also take responsibility for the logistics, such as arranging the appropriate sized vehicle and somewhere to park it. A reputable removals company will have the option to insure your items during transit and storage.
Commercial Removals and Storage to Suit You
Removal & Storage Experts is one of the only companies in London to combine professional removals with storage – so whatever your company’s requirements are, we can help. Get in touch for a quote, we’d be happy to help.
