Self Storage Tips

Economical Way to Winterize

2011-11-03T12:29:00.000-05:00

The cold weather means many of you will be storing your boat or RV for the winter. A great way to keep the refrigerator and other sealed compartments fresh and dry is to fill them with wadded up newspaper. The newspaper absorbs excess moisture and keeps mold and mildew from growing. It's easy, free and you can recycle the paper in the spring.
It's also a good idea to place some mouse bait in your boat or RV this time of year just in case!
For other tips on storing your big toys call Ray in Avoca, AR at 479-636-9498 or Cesar in Eureka Springs, AR at 479-253-2020.

Why You Need Tenant Insurance

2011-09-29T22:51:00.000-05:00

Recently we learned about lightning strikes that resulted in fires at 2 different storage facilities. The buildings were burned to the ground and the stored property inside was completely destroyed.

We can all learn from others tragedies. Be sure to check your homeowner's policy to make sure that it covers property that is kept at a self storage facility. If your policy does not cover property stored at a location other than your home or if you rent and don't have a homeowner's policy, get signed up for tenant insurance at your storage facility. Most policies are affordable and it's easy to get started. The policy premium is usually billed out with your monthly rent payment.

If you have any questions or want to get a price quote, call Ray at Beaver Storage in Avoca, AR at 479-636-9498 or Cesar at Beaver Lake Storage in Eureka Springs, AR at 479-253-2020.

Spring Weather in the Ozarks

2011-05-25T14:07:00.000-05:00

Well, there is no need to tell you that we've had a lot of rain lately. Rain, hail and high winds. Thank goodness we have had no damage to the storage buildings at either Beaver Storage in Avoca or Beaver Lake Storage in Eureka Springs.

Even though all is well, I would encourage everyone to look in on their stored property and double check things. In weather like this almost anything is possible and if you catch a small water leak early you can avoid damage to your property. Since storage facility managers don't have access to individual units, the only way they know a problem is brewing is if the tenant catches it and brings it to their attention.

Stored property is the responsibility of the person leasing the storage space. The storage facility does not insure the items being stored in their buildings. Find out if your home owner's insurance policy will cover your belongings that are stored in a self storage facility. If it doesn't, consider purchasing tenant insurance. We offer a policy that has different coverage limits and is billed out with your montly storage rent. You can get coverage for almost anything except flooding for as little as $8.00 per month.

Give your storage facility manager a call if you have any questions or find any problems in your unit. You can reach Beaver Storage at 479-636-9498 and Beaver Lake Storage at 479-253-2020.

Spring Cleaning

2011-04-09T09:46:00.001-05:00

Of course a storage space can help with your spring cleaning this year. As you go through your cluttered garage or crowded spare room, wouldn't it be nice to be able to relocate the boxes and items to which you don't need daily access? Organizing them neatly in an off-site storage unit will allow you to keep them out of your hair but not out of your life!

But spring cleaning doesn't just apply to your home or garage. Everyone needs to spring clean their existing storage unit as well. You may not need to go thoroughly through the boxes each year, but it is wise to check on your unit and it's contents periodically.

Storage managers do not have access to customers' units. If there is any problem in a unit, the manager would have no way of knowing unless the customer informed them. If a unit has a roof leak or a pest problem, it's up to the customer to catch this. Remember, any damage to the contents of your storage unit is the customer's responsibility! It's in your best interests to check on your stuff every now and then.

Spring is a great time to evaluate what you are storing and how you are storing it. You may find boxes and items that you no longer need to keep. In this case, a quick garage sale or donation to your favorite charity may allow you to size down your storage unit and save a little money. Purging from your unit could also make room for new items you bring from home.

You may want to look at items that have been stored long term and make sure that the boxes they are in are still in good shape. Corrugated cardboard does deteriorate over time; especially when things are stacked on top of them. For longer term storage you may want to consider resealable plastic tubs.

Whatever spring cleaning you do, don't forget self-storage. We can help! Call our managers for more ideas: Beaver Storage in Avoca/Rogers - 479-636-9498 and Beaver Lake Storage in Eureka Springs - 479-253-2020

Job Opening in Eureka Springs

2011-03-30T11:24:00.000-05:00

Our self storage facility near Eureka Springs has a job opening for a resident manager.

Duties of the manager include computer work, office work, customer service, sales collections and light maintenance. Office hours are M-F 9-5 and Sat 9-1 but actual hours worked are aproximately 3 per day. The office is connected to the residence.

Compensation for this management position includes a 2BR, 2 bath home, utilities, phone, satelite television and internet. The position is perfect for someone with a spouse or room mate who works outside the home or for someone with another source of income.

