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There are many misconceptions about self-storage, so here at Offerfair we thought we would dispel some of the more common myths we have heard over the years.

Self-Storage is Expensive

Some people assume that storing their belongings away from their home is going to be expensive, and therefore do not investigate self-storage further. You therefore might be surprised to learn that self-storage at Offerfair starts from just £10.92 a week (for a 15 sq ft unit that would house the contents of a large wardrobe), so if you do not have sufficient space at home to store items, then self-storage is a cost-effective way to manage belongings and provide extra space at home. Our self-storage units come in a range of sizes from 15 – 180 sq ft so you can choose a unit size that suits you, which means you will only ever pay for the space you need.

Self-Storage Units are Miles Away from Anywhere

Another myth that we often hear is that self-storage units are miles away from anywhere and not convenient to access. We now have six storage sites across locations in Hastings and St Leonards, meaning wherever you are in the area we will have a site that is convenient for you. All our sites are conveniently accessible by car and have plenty of free car parking. We have ease of access from the A21, meaning we get many customers from East Sussex, Kent and beyond.

Self-Storage is only for Hoarders

One of the most common misconceptions we hear about self-storage is that it is just for people who want to hoard lots of ‘stuff’! And, whilst self-storage does provide extra space for people who have run out of storage space at home, this is not the main reason people use Offerfair storage. We rent storage space out to people who are moving house and need to temporarily store their belongings, to people who are approaching retirement and thinking about downsizing and to students who need storage space during term time or holidays, to name just a few. We also offer business self-storage to many local businesses who require extra space for surplus stock or to house confidential documents.

My Belongings won’t be Secure in Self-Storage

Probably the most damaging misconception around self-storage is that the units aren’t secure. The safety of your items is paramount to us and your items are as safe in Offerfair storage as they would be in your own home.

We have full CCTV security across all our sites, every self-storage unit is individually alarmed, and all new customers receive a free padlock for their unit.

If you have been thinking about self-storage for your home or business, but had some reservations, we hope we have alleviated some of these concerns, but if you would like to talk through your Offerfair self-storage options for 2023, then please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The end of the year is a perfect time to clean, declutter and organise your home or business. If you are not sure where to start, then check out our list of useful tips for decluttering this new year.

• Make a Plan

The first step you should take to decluttering your home or business is to make a plan. Once you have formulated a plan this will give you something to work towards and tick off to see the progress you have made. Your plan can detail the order in which you are going to declutter and any specific tasks you want to accomplish within each room of the home or area of the business.

• Work One Area at a Time

Whether you are decluttering your home or business, there is nothing worse than having your whole house or business turned upside down. You can avoid this by starting and finishing one room in the home at a time, or one area of the business at a time. Only when you have finished one room or area do you move on to the next one.

• Create a Sorting System

As you work through your home or business, have a system for sorting the items you find. You can create your own method or use the popular ‘Three Box Method’, whereby you have three storage boxes or bins and label them as ‘Keep’, ‘Dispose of’ and ‘Store’. Keep items that you use regularly and are useful in your daily life, dispose of items that you no longer have a use for, and store items that you only use from time to time or you want to keep for sentimental reasons.

• Dispose of Items you No Longer Need

If you have not used a particular item for twelve months or longer, then it is unlikely that you are going to use it again! There are plenty of ways to sell unwanted goods online such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Alternatively, you can donate items in good working condition to charities. For items that are damaged and no longer fit for their original purpose, then look into what items can be recycled and where locally.

• Use Self-Storage to Make Space

For those items you do not need regularly but will have a use for in the future, then consider self-storage as a cost-effective way to store your items whilst freeing up space in the home or business. This could include seasonal items in the home such as Christmas decorations or sporting equipment, or business documents that you are required to legally keep for a certain period of time.

Spending time to clean, declutter and organise will mean you are starting 2023 with greater control of your home or work space, meaning less stress and more energy for the year ahead!

Contact us to find out how we can help you declutter your home or business for 2023.

