Self-storage has been around in Asia for almost 20 years, and yet, there are still many misconceptions about it. One of the few myths is that people only rent self-storage space to store their business inventories. But this is not the case as you will read below. Here are some common myths about renting a self-storage space and the truth behind them.

Storage rental is only for business owners

One recurring myth about self-storage is that it is used for business only. But in reality, more people use self-storage to store personal belongings as compared to businesses! From storing seasonal holiday decorations or unused household items to vintage toy and personal wine collection, ‘non-business’ storage owners use self-storage space for a myriad of personal reasons.

Only large storage spaces are available for rental

So untrue! At Extra Space Asia, customers can select from a wide range of storage sizes, from as small as 10 square feet to as large as over 400 square feet. Furthermore, there are a variety of storage types to fit just about your every need.

Spaces are only available for long-term storage rental

Not everyone will require long-term storage, especially if you are storing your personal belongings. Self-storage companies usually offer flexible storage rental period, from as short as 14 days to as long as you require.

Self-storage facilities are dirty

Another perception most people have about self-storage is that its facet is similar to an industrial warehouse. While ‘dirty’ self-storage facilities are rare in Singapore due to the strict rules and regulations, a professional self-storage company should come equipped with modern features and presentable storage units. The key thing to remember is to visit the storage facility first before you make your choice. If you are unsure what to look out for, check out these 4 Useful Tips When Choosing Your Self-Storage Provider in Singapore.

Renting a storage space is expensive

One of the most popular myth is that it is cost-intensive to rent a self-storage space. But did you know? Most self-storage space rentals are affordable, with the cost starting from as low as $50 per month. However, the storage rates differ due to storage size, duration, location and ongoing promotions. To find out about what contributes to a storage space rental rate, find out more about the Cost of Renting a Self-Storage Space in Singapore. Did we miss out on any other common self-storage myths? Let us know! If you are still unsure or have more questions about self-storage, feel free to contact us today.  

By: Gary Phua

Love food and wine? Time to learn more about wine pairing basics so that you can enjoy them more or even create your own pairings over time. Here’s a simple food and wine pairing guide to try!

1.      Understanding the concept of wine pairing

The main concept of wine pairing is understanding how different elements, textures and flavours interact with each other. There are also six basic flavour profiles to experiment with – the acidity of the wine, fatty, bitter (aka tannic), salty, sweet and alcohol.

Once you understand these profiles, you can better find the right balance for a more enjoyable dining experience. However, the idea of wine pairing with food is also highly related to personal preferences and liking. So, always start your first fine wine pairing with your favourites.

2.      Red Wine Pairing

Did you know that red wines tend to taste more bitter than the other varieties? That is because red wines contain large amounts of tannin. Tannin is what makes wines taste dry or bitter. Red wines usually taste better with bold-flavoured meats (think red meat), because bitter wines like are best balanced with fats.

Here are some tasty combos that you can try:

3.      White Wine Pairing

The difference between red and white wine is not only their colour. In fact, when it comes to the tastes of white wine, you will find that some are very sweet, while others are dry; some even have a light, fruit flavour. White wines are usually paired with light-intensity meats like fish or chicken. Rule of thumb: the leaner the meat, the lighter the wine.

Here are some of our pairing suggestions:

We hope that these 3 basic tips will help you with your wine pairing journey. Besides wine pairing, do remember to also use the correct wine glasses to enjoy your wines better too.

If you own a growing wine collection and love hosting your loved ones, Extra Space Asia Self-Storage is definitely the place to store your wines. Here, you can enjoy a wide range of storage units for your wine collections, with exclusive access to the Wine Tasting Room in the facility where you can enjoy a glass or two with your friends and family any time!

Call us today at 6771 3100 to find out more or simply click here.

 
By: Michelle Lee

Image Credit: A Beautiful Mess

Most of our memories when we are young are mostly stashed away in photo albums – baby photos, birthday celebrations and graduation milestones. This is also probably because back in the days, photography was still not advanced and all photos had to be printed and placed in a photo album for viewing.

As we age, these printed photos will start to age as well. These photos represent all of our childhood memories, and it would be devastating if they are damaged. So, read on to find out what you can do to prepare your printed photos for storage to ensure the longevity of your photos.

Image Credit: Preservation Equipment Ltd

Place them in boxes or containers of the right size

Before you start to put away the photos into a storage space, you will have to prepare some boxes and containers of the right size to place them in.