If you are interested in applying for this job, please send a resume to storagejob@live.com.

Choosing the Right Size Storage Unit

2011-03-15T13:30:00.000-05:00

If you are getting ready to rent a storage unit you want to take some time to choose the best size. You don't want to pay for more storage than you need but on the other hand, you want plenty of room to move around in your unit so you can access boxes, furniture or seasonal items when you need them!

Following are some general guidelines that can help you narrow down the possibilities:

5 X 10: This is about the size of a small closet. It will hold about one room of furniture and belongings or a studio apartment.

10 X 10: This unit is the size of a large walk in closet. It will hold about 3 rooms of belongings or a 2 bedroom apartment.

10X20: This is about the size of a garage. It will hold furniture and miscellaneous items from a 4 bedroom house or a full garage worth of items.

Additionally, you can keep these tips in mind when you are narrowing down your unit size:

In units over 10 feet deep, plan to leave a walkway space open down the middle of the unit for accessing items in the rear of the unit.
Long items such as sofas and mattresses can be stored on end to save space. Most units have plenty of headroom.
If you are storing a vehicle or boat, don't forget to account for the trailer tongue or hitch length. A 20 foot boat on a trailer won't fit into a 20 foot unit.
When you visit the facility to look at sizes, be sure to walk all the way inside the unit and look back out toward the door. This gives you a better feel for the actual size of the unit.

If you have any questions about units sizes or availability, you can call our facility manager at 479-636-9498. Chances are, we've stored something similar before and can help solve your storage dilemma!

Help with Selling Your House

2011-01-21T15:24:00.000-06:00

Are you trying to sell your house but the slow market is making it difficult? A storage unit could help!

By moving out some of the extra items that are cluttering up your rooms, you could make your house more appealing to buyers. Leaving furniture in the rooms is often a good strategy but personal items such as family photographs should be removed. In addition, it might be a good idea to pare down the number of toys in the kids room or the amount of craft supplies in the extra bedroom. Lawn and garden equipment could be moved out of the garage to make the place look more appealing. Eliminating extra small kitchen appliances, seasonal dishes and any unused kitchen gadgets can make the kitchen feel clean and roomy.

Place your items in heavey duty boxes or plastic tubs and label them well. Stack them in the unit with labels pointing out and the back of the containers against the storage room walls. This way you can have an aisle down the middle of your boxes and you will easily be able to locate and retrieve items as you need them.

Get the clutter out of the way and let someone fall in love with your house! Call us at Beaver Storage 479-636-9498 or at Beaver Lake Storage 479-253-2020 if you would like to discuss our different unit sizes and what might work best for you!

Commercial Storage

2010-12-04T11:19:00.000-06:00

If you own or manage a business, a self storage unit could be invaluable to your operation. Extra inventory can be neatly and conveniently stored off-site so that expensive retail or office space is left clear of clutter. Units at Beaver Storage near Rogers, AR and Beaver Lake Storage near Eureka Springs, AR range from $4.56 - $3.12 per square foot annually. This may be significantly lower than the rent at your business location.

Using less expensive space for inventory storage, means that you can afford to order larger quantities of inventory items and save with quantity price breaks and shipping deals. You can optimize the use of your main business location and easily access the extra inventory as you need it. All of this translates to better sales and lower cost of goods sold! Who wouldn't want that?

Businesses are required to keep receipts and records for 7 years by the IRS. This can amount to boxes and boxes of papers that owners and managers rarely (or never) need access to. Off-site storage in a self-storage unit is a great solution to this space eating problem. The records can be packed away at the end of the year, clearly labeled and stacked in a storage unit at a minimal cost to the business. Old records can be rotated out and destroyed as new years are added. Shelving can be set up in the unit to accomodate the file boxes so that they are easy to get to if a particular reciept or file is needed.

Businesses should consider using off-site storage for a variety of needs: overstocked inventory, office files, promotional items, seasonal items, decorations, uniforms, replacement equipment and extra display racks or shelving pieces. Check out our size options and prices at http://www.beaverstorage.com/ or call 479-636-9498 (Avoca/Rogers) or 479-253-2020 (Eureka Springs) and our managers will help you with all your storage needs!

