The purpose of this blog page is to highlight the important parts of the storage process. This blog has been brought to you by Sunset Moving & Storage. We are a local and long distance Florida moving & storage company for Atlas Van Lines. We are making this information available to potential customers so that they can be fully informed as to the moving process. We realize other companies do not make this information readily accessible, and we hope knowing this makes your decision easier. Should you ever need Tampa Movers or a South Florida Moving Company please select Sunset. With that having been said, onto storage.

This blog post will cover the following three aspects of the storage process. We will first detail how to properly prepare your household goods for storage. We will then cover the difference between short and long term storage, as well as the difference this can make to your rate. We will then finish the post by detailing what you should look for in a storage facility. From making sure the facility is properly equipped to ensuring it is secure, this part is arguably one of the most important.

Your goods must first be prepared for storage before they can be placed into your personal storage unit. Upholstered furniture must be properly wrapped in plastic. This will keep any liquids or sunlight from touching the fabric and will prevent any discoloration during moving and storage. Wooden furniture cannot be wrapped in plastic because this would cause staining when the wood breathes. Rather, all of your wooden furniture should be pad wrapped. The pads will prevent any unwanted nicks or marks. The remainder of your goods should go into boxes. Boxes can be stacked upon one another without damaging the contents, and boxes make it easier to organize and keep track of your goods. If you employed Sunset Movers to bring your goods into storage then all of these precautions have already been taken. If you are bringing your own goods into storage, or have chosen another moving company, then you should ensure the above process takes place so that your household goods are properly taken care of.

When you are storing your goods it often matters for how long you intend upon staying. In industry jargon, anything longer than six months is non-temporary storage, and anything shorter is called storage-in-transit. Generally speaking, the longer you stay the lower your storage rate is going to be. Also, some companies might be willing to waive the pick up and delivery fees if you are willing to stay long enough. Other companies will waive the first month of storage. You should always ask the company what sort of specials they run for long term storage. Whether you are storing for short or long term, however, your goods should still be taken care of, as described above, and you still need a high quality storage facility, as described below. For information on our South Florida storage click the bold to see what specials we are currently running.

Finally, we come to the importance of choosing a secure storage facility. Not all storage facilities are made equal, and this should be one of your main areas of focus when deciding between moving and storage companies. One of the most important things you can ask your potential moving and storage companies is whether or not they have received DOD certification. A company must acquire certification before the DOD will let its service men and women store their goods with that company. The DOD requires certain metrics to be met in terms of security, fire prevention, flood prevention, and financial security. First, we will explore the importance of government certification programs, and we will then give you a few questions you can ask your next moving and storage company.

• DOD Certification: The DOD requires every military moving and storage company to pass stringent requirements. For instance, the company must have been in business for more than five years, and must be on secure financial footing. This prevents you from having to worry about removing your goods from a bankrupt company. Also, warehouses must be above the 100 year flood plain, and have proper fire sprinklers and other anti-fire safety measures. This ensures your goods will never be damaged by floods or fires. Finally, all warehouses must be properly secured to prevent unauthorized access. If a warehouse has DOD certification then it means it has met all of the above criterion. All of our warehouses have been inspected and certified by the DOD.

When you speak with possible moving and storage companies, here are a few questions you can ask to get a better idea of the company you are dealing with.

1. Is your warehouse air-conditioned?
2. Does your warehouse have a backup generator?
3. Does your warehouse have sprinklers?
4. Is your warehouse above the flood plain?
5. How long has your company been around?

Through paying attention to the above information, and asking the right questions, we believe you can choose a professional moving and storage company. Remember, not all moving companies are properly equipped to store your goods for long periods. Our Tampa Bay moving company and South Florida Movers can professionally handle your goods, rest assured. As you can probably guess, all of our warehouses have been DOD certified. This means your household goods are being stored in a professional and secure facility. Should you have any further questions about the moving process feel free to browse our blog and website. Should you wish to speak with with someone from our company feel free to give us a call at anytime!