Firstly, you would want to select a container that is both stiff and flat. This will keep your photos flat instead of curling over time.

Next, your container has to fit the size of the photos. Cramming your photos into a container that is too small will cause damage even before you store.

It is also important not to over or under pack your container. Stuffing too many photos into a container will have the same effect as choosing a container that is too small, whereas leaving too much space will cause the item to move about. If possible, fill the extra space up with non-acidic tissue or bubble wrap. The reason for using non-acidic tissue is because acids will cause the quality of the photos to deteriorate. Likewise, if your photos are being stored in a photo album, ensure that the sheet protectors or sleeves are acid-free.

Avoid choosing albums with textiles cover that may attract moths or pests. Selecting a leather or plastic cover would be the best option as these materials will last and store well.

Select a well-ventilated, cool and dark storage space

Now that you have packed your photos, it is time to select a proper storage environment to ensure their longevity.

Photos, books and comics are very susceptible to heat, light and humidity. As such, your storage space will have to take into account these 3 requirements.

Firstly, ensure that the storage space for your photographs is well-ventilated. A well-ventilated storage space will prevent mould or any other damaging organic substance from growing.

On top of being well-ventilated, you will have to ensure that there is a low level of moisture in the storage space. Consider investing in a dehumidifier when storing your photos at home. Otherwise, search for storage options outside your home with a climate-controlled environment.

Next, for your storage space, you will have to ensure that the temperate is below 24 degree Celsius. Temperature above 24 degree Celsius can cause discolouration of your photos.

Lastly, you will have to ensure that your photo is kept in a dark place as light will cause the photo image to fade. If you are not able to seal the container up to ensure no light get through, consider storing them in a dark place where there is rarely any light.

Image Credit: Business Insider

Back-up your photos online

If the photos are your treasures, it never hurts to create a spare back-up as a precaution in the event something goes wrong. Many people use Facebook and Instagram to back up their photos.

If you are worried about others being able to view your photos on Facebook or Instagram, you can also consider using Dropbox. There are also many different similar online services available, you’ll just need to select the one best suited to your needs.

Consider using self-storage

If you do not have any storage space suitable at home, why not consider making use of self-storage? At Extra Space Asia, we have a wide range of affordable climate-controlled air-conditioned storage sizes.

If you wish to find out more, simply drop us a call at 67713100 or get an instant quote today!


By: Gary Phua

The terms self-storage is starting to become common for most living in Singapore. Self-storage primarily provides extra storage space for families and businesses to store their personal, family and even business items. With this extra space, they can now enjoy more room in their home and office space. That is why not only families and businesses can benefit from using self-storage. If you own a business, here are three benefits to look forward to when you rent a self-storage unit with Extra Space Asia.

  1. Fuss-free move in process

Similar to setting up a business and company easily by using ACRA, business owners can expect an effortless move-in procedure when you rent a self-storage unit at self-storage providers like Extra Space Asia. All you have to do for a start is to visit a preferred storage facility during operating hours for a tour. During the facility tour, you will be able to figure out the right unit for your storage needs. You can also choose to either store in an air-conditioned storage unit if the items you are storing are temperature sensitive. Once you are happy with the storage size, simply let us know how long you would like to rent, sign up and start moving in!

If you choose to store your business inventory, business document and personal items with Extra Space Asia, you can be assured that your items are good hands as we have on-ground security and 24-hour CCTV monitoring for extra protection. Our team is also available for any quick assistance during office hours. Just pop by any time from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday to purchase any box shop items or sign-up for a storage unit – no prior appointments required. This will also be more convenient as you can choose to visit our storage facility at your preferred timing effortlessly without the hassle of scheduling your visits in advance.

  1. Flexible storage terms

Unlike big warehouse storage and office leases where you are locked in for a specific rental duration of one year or more, the rental duration of a storage unit is more flexible. For self-storage companies like Extra Space Asia, customers can choose to store from as short as 14 days to as long as needed. In this case, businesses do not have to worry about long-term operation costs or the need to break the fixed rental contract just to downsize the business.

Besides the flexible storage duration, customers are also able to downsize or upsize their storage unit anytime. If your business needs more inventory to keep up with the growing demand, you can just let our Customer Service Executives know, and we will find you the next suitable storage unit to fit all your extra inventory. If your business is moving slower than usual and you need more cash flow, you can also downsize your storage unit and pay for only the storage space you require. These flexible storage terms will be beneficial to SMEs and e-commerce businesses.