Winterizing Your Boat or RV

2010-11-19T13:53:00.005-06:00

It's getting cold again so it's time to be sure that your boat or RV are winterized and safely parked for the winter. Of course you need to drain all your lines and tanks and fill them with a little of the pink RV anti-freeze. If you are parking your boat or RV at a storage facility you may want to do a little more to make sure that your vehicle stays in top shape through the winter months.

add some fuel stabilizer to the gas tank.
be sure your fabric cover is stretched tight across your boat or RV so the wind won't tear it loose and rain or snow can't pool on it.
Stuff your refrigerator, cooler, live box or other closed compartments with wadded up newspaper. This works great to keep the moisture (and mildew) out of the area.
Be sure you have a current photo of your boat or RV in case there is any damage or loss that will need to be reported through the course of the winter months.
If you are parking your RV outdoors or under an awning, close the window shades and put a shade in the front windshield to keep the sun from heating up the interior or fading any of the fabric inside.
Be sure there is no food or food remnants in your boat or RV that might attract critters. Add some mouse bait to ensure that any rodents who find their way in can do little or no damage.

Beaver Storage near Rogers, AR offers lots of options for parking boats and RVs. We have outside parking, covered parking and inside parking for most boat and motor home sizes. Call 479-636-9498 for availability. Beaver Lake Storage near Eureka Springs, AR offers outside parking and inside spaces for most boat and RVs. You can reach that facility at 479-253-2020.

Find out more at our web-site: http://www.beaverstorage.com/ and look for Beaver Storage on Facebook!

Boat & RV Storage

2010-01-26T11:51:00.003-06:00

Many of you live in neighborhoods that don't allow you to park a boat or camper in the driveway or yard. Some folks just want to get their recreational vehicle out of the rain and sun. There is no doubt that this keeps your rig looking nicer longer.

At Beaver Storage we have 3 options for storing boats, campers and motor homes. The lowest price option is an outdoor parking space. Take advantage of our security gate access and resident manager. For a modest monthly fee, your RV will be secure and out of your way when you aren't using it.

For more protection, we offer awnings in three different sizes. An awning will keep most of the sun and rain off your boat or vehicle. Some of the awnings have protection on the sides as well. An awning will cut down on fading from the sun which over time will ruin exterior finishes and upholstery. Combine this with the convenience and security we offer and your monthly rental rate will be money well spent.

If you want maximum protection for your motor home or boat, we have fully enclosed spaces that will accommodate even the biggest rigs. The door is locked with your own personal lock keeping your RV totally out of the rain, wind and weather. You are the only person with access to the unit.

Storing your camper or motor home was never easier. Call us if you are in the NW Arkansas area and are interested in finding out more about our services and options!

Covered Parking Saves Your Investment

2009-05-07T14:56:00.004-05:00

Covered parking is a great option for storing your RV or boat. It costs less per month than an enclosed storage space but offers a great level of protection for your expensive boat, camper or motor home.

We all know what the sun can do to boat upholstery and RV roofs, not to mention the fading that occurs on all exterior surfaces! Covered parking will shield your investment from many of these damaging sun rays. Having your rig under cover also protects it from rain and hail.

Since the roof is the only coverage provided, your boat or RV won't be shielded from all of the elements. Occasionally some rain will blow in or the sun may hit the inside of the parking space at a certain time during the day. Dust is also free to land on your parked vehicle. But your cost savings are significant with this type of storage.

At Beaver Storage in Avoca, our covered parking is a little more than half the cost per square foot of our regular fully enclosed spaces. In addition, the overhead clearance in the covered parking is greater than all but the very largest spaces on the property.

If you are looking for a cost effective way to store your boat or RV, call us at 479-636-9498 and ask about our covered parking spaces!

Trick Out Your Storage Unit

2009-04-03T13:28:00.002-05:00

If you are spending the money for a self storage unit, you want to make the most of the space you have. This article will give you some ideas on keeping your items safe and accessible; in short, some of the tips I'll give you will make your life easier! You can find the supplies that I refer to at Beaver Storage in Avoca, Arkansas or at Beaver Lake Storage just outside of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Boxes and stacking - Use the heaviest duty boxes you can find. Plastic bins would be better than cardboard because they won't wilt in humidity. Stack the boxes neatly with the largest and heaviest on top. Also, label those boxes and make sure the label is facing out. This may seem obvious, but be sure that everyone helping you fill up the unit knows what you expect.

Pest Control - Even if the storage facility you use has good rodent and bug control, you'll want to take care of this in your own unit. Whether you are storing boxes of household stuff, files or a vehicle, place some rodent bait and some bug traps in your unit.

Lighting - If you plan to use your unit later in the evening or early in the mornings or if your unit is particularly long, you may want to consider some supplemental lighting. A nice option is a battery operated light that has a magnetic back so it can be attached almost anywhere in a unit. The ones we like are turned on and off by tapping the actual light fixture.

