Smart storage units are the latest technology in the self-storage industry. Instead of a traditional storage space door secured by a lock, smart storage allows users to access their storage unit using their smartphones! This is done by integrating a wireless smart lock system into the self-storage unit.

At Extra Space Asia, we are Singapore’s first self-storage company to integrate the award-winning Noke smart security technology into our self-storage system, offering a keyless self-storage experience.

Here are two benefits of our keyless smart storage unit for your consideration!

Experience seamless convenience

We believe that your storage experience should always come first, and our keyless smart access storage system offers you the most convenient self-storage experience.

You will no longer need to remember your PIN code or handle a physical lock and key to gain access to your storage unit. All you need is your smartphone!

Enjoy peace of mind

At Extra Space Asia, our keyless smart access storage also offers our customers a wealth of on-site data for both security monitoring and predictive analytics on top of our existing security system.

This means that all smart storage unit activity is monitored in the app, and our customers will only have access to the area where their storage space is located.

Furthermore, all our keyless smart access storage space is equipped with End-To-End Bluetooth Encryption, thanks to Noke, an award-winning smart security solution!

Share access with your friends and family

Another benefit of Noke that customers frequently use is the shared access feature. This allows our customers to share and control access to any family or friends all without being required to be physically present at the storage unit!

As part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, Extra Space Asia has decided to explore and embark on something a little different this year. Working in tandem with Mandai Wildlife Group, the company has shown their commitment to wildlife conservation by adopting Giant River Otters – the largest and rarest of the world’s 13 otter species, found only in the South America wilderness. This species of otters is also at a very high risk of extinction due to Habitat degradation and hunting for its skin. Through this partnership, Extra Space Asia will be supporting Mandai Wildlife Group in various conservation activities, including but not limited to:

• Enrichment programmes to enhance the wellbeing of animals in human care
• Regular health and nutrition checksof all their animals
• Community engagement and conservation education
• Exchanges with other wildlife institutions on breeding programmes

Being an avid animal lover himself, Mr Kenneth Worsdale, the Chief Executive Officer of Extra Space Asia said, “This year’s CSR efforts is one that resonates strongly with me. As urbanization is increasing rapidly as the world progresses, unfortunately, Mother Nature continues to be affected. Let’s do what little we can to help ensure the longevity of these beloved animals. We are simply excited and honoured to be able to support Mandai Wildlife Group in their commitment to conserve wildlife.” We hope this collaboration will improve the quality of life for the otters so that they may continue to be around for our future generations to admire and enjoy. Visit these cute pair of otters today at River Wonders! Mandai Wildlife Group is a zoological institution dedicated to caring for the planet, protecting animals and nature.

Image: Mr Kenneth Worsdale, Extra Space Asia’s CEO, and Ms Isabel Cheng, Mandai Wildlife Group‘s Senior Vice President of Partnership Development, unveiling the exhibit plaque.

Image: Mr Kenneth Worsdale and Ms Isabel Cheng giving a thumbs up to celebrate the partnership.

Image: The otters’ Animal Care Officer, Adam, sharing some snippets of information of our otter friends with Mr Kenneth Worsdale.

Image: Extra Space Asia’s team with the otters at River Wonders

Image: Meet our new otterly adorable pair – Fino (the otter under the log) and Carla (the otter with the “v” shaped marking)

Image: Fun facts about Giant River Otters

 

Just rented your first self-storage unit to store your personal and business items to enjoy more space? If you are planning to access your storage unit frequently, it is ideal to store your items neatly to access them with ease.

Here are three clever ways to effectively maximise your storage unit space over the years.

Tip 1: Dismantle your big ticket items and furniture

If you have big-ticket items and furniture pieces that you plan to store in your storage unit, consider dismantling them so that they take up lesser space in your unit. Items such as bed frames and bookshelves should be dismantled and wrapped neatly to be easily retrievable when needed.

Did you know that when you rent a self-storage unit, you are essentially paying for every square foot or square metres you rent? Thus, it is always encouraged to list down all the items you plan to store first and see what can be dismantled and wrapped so they will take up less space. This way, you will rent a more cost-effective storage unit that fits your needs and budget.

However, if you have more things to store over the years, you can always upsize your storage unit easily when you rent a storage unit at storage facilities such as Extra Space Asia Self-Storage.

Tip 2: Stack items or furniture to your best ability

If you have items such as chairs that can be stacked, you should try your best to stack them safely so that they will take up less space in your storage unit. Stacking also makes for a neater arrangement for easy access in the future.

For box storage, it is key to stack the ones that are heavier and bigger at the bottom so that you can retrieve them easily without straining your back. Do remember to label the boxes too, so that you do not need to open them up just to find one item. It would also help if you stacked the boxes of similar sizes so that they would not stick out in an untidy manner or fall over.

If you need some sturdy boxes, you can always purchase them at Extra Space Asia’s Box Shop.