  1. 24-hour access to your storage unit

By storing at self-storage companies like Extra Space Asia, you will have the freedom of round-the-clock access to your storage unit. All you have to do is to key in your unique PIN code, and you will be able to access the storage unit. This is important for businesses as it enables owners and operators to boost efficiency without being affected by the operating hours of a storage facility.

Some storage units at Extra Space Asia are air-conditioned. This means inventory management tasks such as packing or stock checks will definitely be more comfortable. If you need some working space to work while packing your business inventory for your customers, you can do so at our Extra Space Ang Mo Kio facility’s Executive Storage where you can store, work and collaborate, all in one space. Simply speak to our friendly Customer Service Executives to find out more today.

At Extra Space Asia, we would like to extend a helping hand to entrepreneurs and businesses who need an immediate storage space to store their business inventory and document. To learn more, call our hotline 6771 3100 or visit us from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday.
By: Michelle Lee

Image Credit: BBC

Do you guys remember playing with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figurines or Barbie dolls back in the 90s? Well, some of their value has risen over the years, and if you’re still holding onto them, you’re in luck! Let’s look at them today. 🙂

Image Credit: Invaluable

Star Wars Memorabilia

Star Wars was first shown in theatres back in the late 70s, and it took the world by storm. Thereafter, ‘Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi’ solidified its status among the greatest movie ever made. Even to date, their new movie; ‘Episode IX: The Rise of the Skywalker’ is still being watched by millions of people around the world.

With such a successful movie, to own a vintage figurine of Jawa today in the original trilogy can set you back at least $14,800! Imagine owning a vintage figurine of Luke Skywalker or even Darth Vader; the price could easily be many times more.

Image Credit: eBay

Polly Pocket

There was a time when almost all your female classmates own a Polly Pocket. Each of these Polly Pockets will usually cost around $20 – $30 back then. These toys and their accessories could now potentially cost over twice their original price depending on their condition. For unopened Polly Pockets, it could even cost an upwards of $100 to $1,000!

Image Credit: eBay

Care Bears Plushie

Do you remember the cartoon series ‘Care Bears’ in the 80s? This series depicts cartoonish bears, each with a special ‘belly badge’ that reflects its personality. From the very sleepy ‘Bedtime Bear’ that helps everyone get a goodnight sleep to ‘Cheer Bear’, a happy bear who cheers everyone up, there’s a bear for everyone.

These bears were well-loved in the 80s. Now, they are sought after for a totally different reason – their value.

These bear plushies’ price can range anywhere from as low as $10 to as high as over $1,000. If you have the right bear, serious Care Bear collectors are willing to pay a big amount! Case in point, in 2018, the ‘VTG Care Bear Cousins Pink Monkey’ was sold on eBay for a $13,900!

Image Credit: Collectors.com

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figurines

Another nostalgic action figurine that almost all boys would own when they are young is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figurines. These mean turtles cost roughly $20 to $30 per figurine back in the 90s. Today, your vintage teenage mutant ninja turtle figurines could cost an upwards of $200!

Image Credit: eBay

Pokemon Cards

Have you ever collected trading cards? Back in the late 90s, Pokémon cards were all the rage. Almost all young boys were playing with them. At just $4.90, you can get a ‘booster pack’ of 5 cards, with at least 1 rare one. Those who were lucky would even have those ‘holo’ super rare Pokémon cards with devastating effects.

These days, you can still get your Pokémon card fix at TOG or Toy R Us. However, if you still have your Pokémon cards from back in the 90s, their value has since increased significantly!

For example, a ‘holo’ Charizard. Back then, it would have cost roughly around $5 to $10 per piece. Today, to get the same card, you’ll need to shell out at least $1,110!

Image Credit: The Newspaper

Our vintage toy collection might be both rich in sentimental and market value. This is why we have the task to ensure that they retain their mint conditions. At Extra Space Asia, we can assist in storing your toy collection in the optimal storage condition.

If you need more convincing, you can always watch Deitrich Mohan, a retro game collector’s testimonial on his storage experience with us!


