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It’s a Wrap! Storage Hacks for Your Holiday Treasures

by The Hat Team


I know you probably just finished pulling out all your holiday decorations, but it’s not too early to start thinking about how you’re going to put it all away.  If you’re like me, every year you tell yourself “this year I will be super organized when I put my holiday decorations away!” Also, if you’re like me, by the time the holidays are over you are exhausted and just want to get the stuff put away as quickly as possible.  Then you go to pull it out the following year and you say,” this year…I will organize it all this year.”  Sigh.  Part of the problem is figuring out how to organize everything. There are lots of Holiday Storage Containers and bags and bins and boxes for sale out there, but that can get expensive!  And let’s face it, just after the gift giving season, the last thing you want to do is spend more money.  But it is possible to organize your holiday decorations without breaking the bank.  Here are some holiday storage hacks to help you get organized this year:

Do you eat eggs?  That may seem like more of an Easter question, but stay with me here. It’s not the eggs you need, it’s the cartons they come in.  They are perfect for storing small, round ornaments.

Keep strings of lights from tangling with this easy hack - wrap them around cardboard before storing them. You can use shoe boxes or any of the many boxes that were likely delivered to your house before December 25 to cut pieces to size for your light strings. Then place them all together in a bin where they will remain safely untangled until next year!

Hang your wreaths year around.  Keep your holiday wreaths in pristine condition by hanging them rather than putting them in a storage bin, where they are likely to get crushed. If you don’t have room in a closet, you can use an inexpensive portable coat rack.  Cover the wreaths with plastic trash bags (garment back style) and hang them on the rack. 

Turn bins you already have into ornament storage bins with this easy and inexpensive hack.  Three words. Red. Solo. Cups.  They aren’t just for parties!  With cardboard, a glue gun and cups you can create a DIY ornament storage bin.  Just glue the cups to cardboard pieces cut to fit and place them in the bin and, voila!  You have the perfect place to safely keep your holiday treasures! Safe Ornament Storage

Shiny beads make a beautiful garland for your tree, but when they are all tangled up in a box you may decide it’s not even worth it to try to untangle them.  This year, save up your plastic water bottles and use them to store your garland.  They will stay untangled and be easy to pull our when you’re ready to put them on the tree again.

If you are in the market to sell or buy a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of professionals assist you with all your real estate needs!  Call them today at 334-834-1500!

Photo Credit: pinterest.com

Choosing a Self-Storage Unit - What You Should Know

by The Hat Team

Whether you are downsizing and need a storage unit to hold belongings you don’t have room for in your home, or you are putting your house on the market and need to store extraneous items so you can stage your rooms to sell, you want to choose one that will best suit your needs while keeping your valued possessions safe and secure.  Here are some questions to ask before choosing a storage unit:

  1. What are you looking for in a storage unit?  Do you need a large or small one?  A storage unit manager can help determine what size unit you need if you provide a list of items you intend to store there.  Will you want climate control?  Units with climate control are more expensive, but if you are storing delicate items, it will be worth the extra cost to keep them safe should temperatures greatly fluctuate.
  2. Where is the storage facility located?  Will it be convenient for you to get there? Storage facilities located in highly populated areas tend to be more expensive than those in more remote areas.  If you are storing things long term and won’t be visiting the unit frequently, choosing one located in a remote area may be less expensive for you. But if you are going to need access to your things on a regular basis, you will want one that is located close to where you live or work.
  3. What are the business hours of the facility?  Not all storage facilities are open 24/7.  You will want to make sure that you can get into your storage unit during hours that suit your needs.  Find out if their business hours work with your schedule or if they offer on-demand access.
  4. What kind of security do they have?  The fact that you are willing to pay to store your belongings means that they have value to you.  You want them protected.  A well-run storage unit facility should have at least some of the following security features:
  • surveillance system that includes cameras and alarms
  • a strong fence surrounding entire facility
  • a gate that only provides access to people authorized to be there
  • security guards
  • smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinkler systems
  • well-constructed units built with safety and security in mind (good ventilation to prevent mildew, raised floors in case of flooding, solid doors with strong locks)
  1. What is the condition of the facility?  Observe the facility to see if it is kept clean and tidy.  Ask about pest control and look for any evidence of infestations. Make sure there are loading docks and equipment available to you and that there is sufficient parking near the units.  Check it out at night to see if it is well-lit.  Ask how many units are currently rented. If the number is low, that is a red flag indicating that something might be wrong.
  2. Do they offer theft and damage insurance coverage for your possessions?  For peace of mind, it is important that they do.

The most important thing to remember is that you should never choose as storage facility without seeing it in person first.  Visit a few and take notes on the positives and negatives of each. Making an informed decision will be the best way to be sure that your treasured personal property is in good hands.

http://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com/Blog/Items-to-Throw-Out-Before-You-Move

http://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com/Blog/Organizing-Your-Home-Made-Simple

http://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com/Blog/Tips-for-Keeping-Your-House-Ready-To-Show-at-Any-Time

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