With the rise in property prices in recent times, land is quickly becoming a scarce commodity. More and more people are starting to look towards self-storage as a quick and easy solution to a lack of space. However, we often get many questions in the form of, “What can and cannot be stored?”.

 

Today, we shall address this very question and clear up any misgivings you may have thus far.

 

Let’s start with what you CANNOT store in a self-storage unit.

 

CANNOT BE STORED

 

Hazardous Materials

Well, this goes without saying. If it goes boom, it’s not allowed. This means no gasoline, oil, chemicals, cleaners, propane, and so forth. Our facilities are not equipped to store this sort of materials. The environment may not be the most conducive for said materials, as some may require a certain optimum temperature to be kept safe.

 

It would be best to store any non-hazardous liquids such as beauty supplies in containers and bags so that in the event they do leak, it will not contaminate anything else.

 

Perishable Items

Perishables generally refer to food that has a shelf life and is required to be stored in the fridge. Avoid storing any form of perishable food such as meat, dairy and produce as it may go bad, and the smell would then be the least of our worries! Decomposed food could attract unwanted attention in the form of rodents and bugs! Canned and tinned goods are fine, but remember to check back every once in a while on the expiry date. Don’t let food go to waste!

 

Living items

While we know how comfortable our units may be, keep in mind that it is not a place to live in! Please do not keep your pets in here as well. It’s not ideal to be kept in a confined space for long periods. A gentle reminder that this also applies to plants. Most plants won’t survive without sunlight, and our storage units would be a death sentence for them, which could lead to bacteria and pests appearing.

 

Stolen or illegal goods

This pretty much speaks for itself. While we may not know the contents stored in your unit, we are obliged to report to the authorities should we be aware of any stolen or illegal items kept in your storage unit. Let’s all be good citizens and not steal anything in the first place, and the world shall be better.

 

CAN BE STORED

Now, we move on to what actually can be stored. And the answer is just about anything else that is not listed above! We figure it would be easier to list out what cannot be stored first. 

 

Examples of some of the more common items stored with us include furniture, documents, books, building materials, commercial stock, wine, antiques, sports equipment, and many more! Our clientele comprises toy collectors, business owners, homemakers, students, corporate entities, film-makers, and so on.

 

 If you’re ever in doubt and need some clarification, please do not hesitate to visit our website at Extra Space Asia to find out more, or you can call us at 1300220288 to speak to our customer support team!

Hiring movers just a tad bit too expensive? That sofa doesn’t look too heavy, I can do it myself – we often think to ourselves. Moving homes can often be a stressful process, not to mention an expensive one. More often than not, we try to save money where we can and hiring movers is one area where we try to save on. Not to worry, we’ve got your back! (literally and figuratively). Here are some tips and tricks that we’ve put together to help take the load off.

1. Knowing your limits

The first step to moving heavy furniture/objects is to actually know your own limits. There are times when we think we’re stronger than we really are, and instead, we’re sorely mistaken. It’s important to know this, as the health implications on our body can be painful. Always lift with your legs and not your back, as this is the easiest way to blow your back and cause years of backaches. Wearing proper clothing will also help. You don’t want to be doing the heavy lifting in a pair of jeans that is not stretchable. Bend your knees when picking stuff up, and keep your back straight as well.

2. Protect your furniture

Often enough, we find ourselves bumping into doorways and corners when lifting heavy objects, especially as our line of sight is somewhat limited. The professionals would recommend wrapping your furniture in bubble wrap as the best form of protection, but alternatively, you can also use towels and even comforters! You don’t want to move into a new home only to have your furniture all dented and scratched!

3. Remove the items inside your storage furniture

To ease your burden, it’s a good idea to remove everything from inside a piece of furniture before moving, such as clothes from a wardrobe, books and ornaments from a cabinet and so on. Some will argue that it’d mean double work, as eventually, the clothes will go back into the same wardrobe. But lighter furniture to lift will save you a ton of time and energy, so we say that’s a better outcome! One can also consider disassembling a particular piece of furniture and assemble it back later on in your new place. However, it’s important to note that repeatedly taking apart and reassembling furniture back together will cause some wear-and-tear over time, so do so at your own discretion.

4. Use the ‘Friends and family’ lifeline

As the saying goes, ‘Many hands make light work.’ This couldn’t be any truer in this context when one is moving homes. Call in favours from friends and family. You can even turn it into a party at the end once the process is done, ending the day with some good food and some drinks. The more, the merrier! Everyone pitching in will definitely speed things up and, of course, lighten the load. Your back will thank you in years to come.