Locks and Keys - You'll want to make sure that your unit has a lock on it. In our experience a medium quality lock is adequate. You want something that acts as a good deterant and won't rust or fall apart after it's been in the weather for a few months. The most heavey duty, expensive model probably isn't necessary at most facilities.

Keeping track of the key to your lock could be a challenge. It makes sense if you are going to visit the unit regularly to keep it on your car key ring. Consider attaching a mini flashlight onto the key ring so you won't have to fumble in the dark for your lock. Our facilities have very good night lighting but it's not the same as daylight and a small beam could save you time and hassle.

You might consider a magnetic hide a key box to keep somewhere in your vehicle. Label the storage key with the unit number and you'll always have it handy and available.

Paperwork - Put your contract and other storage paperwork in a folder and keep it with your household or business files. If you forget your gate code or the date your rent is due, you want to have easy access to it. This is also handy if the time ever comes that you want to move out of the unit. You can review the move-out policies to insure that you receive your deposit on the unit back.

Cleanliness - Somehow over time all units tend to collect dust and a little debris. It would be nice if you had a broom handy to give the unit a quick sweep when you are in it occassionally. At our facilities a broom and dust pan are available for customer use during regular office hours: Mon -Fri. 9am - 5pm and Saturday 9am - 1pm.

Be sure to place a drip pan or absorbant pad under vehicle engines or any piece of equipment that could leak oil or other fluids. An ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure in this circumstance. (Just trust me on this one.)

That should totally trick out your storage unit. Good luck and happy storing!

Labeling Storage Boxes

2008-10-07T13:50:00.002-05:00

One reason that you box our possessions up and take the time to stash them in a storage unit is that you plan to access and use them again at some point in the future. To ensure that you can locate what you need with a minimum of effort you will need to plan a labeling system for your boxes.

The obvious choice for labeling is a fat tipped, black, permanent marker. The markings made with this won't fade or bleed and can be made on almost any type of surface. If you are using recycled boxes you might want to print your label on a large white or yellow sticker rather than writing directly on the box. This will make the label stand out from the printing that you inherited with the box.

Think about how you are going to stack and arrange the boxes in your unit and how you will be searching for what you need. We recommend placing a label on the top of each box, one on the short side of the box and one on the wider side as well. This way you can rearrange your stacks and be able to see a label no matter what direction the box is facing.

Pick a consistent spot on the boxes to write or paste your label (such as the upper left corner.) As you place and stack your boxes just eyeball them to make sure that they have a label showing.

Of course be sure to print your labels clearly. Give each box a "title" or a main label and then be sure to add any pertinent details. This can be important 6 - 8 months down the road when you've forgotten what you've packed in each box.

Taking the time to label your storage boxes properly will save you time and aggravation down the road! Look for more tips on storing your stuff from Beaver Storage and Beaver Lake Storage!

Clean Out Your Garage!

2008-09-05T12:19:00.004-05:00

The weather is beautiful right now in the Ozarks and it's the perfect time to start getting the garage cleared out so it's more usable this winter - when the weather isn't so beautiful. Beaver Storage in Avoca, AR and Beaver Lake Storage in Eureka Springs, AR can help you reclaim the extra garage space that you need!

Start by getting rid of all the trash. This includes items that you planned to repair 2 or 3 years ago but just haven't gotten around to. Scrap metal is at an all time high right now so if you have a recycling location that buys metal near you, round up everything you can find and take it in!

Look at your items carefully and decide what you want to keep and what you can get rid of. Things that you no longer need could be sold at a garage sale or on www.craiglist.com - a free online garage sale (check it out!) Or heck, give the stuff away. Trust me, you'll be better off for it.

The next step is to categorize the things you want to keep. Of course the items that you use regularly will stay in the garage. Try to hang things neatly on the wall, or box them on shelves so they are off the floor and out of the way. Label everything well: on the top of each box and on at least 2 sides. This way if the box gets shifted or put back on the shelf by someone else, everyone can still identify what's inside.

Now pack the items to put in storage. Seasonal things (e.g. Christmas decorations, garden tools, soccer equipment, etc.) get boxed together and labeled clearly. The key to having a usable storage unit is to know what you have and keep things accessible. To keep things handy, don't pack your boxes or tubs too heavy.

Eyeball what you'll be storing so you can determine the unit size you'll need. If things are packed so they can be stacked you can get by with a smaller unit. You'll need to plan ahead for this. To stack boxes in a unit you will either need to use plastic tubs or very strong boxes. Most boxes will not stand up to much weight; especially with the humidity in our area. At Beaver Storage in Avoca we have units as small as 5' X 10'. In Eureka Springs at Beaver Lake Storage our smallest unit is 8' X 10'.