By: Gary Phua

The process of moving as we all know is often time-consuming, tiring, and even a pain in the neck. Even for the most seasoned individual who is used to moving, it’s always important to plan the moving and packing system before the actual moving day. This is to ensure that you have packed everything properly so that the move to your new home or to the self-storage space will be smooth with all items intact and in good condition. If you’re in need of packing items, we have put together the 5 essential packing items and merchandise from Extra Space Asia’s Box Shop that everyone would need when moving.

  1. Boxes in different sizes

Too many items to pack? One way to pack is to base on either the room type or by category. This system would allow the unpacking and finding process to be simpler too. At Extra Space Asia, we offer three different types of carton boxes to cater to your needs. We have the document box (42cm x 34 cm x 26cm) at $4.40 each, Large box (55cm x 55cm x 55cm) at $6 each and Small box (45cm x 45cm x 45cm) at $3.60/ $4.80 (Single ply/ Double ply) each.

Here are some packing tips to take note:

  1. Permanent Marker

After packing your items in the different boxes, it would be good to label them accordingly. We can label the boxes based on the room types or list down the items which are in the boxes. Labeling the boxes speeds up the unpacking process as you would know what items are in each box at a glance.

When it comes to labeling, you should try to label all sides of your boxes. That’s because during the moving process, the boxes could move to face another direction. If you’ve fragile items, you should do an additional marking or use another coloured marker to label these boxes, so that your movers can take note of these boxes. To be really organised, you can also create a numbering system. This is one way to know how many boxes should be moved. If you need some blue or black permanent markers, you can purchase them at Extra Space Asia Box Shop for $1.80 each.

  1. OPP Sticky Tapes

When packing heavy-duty items like kitchen appliances or fragile items and glassware, it’s important to prepare your boxes by using strong hold tapes at the bottom of the boxes as well as the sides of the box. You can tape your boxes more than once to ensure that your box is more secure when handling heavy items and does not give way during the transportation process.

In terms of sealing boxes, it’s always better to choose sticky clear adhesive tape as compared to masking tape which has the feel of paper. That’s because the sticky clear tapes are more water-resistant, sturdier and stickier to seal boxes. Pick up some OPP clear tapes at Extra Space Asia Box Shop for $2.20 each.

  1. Bubble wrap

Packing fragile items like your glassware and personal collectibles? Even if you were to pack these fragile items in the boxes, it’s always good to layer them with some bubble wrap to offer another layer of protection.

Bubble wrap is an excellent insulator against impact, especially when you accidentally drop the boxes during moving. Purchase these pliable and transparent bubble wraps from our Box Shop today at just $5.10 per roll, 100cm x 213cm.

  1. Stretch film

Planning to transport furniture like sofa and chairs? To minimise the risk of damage and having scratches on your items, you can protect them with some stretch film. For loose items, you can also use some stretch film to secure them together so that they will be kept intact.

If you intend to store your items for a long period of time, it’s always a good idea to wrap your items with some highly stretchable plastic film. The stretch film will act as an additional layer to protect your items from the environmental elements like dust, dirt and water. This will help to keep your items in good condition for a longer period of time while in storage. Purchase some stretch film from our Box Shop today at just $13.20 per roll, size 50cm (W).

There are a list of other essential packing items that you can purchase from our Box Shop, conveniently spread across various locations in Singapore. Feel free to visit our facilities during our operation hours from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm on Saturday to purchase them. If you are looking for a mover to help you through your moving process, you can also engage our newly launched e-Move service. WhatsApp 9834 0347 today to receive a quick mover’s quote.
By: Michelle Lee

An ExtraSpaceCares initiative

Celebrating our nation’s 55th birthday this year has definitely been a unique affair as compared to the previous years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many large-scale celebrations and activities were no longer an option. To keep the spirit of National Day alive, Extra Space Asia Self Storage joined the national movement of bringing the celebrations to the various nursing homes and community hospitals. In partnership with Singapore-based social enterprise ACE Seniors and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Extra Space Asia sponsored 650 care packs and specially prepared meals for our friends at Peacehaven Nursing Home and Lion’s Home for the Elders. Each care pack consisted of a variety of snacks and hygiene products. Together with volunteers from other organisations, a handful of Extra Space Asia staff came together to pack and deliver the items to the beneficiaries, ensuring that they were able to enjoy the festive vibes, at the comfort of their homes. This year’s NDP theme – Together, A Stronger Singapore – also doubles as a rallying call to Singaporeans, to play our part to push forward and determine Singapore’s future. In spite of the difficulties, as a nation, we need to stay united, help one another, and emerge stronger than before. Through this initiative, Extra Space Asia hopes to spread the festive joy to the beneficiaries in the nursing home and community hospital, as they celebrate Singapore’s 55th birthday. Peacehaven Nursing Home is a home that offers a comprehensive gamut of services to care for the sick, frail and elderly who have physical or mental disabilities with minimal or no appropriate caregiver support at home.  Lion’s Home for the Elders is a Voluntary Welfare Organisation (VWO) that actively promotes and employs best practices in providing services and programmes for the ageing community. From the Extra Space Asia Team, we would like to wish all Singaporeans a Happy National Day!

