The Gold You Find In Your Spam/Junk Folder

Our Spam and Junk folders save us from email messages that could harm our computers and servers and are also a waste of our time if we stop to read them. In most cases, messages caught by our spam filters are really unwanted and illegitimate messages.

However, no spam/junk filter is perfect and in some cases the rules also capture relevant and important messages we should be reading. Many times you will find in your junk folder a response from a prospect for whom you quoted a price, a request for a quote from a potential customer or a suggestion for a new deal from a colleague.

The only solution is to check your junk folder on a regular basis, daily or weekly, go through your messages and look for any legitimate ones and act accordingly. We know it takes valuable time and realize it is a tedious process altogether, but hey, we never said that finding gold would be a an easy task…

Can You Handle The Bad News?

If your job responsibility requires you to speak with customers from time to time, you may have come across customers who complained about your service, an employee who they didn’t like or agree with or about a promise made to them that wasn’t kept. If your company operates a blog or uses a survey, you must have read some negative comments about your company, services or employees. How do you handle these? Can you handle the bad news?

As an owner of our agency I have come across negative comments addressed by customers verbally or via our surveys or blogs. I must admit that as hard as I am trying not to take these comments personally, it always trigger the question: What did I do wrong? However, I always with no fail make sure to look into the issue and respond back to the customer, often times by me.

How are you handling these negative comments?

Partnering with Labor Services

In an effort to save money, more and more Americans are opting for do-it-yourself relocation options such as mobile self-storage. While happy to be saving big bucks on their move, some still are not willing or able to actually perform the labor-intensive process of moving and end up hiring moving labor providers.

As some mobile self-storage agencies have already found, forming strategic partnerships with these labor providers has provided an opportunity to further service their customers by offering a more complete relocation experience at a cost lower than a traditional moving service typically charges.

Have you considered or actually entered into such a partnership? What have you learned?

Using mobile storage to unpack

One usually overlooked part of a move is the unpacking process. Upon arrival at your new home, it is nearly impossible to know where all your items will "live" in your new home. For many, it can take weeks, or even months to figure out exactly where everything will go--especially for those already busy with work and other obligations.

Rather than cluttering your new home with boxes of unpacked belongings and hastily-placed furniture, consider unloading the non-essentials into a mobile storage unit. Conveniently located in your driveway, a mobile storage unit will allow you to place furniture and store items in a more deliberate fashion without the added eyesores of cardboard boxes and awkward furniture scattered about every room.

Portable Office Space

Need extra office space fast? Many mobile storage unit companies also provide portable office space. These mobile office units can be delivered to the leaser or purchaser, and some include windows, doors, wiring, heat, air conditioning, or even basic office furniture.

Mobile offices are useful in the construction industry as they can be used as on-site office space for contractors. Mobile offices can also be used as temporary workspace when remodeling an office. Mobile office units can be a less expensive and quicker alternative to leasing or purchasing new real estate. Contact your local mobile storage unit provider for more information.

Tips for Loading Your Mobile Storage Unit

Preparation is key to properly loading your mobile storage unit. The following is a list of tips for easier and safer loading:

Safety

• Lifting Heavy Items: Lifting heavy items improperly may cause injury to your back, shoulders, and/or arms. When lifting an item off the floor, make sure to bend at the knees and come to a squat position instead of bending over. This allows you to rely more on your leg strength to lift items therefore avoiding back injury. After you have picked up the item, hold it as close to your body as possible. The farther you extend your arms when holding an item, the more likely it is to cause injury. Also, make sure to not twist your body when lifting a heavy item as this may strain or injure muscles. Finally, if you do feel strain when lifting an object, have someone else help you to lift the object.


• Using a Dolly: Using a dolly, a hand truck used to move objects, can minimize strain and ease the process of loading a mobile storage unit. Keep the blades of the dolly centered and completely under the object when in use and make sure to walk and always keep the dolly in front of you. Also make sure to have the object securely strapped when using the dolly. These tips will ensure you do not drop the load when using the dolly.
  

Preparing to Load Items

• Prepare Your Home: Set and secure flattened cardboard on all hardwood surfaces where you will be moving furniture. This will prevent damage to the floors. Remove doors in the home to provide more room to move furniture. Make sure to cover walking areas with inexpensive rugs to minimize dirt accumulation and to also prevent floor damage.


• Preparing Items to Be Loaded: Disassemble and remove shelves from furniture and keep hardware in a separate place for later reassembly. Defrost refrigerators 24 to 48 hours in advance of loading them. Make sure refigeratos are clean and dry before loading to prevent leakage in the unit. Cover items with plenty of padding to prevent breaking and scratching.
  