All in all, it’d probably be best to leave it to the professionals, but if one had to do it yourself, do keep in mind these pointers that we have compiled for you! They may come in handy one day! Should you also need a space to store your furniture and belongings that are too bulky and troublesome to handle during your moving transition, consider Extra Space Asia! Drop us a call today at 1300220288 to find out more.

When you have children at home, expect toys, books and knick-knacks scattered all over the floor. We know this mess can be frustrating to look at. But it does not have to be that way. Here are 3 smart ways for all parents to try today!

1. Make use of storage boxes

One affordable way to organise all of our kid’s toys, books and miscellaneous items is to use storage boxes. Parents can instantly make a room look more orderly and clean by storing all of these items in different storage boxes and labelling them.

Parents can also explore the option of using transparent storage boxes, so that they can see the contents inside easily without opening each and every box to find something. It will also be good to have different sizes of boxes so that every item in the room has a dedicated storage space. For even more space, you can also think about adding furniture with clever built-in storage compartments.

2. Involve your kids

Good habits start young. It is never too early to introduce and instil good healthy habits in our children. So, encourage them to clean up their toys after playtime. We can start by organising the items in their room properly so that they get accustomed to seeing things in an orderly and organised manner. Once they are older, they can be a part of your small cleaning and home projects. By building all of these good habits regularly, our children will soon learn and make an effort to keep their items and room organised.

3. Explore the KonMari Method

Parents can try the KonMari method, Marie Kondo’s minimalist-inspired approach to tackle your items by category instead of by room. This method begins with tidying our clothes, then moving on to books, papers, miscellaneous items and finally sentimental items. We should only keep items that speak to the heart and discard those that no longer spark joy in our life. We can thank these items for being in our lives and then let them go.

By utilising the KonMari method, it will also help to organise every aspect of the kid’s room. This will also allow our kids to let go of stuff that they don’t require. If the items are still in good condition, we can choose to donate and pass it on to people who would find them useful. Through this process, we can also educate our children about the benefits of decluttering, where we are giving their items a new home and not just getting rid of it. We understand that the process of decluttering and organising a room takes loads of time and effort. However, if the end result is a clean and organised room for children to play, study and sleep in, it will definitely be rewarding.

With these 3 smart tips, you can say goodbye to the stress and frustration when organising your kid’s bedroom. If you are planning to make even more space at home to live in comfortably, you can always consider storing those hardly used items or seasonal items in a self-storage facility like Extra Space Asia. Call us at 1300220288 today to find out more about the various storage plans.

By: Michelle Lee

New Year, new me. That’s what many of us say on the first day of a brand new year. But instead of just a ‘new me’, why not include changing up your home situation for the better too? With many of us still working from home, our homes have become a place where we live for more than 12 hours a day. So it’s definitely important that we find simple ways to keep our home clean and organised. We’ve come up with these 3 simple ways which can be applied any day and any time.

1. Tackle one room at a time

Most of our homes will include more than one room on top of the living room space. This means that you’d definitely need more time and effort to clean up every inch and corner of your home if you were to tackle it all at once. The easier (and forgiving) way would be to clean up room by room. You can always start with the messiest room or the room where you spend most of your time in. Start from the floor space, followed by your closet or your table. By combing these space section by section, you can start finding pockets of space.

You should also find time on a daily or weekly basis to do some personal hygiene tasks such as vacuuming and mopping your floor, changing your bedsheets and curtains, cleaning the surfaces that you often use like your desktop or vanity top to ensure that they are clean with minimal dust accumulation.

2. Remove messy corners

We all have that one messy corner in our home where we would just happily leave our items there, and watch it slowly start to pile up like a mountain. Instead of that, consider clearing and wiping up the mess way before it starts to clutter. You can start by clearing up the current messy corner and make use of storage boxes to hold your small knick-knacks.

Try buying the same type of storage boxes so that if you need to stack them up in your room, it’ll be more consistent and organised looking too. You can also purchase transparent storage boxes instead of those opaque ones so that you’ll be able to find your items much easier over time without the hassle of opening each container. You should also place small labels on each storage boxes so that you can categorise them easier. Also, consider stacking the items from top to bottom according to how often you use the items. This will save you time and effort in future should you need to use the items.

