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We are often asked what are the most frequently stored items with Offerfair Self Storage, and with self-storage becoming more and more popular for a whole host of reasons, it is often easier to ask what don’t people put into self-storage!

Whether you are moving home, decluttering, downsizing, travelling or much more, here are the most common items that we are finding are being put into self-storage:

10) Musical or Sports Equipment

It is hard to part with sporting and musical items, even if they are not used regularly, as they often involved a significant monetary cost, so housing them in storage means they are still close to hand if you want to bring out your golf clubs, tennis rackets or guitar!

9) Crockery, Glasses, Home Accessories

A lot of people have an abundance of excess crockery and glasses in their home making their kitchen cupboards cramped and overflowing, but understandably do not want to part with items that are still in good condition, so put them into self-storage until they have a need for them.

8) Seasonal Items

Whether it is Halloween costumes or Christmas decorations, all these items are only of use for a limited period per year, so self-storage is a great way of storing them out of the way until they are needed again the following year.

7) Art, Collectables and Antiques

Some people have family heirlooms or antiques that have either sentimental or monetary value attached to them, but do not have sufficient space for them at home. Self-storage offers a secure space to house them to keep these items safe and clean.

6) Kitchen Appliances

House moves, downsizing, or even extended travelling abroad, means that kitchen appliances may need to be stored away from the home for a period of time. Self-storage means that they can be stored in a secure dry environment so they come out of storage in as good working order as they went into storage!

5) Records, CDs and DVDs

Although most people are firmly in the digital age when it comes to consuming media, and records, CDs and DVDs are becoming increasingly redundant, these collections took time and money to accumulate so they are understandably hard to dispose of, and are therefore becoming an increasingly common item in self-storage.

4) Books, Magazines and Photographs

Whilst books take up a lot of space in the home and are often being replaced by more convenient e-books, such as the Kindle, many people have books that they do not want to part with, and are storing them in storage. Similarly, whilst photographs also tend to be stored digitally, lots of people like to keep hold of original copies, and keep these in storage.

3) Electronics

Nobody wants to part with electronics that are still in good working condition and may be used in the future, so self-storage offers a temporary, clean and dry environment for them to live until they are needed again.

2) Tools

If loft space is at a premium and there is no shed available, tools are one of the most popular items people put into storage, giving them the reassurance that they are never far away when they need them, and are no longer taking up valuable space in the home.

1) Furniture

Moving house or changes in personal circumstances often means that there are items of furniture that need to go into short or longer-term storage, so furniture is the most popular item that is put into storage.

Our customers come from across Sussex, and even further afield, to store all types of items with us and this list is by no means exhaustive of items currently stored with us! Contact us today to talk through your self-storage requirements.

Successful inventory management is vital for businesses using self-storage to keep track of their stock. It can save you making unnecessary purchases, help you keep on top of any stock expiry dates and stop you wasting time looking for items. If you are considering using self-storage to store and organise your stock, here are our top tips for you to consider:

Consider the location

The location of the storage facility where you are going to store stock is an important consideration as choosing a facility that is close to your business will mean your inventory is quickly and readily accessible when needed.

Keep an accurate stock inventory

Set up an inventory spreadsheet according to frequency of sales, and ensure items that are in high demand can be easily accessed in your unit. You can use your inventory to work out how much storage space you will need, and you will be able to identify peak or quiet trading times when you may need to upgrade or downsize your unit size.

Organise your storage unit

A well organised storage unit relies on you knowing how much stock you have and being able to rotate excess stock so that new stock goes to the back of the unit and you move older items to the front/top. Items that you know are best sellers should be easily accessible and placed at the front of your unit. Seasonal or less popular items should be placed towards the back of your unit.

Always keep the central floor area of your unit free so you have sufficient space in your unit to replenish stock safely.

Ensure security measures are in place

As you will be storing valuable stock, security is a crucial factor when selecting a storage facility. At Offerfair we have CCTV security across all our sites and every self-storage unit is individually alarmed to give you full peace of mind that your stock is safe and secure with us.