Loading the Mobile Storage Unit

• Try not to slide heavy items on any surfaces. Sliding these items may cause severe damages to the home's floors.


• Do not use dollies to move furniture. Usually, dollies are too small to accommodate furniture and may also damage the furniture being moved.
  
• Place your heaviest items at the bottom of the storage unit and build your way up with the lightest items on top. Also, keep the fragilest items at the top of the load. Fill any gaps of the load with small items to keep the load as "tight" as possible. This will prevent shifting of the load.

These tips and using a little common sense will help you safely and more easily load your mobile storage unit.

Bringing Work & Equipment Home? Put it in Mobile Storage

Is your job requiring you to bring home an increasing amount of work-related materials and equipment? With the recession still in full swing, many employers are putting more demands on their employees. If you are overwhelmed with products, equipment, and documents related to your job, why not rent a mobile storage unit? This way you can accomodate your boss without cluttering your domestic life. Even better, find out if your employer will pay for the rental of the mobile unit, as well as mobile storage insurance. Don't let your job invade your personal life--take control and breathe easy with mobile storage.

Mobile Storage Makes Trade Shows a Breeze

Is your company planning on exhibiting at trade shows this fall and winter? Plan ahead and schedule a mobile storage unit to be delivered to your company prior to the show. This way you can easily load any booth equipment, furniture, signs, and sales products you may need at the show. Have your mobile storage company deliver the portable unit to the show, and schedule pick-up once your exhibit is done. If your company is exhibiting at several trade shows, you may want to place the unit at a climate-controlled storage facility in between shows. And if you are including high-end items such as electronics or sensitive material such as company documents, you will probably want to acquire mobile storage insurance to protect the handling and delivery of your trade show items.

Don't Trust Your Local Movers? DIY With Mobile

Struggling to find suitable laborers that have both the experience and the trustworthiness to enter your home, help you pack, and carry out your move? If so, do it yourself without the hassle with mobile strage. Your portable storage company will deliver your unit to your property, which you pack yourself at your own pace. When you are ready to move the packed unit, the storage company will load it (carefully) onto a trailer to be delivered to your new location. Then you unpack the contents at your convenience before the storage company removes the unit from your new home. You'll never have to worry about being a victim of a rogue mover scam again, although you may want to seek mobile storage insurance to protect yourself from damage or loss during the use of your mobile unit.

Keep Yardwork Under Control with Mobile Storage

Summer is the perfect time to tackle yardwork projects that you may have been putting off for a while. Do you have an extensive project planned, such as a new patio, garden, or lawn? Avoid sprawling all of your yardwork equipment over your property or cramming your garage by renting a mobile storage unit for the duration of your project. Improve the value of your property without creating an eyesore at the same time by storing rakes, tools, large equipment, and more. Once your project is complete, your mobile storage company can pick up the unit, leaving your yard open and clutter-free.

Already Moved but Can't Sell Old Home? Go Mobile.

A recent article by The New York Times illustrated the plight of families stuck between a sale and a hard place. One unfortunate reality of the current real estate market is that homes are not selling quickly, meaning that owners may find that they have to move on or live in limbo before the sale goes through. If you are facing a similar dilemma, consider placing a mobile storage unit on your old property so that if you need to return before it sells, any belongings you might need will be safely stored.

Too Much Stuff on Moving Day? Go Mobile.

If you are unpleasantly surprised on moving day by how much stuff you have--so much that it does not all fit on your moving truck--you may want to consider last-minute rental of a mobile storage unit. Hopefully, you are able to leave your spillover belongings at your old location until the mobile unit is delivered. Once it arrives, you can pack the extra items into the mobile unit and have them delivered to your new location, most likely for much less than the cost of renting an additional moving truck.

Use Mobile Storage for Hard-to-Move Items

Do you need to temporarily store a large, bulky, or fragile item? Perhaps you need to temporarily move a piano outside of your home for an event, but you don't want to pay hundreds of dollars to have it moved to a new location. Or maybe there is an armoire, chandelier, or large painting that you want out of your way for a few days. Whatever the problem, mobile storage is a convenient solution for storing large or bulky items. Standard size mobile storage units each hold about 1.5 rooms' worth of stuff. Just remember, if you are storing something of high value, you should purchase mobile storage insurance to protect your investment.