3. Declutter your room

In need of extra space to grow your personal collection, work comfortably and for your kids to play? Start your decluttering your home by first removing items which are hardly used. Once you’ve cleared these items either by throwing or donating them, you’ll be able to enjoy more space at home. With these newfound space, you’ll also be able to move furniture around to create a new vibe for your home. However, if after clearing up those unwanted items, you’re still in need of extra space for business or personal reasons, you can explore the idea of storing the bigger bulky items, seasonal items and even business items in a self-storage facility.

By storing in a self-storage facility such as Extra Space Asia Self- Storage, you’ll still be able to retrieve these items any time, any day as your storage unit is accessible 24/7. You can also contact the self-storage provider today at 1300220288 to find out more about their various storage solutions for personal and business use or even wine storage.

By: Michelle Lee

In a blink of an eye, we’re now fast approaching the end of a truly eventful year! Many of us will be more than happy to put the year 2020 behind and to look forward to the new year. For some, the end of the year signifies the end of their tenancy agreement. This marks the start of searching and moving into a new home. This may be stressful, as it involves planning and coordination work to a certain degree. Coupled with our daily workload and other obligations, it all adds up and we find ourselves overwhelmed. We hear your pain! Thus, we’ve compiled a list of tips that may just help ease your moving process.

Make a checklist

As Benjamin Franklin said it best, “failure to plan is planning to fail.” Prepare a checklist beforehand to ensure that you do not miss out on any steps or checks. This will help organise and streamline your entire process, which will make life easier for you! Once you have a checklist in place, just ensure you tick all the boxes, and you’ll be good to go!

Pack and declutter

Moving homes is often the best time to get rid of unwanted belongings that you have held on to for the longest of times. Now is the time to free yourself and toss them away! Of course, keep those of sentimental value, but for all else, either donate, sell or throw them away! You can refer here for help with your decision making process! It may even be a good time to upgrade on some furniture – we know you have had your eye on that luxurious king-sized bed for a while now. Perfect time (and excuse) to reward yourself!

Enlist the help of movers

Moving is indeed a tiring process, there’s no denying it. Especially if you’re single and moving out alone. Try enlisting the help of your friends and family, but of course, treat them to a meal at the end of the day! Alternatively, you could enlist the help of movers which will definitely help ease the burden of heavy-lifting when transporting large items and furniture. Should you have any fragile items, such as a piano or glass cabinet, it’d be advisable to get the experts to help as they’ll know how to best package and transport it.

Unpack necessities first!

Moving day is finally here! After unloading all your furniture and belongings into your new place, it’s time to start unpacking. But wait, it’s also the best time to do a thorough cleaning, as there are no obstacles in your way for now. Wipe down, vacuum and mop thoroughly, and make sure to sanitise often! After which you can now begin unpacking for real. It’d be a good idea to spread out unpacking over the course of a few days, so start with unpacking the necessities first. Clothes, toiletries, daily essentials, kitchenware takes priority over others, as you’ll need these in your daily life. From there, take your time to unpack so as to not get overwhelmed with too much in one go.

All in all, moving doesn’t have to be as stressful and painful as you think. Some may even find it enjoyable! In the event if you ever find yourself with a lack of space for your belongings, be it because you move into a smaller space or simply having too much stuff, we’re here for you! Self-storage is the answer to your woes. Store your excess belongings with us at Extra Space Asia and free up your home from clutter.

 

By: Kenny Ng

Home is where the heart is. This saying resonates stronger than ever before, especially in the face of the pandemic that is COVID-19. Many are stranded away from home due to work or personal reasons, with the majority of the countries locking down their borders. Although we know nothing compares to your actual home with your family and loved ones, let’s try to make the best out of the situation to transform your current dwelling into the next best thing – a home away from home. Here are five easy tips!

Lighting, lighting, lighting.

This is so important, we feel the need to emphasise it thrice! The one most crucial element for any room or space to look bigger and more spacious boils down to the lighting. Natural light works wonders in opening up the interior of a room. If you don’t have access to natural lighting, consider painting the walls and ceiling white for an open and airy aesthetic. No more feeling cooped up and confined in a small space!

Revamp your bedroom

For many, the bedroom is a sanctuary. It’s where we spend a majority of our lives for resting, sleeping, studying and working. There’s no place safer than the comfort of our bedroom. In a new country, it’d be best to replicate as closely as possible to your own bedroom back home. This gives you a sense of familiarity as well as a sense of security. Zest it up a little, of course, with scented candles and a good sound system!