If you are looking for extra storage space for your business, then contact us today to discuss your requirements.

If you are planning a long-term holiday or travelling adventure, many people find they need to store some of their belongings whilst they are away. What you will need to keep and what you may need to store will very much depend on your personal circumstances, and if you rent or own your existing property.

If you currently rent and are ending your lease whilst you go travelling, then without a permanent base in the UK, you will likely find you need to store the majority of your belongings in long-term storage. If you own your own home and are renting it out, then you may be renting it fully furnished, in which case you will probably just need to store personal belongings such as clothes and valuables.

If you need to store large items such as furniture and electricals whilst you travel, these are best housed in a secure storage unit. We have unit sizes ranging from 15sq ft – 180sq ft, so however much or little you need to store, we will have a unit size that suits you.

Travelling means you will need to leave a lot of your clothes back home and it is likely you won’t have any use for bulky clothing items such as coats, jackets and jumpers whilst you are away. We recommend vacuum packing clothes to reduce the size of them as vacuum storage bags compress clothing to about a third of its original size, meaning you will be able to fit them into a smaller storage unit.

Long-term travel isn’t just a great opportunity to discover the world, it is also a good time to dispose of items you own but rarely use. Whilst you are packing up any items for storage, also sort any items that you no longer use and either donate to charity, or throw away if they are no longer fit for purpose.

We understand that travel plans are often flexible, so if you need to store your items for longer or less, then we can easily extend your booking or alternatively we require just 7 days’ notice from you when you want to vacate, so sorting out your self-storage will be one less thing for you to worry about!

Offerfair provides the perfect solution for your self-storage requirements when you’re out of the country, so if you are planning an extended trip, speak to us today to see how we can help.

With the current uncertainty in the financial climate, self-storage is becoming increasingly popular with businesses who recognise the benefits it brings in growing their business.

If you are a small business owner, someone who requires more physical space for stock than they currently have, an online start-up, or are struggling to find affordable commercial space to rent, then take a look at some of the reasons self-storage could help your business grow:

Decluttering

If your business is expanding, then it is likely you are outgrowing your current workspace. You may have found that the garage where you currently store your stock is overflowing, the spare room you run your business from is cluttered, or you are drowning in paperwork and have nowhere to store it. If any of these sound like you, then self-storage could be the solution to your decluttering and provide extra storage space. By placing stock, paperwork, equipment and files into self-storage then you will have more space to run your business from your actual business premises!

Expanding

Self-storage allows your business to expand and grow at a rate comfortable for the business. Flexibility is a major benefit of self-storage space, as opposed to renting traditional commercial space where customers are often tied into longer contracts. Using temporary self-storage instead of renting commercial space means you can manage any seasonal peaks and troughs of your business better, and react much quicker if you need to rent more space or downsize the amount of space you currently use.

Cost Savings

By freeing up valuable space by storing excess items or documents you do not need away from the office/business headquarters, you can use the space you have for its optimum usage and not just for storing excess stock, tools and general filing. In addition, businesses who rent self-storage space do not have to pay business rates so this offers a significant cost-saving. There are also no utility bills to pay, such as heating or lighting, as all these costs are included in your storage rental cost.

Security

The more your business grows, the more valuable its stock and assets become. Stock and confidential business documents are safer in Offerfair self-storage than in your home or work building, as we have CCTV security across all our sites, and every self-storage unit is individually alarmed and comes with a free padlock. To provide a similar amount of security in your home or work space would be another significant cost to an individual business.

If you are thinking about self-storage for your business, then contact us today and we can talk through your options.

An area of the home that people often want to tidy and streamline are their wardrobes, drawers and cupboards in the bedroom. Wardrobes are often bulging at the seams with winter coats and jumpers over the summer months, and then fighting for space with summer beachwear over winter. One of the simplest ways to sort an overcrowded wardrobe is to store your seasonal clothes separately, however not everyone has the space to do this in their own home. This is where we can help as our self-storage units start at just 15sq ft, the perfect size for storing your seasonal wardrobe!