Image: NDP special care pack and Extra Space Asia’s customised postcard

Image: Extra Space Asia Team loading the special care packs to be sent to the beneficiaries at Peacehaven Nursing Home and Lion’s Home for the Elders.

 

Image: Our fully loaded van with the special care packs, all ready to be distributed to our beneficiaries!

The impact of the changing climates and increasing greenhouse gases have definitely caught the attention of most people. With the rise in global warming, it has become a need for people, government and businesses to find ways to protect our Earth and safeguard it for our future generations.

Based on a National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) survey done in 2019, half of those polled including Singaporeans and permanent residents knew what they could do to address the climate changes and are trying their best to make small little changes. These personal steps include incorporating eco-friendly habits at home and in the office like saving water, reducing food wastage, practising the 3Rs and switching off electrical appliances when not in use.

Extra Space Asia has embarked on green initiatives since 2015, by fully outfitting our Kallang Way and Boon Keng storage facilities with solar panels. With these solar panels, we have successfully lowered our overall gas emissions and fossil fuels usage. We are also proud to be the first self-storage company in Singapore to use solar energy as a means to manage our electricity consumption.

The installation of these solar panels at our storage facilities can cover at least 15% of our total electricity consumption, lowering the overall electrical consumption powered by fossil fuels. This green movement has also helped significantly in reducing the amount of heat transferred from the roof to our self-storage units.

In our efforts to further implement more ‘green’ strategies and move towards a business model that prioritises sustainability, Extra Space Asia will be extending these green initiatives to more storage facilities. We hope our effort can be part of Singapore’s push for a more sustainable future.

Anyone who collects Gunpla will experience a great sense of satisfaction when they finally finish their never-ending backlog of Gunpla kits. However, the story does not end there. True collectors will know that it’s all about displaying all their glory in the most optimal way.

While storing your gunpla might seem simple, a gunpla is just like any other collection; they are susceptible to environmental factors and ageing. Here are a few simple steps that will help keep your Gunpla collection looking like new all the time.

Image Credits: otakurevolution.com

Store your Gunpla at room temperature in a dry area

Gunpla is made from materials that are vulnerable to the 3 main natural elements.

Direct Sunlight – UV light from the sun can be extremely damaging for plastic. Since Gunpla is essentially made out of plastic, it’s best to avoid placing them under direct sunlight to prevent the paint from becoming faded and blotchy.

Humidity – High humidity causes the paint to peel, decals to fall off and joints to loosen.

Dust and Dirt – Dust and dirt are usually not a big deal. However, if combined with high humidity, they can trap moisture in the air and cause some real damage to your collection when you try to clean it off.

Ensure that your display room has a fairly constant temperature of around 21°C. If you’re concerned about the humidity of the room, invest in a dehumidifier to keep the humidity at around 35 – 45%.

Image Credits: gundamkitscollection.com

Store your completed Gunpla back inside its box (in style)

Most of you would have prolly heard of how to customise the gunpla box to store your completed masterpiece. If you have not, learn how you can to store them in their originial box here.

Image Credits: Gunpla Meli

Invest in a display case if you’ve a large collection

Chances are, you might already have a display case or are considering to get one. That comes as no surprise, as many collectors like to ‘show off’ their Gunpla army.

If you have not, you can consider getting your very own Ikea Detolf. Some users online even called it the master race of display cases. It’s the go-to for display cases as it’s considered the best value for money.

Store them at Extra Space Asia

You can consider storing your gunpla collection at Extra Space Asia. Our self-storage facilities offer air-conditioned storage units with the perfect condition to store your collection, so you can have peace of mind that your Gunpla collection is safe and secure all the time!