What Self-Storage is Best for You?

If you have a cluttered home or office and need space you just don’t have, self-storage could be the answer for you. There are multiple options available for self-storage, whether you’re looking for business storage or domestic and here at Beehive, we can help you decide what is best for you.

Domestic Storage

Every house has some mess and disorder, but if your home is getting out of control, you may need the help from a self-storage. You can choose whether you want to store a few personal possessions to the contents of your whole house, decluttering your home as you go. Perhaps you are having building work or decorating done to your home and are unsure where to keep your belongings? Domestic self-storage could be your answer.

With domestic self-storage from Beehive, there are multiple sizes from 25 square foot right up to 175 square foot, so you are able to choose exactly how much space you want or need. We also offer loading bays, large corridors and handling equipment completely free of charge, giving you a stress free experience going to and from your storage space.

The best thing about having your own domestic self-storage unit is that you have free of charge access as frequently as suits you. No appointment is necessary, and only you hold the key.

Business Storage

If you’re a business owner and find that you have a lot of stock creating a mess in your premises, or you have important paperwork that seems to be filling up your office more than it should be, perhaps a business self-storage unit is the secure and flexible answer for you.

At Beehive, self-storage is not just for large businesses or cluttered homes. If you’re a start-up business and simply don’t have the spare space, you can find storage units suited to you, starting at only 12 square foot. If you’re a larger industrial business with more items to store, our space range up to 5000 square foot.

If you find your business’ stock intake increases and decreases over time, you are able to increase or reduce your storage unit’s space at any point- free of charge. Like domestic self-storage, you are able to access your units free of charge and has frequently as you deem necessary, perfect for any busy business owner.

If you’re still unsure of what self-storage unit to go for, or if you have any further questions, please get in touch with a member of the Beehive Self Storage team here- we’d love to help!

How to Declutter: Tips for a Tidy Home

Excessive clutter in any home can be a nightmare, leaving you feeling frustrated, unproductive and causing stress in every aspect of your life. Finding a place to start is often the hardest part, but by devoting some time to declutter your home, you’ll reap the rewards that include less stress, more organization and overall, a tidy place to live.

Take a look at these five simple tips to help you on the path to decluttering your living space and enjoying a stress free, mess free life. 

Tip 1: Create a “Starting Zone”

Start with clearing one area in your home. This can be anywhere, be it your computer desk, kitchen table or living room side. Wherever you decide to start, stick to the rule that nothing can be placed there unless it’s being used. Once you’ve decluttered your starting zone, keep it that way, and slowly begin to expand throughout your home.

Tip 2: Make Time for a Decluttering Weekend

Maybe not the most thrilling weekend choice, but taking time to schedule in a weekend of decluttering can really make a difference in your progress. Get your partner, family or friends involved too and get more done. Make sure you have boxes at the ready for those items you’re not sure about.

Tip 3: Take Items to a Self-Storage

It’s inevitable that there will be numerous items in your home that, although you don’t have any use or space for them, you just can’t throw away. Self-Storage units are a great way to keep those items safely tucked away, without creating clutter within your home. If you’re interested in a domestic Beehive Self-Storage unit, get in touch on 08456436100.

Tip 4: Give to Charity

Decluttering your home means you’ll come across multiple unused and unwanted items. Create a “donate” pile and fill a black bag or box to give to your local charity. You’ll be decluttering your space and mind, as well as doing a good deed.

Tip 5: Resist the Urge to Buy

Try to fight the temptation of buying new things that aren’t a necessity. A beautiful, tidy home can quickly lead to a cluttered space again if unnecessary things are repurchased. Resist the urge, save yourself money and continue to relish in your decluttered home.   

For more storage tips for your cluttered home, take a look at our self-storage options for domestic use. Alternatively, give us a call or email - we’d love to help. 

5 Helpful Ways to Organise a Cluttered Cupboard

You might have cupboard spaces that are in great need of organising, but doing so doesn’t have to be a chore. To get you started, we’ve got 5 helpful ways to organise a cluttered cupboard.

1.    Get rid of what you don’t use

It’s very easy for random and unused items to pile up in cupboards. In cases such as these, you need to haul everything out of the space and evaluate what should be kept and what shouldn’t. Weigh up in your mind how much you need each item or how often you’re likely to use it. The objects that don’t seem very important can obviously be disposed of. This exercise should reduce your clutter considerably.

2.      Organise in levels

One good trick you can use is to place your most used items at eye level; that way they’re easier to find and put back after use. Things that you use slightly less can go on the level below, and items that you rarely use can be placed on the highest level. For example, if you’re organising books, your new purchases can go at eye level, books you’ve recently finished can go just below, and any really old copies that you can’t bear to part with can go on the top level.