If you plan and prepare what clothes you are going to put into storage, then your clothes will come out looking as good as they went in, and you will save yourself time on a daily basis not hunting for clothes in a cluttered wardrobe. Read on for our top tips for storing clothes in self-storage:

Wash and dry items carefully

Before putting any items of clothing in storage, you should wash your clothes properly – this could be in the washing machine, or if they are dry clean only, then take a trip to the dry cleaners. Make sure items are fully dry before putting them into storage, but do not waste time ironing them – you will only have to iron them again when you bring them out of storage and nobody wants to iron clothes twice!

Clean and stuff shoes and boots

Shoes and boots should be cleaned of any dirt and mud, and then stuffed with clean tissue paper to help them keep their shape whilst in storage.

Get rid of clothes you will not wear again

Sorting through seasonal clothes to put into storage is the perfect time to assess what clothes you are unlikely to wear again. The reality is if you have not worn something for a year, you probably will not wear it again! Similarly if you have lost or gained weight then it is pointless keeping hold of clothes that no longer fit. Only store clothes you are going to wear again next season, otherwise donate any items that are still in good condition to local charities who are always appreciative of good quality second hand clothes.

Repair any damaged items

Anything that you are intending to keep and put in storage should be checked for any light damage and repaired before you store away. Months down the line when you retrieve your items from storage, you will be very glad you sewed any missing buttons and did any repair jobs then so the items are all ready to wear!

Pack items with care

Plastic storage boxes with airtight lids are the best way to store items of clothing so that they remain dry and free from mould and mildew. Place heavier items at the bottom of your boxes and lighter, more delicate items at the top. You may find that you can store more clothes in the same space by rolling them rather than folding them. Do not over stuff your container though as items may lose their shape and become really creased.

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

We rent out self-storage space to many local businesses for a variety of reasons. It might be a newly formed company that needs somewhere to store stock or equipment, or it might be a more established business which has previously been run from home and is now growing and needs more space.

Leasing office space can be expensive, and combine this with rising rents and utility bills, means it is often not an economically viable solution for many small businesses. Renting commercial space also often requires a longer-term commitment, and this means many start-ups and SMEs are turning to self-storage for a more flexible solution for their storage needs.

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

Online Sellers – If you are selling goods on eBay, Amazon or Etsy you will not want to clutter up your home with stock. A self-storage unit can safely store your merchandise away from your home, whilst ensuring that it is always easily accessible, particularly with our extended opening hours.

Charities and Fundraisers – If you run a charity, it is essential to have a dedicated space to store donations, raffle prizes, stock and confidential information. A self-storage unit can act as an operations base for this.

Catalogue Sellers – There is still a substantial market for catalogue sellers who sell kitchen products, cleaning materials, beauty products and more, and a self-storage unit can keep all samples and deliveries safe in one place ready to distribute to your customers.

Event Organisers – If you organise events around the region, a self-storage unit allows for you to keep all your advertising equipment and marketing materials in one central location that can be accessed seven days a week.

Running a business from Offerfair means you can increase or decrease the size of your unit at any time to allow for seasonal peaks and troughs, so you will only ever pay for the space you need.

Our self-storage units are clean and secure, fully alarmed and are open seven days a week, including late nights Monday – Friday ensuring that your goods are accessible at a time that suits you.  In addition, the buildings are covered by CCTV, giving you the reassurance that your goods and stock are fully secure.

Contact us today to talk about how we can help with storage for your small business.

Self-storage can be useful at any stage of the moving process, but one of the reasons often overlooked is using self-storage to store items before you are selling your home.

One of the biggest reasons for people moving home is because they need more space. So if your house is cluttered and a buyer sees this, it can instantly put them off the house. When selling your house you should consider how it will look to prospective buyers, and there are some common items in your home that can be better stored away in storage during the selling process.

