Many of us think about the need to store any unwanted furniture but we seldom think about how important it is to do it in the right way.
What are the most important aspects of storing your furniture carefully so that when you come to collect it many months or even years later, it is in exactly the same condition that you first stored it.
We have looked at all the possibilities and comes up with 6 main tips that will be very useful for anyone who is thinking of putting furniture, sports equipment, anything bulky that is taking up space into storage. You may be moving to a smaller home, renting out your existing home for a while, or going to live abroad so you have lots of pieces you want to store carefully for your return.
So where do we begin?
What’s the first thing you should do?
Make a list
It may seem obvious but it is essential that you make a list of all the things you want to store. Walk around your home, room by room, and list every item that you don’t actually use, and that you could put away to create more space. Open cupboards, climb up into the attic if you have one, clear out the basement or cellar if you have one, and you’ll be surprised how much stuff you have that you could put away for a while.
Clean and repair every piece.
Everything you put in storage must be thoroughly cleaned before you do so. Turn furniture upside down, dust and wipe properly. Make sure there are no crumbs hiding in the back of the settee – they are just the thing to attract insects. Make sure all the legs are securely screwed in to the chairs, make sure that all the cushions and covers for any piece of furniture are stored, once cleaned of course, together with the main item, so that they don’t get lost. If you’re storing a piano, have it professionally cleaned before you do, as dust can get into the keys and may affect the mechanism. You may have many books that you wish to put into storage – it’s worth the time to dust every one and give it a gentle shake so any crumbs will be removed. Dust and wash all your picture frames and the glass. Dry them thoroughly so that damp or dust does not get behind the glass and damage the pieces of art that may be valuable. Don’t store a picture with a broken frame, – get it repaired before you put it away. If it’s worth storing, then it’s worth storing in good condition.
Cover every piece and protect it
Everything that you put away must be carefully covered and wrapped in an appropriate material. Depending on what it is, you may need to use bubble-wrap, clear plastic, soft cotton sheeting. Your storage company will advise you on what to choose, and they will probably do it for you. But everything that goes into storage must go into a cover.
Pack everything in space-saving containers
Your storage company will supply you with sturdy packing boxes, as many as you need, if you are self-packing. Make sure you pack everything carefully, leaving no space within the cartons so things cannot fall against each other when the boxes are moved and lifted from place to place. Write clearly on the outside of each box what it contains.
List what you actually pack
Although you made a list before you started of all the things you would like to put away in storage, the actual list of what you do put away may be quite different.
As you are in the process of packing, you may decide to throw away certain things, sell some items, give some items away to the kids. Whatever it is, list it as it goes into the final packing box. So, you can be very sure of what you’ve got stored. It often happens, perhaps many months down the line, that people need something and can’t remember where it is in the house. If you have a comprehensive list of the items stored, you can look it up, and in one minute be able to know the whereabouts of the important piece of furniture you wanted to get hold of. Just make a phone call and it’s back home with you.
The most important tip of all – Choose the right storage company
Ribua Service Centers are situated very conveniently in 4 major destinations in the center of Israel two in Petasch Tikvah, one in Holon m and one in Tel Aviv itself. Each one of the se locations is easily accessible from all the main arterial roads throughout Israel, and our customers come from far and wide across the country because they want the Ribua Service.
Ribua is the only storage company that will give you complete peace of mind in the storage of your home, whether it is an entire household, or whether it is one precious piece of furniture. How does it work?
One phone call, and the Riubua staff, all of whom are trained into very high standards of courtesy and service, are there to answer all your inquiries. Make a list of the questions you need to ask, and they will all be answered – in English too, if that is what you need. You can be sure that Ribua will arrive when they say they will, and do the job in the time that they promise. You can be sure that your furniture will be stored in clean, air-conditioned premises, with 24 hours camera security, where your items are fully insured, and are easily accessible. If you need something extra to be delivered after the main shipment, Ribua staff will receive it for you and put it together with your packages. If you need something to be sent out, similarly Ribua will do that for you. All part of the service!