3.     Organise similar items together

If you have several similar items, you can put them together, which will make them easier to find. The space will come across more organised, aesthetically pleasing and uniform. This should also make it easier to spot any missed placed items.

4.      Bigger items first

It’s easier to add larger items first, then the smaller items can fit around them in whatever space is left. Trying to do it the other way around won’t work well in limited spaces; the small items will always have to be rearranged to make space for anything bigger. It’s also a good idea to pack anything that’s seriously heavy onto the bottom of your cupboard, regardless of how often you use it, so there is no risk of it breaking a shelf.

5.      Leave space for more

You’re probably going to add more items to your cupboard space in the future, which is why we’d recommend not packing everything in too tightly. You don’t want to be short on space because you’ll end up where you started; with more items than you have space. Plus, if you leave some room it will be less hassle to take out and return your belongings to the cupboard. This will help make everyday use a lot easier.

With these helpful ideas, we hope organising your cupboard doesn’t seem too daunting. We appreciate that sometimes there isn’t always space to store everything, which is why you might be interested in one of our domestic or business storage units. To make an enquiry you can call us on 08456436100.

10 Top Tips to Take the Stress out of Moving House

When it comes to moving house, careful packing is integral for a smooth move. To ensure the process is stress-free, we have 10 top tips to help you when packing. 

1.       Start packing early

It’s essential you start packing as soon as you can – this will help ease your stress levels as the moving date approaches. You don’t need to have rooms emptied months in advance, but putting away odd items you’re not going to use again is a good way to get the ball rolling.

2.       Stockpile packing material

It’s always a nightmare when you have stuff to pack but nowhere to put it all! It’s wise to create a stockpile of boxes and bubble wrap to make sure you have more than enough when the time comes. If you don’t have much yet, fear not, at Beehive Self Storage we sell all the packing materials you need.

3.       Pack the least important rooms first

When you’re starting to make serious headway and entire rooms are being stored away in cardboard boxes, begin with the rooms that aren’t used as much.

 4.       Declutter while you pack

When you’re clearing away you might come across some old belongings you didn’t know you still had. You need to take some time to carefully consider whether you need certain items or not; don’t be too hasty but remember to be realistic about what you need in your new home.

5.       Fill small boxes with heavy items

It’s far easy to carry one or two heavier items in a smaller container. The lighter items can go in a bigger box, which means the box will hold a lot more objects but will still be manageable.

6.       Big items go first

To make the most of packing space, pack bigger items first, then fill in gaps with smaller objects. However, try not to fill the box too tightly, otherwise you won’t be able to get anything out later.

7.       Heavier boxes on the bottom

When filling your vehicle remember to put heavier boxes on the bottom. It can be deceptive when the heavy objects are in smaller boxes but they’ll hold up fine at the bottom of the pile.

 8.       Label your boxes

Be specific with your labels; write on the sides and mention which room they belong in, to whom they belong to and the contents of the box itself. That way there’s a lot less confusion when unpacking.

9.       Move your furniture in first

It’s quite easy for the boxes to pile up in one room and then it becomes impossible to get the furniture in. If you put the large fixtures and furniture in first, you can negotiate the room’s layout easier and the boxes can fit around everything else.

10.   Storage units

Maybe there are certain rooms you want to focus on decorating and organising before unpacking – a storage unit gives you somewhere to put the extra boxes you aren’t ready to tackle. At Beehive Self Storage we have plenty of units ready to use.

Moving house doesn’t have to be a stressful task if it is approached systematically, and these top tips should help make the process a lot more manageable. If you’re looking for more information to make your packing woes disappear, take a look at our hints and tips on how to store items in our storage units. 

Moving House with Self Storage

Albert Einstein once said “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”. Now we are aware that the topic of self storage or moving house is not the most poetic, but Einstein’s thoughts make some sense and also when the statement is reversed. Moving house can be an extremely stressful time. Whether you’re just starting to sell your house or you’re deep into the process of moving, it’s a well known fact that moving house can be demanding and sometimes even traumatic. At Beehive Self Storage, we try to keep the easy balance that customers may be looking for when they are moving home.

Some customers use our storage facilities in order to declutter their homes to make their house look more appealing to viewers.  At Beehive Self Storage, we have smaller locker units which are useful for storing a few boxes that contain ‘bits and bobs’ which may be cluttering up your home.

 Some customers also use our storage facilities as a middle ground between their old home and their new home. Storing at Beehive Self Storage allows customers the opportunity to move out any items in their previous home, without the worry of then having to rush them in to their new home. This way, moving home can be a gradual and easy process without the pressures that come with the final moving day.