Christmas is approaching again, and if you have got large presents to hide, or seasonal stock that needs storing for a few months to create space at home or in the office, then it can leave you feeling disorganised or overwhelmed and struggling for space.

We can help make Christmas stress-and clutter-free with a range of short-term storage solutions for you at Offerfair over the festive period. Here are just some of the ways we have been helping both individual and business customers in the run to Christmas in previous years:

• Hiding Presents

Give yourself peace of mind that children (and even grown-ups!) will not discover presents that you thought you had strategically hidden away. Our storage units provide a perfect hiding place for hiding presents away from the home.  This is particularly useful for large and unusual shaped presents that are particularly hard to store, such as bikes and outdoor toys.

• Making Room for Guests

If you have family or friends coming to stay for Christmas, then space in your home might become a premium. Declutter your home, and in particular any spare rooms where guests will be staying, at the start of December to make space for extra visitors, luggage and presents. You can then store any items you will not need safely and securely in a self-storage unit over the Christmas period.

• Storing Excess Stock

Christmas is a peak trading period for many businesses, however many small businesses do not have sufficient space in their own premises for extra stock. If your current work space struggles to cope with seasonal spikes in business, then a self-storage unit allows for short-term flexible storage for these items.

• Making Space

Christmas trees, ornaments and other decorations can take up valuable space in your living area, so to make more room, consider storing any bulky furniture items that will not be needed over the holidays in self-storage.

• Packing away Christmas Decorations

If you do not have the space in a loft or spare room to store your Christmas decorations from one year to the next, self-storage is the perfect solution for keeping Christmas items safe and dry until they are needed the following year.

Our self-storage units range from 15sq ft to 180sq ft, so whatever you want to store this festive period, we will have a unit for you. Contact us to find out more and to book your Christmas storage!

An increasing number of our customers are local businesses who rent self-storage space from us as a convenient solution to any space management issues they might have, that may come about from growing their business, storing seasonal stock or archiving confidential documents.

If you are thinking about self-storage for your business, the main things to consider are:

Security of the Units

When choosing a storage facility, the most important thing to consider is the security and safety of the units and you should never choose a company that does not have basic security surveillance in place. All our Offerfair sites have 24/7 full CCTV security, plus every self-storage unit is individually alarmed. This means for many small businesses, storing items with us can often be more secure than leaving them in your office or workspace or van, and means you don’t have to invest in expensive surveillance systems or out of hours security guards.

Accessibility

We recognise that a lot of businesses want to be able to access their unit outside of normal working hours and at weekends, so that is why we have extended opening hours until 8pm Monday – Friday, and we are one of the few storage companies in the area which are open at weekends.

Location

It is vitally important to consider the location of your self-storage unit. If you are going to need regular access to your items, then you do not want to be driving a long way. Because we have six self-storage sites across locations in Hastings and St Leonards, wherever your business is based in the area, we have a site that should be easily accessible for you by car.

If you know you will need less regular access to your storage unit, then it is often worth considering a unit in a cheaper location. We have several business customers who are based in and around London, who rent storage space from us as our costs are much more economical than similar London facilities.

Flexibility

One of the main reasons business customers opt for self-storage space over renting commercial space is the flexibility that self-storage offers them, compared to the longer contracts, often a minimum of 6 months, which come with commercial space. In comparison, at Offerfair we rent our units by the month and only require seven days’ notice when you want to vacate. In addition, we also allow customers to upgrade or downsize their unit at any time to reflect any sales growth or seasonal trends to their business.

Cost

All businesses are looking for ways to save money in the current economic climate and self-storage is a lot more affordable than people often think. At Offerfair our units start at just £10.92 per week (for a 15sq ft unit), so they offer a much more cost-effective option than renting a warehouse or commercial property. Renting self-storage space also means that you don’t incur any overheads such as business rates and utilities charges, for electricity, gas and water, which in turn offers a business more cost savings.

We rent storage space to many local small and medium sized businesses, so if you think self-storage could help your company, then contact us today to find out more.