Mobile Storage for the Home Office

Has your home business grown recently? Are the papers, equipment, and supplies related to your business taking over your home office? If you need a convenient way to store work-related items outside of your home, but still keep them handy, consider mobile storage. A tidy home office will allow you to be more productive, but if you lack a garage or basement space to keep the growing amount of items for your business, put them in mobile storage. You can keep the mobile unit on your property (for how long depends on whether or not you are the owner), or you can have the mobile storage company pick up the unit once it's packed to be stored at a local warehouse. The growth of your home business is a good thing, but don't let it turn your home into a messy nightmare.

Mobile Storage for Charity

Are you planning a charity event that will gather unused belongings to donate to the less fortunate? Use mobile storage to easily contain the donated items and have them shipped to the location of the charity. For example, Seattle-based Door To Door Storage Inc. recently partnered with Loyola University of Chicago for its second annual "Think Green & Give." Since college students are notorious for trashing unwanted items when they move out of dorms at the end of the school year, this program allows gently-used items to be delivered to those who could use them, such as a service for the disabled and a food pantry. The mobile storage containers were left on campus for the last couple of weeks of class, allowing students to give items at their convenience.

Avoid Hidden Costs with Mobile Storage

Most of us are more price-conscious these days, and when it comes to budgeting a move, hidden costs can become a nightmare. Unlike most full-service movers, with mobile storage, your price is based on the amount of space or number of containers you use rather than the weight. Some moving companies reweigh your goods after the moving truck is loaded, resulting in an increased price. With mobile storage, you'll never have to worry about your belongings being reweighed or surprise charges. All fuel and transportation costs should be included in your quote.

Leader of the Pack

No one wants to pack up their storage unit only to return to find a moldy couch. Here are some do's and don'ts to pack your stored belongings for the best results:

Do:

• Prevent water from entering the storage container and damaging your items. Use a plastic sheet, tarps, or plywood to seal the container.


• Try to distribute the weight evenly on all sides when packing a mobile storage unit. Pack heavy items on the bottom and lighter items on time, and pack your items as tight as possible to prevent shifting and damage.


• Make sure heavy appliances are clean and completely dry before packing. Store them in an area that will avoid the formation of mildew. Pack lightweight items inside the appliances carefully so that they are not hard to find when needed again. Secure any moving parts (doors, etc.) with strong industrial tape, rope, or bungee cords.


• Secure your storage unit with a strong, commercial-grade padlock after you finish filling it.


• Keep an inventory of the items in your unit and take note of the unit number.
  

Don't:

• Place flammable or hazardous materials in your storage vault.


• Store liquids or perishables.


• Let children play in, on, or around the unit.

The Art of the Move

Do you have a lot of artwork to handle during your move? Are you worried about protecting your art from damage? A mobile storage unit is a great place for art that needs to be stable and secure. Most likely your art is as valuable as some of your most prized belongings. Having a mobile storage unit delivered to the place you are moving out of means that you can control how your artwork is packed. You will want to wrap your artwork in protective parchment paper, glassine, or fabric, and then pack it inside a specialized box (such as a mirror box) with bubble wrap or packing foam. Carefully store the artwork upright--never place it flat, as it can collapse. Then you can have your mobile unit delivered to either a storage warehouse (opt for climate-controlled) or to your new home. Hopefully you will have finished painting your walls and your artwork will provide that final touch to brighten up your new home.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Is your lease about to run out? Are you happy with where you live now, but wondering if there is a better deal out there? Not sure if you will be moving down the block or across the country? Is your significant other moving and and forcing you to decide whether to relocate or not? Perhaps you are a reluctant mover, and are confused about where you want to live. One decision that should be a no-brainer is to get a mobile storage unit so that you can start packing for wherever life brings you next. Pack away all of the items you don't use on a daily basis--off-season clothing, books, or sports equipment that has been collecting dust, for instance. When you have finally made up your mind, you'll have the bulk of your move packed and ready to go. Or, if you decide to stay, call the mobile storage company and have them bring your nonessentials to a storage facility. Hopefully, the more you pack away, the more you will realize what decision is right for you.

Party Time? Excellent!

Are you planning a big event, such as a wedding or family reunion? Are you wondering what to do with all of the decorations, equipment, and supplies needed for the big day? Mobile storage is an excellent solution for moving and storing party items. Imagine the ease of having a container delivered to your home, filled with all of the items needed for the party, moved to the location of the event, and then picked up once the event is over. Party planning can be a big production--choose mobile storage for one less thing to stress about.