Channel your inner Gordon Ramsay

Missing the food back home? With the wide array of digital tools online these days to help us learn and pick up cooking, you’ll be able to learn and whip out a dish in no time! Some of us actually find grocery shopping therapeutic, and it’ll be a thrilling experience to explore the local market and foods of the area where you’re currently residing. Cooking traditional food from home is one of the best ways to cure the homesick!

Keep in touch!

 Thank God for technology, right? Connections are now so much easier with tools such as WhatsApp, Facetime and practically dozens of other applications out there! Although you may not be there in person, you could at least be there in spirit and in video for events that you may be missing out on back home.

Keep your home clean and tidy

Coming home after a long day of work to an empty house or room may be disheartening, but on the bright side, it’ll look amazing if you keep it clean and tidy! Being in a foreign country is a daunting task, and many of us would pack more than what is needed. As my mother used to say, you’ll never know when you may need this. From experience, these items would just be lying around taking up space. Should you have too much stuff around, consider decluttering your space and store what you don’t need with us at Extra Space Asia. Where you can access it any time, any day as our facilities are open 24/7!

There’s no place like home. But while we’re somewhere else, let’s soldier on and we do what we must to rise above these unique times.

 

 

By: Kenny Ng

To sell or to donate? When you undertake the task of spring cleaning and decluttering your home or office, you might ask yourself questions like: ‘What should I do with this?’, ‘Would this come in handy one day?’ Doubt it. ‘Does it still have value?’ ‘Would anybody buy this?’ These questions are enough to leave us stuck and eventually put off the entire task altogether.

Stop procrastinating. We’re here to help. Let’s weigh the pros and cons together!

Selling

Selling can actually net you quite a fair bit of profit if done right. However, always consider the time investment you have to put in to sell it. Do it if the resale value is high, as selling would justifying the amount of time and effort spent. If you’re looking to make money, by all means, catalogue your possessions that you would like to sell and utilise the various platforms that are available like the Facebook marketplace, flea markets, Carousel and so on. Some people enjoy selling as to them it’s a win-win situation, they get to offload their clutter and at the same time make some cash out of it! It’s also a good training ground should you consider a career in sales at some point in the future.

Do also keep in mind that there are fussy buyers out there and they might make unreasonable demands at times. Imagine customers demanding discounts, original receipts, original boxings/casings and more. If this thought feels frustrating to you, selling may not be the path you seek. There have also been horror stories of how sellers take the time out to meet a potential buyer at an agreed location and time only to be stood up. Time wasted is equivalent to money wasted! As in every aspect of life, there’s always the risk of things not working out as intended.

Donating

On the other hand, if time is a constraint for you, donating your belongings sounds just about right! Not only are you doing a good deed, but there are convenient drop-off points for donation drives. Simply bag it up and head on over to the nearest drop-off point! Your house has now been purged from clutter.

However, there are also several points to consider before donating. Do remember that when you donate, someone is going to be using it for their own use. Only donate items that are still in decent condition. So pause and ask yourself before you donate, does this item still serve its main function properly? If the answer is no, it probably belongs in the bin.

It’s entirely up to you to sell or donate your pre-loved items. Take some time to understand the pros and cons, and you’ll have a clearer idea of your next steps. However, if both these options are not ideal for you – if you feel the need to clear the items yet NOT get rid of them – consider storing with us at Extra Space Asia! We’ll take good care of your stuff until you find a need for it again one day in the future. Till then!

Moving and relocating can be a very stressful period for some, but it shouldn’t be! If anything, you should take in the experience, and savour it as much as possible for it’s a truly exciting process and does not happen very often! We know very well how troublesome moving can be, as it can be both physically and mentally tiring. We’ve compiled some tips to help ease this transition and perhaps even make it a memorable one for you and your family!

Checklist, checked!

How can you effectively shortlist moving companies? Like any task in life, the first step to aid your decision-making process is to prepare a checklist. This checklist should outline various pointers and features that are important to you, such as years of experience, ratings and reviews, pricing, and the list goes on. This list will help you weigh the pros and cons after doing the necessary research and homework on the many moving companies out there.