There are many reasons why people use self-storage. It might be for long-term storage for a relocation abroad, or temporary storage for a local house move. It can also be useful at different stages in life – a student might use self-storage to temporarily store items in the holidays, whereas storage is also useful for those who are approaching retirement and thinking about downsizing from their current property.

Whatever your reason for considering self-storage, there are a whole host of benefits when it comes to storing your belongings, in either long or short-term storage.

Extra Space at Home

There is no denying that renting a self-storage unit will provide extra storage space in your home. If you are in the process of selling your home, putting items into self-storage will make your house look less cluttered and aesthetically pleasing. If you are staying in your current home but starting to feel like you are outgrowing it, then self-storage will free up space for the things you do need on a day-to-day basis, whilst storing the items you need less regular access to such as seasonal items. If you are thinking of downsizing then self-storage is perfect for storing large items that you do not have space for in a smaller property, but do not want to dispose of.

Safe and Secure

Offerfair storage units have extensive security features designed to keep your belongings safe whilst they are stored with us, including 24 hour CCTV coverage across all our sites and each unit being individually alarmed.

Protection

In addition to keeping your belongings safe and secure, by storing them in self-storage as opposed to a garage or shed or attic, you can be reassured that they are being stored in a controlled climate, meaning that items are protected against the elements.

Easy Access

With free parking at six buildings across three locations in Hastings and St Leonards, and extended opening hours until 8pm on weekdays and during the daytime at weekends, we believe we have made gaining access to your belongings as easy and straightforward as possible.

Cost-Effective

A lot of people do not realise that renting a self-storage unit is cheaper than they think. It is certainly a lot cheaper than upsizing your home or throwing items away that won’t fit into your current or smaller home. Our self-storage units come in a range of sizes from 15sq ft upwards, so you can choose a unit size that is right for you and you will only pay for the space you need. We also offer the flexibility to upgrade or downsize your unit at any time, if you need more or less space at short notice.

If you have been thinking about self-storage for your home or family, then please contact us today to talk through your options.

If you are a business looking for extra self-storage space, then at Offerfair Self-Storage, we offer storage units across three locations in Hastings and St Leonards, for short or long-term business storage.

We have pulled together some of the most common questions we are frequently asked from local businesses, however if there is anything we haven’t covered here, then please get in touch!

How much does a business self-storage unit cost?

The price of self-storage depends on how much your business has to store and how long you want to store the items.  We offer a range of unit sizes from 15sq ft – 180sq ft and you can view our current pricing here.

How does self-storage for businesses work?

We have tried to make booking a business self-storage unit with us as straightforward as possible. You can reserve a unit by calling 01424 718169, completing an enquiry form or sending an email. We will allocate you an alarm code to enter your unit and then you can enter your unit at any time during our storage opening hours.

How and when can I access my business self-storage unit?

Access to all our Offerfair self-storage sites is strictly controlled to those who have keys and access codes, which you will only receive when you have booked a unit with us. You are then free to enter your unit at any time during our storage facility opening hours of Monday – Friday 8am – 8pm, Saturday 9am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 2pm.

How secure is Offerfair business self-storage?

The safety of your business’ items is paramount when it comes to self-storage. At Offerfair, not only do we have CCTV security across all our sites, every self-storage unit is individually alarmed to give you full peace of mind that your belongings and any confidential documents are safe and secure with us. We also give all new business customers a free padlock for their unit.

How do I protect my business’ items in self-storage?

Your business can protect your items in self-storage by keeping an inventory of what you are storing and ensuring that you do not give anyone outside your company the access code to your unit. It is also recommended that you purchase insurance to cover the value of any items you are storing. We can cover your items up to £100, but if the value of your items exceeds this amount, then you will need to arrange your own insurance cover.

Can I use self-storage as an office?

Working from a self-storage unit is a cost-effective way for new and small businesses to operate, without a long-term rental agreement.  At Offerfair we have converted some of our self-storage units to include power sockets and lights, offering a safe and secure space to work from. If you are interested in using our self-storage as an office space, please contact us to discuss your individual requirements.