Use Mobile Storage to Save Money on Your Move

Moving is one of those expensive necessities in life. Given the sluggish economy, many people will be looking to spend as little as possible on their move this summer. If you can afford the convenience, hiring a full-service moving company is the best way to go. Otherwise you are probably looking at renting a moving truck and hiring an extra hand or two. Cheaper options include borrowing a friend's pickup truck or van and doing the heavy lifting yourself, which will probably require multiple trips. One affordable option that has become more available in recent years is to use a mobile storage company to handle your move. Using a flatbed truck, the storage company will deliver a container to you, which you (or hired packers) fill at your own convenience. Most containers will hold about one and one-half rooms' worth of stuff, so you may need multiple containers. When your containers are packed, the company will deliver them to your new home, handling the transportation from door-to-door. Most companies will offer this service for about half of the price of a full-service moving company, depending on how far your stuff is going.

Use Mobile Storage to Sell Your House Faster

Selling your house? Almost every home sells better with less furniture, and staged homes sell twice as fast as those that are not staged. Cramped homes make buyers feel uncomfortable and nervous. One quick and easy way to clear out clutter while your home is on the market is to rent a mobile storage unit. The unit is delivered to you, you load it at your own pace, and when it's full, you can either leave it onsite or your storage provider can bring it to their warehouse. Once your house sells, you can have the unit delivered to your new home. Here are some tips for decluttering a home on the market:

• Depersonalize: remove any items (photographs, mementos, books) that tie you to the space.


• Remove pieces of furniture that are bulky, shabby, or block pathways.


• Remove excess shelving and storage cases—these kinds of items signal that the house does not have enough drawer or closet space.


• Likewise, make sure closets and drawers appear neat and organized, not stuffed and messy.


• Remove extra leaves from your dining room table, or choose a smaller dining room table, to make the room appear larger.


• Leave just enough furniture to define the room's purpose.


• Make sure curtains are open and windows are clean—bright sunshine and fresh air can make a big impact.

On Lockdown: The Best Lock for Your Unit

A reputable self storage facility will have 24-hour security, lighting, and video monitoring to deter theives. But when you choose mobile storage, the level of security is up to you. What security measures do you have for your mobile storage unit? For starters, you should have a good lock on your container. Stainless steel disc-shaped locks offer a higher level of security than your typical square or combination padlock, and are bolt-cutter resistant. Disc locks would require power tools and expert lock-picking skills to disable. Most versions retail for under $25 and feature a hardened steel shackle, a double-bolted locking mechanism, and anti-pick pins.

Buzz Off: Protect Winter Wool From Little Buggers

Have you ever pulled a wool sweater out of storage, only to find it riddled with little holes? If so, your wool was lunch for the larvae of either the clothes moth or carpet beetle. Disturbing, right? Wool, fur, silk, feathers, and leather are all susceptible to pest damage, as well as fabric with heavy food or oil stains. Items commonly infested include wool sweaters, coats, clothing, blankets, carpets, decorative items, down pillows and comforters, natural bristle brushes, and taxidermied animals. Other insects such as silverfish, crickets, beetles, and roaches will also eat fabrics. Most likely they will be attracted to fabrics with food stains, perspiration, or starched fabrics.

So how do you prevent your clothes and fabrics from pest damage? Here are some tips:

• First, make sure items are cleaned before storing. Who wants to unpack a dirty sweater, anyway?
• Store clothing and fabrics in airtight containers such as plastic bins, hanging garment bags, or cedar chests. Leather, fur, or wool should not be stored in plastic bags. Wrap rolled-up carpets with plastic sheeting.
• Make sure your storage area is a cool, dark, well-ventilated place.
• Mothballs can be used inside the container, but these days they are not as popular because of the smell. If you use them, do not let them contact your clothing directly--they could cause a color change. Remember, mothballs are not safe for children. Instead of mothballs, you may want to use cedar chips as a repellant.
• If you do find pest damage on an item, you should wash or dryclean every item that was stored in that container. You will also need to wash the inside of the container, being sure to get every crack and corner.

