It’s the most wonderful time of the year again; time to decorate, shop, cook, shop, prepare your house for the relative takeover and shop some more.
Black Friday is the shopping kickoff, followed by Cyber Monday, and every day and night thereafter until you have to find time to bake cookies, drink wine, and have one of many mental breakdowns leading up to the big day. After all of that shopping comes the challenge of trying to find hiding places for all of those presents. It’s harder than trying to find a parking space at the mall on Christmas Eve.
You need a strategy, or the stashing of gifts will become a logistical nightmare. Did you ever watch the kids opening presents on Christmas morning and realize that you forgot to put one or two gifts under the tree? Of course, you have no clue as to where you hid them, and now you have crying kids because you can’t find Tee Turtle or Squeakee the Baloon Dino. You need to find a solution so that this doesn’t happen again next year.
Handy Storage is your seasonal helper. Rent a convenient, secure, affordable self-storage unit to use as ground zero for gifts. Our small sizes are perfect. You can use inexpensive shelving to keep the gifts above the floor, and you can include a table to use for wrapping the presents. Flexible month-to-month leasing means that you never worry about making a long-term commitment.
Time to Party
Better yet, if you want to save money, rent a slightly larger unit and share it with friends. You can use the space not only for hiding the gifts but for wrapping them. Set up a wrapping station with a folding table, scissors, and several tape dispensers. Plan a wrapping party, complete with eggnog and snacks. Wrapping paper, gift bags, and ribbon can be supplied by each renter.
Your first task, however, is to locate the perfect self storage facility.
Choose The Right Storage Facility
If you’re going to use storage for your gifts, you need to find a facility that is secure and convenient.
Location
At this time of year, you need to consider proximity. You’ll be stopping at the unit frequently, so you’ll need a facility in your neighborhood that is close to the places where you shop and run errands.
Security
Cost is an important factor, but it shouldn’t be your only consideration. Find a reputable company with state-of-the-art security. Look for video surveillance, perimeter fencing, security locks, and electronic keypad access. You’ll also want a friendly, knowledgeable management team that is willing to answer your questions, understand your needs, and show you around the property.
Delivery
As an additional advantage, many self-storage facilities accept deliveries. You can spend a day shopping on the internet and have all of your purchases shipped to the storage facility – the ultimate convenience.
Climate Control
If you live in an area that’s subject to extreme temperature fluctuations, opting for a climate-controlled unit will be better for you and your gifts. If you plan to share with friends and spend time wrapping gifts in the unit, you want to be comfortable and your gifts should be protected from damage or humidity.
Insurance
One last thought. Don’t forget to check with your insurance agent to verify that your gifts are covered under your homeowners’ or renters’ policy. If your policy does not cover these items, you can purchase insurance from your storage company. Don’t forget to ask about a tenant protection plan.
Final Thoughts
You’ll be surprised at how much less stressful your life will be with a safe, comfortable hiding place for your gifts, especially if you bought one of the kids an electric ride-on car. You won’t have to store it in your neighbor’s living room for two months.
Just be sure to designate separate spaces for each family’s gifts. You don’t want your 95-year-old grandma your neighbor’s slinky jammies. She might want to keep them! Merry Christmas!