Whether you’re storing a few items of precious china or the dresser which holds the precious china, we have the facilities for you. With our units ranging from 10 sq ft to 175 sq ft, nothing is too small or big to store. You are welcome to visit the storage facilities at any time during opening hours without needing to book an appointment. We don’t charge entrance fees which means that you can visit us as little or as often as you like. At Beehive Self Storage we offer complete flexibility, we don’t see the point of making you pay for space that you are not utilising and if you need to transfer from your larger unit to a smaller unit while you gradually move into your house, we are more than happy for you to do this. Our aim at Beehive Self Storage is to make your stay with us as stress-free and as calm as possible whilst you’re moving. 

The Reality of Bereavement

Every storage story is different here at Beehive Self Storage. Each item put into storage is unique and some stories of why people need to store are happier than others. We experience storage stories ranging from new babies, weddings and exotic travel plans, to house moves due to flooding, house moves that have fallen through, relationship breakdowns and of course, family deaths.

Picture courtesy of Anna Langova

As much as we would like to always have people wishing to store goods due to happier reasons unfortunately we do have to regularly help people who require storage due to the loss of a loved one.

Relatives are often left to manage the personal effects of the deceased person, which can be the most emotional and traumatic part of all. Items may have priceless sentimental value to each individual relative and it can be difficult to determine what items to keep and what items to sell or donate, particularly when you may have the pressure of a notice period or selling the property.

It can be an extremely emotional and stressful time for relatives, therefore more and more people are considering using self storage in these circumstances. Usually, customers who have lost a loved one use a storage unit to use as a space to gradually sort and determine what items they would like to keep in their own homes, sell, donate, dispose of or keep in storage on a timescale that suits them.

Picture courtesy of Anne Lowe

At Beehive Self Storage, we don’t have any long term contractual agreements. We simply have a four week minimum term and we ask for just two weeks notice to leave your unit. You can have peace of mind knowing that the priceless possessions you have inherited are safe and secure in our clean and dry individual units. At each of our branches, our experienced and friendly team members are happy to support you to find the storage solution that would suit your requirements from our Mini Stores to our largest units. We also stock a variety of packing materials and furniture covers to help you sort and protect your loved one’s belongings.

Starting today is Dying Matters Awareness Week, which raises awareness of talking and making arrangements for the end of life before it is too late.  So perhaps take time this week to discuss with your loved one’s what belongings they would wish to be kept after they have passed away.

The Dying Matters Coalition is working to encourage people to talk about their wishes towards the end of their lives, including where they want to die and their funeral plans with friends, family and loved ones. Dying Matters

How to make your Mother’s Day

Winter is now behind us and Easter is just on the horizon. Daffodils are in bloom, lambs are in the fields and the days are looking just that little bit sunnier and are slowly getting longer.

March brings us Mothering Sunday, on the 30^th just in case you need a little reminder! 

Although it may not seem like a day to associate with self storage, it is a day devoted to your mother and we are always finding new ways to show the ones we love that we care. It’s usually shown through a beautiful card or a big bunch of Spring flowers, but what about something different this year?

For those of you that already have a storage unit, what better way to show your mother or grandmother that you care by taking a trip down memory lane. Get out those old photos and home videos and reminisce on old times. It can be great fun and gets everyone in the family involved. You could collect your old photos and scan them to make a digital memory or find your old bits of school artwork and get them framed for her.

Alternatively, perhaps a good declutter and tidy might make your mother’s day? You did move out of her house years ago but there are still the odd bits and bobs you left behind that you knew you would come and pick up eventually. You’ve been using her spare bedroom as a storage unit and now it is perhaps time to get a storage unit of your own. Our smaller units, such as a 35 sq ft unit, would easily fit those bits of furniture left in her garage and those boxes of CDs under her spare bed that you just can’t throw away. You may even have a little extra room to put those extra priceless belongings that are still in her attic.

So, we would like to know how will you make your Mother’s Day this year?

So what has love got to do with it?

Valentine’s Day is just a couple of days away – is it really one of the most romantic days of the year?

 

Each year in Britain we spend around £503,000,000 on cards, chocolates, flowers and other valentine’s gifts. Wow. That’s a massive amount of money – and for what? What is the ‘Bah – humbug’ equivalent for love?

  

Don’t get me wrong, I like a bit of romance as much as the next person, but seriously, are we getting this out of proportion? Let’s put things into perspective:

Some believe that that February 14^th was the day that the birds would choose their mates, whilst the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

 Regardless of the historical origins, the modern day interpretation is that Valentine’s Day is the day you would affirm your love for your chosen one, or if you if you are still searching for ‘the one’, you would anonymously send declarations of love and admiration. 

 

So what are you hoping for on Valentine’s Day? Are you hoping for a mysterious black velveteen box concealing a carat or two’s worth of bling? Maybe you are hoping to be whisked off for a weekend of romance in Paris, Venice or New York? Others will no doubt be happy with less flamboyant gestures, such as a bunch of handpicked flowers, a handmade card, or a cosy dinner for two.