Personal Effects

A few carefully placed pictures and ornaments can make a house feel like a home, however a house full of items covering every surface can be off-putting for potential buyers. People want to be able to visualise what could be their new living space, and if the area is cluttered it can cloud their judgement and they are not able to see how their own belongings would fit into the room.

Furniture

Go through each room and store away any pieces that would not be useful to the new owners or that take away any features in the room. When selling your house, you want rooms to appear clean, open and large, so temporarily putting any excess furniture into storage can really make a difference.

Kitchen Appliances

Whilst blenders, coffee making machines and bread makers can all look nice on a day-to-day basis in the kitchen, they are often bulky and take up valuable kitchen counter space. It is much better to just leave a few well-positioned items out, such as a kettle, knife block and bread bin, meaning your kitchen will appear more streamlined to prospective buyers.

Seasonal Clothes

Potential buyers will often look at cupboards and wardrobes to see how much storage space they will have in their new home, and if your cupboards are overflowing with clothes, shoes and accessories then buyers might think there isn’t sufficient space. Self-storage is perfect for storing seasonal clothing as it frees up valuable cupboard space in the home.

Exercise Equipment

Whilst versatility can often be important to buyers, a spare bedroom housing an exercise bike, treadmill or gym equipment will only appeal to a small group of buyers. Most prospective owners would prefer an extra bedroom to an exercise room so it is important to present rooms how they are most likely to appeal to viewers.

By storing unnecessary possessions prior to your house sale, you will have a clutter free home for viewings, and because our self-storage units are available on a pay as you go short or long-term contract, which you can cancel at any time with just one weeks’ notice, you can be reassured that our flexible self-storage will work around you and your house selling.

Contact us to talk through our self-storage options across our six locations in Hastings and St Leonards.

Most companies have legal requirements that they have to adhere to when storing confidential documents. Even in today’s digital age, some original paper documents have to be kept for a certain number of years. Often the best and most secure storage solution for confidential documents is offsite self-storage space for a variety of reasons:

• Frees up physical space

Keeping documents in the workspace can take up valuable space, and most of this paperwork you will not need regular access to. Storing your files and documents in one secure self-storage unit means your business can make far better use of the space that these items would take up. Our extended opening hours (until 8pm Monday – Friday and during the daytime at weekends) means that when you do need access to them, you can do so at a time that is convenient for you, even if it is outside normal working hours.

• Keeps your documents secure

Storing confidential documents and files in the office is not the most secure solution – they can be easily lost, stolen or damaged. Using offsite self-storage means you remove the risk and gain extra security. Our self-storage units have full CCTV coverage across all sites and each unit is individually alarmed with its own key and padlock. This gives you peace of mind that only personnel who have been granted self-storage admission will be able to access these documents.

• Improves efficiency

Using a well organised self-storage unit specifically for your documents will improve efficiency and mean that you are not wasting time trying to locate specific files or folders that may have been misplaced over the years.

If you decide that self-storage is right for your confidential work documents, then we recommend:

• Creating a comprehensive inventory system (eg by date or type of record) so you know where everything is stored.
• Labelling all your boxes clearly to avoid wasting time hunting for a certain document.
• Plan the layout of your unit, storing documents that you think you will need more frequent access to at the front of your storage unit.

At Offerfair, we have six sites across Hastings and St Leonards, so wherever you are in the area, we offer convenient and secure self-storage units for all your important office documents. Talk to us today to find out more.

Spring is the perfect time to think about decluttering your home, and to help you we have pulled together our tips for tidying and sorting each room of the house:

Declutter your Bedroom

As the bedroom is a room visitors rarely see, it is often the last place we declutter, but a tidy organised bedroom will aid relaxation and sleep.

The first place to start decluttering is your wardrobe and drawers. There is a saying that many people wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time, so if you know this is you, then sort out your clothes and be ruthless with items you no longer wear.

The three-box method is a favourite with professional declutterers – one box is for items you are going to keep, one box is for items that you are going to get rid of, and the final box is for items you want to keep but no longer need on a day-to-day basis and can be put into storage. When getting rid of items, sort through the box and decide what you can donate to charity or sell.