Tip 3: Utilise the vertical space in your storage unit 

When you have a self-storage unit, shelving can be a good organisation tool to add. The shelving will be great for dividing the space into your storage units according to your needs.

If you are renting a storage unit to store all of your business inventories, it would be good to organise your items based on popularity. Or sort them in a first-in-first-out basis so that you can do your stock-taking easily in your storage unit.

With proper sturdy shelving, you will also be able to fully utilise every inch of space in the storage unit from top to bottom. By optimising your storage space, you’ll be able to save on cost, spending only on what you truly need! If you need to purchase shelving, you can also check in with our friendly Customer Service Executive or purchase them at Extra Space Asia’s Box Shop.

If you are looking to upsize or downsize your storage unit, you can always visit our reception during our operating hours and our friendly Extra Space Asia‘s consultants will be glad to assist you with your next storage unit of a different size.

 

 

By: Michelle Lee

An ExtraSpaceCares initiative

Extra Space Asia Self-Storage has always been a strong believer of building long-term relationships with various community groups and supporting them in their meaningful endeavours. The company is glad to be able to work alongside South East CDC for the fifth year running, where we showed our support by sponsoring the use of our storage units for them to store their 3M household products in preparation for its annual 3M campaign. This year’s 3M Green Challenge theme revolves around sustainability – where the organisation hopes to encourage everyone to become greener in their everyday actions and to give back to the vulnerable families concurrently. Through a social media contest, for every act of eco-activity successfully completed, 3M Singapore will donate a 3M product to the vulnerable families in South East District. At Extra Space Asia, we are committed to caring for the environment and creating a sustainable world for our future generations. Our continuous effort to become a more sustainable and energy-efficient organisation has led to the implementation and use of more eco-friendly materials to reduce our carbon footprint and the overall waste generated. As part of Extra Space Asia’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the company has evolved over the years and has adopted a green school of thought, where we observe best practices for sustainability in our offices as well as our day-to-day activities. The company has also fully fitted-out our storage facilities with solar panels that have helped to significantly reduce our energy consumption rate. You can participate in the campaign too if you’d like! Check out South East CDC’s Facebook and Instagram page for further details! The 3M Green Challenge @ South East campaign is running from now till 31^st October 2022.

Image: Gifting an eco-friendly tote bag to our South East CDC partner in support of their 3M Green Challenge @ South East campaign.

Starting to feel that your children’s toys are taking over most of your space at home? We understand that it can definitely create a level of stress for parents who are constantly cleaning up their kid’s toys every day. As such, here are three ideas to organise toys and items neatly over time.

Choose storage solutions that can survive wear and tear

As we all know, when it comes to playing, kids might throw their items in all directions that could end up damaged in no time. Thus, for children’s storage, it would be good to purchase high-quality plastic bins as they are more durable, easier to clean and allow for labels that can help with your packing and organising process.

However, opting for durable items does not mean parents can only choose those unattractive toy boxes. To spruce it up, consider purchasing different coloured storage boxes to help categorise items and toys. For easier stacking, go for same-size boxes for that neat overall aesthetic.

Use a toy storage system that encourages kids to clean up

To keep the idea of storage fun and easy, parents can try different toy storage systems that fit their kid’s playing methods. For instance, if you have younger kids, you can use labels with pictures instead of words.

Toys that are often used should be placed at locations that are easy to retrieve and put away. For example, on lower shelves, children can reach out easily without much difficulty. For heavy toys, parents can position them on the floor area close to the play area.

It would be preferable to avoid placing all the well-loved toys together in a big box, as that arrangement would encourage children to pull out all the toys and create a mess just to retrieve one single item.

Only keep toys that are frequently used 

Toys have a way of multiplying over the years and over various occasions such as birthdays and Christmas. Year after year, parents might find themselves having to spend more time sorting through more toys. Thus, it is a good practice to narrow down your kid’s toys and only keep those that they play with frequently. This habit will also give the kids a chance to learn how to gift and share their toys with other children who might have lesser or no toys to play with.

If you find your home over-cluttered with toys and rarely-used items, you can also consider storing them in a self-storage unit with your other family items to make more space at home. These unused toys and clothing might come in handy in cases where you are still planning to have more children in the future.

We understand that it can be hard to create an organised home when you have children around, but it is not impossible to create an organised play area for your little ones. We hope these toy storage tips will help you find a toy storage system that works for you and your family.

If you need extra space at home, you can always store unused items at self-storage facilities such as Extra Space Asia. Come visit our clean and secure storage facilities located at Ang Mo Kio, Boon Keng, Eunos Link, Hillview, IMM Building, Kallang Way, Marymount, Toa Payoh, Toh Guan, West Coast and Woodlands from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm, Saturday, 9 am to 1pm, to learn more about our various storage solutions. Alternatively, you can also contact us at 6771 3100 today to find out more.

By: Michelle Lee

There are many reasons why you will store at a self-storage facility. It can be because you are storing your belongings during the moving transition or just your toy and hobby collections.

One question we often receive from our customers on self-storage is how to know which storage unit is the right fit for their storage needs.