 

Surely though, we should show people how much we care every day, rather than on just one certain day? I love getting home from work on any day of the year to find the vacuuming done, the dishwasher empty and the fire roaring. The very fact that my loved one has thought about me through the day, and made an effort to help keep our home clean, tidy and warm means a lot to me.

 

The only thing that would make it better would be the clutter disappearing. By clutter I mean the tools, the odd glove, random chargers, work boots, golf clubs, old newspapers and magazines, a tape measure, a remote control, a lone AA battery and that box of things. You know the things I mean don’t you? How on earth is that bit of metal, the old spring, half a set of Allen keys and a 2 Peseta piece ever going to be useful again? Pesetas haven’t been legal tender for 12 years... But my loved one has his clutter.

 
Maybe I should suggest that he takes out a storage unit? He could store the ‘stuff’ in a unit and free up drawers and cupboards in the house, which would mean the world to me.

Think about it: The price storage units start from is pretty much the cost of a bunch of flowers and far more reasonable than the cost of a table for the both of us at Chez Expensive (with prices expressly hiked up for this one night of the year).

Maybe I should get him a storage unit as a Valentines present?

www.beehiveselfstorage.co.uk

 

 

When you get itchy feet…

When you get itchy feet, consider storing in our square feet…

 I don’t know if you have looked out of the window recently, but it is pretty miserable here in the UK at the moment. We are all dreaming of sunnier, warmer climates and sipping on mojitos in a hammock under a palm tree. Many of us at some point feel like packing up and getting the next flight to Havana but unfortunately the reality of mortgages and rooms of furniture can bring us back down to earth fairly quickly. So, perhaps when you get itchy feet you should consider storing in our square feet to enable your travelling dreams to become a reality.

Most people would consider storing their valuables within self storage but what about your sentimental valuables? One anonymous member of our team here at Beehive has an irreplaceable ‘Yellow Ellie’, a yellow toy elephant given to her as a Christening present many years ago that she simply would not want to be without. Yellow Ellie may have lost some of her stuffing, an ear and is a little bit rough around the edges but it is these irrecoverable items that you may wish to store with us.

You may also feel that it is necessary to use a house sitter, now we aren’t the type of people who suspect everyone is a serial killer, but what if the house sitter’s dog took a particular liking to ‘Yellow Ellie’? You may arrive home to find just a lonely beady eye left. House exchanges are also becoming increasingly popular with those experiencing ‘Wanderlust’ which must involve a mutual feeling of trust between the two parties, but for peace of mind perhaps you would feel more comfortable storing some priceless or treasured belongings.

Imagine arriving off your long haul flight at Heathrow to find that your beloved Mona Lisa has ended up with a moustache and glasses at the unartistic hands of one of your teenager’s friends or your wardrobe has been raided and your designer dress has a suspicious stain that smells quite distinctly of cider and your daughter’s perfume. That just-off-holiday feeling has gone and I’m sure one thing would come immediately to mind – I wish we used self storage!

Our purpose built facility is clean, dry and insulated in such a way to prevent fluctuations in temperature which can lead to damp and humidity. You will have your own private unit that is easily accessible with trolleys and sack trucks available free of charge. We have a sophisticated alarm and monitored CCTV system to ensure your belongings are secure and we also offer insurance at competitive prices.

So why wait? If your travels last for one month or three years, we have various sizes of units to suit your storage requirements. You can store just about anything with us so whether you are renting your house for a long term trip and need to store a house full of furniture or whether it is your very own Mona Lisa or Yellow Ellie, you can store your items with at Beehive Self Storage in the confidence that they are safe and secure.

www.beehiveselfstorage.co.uk

 

Photographs 1 & 2 are courtesy of George Hodan & Karen Arnold respectively.

Here we are!

So, here it is - the Beehive Self Storage blog. Welcome along and thanks for taking a look.  Beehive Self Storage offers secure and purpose built storage across Somerset and Dorset and through our blog we'd like to tell you more about us, our teams and what we do.

What springs to mind when you hear the term 'self-storage'? If you've never used storage before it might all seem a little mysterious, or conjure up mental images of dark, cold warehouses. You might think storage only for banishing unwanted items into an abyss never to be seen again, but you couldn't be further from the truth!

Storage space can be found in many guises these days, but reputable storage companies like Beehive have facilities offering clean, vibrant and contemporary surroundings with secure storage units in different sizes.

 

As for what can be stored - the opportunities are (almost) limited only by your imagination! There are a few things which are prohibited for safety and legal reasons but otherwise the list is endless, and probably a blog in itself.

 

What would you store?