When you arrange your stuff in storage, be sure to leave a walkway so you can get clear to the back of the unit. Trust me, this is important. Position the boxes or tubs so that the labels face the walkway and are readable. Just keep thinking "future access." You want to be able to get to the stuff you have in storage. We recommend setting out rodent bait and roach traps to protect your belongings from pests. (See my post on 7/21/08)

Now the only thing left to do is go home and park in your clean garage!

Beat the Heat

2008-08-01T14:42:00.002-05:00

It's hot, hot, hot in Northwest Arkansas so exercise caution when you are accessing your self storage unit! Most units have insulated ceilings and that does help to keep the heat down a bit but inside your unit the airflow will be restricted and temperatures can rise pretty high.

Arrive early in the morning and finish before 11:00 am to beat the worst of the heat. Figure out if your unit gets morning or afternoon shade. If the sun is beating down on your entrance during the first part of the day, you might actually do better working in your unit in the evening.
Bring plenty of water. . . and keep drinking it. It doesn't have to be ice cold to be effective. Don't slug down lots of sugary or caffeine filled beverages (including so called "sports drinks.") When you are fighting dehydration and heat you need clean, clear water.
Take frequent breaks. If you are inside the unit for very long, step out to get fresh air occassionally. Even a light breeze will cool you down.
Wear light colored, cotton clothing. These will absorb less heat from the sun.

Most of all, exercise good common sense. Don't push yourself too much in this sort of heat. Stay cool out there!

Pest Control

2008-07-21T12:51:00.000-05:00

Even if the storage facility takes measures to control pests, you want to be sure that your unit and possessions are free of rodents and insects. These critters can ruin the contents of a storage unit faster than can be imagined.

The first step to insuring that you don't encounter problems of this sort is to never store food in a storage unit! Don't keep food in a boat or RV that is in storage either. You can be guaranteed that bugs and mice are looking for things to eat and will find a way to get it if it's in your unit

Next, keep your unit clean and tidy. Sweep the floor once in awhile so there is little or no nesting material or debris that might otherwise interest pests. Sweeping will help break up cobwebs and chase off other bugs considering taking up residence. If items in the unit are stacked neatly, it's easier to spot a problem while it's still small.

Last but not least, place packets of mouse poison and roach traps in your unit or RV. I'm not one to use a lot of pesticides and poisons, but this is the best way to limit damage; especially if you are storing things for more than a couple of months. Remember to change the bug traps out after they expire. These don't stay potent forever.

Storing Mattresses

2008-06-18T15:01:00.000-05:00

One thing you discover after being around a lot of self storage units is that almost everyone has a mattress stashed in their unit. It seems to be a standard that if you rent a self storage unit you are required to put a mattress in it. Before you follow the leaders in this area though you need to take a careful look at that mattress and ask yourself:

"Is this really something that I will use at some point again in the future?"
"Will I really want to sleep on this thing again?"
"Would I want any of my friends or family to sleep on this mattress?"

If you answer "no" to any of the above questions then you just need to throw that mattress away! Of course I'd be happy to rent a unit to you and store it for the next 5 years, but chances are it's going to end up in a landfill before it ever gets used again. Just pay the money and take it to the dump. You'll be ahead in the long run.

If you answered "yes" to any of the above mattress questions then the next step is to consider how you are going to store your mattress.

The first and most important step is to get a mattress bag. If you are tempted to skip this step then you might as well procede as if you answered no to all of the questions and throw the mattress away! If you store a mattress in a self storage unit without a mattress bag, it will collect more dust than you ever thought possible and be ruined for future use. Any dampness from the concrete floor will be absorbed by the mattress. It's also an easy target for any vermine. So, buy a mattress bag or save one from a new mattress. Slip it over the mattress and tape it up with packing tape. If the bag rips in transport, tape that opening up as well. You can buy these bags at your storage facility or a moving/packing supplier and they run around $5.00 or less depending on the size.

The next step is to consider pest control. Most storage unit doors open to the great out of doors and it is possible that critters could get in through the cracks and crannies around your unit. A tray of rodent pellets should keep the mice and rats away. Some roach traps or feeders would be a good idea although they are less likely to make it through a well sealed mattress bag. Remember that these need to be replaced periodically. If spiders are a problem, the best solution we've found is to set off a spider bomb in the unit although this would permeate any items that are not sealed in plastic.

The final step is to check your unit occassionally. This is the best way to make sure that your mattress and other valuables are in good condition and not deteriorating while in storage. These same tips of course apply to a matching box springs! Good luck with your mattress and all your storage needs!