Did you also know that the price differences between renting small and medium storage units can be more than $800 a year? It pays—literally—to estimate the correct storage unit size you need before renting the storage unit.

Here, we will answer that question and show you how to pick the perfect storage space.

Perform an inventory check of all your belongings

The first step to estimating the storage space size you need will be to identify all belongings you would like to store.

Count all boxes and identify any fragile items or odd-shaped items that might not be stackable. Be sure to note down everything so that you can refer back to it at a later stage.

Double-check your home storage options

Before renting a self-storage unit, it is always advisable to double-check your home storage options. This step ensures you have used all your available storage space at home and do not pay extra for a larger storage unit.

The difference between a small and medium-sized storage space is around $800 per year. As such, we will always advise you to ensure that all home storage is fully utilized before considering storing at a self-storage facility.

Calculating the storage space required

After confirming the remaining belongings to be stored at a self-storage facility, you will need to calculate the space required.

When picking a storage size, find out the square footage (sq. ft.) required. To achieve this, stack the items like how you will store them if they are placed in your storeroom. Once done, multiply the total length and width of your belongings. Remember to buffer some extra space to factor in future storage needs.

It is not advisable to take a storage space with the exact dimension that leaves no room for additional belongings unless you are sure that you do not plan to store anything else in the future.

To help calculate your required storage space, you can refer to our storage size estimator guide or simply drop our customer service advisor a call at 6771 3100!

Planning to relocate back to your hometown or another country for work? Relocating is one of the most stressful things, even for those who do it regularly. Thus, self-storage might be a useful tool for most expats to try.

Here are three benefits of self-storage to expect:

1. Safe and secure extra storage space

The idea of self-storage will come in handy for expats who have moved from a bigger home to a much smaller home but still have many pieces of furniture or boxes that would not fit into the current home. They can start to rent a self-storage unit first to store those items that do not fit in their homes during this transition period.

By storing your items in a self-storage facility such as Extra Space Asia Self-Storage, you will be provided a unique Pincode to access the storage area. For added protection, only the storer has access to the storage unit. Even our Customer Service Executives do not hold any keys to the lock on the storage unit.

2. Flexible storage duration

In cases where you are planning to relocate soon, the storage space becomes a safe and secure choice for storing your personal items and furniture. It is a good transition space where you can store your items first until the relocation details are finalised for the transporter company to move everything to your new location.

For self – storage providers such as Extra Space Asia Self-Storage, expats will also have the choice of storing from as short as 14 days to as long they require. There is no fixed storage contract to adhere to. If you require more time to settle your relocation arrangements, simply extend the storage duration by speaking to the Customer Service Executive directly.

3. Cost-effective storage solution

Compared to continuing the property rental for a prolonged period, which can be expensive in Singapore, expats can save more by storing their personal items at a self-storage facility that offers a more flexible storage plan and duration to fit their storage needs. You will be glad to know that you only need to pay for the storage size you rent, some administration fees and insurance coverage.

Did you also know that if you plan to store for a longer time period, there might also be more storage rental discounts that can bring about more cost savings down the road? Thus, it is important to always check in with the various mini storage providers to check out the latest promotions that best cater to your needs.

About Extra Space Asia Self-Storage 

Searching for a stable, safe, secure mini-storage operator in Singapore? Extra Space Asia Self-Storage might be what you are looking for. We offer a wide range of storage services with 24/7 CCTV monitoring, 24/7 pin code access. There are also 11 self-storage facilities located conveniently around Singapore.

Come visit any of our storage facilities from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, Saturday, 9am to 1pm to learn more about our wide range of storage sizes in our various storage facilities with flexible rental duration based on your needs. Call us today at 6771 3100 to find out more!

 

By: Michelle Lee

Based on a research done by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the excessive use of plastic has created a 400-year problem. In Singapore alone, about 700 million kilogrammes of plastic waste are discarded every year. And out of this massive amount, only less than 10% of plastics are being recycled. These shocking numbers have adversely affected our ocean health and biodiversity. By 2050, there could be more plastic wastes in our ocean than fishes by weight.

At Extra Space Asia, we are committed to caring for the environment and create a sustainable world for our future generations. Our continuous effort to become a more sustainable and energy-efficient organisation has led to the implementation and use of more eco-friendly materials to reduce the overall waste generated and carbon footprint. In 2016, as part of Extra Space Asia’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) environmental initiative, we distributed free eco-friendly and reusable tote bags to all of our new Customers as a welcome pack before their move-in process.

Our eco-friendly tote bags are specially designed in-house and made from 100% cotton. Besides being a functional and reusable replacement for plastic bags, this is also one of our few ways to give back to Mother Nature. Here’s a fun fact: our in-house tote bag designs have become something of a collectable and – over the years – have gone through over 5 different designs!

Through this green initiative, we hope to be a part in creating a positive, sustainable future for Singapore and advance our vision towards becoming a Zero Waste Nation.

By: Michelle Lee