Can I use self-storage as a workshop?

We are often asked at Offerfair if our storage units can be used as a workshop, and the answer is yes, with certain restrictions. Fuel, oil, anything flammable and motor vehicles/bikes are all prohibited, so this restricts certain activities. However, many other workshop uses are allowed, so please contact us to discuss your specific requirements.

We work with many local businesses to help with their self-storage requirements, please get in contact to find out how we can help you with your business storage.

You might be surprised to learn that clothing is one of the most common items stored in our self-storage units. Clothing can take up considerable amounts of space in the home, but the nature of the UK seasons, means that for half the year you do not need winter coats and for the other half you do not need beach wear!

Putting clothing into storage is an easy way to free up space at home. However, if you want your clothes to come out looking as good as they went in, then follow our top tips for storing clothes in self-storage.

Consider what items you are storing

Whilst it might feel easy to just store all your winter clothes in storage in the summer and then all your summer clothes in storage once it gets to autumn, it is a good idea to use some time to assess whether you will still wear an item of clothing once it has come out of storage – if you haven’t worn an item for several years it is unlikely you are going to start wearing it now! If you are not going to wear an item again then consider donating to charity or selling, which will mean you are putting less items into storage.

Wash and dry before storage

You should wash all items, even ones which are clean, before putting them into storage. This eliminates any dust or odours which the clothing may have picked up. Once you have washed everything, make sure it is completely dry before putting it into storage as moisture can lead to mould or mildew.

Know when to hang and when to roll

As a general rule, suits, dresses, blouses, shirts and other items which can wrinkle easily, should be hung. Most other items, such as t-shirts, trousers and sweatshirts, should be rolled as this will take up less space in your storage unit and means they come out of storage uncreased. Jumpers should also always be folded or rolled as their weight on a hanger can cause them to lose their shape.

Use the correct storage containers

Whilst we recommend cardboard boxes for storing some items, plastic storage containers are the best choice to put clothing in as they protect them without being completely airtight. This means that your clothes are protected from humidity and moisture.

Keep your clothes fresh

There are lots of natural ways to keep your clothing fresh in storage – we recommend cedar chips, dried mint or dried lavender parcels to keep moths at bay!

If you need any further help with storing your clothes in self-storage, then please contact us and we will be happy to help.

If you have been running a small business from a dedicated room in your home or outside space such as a shed or garage, and you find it is starting to take over the whole house, then we can help you free up space in your home, whilst you grow your business. Many of our units are rented out to small business owners who have recognised how self-storage can help with the day to day running of their business.

Some of the small businesses we currently rent storage units out to include:

• Tradespeople – who use self-storage to free up their home or garage space by storing their tools and equipment safely and securely with us
• eBay sellers and eCommerce – find that a self-storage unit is the perfect solution to store the stock they sell online and stop it cluttering their home
• Small publishers – a self-storage gives them space away from the home to organise, label, box and stores books, brochures and magazines which all take up space
• Professionals – with more and more people using their home as a base for work, the lines between home and workspace are becoming increasingly blurred, and self-storage offers a safe location to store paperwork and documents away from the home

The benefits of self-storage for home businesses include:

• Ability to upgrade or downsize your unit size at different times of the year if you have spikes and troughs in seasonal trade
• No need to commit to a long lease – at Offerfair we only require seven days’ notice when you want to vacate
• No extras costs such as business rates and utility bills meaning if you have outgrown your home working space, then self-storage is a much more cost-effective option than renting commercial storage space
• Peace of mind that your items will be safe and secure, as unlike most homes, our storage facilities are covered by CCTV and have their own alarm

If you run a home business but are increasingly finding you are running out of space, then talk to us about renting a self-storage unit – with units starting at just 15 sq ft, we will have a unit size that fits your requirements, and give you the reassurance that your tools, stock, documents or equipment will be kept clean, dry and safe with us.