Leader of the Pack

One of the benefits of mobile storage is that you get to pack your container at your own pace, so you can still keep up with the millions of other things you have to do. Since you are typically the one doing the packing, you will know where everything is inside your storage container. Keep in mind, depending on the quality of your storage unit, you may need to take additional steps to secure your belongings. Most modern units have a strap system so your valuables don't shift during transit, but here are some tips for packing your container:

• Make sure your container is weather-proof, otherwise you may want to seal it with a tarp or plastic sheet.
• Cover mattresses, boxsprings, and upholstered furniture with protective plastic sheets or blankets.
• Try to distribute the weight evenly in your container. Heavier items on the bottom; lighter items on top.
• Protect sharp corners with blankets, bubble wrap, or padded paper.
• Pack heavy items (such as books) in smaller boxes, and lighter items (such as bedding) in bigger boxes.
• Do not lay mirrors and pictures flat, always prop them up vertically.
• Do not put perishables, flammables, or hazardous materials in your unit.
• Pack items as densely as possible to prevent shifting during transit.
• Be sure to keep an inventory of everything you pack inside your unit.

Curb It: Do You Need a Permit?

Before you have your moving/storage company drop off your mobile storage container in front of your house, find out if you will need a special permit to keep it parked there. The last thing you need on moving day is hassle from the meter maid resulting in a parking ticket. Generally, a parking permit can be obtained at your city hall.

If you plan on keeping your mobile storage unit onsite for more than 30 days, you may also need approval from your local building inspector.

If you think your unit may require a permit, make sure you give yourself enough time to complete the necessary steps before your move gets underway.

Expanding Without Building

As budgets tighten to get through what we all hope is the worst of the recession, many large-scale and long-term building projects are being put on hold. Perhaps you are having trouble securing financing for your home renovation project, or your company or organization has frozen its construction budget, or the cost of cleaning up a building site to pass environmental standards is too high. Many people are finding a cheaper, more flexible solution with mobile storage units, keeping items onsite and accessible or at nearby warehouses. Once the economy recovers from its currently slump, hopefully you can put brick to mortar and create the permanent space you have been waiting for. In the meantime, make sure your stored goods are protected with mobile storage insurance until they are ready for moving day.

Don't Let a Move Interrupt Your Business

As commercial rents continue to fall, business owners of firms large and small are uprooting offices in search of less costly headquarters. While relocation may mean a smaller bottom line, it may also mean a bigger headache for both your company's staff and clientele. To help your move go more smoothly and reduce the risk of disrupting your day-to-day operations, invest in a mobile storage unit. Transition your company's products, furnishings, records, and equipment at a pace that will have the least impact on your services. Containers can be left on business premises as long as you wish or trucked to an offsite warehouse. Summertime is usually slow for many companies, so this may be the ideal time to manage a move. Of course, we recommend you protect the property within your storage container with an adequate insurance plan. Research at least three mobile storage insurance carriers for the best quote. Plan ahead so that your company's move doesn't cost any more time or money than necessary.

The Small but Smart Investment

We would just like to encourage any and all who choose to store they belongings in mobile storage units to consider insuring their valuables. Not to say that mobile storage isn't entirely safe... but it is difficult to control some variables and insurance will ease your mind and ease any financial woes in the event that something does happen. Make a small but smart investment to protect your belongings and minimize the potential loss and aggravation following a disastrous occurrence.

Why Mobile Storage Insurance?

You are putting your valuables in storage because they are precious to you. Ensure their safety with mobile storage insurance. There are many reasons to consider buying storage insurance:

-In the case of our Named Perils insurance our policy provides coverage in case of major disasters. This coverage will compensate for the replacement value of the damaged or lost item less a one time, per certificate deductible. Valuation or any other type of coverage through a storage facility is limited to a minimum of $2,500 to $5,000 in coverage and will only pay the Actual Cash Value of the item (the depreciated value only). Valuation programs offer limited coverage and will not provide full compensation.

-When buying insurance from us, you will receive an actual Certificate of Insurance from a leading insurance company as proof of coverage, rather than a note or a line item on your rental agreement when renting your storage unit.

-When you purchase valuation type of coverage, you purchase it from the storage facility. We view this as a conflict of interest. By purchasing actual insurance coverage you are obtaining the service of an independent, third party insurance company.

Welcome to the Mobile Storage Insurance Blog!

We are so excited to begin an open conversation on mobile storage insurance! Have questions? Have answers? Post them here!

We will be giving you updates on news, happenings, and other related information on the mobile storage insurance world. You can also look forward to moving, storage, and self storage resources discussed right here!

Mobile Storage insurance will will cover your belongings while transported or stored in a mobile storage unit. It is based on a Named Perils coverage designed to compensate you for loss or damages that occur due to these specific perils.

Mobile Storage offers flexible storage options that allows customers to store by their schedule. Mobile Storage Insurance is here to give mobile storage customers peace of mind. Feel confident in knowing your belongings are insured while in their mobile storage unit. To learn more read all about it here OR CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE!