IamTed's blog

Mr. Clause

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST

Not everyone with the last name Clause is named Santa. I found that out the hard way. Clause is actually a common name is some parts of the world. It is as common as Brown, or Jones, or Peters in very remote locations around the world. So do not be so quick to assume the Mr. Clause is named Santa because it could just as easily be Bob or Andrew. And they all need vehicle storage .

Christmas Reindeer

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST

Santa Clause and his Reindeer are really just long distance movers . They take all the good and toys they make at the south pole and deliver them to deserving little boys and girls all around the word. If Santa used a moving truck it would have to be a magical moving truck and he could store the items in a magical storage unit until Xmas. I wonder what the reindeer would do if Santa traded them in for a big moving van.

Feliz Holidays

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST

My favorite thing to do in elementary school during the holidays was to hear about what different people around the world did to celebrate Christmas. I like the holidays and the different customs that many different countries have. This is probably responsible for the overwhelming sense of wanderlust. I just want to send movers to my house to pack me up and take me away.

I Me Me Mine

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

I am applying to a school in Singapore. It is a 2 year program and it may be just the thing I need to spark the adventure in my life that I am currently looking for. I think I would like to travel and I do not even have to learn a different language because it is all in English. The only thing is I am going to have to pack up all my belongings in long term storage because I am certain I cannot drive a moving truck to Singapore. At least not without getting it wet.

Seeing is Believing

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

Most times the best thing to do is to visit your potential outdoor storage facility. This way there are no surprises about what the facility looks like are what they have for often. They let you know what security they have to offer and if the price is too good to be true you definitely want to check out the space. That's the only way you know you are getting the best for your buck.

Random Objects

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST

I need a storage unit . Stat. I just won an auction on a lot of trash. Well it is not exactly trash but I treasure trove of random objects. Let me explain, I am an artist and I make a lot of found object pieces so this really cheap lot of random things is honestly pay dirt. Thing is, it is literally dirty so I want to store it somewhere until I can sort through it. Do not need anymore trash in the house.

Meek and Mild

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

There are times in life when you will need a mini self storage unit of some sort. If you find that perfect spot, with the hours that work for you, and amazing price, good staff, safe facility. Never let it go. Keep it for the just in case, even if you don't have anything to store at the time. One day you will, or a family member will, or just a friend. And how cool would you be if you could help them out. Find Storage. Keep Storage.

No Trash for Old Men

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

I like a good clean storage space . When you are old the last thing you want to see cluttering up your space is trash. Luckily my storage location was kept up by an excellent management team that made sure that every thing was running really safe and secure. I had to make a mental note of this so that whenever I needed storage again I would look for good friendly managers.

Celebrities

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

I used to be a big fan of celebrity magazines. SO much so that I bought 100s of them. Literally thousands. It was a really bad habit and there are still times when I am drinking some mocha chaca latte drink, when I crave to browse the pages of celebrity weekly or Canadian Celeb pages. I need a storage warehouse for all the mags I have.

Weather in Vain

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Sometimes you need to protect your things from the weather in mini storage . It makes sense that you do not want your stored goods to be exposed to rain, sleet, or snow because these things are detrimental to all just about everything. Some facilities even offer covered parking spaces to help protect vehicles and boats from the elements as well.

Bling Bling

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

You just never what people store in storage units. People choose to have self storage for various reasons. Sometimes they even need self shelving inside the unit to help with quick and easy retrievals of items. I wonder what is the strangest thing in a storage unit. What if someone was storing diamonds and rubies and gold.

Black Friday

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Do you think that there is a mad rush on mini storage units the day after US thanksgiving, otherwise know as BLACK FRIDAY. I think some progressive mom probably rents units to hide Santas goodies, and the amazing deals that they got by venturing out on BLACK FRIDAY. If you think about it, storing Christmas presents in a storage unit is a good idea, the kids will never find them.

Dont Stop Thinking About Tomorrow

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

When you are looking to get things organized it is best to think ahead. Self organizers work best when they are well though out and planned meticulously. I am not so good at planning, that is to say that I do not like to do it. But my horoscope said I should get things that I have been putting off done today.

No Long Term Lease or Contract

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

I like things that don not have strings attached. When looking for international self storage it is important to look for facilities that do not require to sign up for a certain amount of time. Many places that have dirt cheap rates try to lock you in to a long term agreement and they will charge you out the wazoo when you try to get moved out early.

Password Junction

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

These days everything has a password or PIN numbers. Everything from emails and bank accounts to billings websites and telephones. In this day and age it is crucially important that we make sure that things are secure, and the best way to do that is a secret code. When looking for secure storage make sure you look for thinks like pass code entries and video surveillance.

As a matter of opinion...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EDT

Never pretend to be a one of the self organizers if you are not good at organizing. It will not be beneficial to anyone. Let the moving and storing organizers do there job. If you are good at organizing you will find that you help make a move easier and much more efficient. There are pros and cons to both.

Band Practice

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT

I sometimes wish I was in a band. But I do not have any musical talent so I can only pretend to be in a band when I play video games. If I had a band I would call it Manchester Self Storage and our story would be that we used to practice day and night in a storage space where we were discovered by a record agent visiting his climate controlled space.

On visiting London

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EDT

I once wrote a blog about London, Ontario, and ever since then I have been wanting to visit. It seems like such a beautiful peaceful little town. I remember them having lots of green spaces and parks and trails. All of which I enjoy. Sometimes I consider putting all my stuff into temporary storage and running away to Canada.

Packing Miracles

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EDT

I used to be half of a moving company . With all the moving I did, I became really good at packing trucks and storage units. I can remember a time when we got so much stuff into a 5x10 it was amazing. We made really good use of the height of the unit and we packed things as tight as tetris.

Trust a Good Deal

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EDT

Have you ever heard a deal that was too good to be true. Well what happens when it is true. Sometimes you have to let go of your disbelief to find good deals. Sometimes you find high quality cheap self storage when you least expect it. So do not be afraid to trust a good deal, sometimes its the for the best.

Mean Potato

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EDT

I have a lot of funny phrases that I spout of randomly for the amusement of my friends. One of them I use is mean potato and its just something you use generally if some one is acting foul or in a foul disposition. It usually makes them laugh, which sometime makes them madder. I have a lot of gems like this, so many that I need a storage building for them.

Pen Pals

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EDT

When I was 12 I used to have a bunch of pen pals. They lived all over the world and we would write pretty regularly. One of my best pals was a young lady from Canada. Her name was Lucy and I do not remember much about what we used to talk about. I was 12, so it probably consisted of video games and fart jokes. But I do remember once she told me that she was moving to America and that a big moving truck had come and taken all of things away.

French

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EDT

Sometimes I think it would be cool to speak French. But the French language is so light and airy that I think it would sound cumbersome in my very heavy rustic voice. But it would be nice to sell local self storage in my French. That would be a very romantic sounding storage call. French is the language of love.

Thought Process

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EDT

When calling around and finding prices for storage many callers are simply focused on the main details. PRICE. Not many consider the other things involved with the process. It is a good idea whenever possible to bring these other details in to their thought process. Try mentioning truck rentals if the facility has them available. Most facilities sell moving boxes so it is always a good idea to mention these.

Born Better

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EDT

I have learned that most things in life are not created equal. Off brand mayo is not as good as Miracle Whip. The same is true for storage facilities not all storage is created equal so you definitely need to check things out and make sure that you are getting the best value for the best price, or you might end up with low budget vegetable spread.

Secret Shopper Find Storage

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EDT

Being on the opposite end of a storage call is a pleasant change. It is quite fun to pretend to be the caller after taking hundreds of storage calls yourself. There are many small things I get a kick out of doing since I'm the caller and not the callee. One thing I love to do is interrupt in the middle to ask a question that they will inevitably get to, like access hours or security features. It is a pleasant change of pace to ask, How much are your storage rooms ? instead of saying I can certainly help you out with that.

Safety and Security

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EDT

When trying to find local self storage , safety and security should be your top concerns. Make sure you ask about the security features, if they have video cameras and passcode acessible gates. Also be sure to ask if there is an on-site management team in place to make sure the facilitity is always in tip top shape.

Better Late than Never

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EDT

I was hoping to find a storage container to store some books that I have. I wanted to move into at the beginning of August, but due to some financial difficulties I had to postpone my move in date. But I think it was kismet because now that I have my funds in order, I was able to find a storage place with a really good deal on it.

Good Morning

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EDT

I have always been an early bird. I cannot even force my self to stay asleep after 8:30am. I just love mornings and waking up to get my day started. I think people who sleep till afternoon are pretty much sleeping their lives away. I just wish I had this get up and go when it came to other parts of my life, I tend to procrastinate a lot. You should never procastinate when looking for indoor storage , because while you sleep the space you need may be rented out.

Drop the Boxes

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EDT

For some reason I never feel comfortable leaving a payment in drop boxes . It just never feels quite right to me, and there usually no way to verify that you actually left it. Despite my hesitancy I use them often and I have never had a problem. I sometimes have the same distrust of mail boxes.

Packing Tips for Moving Trips 2

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EDT

Tip 2

My next tip is about boxes. Boxes are the building blocks of moving. A great tip on getting free boxes is to call around to your local grocery store and ask when they do their restocking. Most stores have specific days when boxes are going to more readily available so its a good idea to do a little research to save some money. If you need specialty boxes like wardrobe boxes storage facilities are an excellent resource to find affordable moving and packing supplies.

Packing Tips for Moving Trips 1

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EDT

So the last few months I have become quite adept at packing. I have actually taken pictures of some of my better pack jobs. I have said it before, and I will say it again, storage is a lot like tetris. You have to think out side of the box, no pun intended. Here I will reveal some of my favorite tips and tricks to get you all moved in.

Tip 1

Make use of all your space. Including nooks and crannies that are formed from putting larger pieces of furniture together. If you fit the smaller things into tight spaces it utilizes all of your space efficiently and it makes things more stable while you're driving the truck.

Free Storage

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EDT

When you need a storage unit the best price is always free. I actually need storage this month for a few weeks while I am between apartments. My lease goes to the first of August but I will be moving out early to give my landlord time to get the apartment for the next tennants. Luckily, he is allowing me to store my things in an empty apartment, and he is not charging me.

Heavy Weight Champion of the World

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EDT

On one of the very first moves for the moving company my roommate and I run. We had to move one of the heaviest TVs I have ever witnessed in life. It was an older model, probably one of the original flat screens, so it weight about 1,000 lbs. I exaggerate but that is what it felt like. It took four people to move it and we almost lost it twice. The only thing good about moving that TV was that it was on the first floor so we did not have to go up any steps.

Get Something Locked In

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EDT

There are usually many storage solutions for every situation. As a call rep I try to find the best solution for each individual person based on there needs, time frame, priorities, and preferences. People like the option to choose what works best for them, so when ever possible I try to present a few options for the caller just to keep them involved in the call.

Once you get them to choose it is pretty easy to lock them in to a unit and get it reserved for them. The best plans are those that are set in plastic.

Deep Space Storage

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EDT

Today I was watching one of my favorite shows, Star Trek, and the captain, Ben Sisko, told this guy Middleton, that since he had abandoned his post on Deep Space Nine and become a traitor to the Federation of Planets, that his personal belongings had been placed in storage . For some reason this blew my mind because I never thought about there being space designated for storage in outer space. I wonder if they have stasis storage?

Save Time and Money Tip 1

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:00:00 EDT

When you are looking into a storage space, it is a good idea to do a little research to find what the best value is. I say best value and not best price because the cheapest price is not always gonna be the best deal.

Tip 1

Location of the storage facility is important because you really will not save much if you get a good price but the facility is 10 miles out of your way. What you save in the storage cost you will lose in the price of gas. You also lose a lot of time every time you need to access your unit. Paying the extra ten dollars will be well worth the petro and stress you save from dealing with the commute.

Piano Storage

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:00:00 EDT

My second job has about fifty pianos of various designs and sizes in storage. Everthing from a little spinnet to full grand pianos. They are all in various degrees of disrepair, some we will actually be dropping off at the dump, but the majority are being moved to our brand new climate controlled industrial sized storage space.

I am excited to finally have the pianos in a space where we will actually be able to reach them, and they will not have to be packed so tightly. This will make things a lot easier for the movers as well as the piano repairmen. I am looking forward to the added efficiency this new state of the art storage unit will provide.

Little Green Trooper

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EDT

I used to have a little green car. It was my favorite and I had a lot of fun times in that car. I drove all over Missouri for parties and fraternity events, and I even made a trip to Wisconsin and Tennessee. It was a great car, very dependable, sometimes I would go for days driving on empty. It was trooper.

That is until it broke down. It wasn't too bad, I could have easily gotten fixed if I could have afforded it. But I could not at the time and it actually got towed because my landlord thought it was abandoned. I was coming back to get it, I would have gotten it sooner but I had no where to put. I wish I would have thought about auto storage or a parking space. I could have saved my little green trooper.

Wine Storage

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EDT

One day I would like to have enough wine to need wine storage . I love wine and Im actually in a local wine club where I pay a small fee and I get invited to wine tastings and offered really great wine at low prices. The only thing is I never keep a bottle long enough to accumulate a true collection. Im not a drunk or anything I just have a lot of friends and I like to share.

Id like to invest in small wine fridge for my new apartment. I will be checking prices and hoping I can find an affordable one.

To pod or not to pod

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:00:00 EDT

Recently I have seen a few comercials for portable storage units. They look pretty cool. It is the sort of idea you see and you think, Why didnt I think of that.

It works pretty simple the company delivers an empty storage pod to your house. You fill it up with your furniture and the other items you wish to store. Then you give them a call back and they pick up your unit and take it back to their warehouse. Some companies even offer to ship your items across the nation. This is supe cool and allows you to save money on movers in some cases. Although my moving company has been hired to unpack a pod.

Pack Light

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EDT

I am in the process of looking for a new apartment and there are a lot of costs associated with this. I have to pay an apartment deposit, pet deposit and the first months rent. I have got to pay to get bills switched over in my name. There is more but If I keep listing them I might get a little depressed.

Anyhoo, the cheapest thing I can do is get some moving boxes and packing supplies. That will help me, cause I am definitely gonna need them. I do not want to pack that much stuff so I plan to get rid of a lot of things. It seems like over the years and I have accumulated a lot of junk. So I am really looking forward to downsizing. I am taking some advice from Ms. Badu. Pack light.

Dont forget your parking space

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EDT

During the summer months many people like to invest in recreational vehicles. The market is filled with people looking for a deal on RVs, trailers and boats as they are lots of fun for families during summer. When thinking of purchasing a recreational vehicle its always important to check to see if youll need to storage for it because this will factor into the price of monthly upkeep.

Many neighborhoods dont allow parking of boats and RVs in residential areas, because some people see them as an eye sore. So it might be a good idea to consider RV storage . Many facilities that specialize in parking rec vehicles will also offer additional services that make owning a motor home really even more convenient. The services include washing and dumping stations and propane refills they really are a one stop location for everything you need to keep your RV pristine and running like a champion.

There are many costs that are involved when buying and maintaining and RV. So dont forget your parking space.

Keepsakes & memories...

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:00:00 EDT

Have you ever went through a stack a photographs and found that somehow they'd melded together? I hate when that happens, because they tear and rip and little fragments of the back of one picture are left on the front of the other. Sometimes it covers up a face you want to remember, or you end up ripping out a priceless moment.

When storing you definitely want to make sure that you have a climate controlled storage unit just to avoid missing out on those wonderful moments you don't want to forget. Climate control units are also great for upholstered furniture, high end electronics, and fine antiques.

Size Counts

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EDT

Recently I was helping a friend move into a storage unit . We packed up everthing in her house and hauled it off to the unit she had rented. When we got there we were dismayed to find that all of her stuff was definitely not going to fit into the storage space. We looked at it dumbfounded for second, then we began a verbal arrangement of the items each of us giving input on the best way to fit the things in, even though it was pretty much impossible. That lead to arguments and a little yelling out of shear frustration.

We ended up leaving a few things out, and the next day we were able to find her an additional unit and move in the remainder of her stuff. This gave me first hand experience on how important narrrowing down a size is for the caller. I know I'll be taking a little more time with that because I don't want anyone else to have that hassle.

Moving Plan

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EDT

My lease is up in a just two months, and I am still not sure what I'm going to do. I did not resign my lease, so I have to go to find a place and fast. I was hoping to begin my world travels, but it looks like I will not be moving for another six months yet.

Which is fine. I do not mind waiting a little bit as long as I know that I will be in a good place when I finally do. This also gives me time to maybe save up to get a car, and I will be able to get more things in order for this big move to destination unknown. Moving is always such a hassle and I think I am just going to get rid of a lot of things, and just really downsize so I would just be taking the bare essentials. I might just junk it or sell it because it is all pretty much worthless at this point.

I still have a lot of things to get in order and I'm not stressed like I should be. Maybe I am coping with stress better, or maybe I am in denial, or it could just be procrastination. Yeah that is it. It is procrastination. I have always had a problem with that.

I have more to say, but I will finish it later.

Packing is like Tetris

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:00:00 EDT

There are many things in life I do not understand, Like how a needle placed on a spinning piece of vinyl creates music, but there is one thing I am becoming an expert in and that is moving .

My roommate and I have started small moving company, and we get calls on a fairly regular basis to move peoples stuff all over the city. I have also found that I am becoming extremely good at packing a moving truck or a storage unit. I am sometimes amazed at just how much stuff we can fit in to some pretty tight places. I am actually starting to enjoy the challenge and I get sorta excited when I fit a couch and china cabinet together like two well placed tetris pieces.

It has started this recurring dream, in which I have to pack everything I love into a 5x5 but it will not all fit, so I have to make snap judgments on what to keep. I always wake before I make a decision though. I wonder what this means, probably that I need a new hobby, or at least time to pursue the ones I already have.

14 Pianos

Fri, 15 May 2009 22:00:00 EDT

Today I had the pleasure of moving 14 electronic pianos in to the newly renovated campus piano lab. My day began bright and early at 8:00 am. I was truly dreading this move because we were one staff person short, so it left me to do most of the grunt work.

So we had to roll these pianos about 10 feet and then carry them down two flights then roll them another 10 feet. THEN after we finally got them all moved in the director of the piano lab decides that each piano needs to be cheated up just a few inches. This cheating space back and forth lasted for about 20 minutes while she micro managed and knit picked.

Each piano came with a brand new bench, which we also had to assemble. The only bright spot was I was able snag a few free cardboard boxes to organize some things in my closet, whenever I get around to doing that.

Wanderlust

Thu, 14 May 2009 22:00:00 EDT

I am preparing for a big move soon. I am approaching my Get of Town deadline and I still have not chosen where I want go. I find myself cruising around my globe looking at different locations and wishing I could take a trip here and there just to interact with the people and to check out the sites to see if it is a place I can actually envision myself living. Choosing where to go is the fun and exciting part, the hard part is the logistics.

Packing up and moving is sure to be an ordeal. I have go to find an apartment and pack all my things up. I have been considering a portable storage unit. It seems like the easiest way to get my things from point A to point B. And I have a lot of stuff, perhaps a bit of spring cleaning is in order.