Read what others are saying

Reviews and testimonials are your best friends in this situation. When checking out potential moving companies, it’d be a good idea to go online and check out their social media page and Google Reviews. While some companies may promise you just about everything initially, they may not be able to deliver their promises. It’s always best to go with a company that has stellar reviews and testimonials from their past customers. Do also ask around amongst friends and family to recommend any moving companies that they may have used in the past.

Ensure protection at all times

Moving big and bulky furniture may be a tricky process, and unfortunately, there are times when mishaps or accidents may happen. So, ensure that all your belongings and furniture that is being transported is covered by insurance provided by the moving company. A good moving company will often offer various types of moving insurance to help safeguard your belongings. Ideally, you should choose one that covers the entire moving process, so that you can have peace of mind throughout this transition period.

Make sure that the price is right!

It’s true when they say that quality doesn’t always come cheap. While we understand that it’s always smart to stay thrifty in these times, try not to save on moving costs as skimping on this may lead to potential financial woes down the road. However, that’s not to say you should always go for the most expensive option. More often than not, moving companies will also offer various discounts or promotions for first-time movers, retirees, or just seasonal discounts such as a Christmas or Deepavali promotion!

In conclusion, choosing the right moving service is not an easy decision to make, and we hope these tips will come in handy on your big day! And if you’re ever in need of a temporary home to store your furniture, we’re here for you. Feel free to reach out to us to find out more. Happy moving!

By: Kenny Ng

Finally, you have just made the decision to renovate your home! Be it for just a change of scenery or simply upscaling your home as your family expands, home renovations can certainly be a daunting task. Where do you start? Who do you engage? What should you consider? Questions after questions. We have all been there. We know the stress that one undergoes when attempting to start their renovation journey, and we have compiled some tips and tricks that will hopefully ease the process, and make it a somewhat enjoyable one! After all, it is not every day that one decides to renovate his or her home. Read on further to find out more.

Budget 2020

First things first, as Jessie J aptly puts it, ‘it’s all about the money, money, money’. Home renovations are bound to run into roadblocks and surprises every now and then. Plan out how much you are willing to set aside for renovation costs and then allocate a tad bit more, just in case something unforeseen happens. A good gauge of how much of emergency fund you should set aside is approximately 15% of the total project cost. After all, failure to plan is planning to fail!

Trust the professionals

Engaging a professional and reputable contractor will set your mind at ease throughout the most part of the process. More often than not, we know how tempting it is to go with the cheaper option, but when it comes to something as precious as your home, try not to cut corners! Splurge a little as your home deserves the best. However, that is not to say you should choose the most expensive options and break out your life savings. Do your homework and research, ask around for recommendations from friends and family. The right contractor is just around the corner!

Let there be light!

One mistake that homeowners have been known to make is to the importance of lighting in their homes. You might want to consider soft lights for your living room to give off a cosy ambience where one can just chill and relax after a long day of work, and brighter white light for your study room to enable you to stay razor-sharp and focus when doing work. Let’s not forget natural lighting! Windows in the right place will bring in natural lighting, which does wonders in accentuating and creating an optical illusion that your house looks bigger than it actually is.

Size really matters

It is crucial to measure how much space you really have. It would be a complete nightmare to buy the cabinets of your dreams only to realise you will not have enough space left for your wardrobe. Knowing the measurements will also enable you to shop efficiently, and to not fall in love with furniture that is too big for your room. Save yourself the heartbreak, we say!

Be decisive

Once you have made a decision on your home renovations and have briefed the contractor accordingly, try not to make any changes along the way. We often find ourselves second-guessing our decisions, which leads to a last-minute change of mind. This will not only set back your timeline, it may also incur additional cost as the original work may have already started. We would sit down and run through your plans thoroughly before giving the go-ahead.

Cover up or store your existing furniture

Be sure to cover up your furniture to avoid dust and to protect them from being damaged! Renovation works lead to dust flying all over what with all the drilling and hammering. However, if covering up does not set your mind at ease, know that there is always an alternative option of storing your belongings for the time being with us at Extra Space Asia! We have a wide range of sizes for you to choose from to fit your needs and also, we are flexible when it comes to commitment. You decide how long you want to store with us, with the option of extending as and when you need. We provide peace of mind so you can focus on all other aspects of your life.

All in all, renovation may seem to be an arduous task at first, but with the proper planning and research, it will be just about the best investment you have ever made! With that, we bid you good luck on your journey!

 

By: Kenny Ng