The evenings are drawing in and there is an early morning autumnal chill in the air, which means summer 2022 is coming to an end. Many of the items we have been using over the past few months, such as garden furniture, barbeques and outdoor games, can be retired until next summer. However, many people struggle for storage space for these, often bulky, items, which is where self-storage can help. Self-storage isn’t just for larger items though, we also have customers using our self-storage units to store clothes that they won’t require out of season, so store their winter coats and jumpers with us over the summer, and then their summer clothes with us over winter.

We believe a change of seasons is much easier with self-storage – you will have the peace of mind your belongings are being stored in a safe and secure environment, it frees up space at home, and when next summer arrives you know exactly where everything is!

Here are some of our top self-storage tips to make the transition into Autumn as smooth and stress-free as possible:

• Take Stock of your Summer Items

A change in season is a good time to take an inventory of the things you own, and what you may no longer need. Consider which items you used the most this summer, and which you rarely used. Any items which were barely used can be sold or donated to charity, to save storing again over another winter. Once you have decided what you are going to keep, then make an inventory of the items, so when next summer comes, you know exactly what you have stored.

• Clean your Belongings

Everything you are planning to put into self-storage should be cleaned before it gets put away, this includes garden furniture and tools, outdoor toys and summer clothes. Make sure items are fully dried out before your store them so they do not attract mould.

• Dismantle where you can

Seasonal summer items, such as patio furniture and children’s outdoor toys, are often bulky, so if they can be collapsed or dismantled into smaller pieces, it will make for easier storage and take up less space in your self-storage unit.

• Protect your Items

Different items need different packing solutions, but the main thing is to protect the item, whether it be with bubble wrap, storage containers or dust sheets. If you are packing summer clothes away, then rolling items instead of folding them, makes for a more efficient packing method.

We have recently extended some of our six self-storage buildings across three locations in Hastings and St Leonards. With even more units ranging from 15 – 180 square feet, depending on how much or little you want to store until next summer, we have a unit size that will work for you.

And if you find you need any item at short notice, all our units can be accessed seven days a week, including late nights Monday – Friday.

Please contact us to discuss any seasonal self-storage requirements you have as we head into Autumn.

Many businesses, from local SMEs to larger companies, are discovering the benefits of self-storage units. Self-storage units can help businesses save time and money and help them retain the flexibility they need to be operational and profitable.

In the current financial climate, businesses are facing ever-increasing pressure to maximise profits whilst their day-to-day costs are increasing, however self-storage offers a cost-effective option to traditional commercial space, which can in turn help their business operate more productively.

Upgrade and Downsize when Required

Many businesses have busier and quieter periods of the year due to seasonal peaks and troughs in demands and are finding self-storage allows them to utilise the space they need more effectively. During quieter times customers can reduce the amount of self-storage space they need, and then at busier times they can increase their self-storage capacity. Renting traditional commercial space does not offer this level of flexibility as customers tend to be tied into a minimum of a six month contract. At Offerfair, we make it quick and easy for customers to change their unit size by simply sending us an email or calling us during our office hours, and we will action the unit size change promptly.

Reduce Overheads

Self-storage is not only cheaper than renting long-term commercial premises, businesses who rent self-storage space also do not have to pay business rates which means a significant cost-saving for them. In addition, with utility bills on the rise, they do not pay for heating or lighting their storage unit, as all these costs are included in your weekly storage cost with us.

No need to Pay for Security

At Offerfair, not only do we have CCTV security across all our sites, every self-storage unit is individually alarmed and comes with a free padlock. To provide a similar amount of security in rented commercial space would be a significant cost to an individual business.

Document Storage

Although businesses can store some data digitally, there are still many documents that need to be archived to satisfy HMRC requirements. Many businesses simply do not have sufficient space to archive physical copies of documents, and have found that renting a storage unit ensures that any legal and confidential documents are housed safely and securely in self-storage.

If you are thinking about short or long-term storage space for your business, then please do not hesitate to contact us to talk through your requirements.