Clothes that are out of season can be put into self-storage, as this will free up space in your bedroom and wardrobes, until you need the items again. Our self-storage units start at just 15sq ft so are perfect for clothes, shoes and accessories that can go into hibernation until next season!

Tidy up your Kitchen

The kitchen often has many functions from cooking and preparing food, to eating, socialising in, doing laundry in, using as a workspace and more. This means it is easy for it to become cluttered and untidy.

One of the simplest ways to declutter your kitchen is to clear the worktops and only allow items/appliances that you use daily to live on them. Many people find they have multiple items that do the same job in the kitchen, so this is a perfect time to dispose of any duplicates. Also, kitchen cupboards and drawers can often become dumping grounds, with lots of random miscellaneous items vying for space, so start sorting one cupboard or drawer at a time and ask yourself if you have a use for each item.

Efficient storage and organisation are the key to an organised kitchen so storage containers, shelf organisers and baskets are all useful storage solutions in the kitchen, and when you are sorting items make sure that the things you use the most are always closest to hand and easily accessible.

Organise your Living Room

It is natural that as time goes by you will accumulate a lot of things which often end up in the living room! The living room is one of the hardest rooms to keep tidy on a daily basis as it gets a lot of use and may not have a lot of storage features. The best way to tackle decluttering this room is to go through all your belongings and decide whether to keep the item in the living room, keep but store elsewhere in another room/in storage, or get rid of the item altogether.

For everything you are keeping in the living room, then make sure each item has a home and ensure that you get into the habit of putting everything back where it belongs. This could include putting books in their correct place on the bookshelf, having a designated drawer for chargers and wires, making sure paperwork is filed away, and that the remote controls have a proper home so no more looking for missing remotes!

Clear out your Bathroom

Bathrooms are often the smallest room in the house so it is important to not let clutter take over! Start by taking everything out of any storage cupboards and solutions and then purging all the items you no longer need. Most toiletry items have an expiry date, so any items you know you have been keeping for 2+ years then it is definitely time to dispose of them. Only keep items you use regularly in the bathroom as storage space is likely to be minimal, and store items with similar items eg keep all medicines together, keep bath products together.

When you are decluttering do it in stages and take one room at a time so as not to feel overwhelmed. Once you have decluttered, please contact us today if we can help with self-storage.

When choosing a self-storage company for your business there are many factors you will want to consider, including location, security, size, convenience and price. Whilst all these factors are important, we recognise that in the current financial climate, the cost of renting a unit is one of the deciding factors for businesses when selecting which self-storage company to use.

There are a number of factors that will affect self-storage prices:

• Size of Unit

Storage units come in a wide variety of sizes (at Offerfair our smallest unit is 15 sq ft and our largest unit is 180 sq ft) and one of the most common mistakes people make is selecting the wrong size unit for their items. It is important to think about the size storage unit you need – if your storage unit is too large then you are essentially wasting money, similarly if your unit is too small then it will be counterintuitive to renting self-storage. The size of a unit affects the price and you can check out our handy price guide for our current price list and a guide to what you can fit into our different unit sizes here.

• Location

The price of storage units varies depending on its location. Storage units in city centres and inside residential areas are more expensive than on the outskirts. If you need to regularly access your unit then it is more beneficial to rent a unit closer to your business, however if you are storing items that you do not need access to regularly (eg archiving confidential work documents) then it is more economical to choose a cheaper self-storage unit company further afield. At Offerfair, we pride ourselves on our competitive prices, which is one of the reasons we rent out several units to businesses based in London, who take advantage of our cheaper prices compared to London storage companies.

• Security

One of the most common ways for people to try and save money on self-storage costs is to choose a cheaper company, but one which doesn’t provide enhanced security features. We recognise that businesses want to be completely confident that any stock or documents they store with us are completely secure, which is why all our Offerfair sites have full CCTV security, plus every unit has its own individual alarm.

If you are thinking about renting storage space for your business, then please do not hesitate to contact us to talk through your requirements and request a quote from us.