I’ll be honest with you. I’ve watched hundreds of people pull up to our storage facility and realize they forgot something obvious. Like a lock. Or a light. Or the brain power to check if the unit has a light in the first place (most don’t).
So let me save you that trip back home.
You’re moving stuff into a storage unit. You think it’s simple. You grab some boxes, toss them in the car, and go. But then you show up and the unit is dark. Or the floor is dustier than you expected. Or you realize your mattress is touching the wall and now it’s covered in concrete dust.
Annoying, right?
Here’s what you actually need to bring. Not the Pinterest version. The real one.
Your lock. And not the cheap one
People show up without a lock constantly. Constantly. They think we provide one. We don’t. Most facilities don’t. So you pull up, you’ve got your grandmother’s china in the trunk, and you can’t close the door because no lock.
Get a disc lock or a solid padlock. Those little combination locks from middle school? Someone can cut those with tin snips. Spend the fifteen dollars.
A light source
Your phone has a flashlight. I know. But your phone also runs out of battery. And you’ll be holding boxes. And you’ll drop your phone. I’ve seen it happen.
Bring a headlamp. They cost like ten bucks. Put it on your head. Now both hands are free. You look a little silly but you can see everything. Or bring a camping lantern. Just bring something that isn’t your phone.
A broom
Walk into the unit first. Before you put anything down. Sweep it. Even if it looks clean. There’s always dust and little pebbles and random crud from the last person. You don’t want that grinding into your couch fabric.
We try to keep our units clean at Nearby Storage Rentals. But we’re not perfect. And neither is any other facility. Bring a broom.
Cardboard or plastic. make it consistent
Here’s where people mess up. They use whatever boxes they found. Grocery store apple boxes. Random Amazon boxes. Old liquor store boxes (those are actually sturdy, I’ll give you that). But the problem is stackability.
When boxes are different sizes, they don’t stack straight. They lean. They wobble. They fall. Then you’re picking up Christmas ornaments off a concrete floor.
Use the same size boxes as much as you can. Or spend a little more on plastic bins. Those stack perfectly and keep bugs out. Worth every penny.
Furniture pads or old blankets
You don’t have to buy expensive moving blankets. Use your old comforters. Use beach towels. Use anything soft that goes between your wood furniture pieces. Because when you drive away and come back three months later, everything will have shifted. Wood on wood leaves scratches. Every time.
A marker. And tape
Label your boxes. But here’s the trick. Label them on the side, not the top. Because you’re going to stack boxes. You won’t see the top label. You’ll be moving boxes around trying to find your coffee maker. Label the side. Write big.
Zip ties. Just throw some in your bag
You’ll need these for weird things. Keeping a cabinet door shut. Hooking a bungee cord to something. Tying an extension cord into a coil. They weigh nothing. Bring them.
A small tool kit
You will need to take something apart. A bed frame that’s too long. A shelf that’s too tall. A table leg that sticks out. Bring a screwdriver, a small wrench, and a utility knife. That’s it. Don’t bring your whole toolbox.
Water and a snack
Moving stuff into storage is still moving. You’ll get thirsty. The nearest gas station might be ten minutes away. You won’t want to stop. Just bring a water bottle.
What not to bring
Food. Even canned food. Mice can chew through plastic and even thin metal. Don’t give them a reason to visit your unit.
Paint cans that are open. Gasoline. Propane. Anything flammable. Most leases ban this and you don’t want to be the reason a fire starts.
One more thing before you leave home
Take photos of your stuff. I’m serious. Walk through your house or garage and snap photos of what you’re storing. If there’s ever an insurance claim (rare, but it happens), you’ll need proof of what you had. Your phone photos count. Just do it.
We try to help with the little stuff
At Nearby Storage Rentals, we keep a few spare moving carts near the entrance. We have a small box of forgotten items at the front desk—markers, tape, even a loaner padlock if you really messed up. Just ask the manager. We’ve all been the person who forgot something obvious. No judgment.
Real talk for a second
You’re probably moving stuff into storage because your life is a little full right now. Too much clutter. Too many projects. A temporary move. That’s fine. That’s what we’re here for.
But don’t make it harder than it needs to be. Bring the lock. Bring the light. Sweep the floor before you load. Label the sides of the boxes.
That’s it. That’s the whole secret.
Now go load up your car. We’ll see you when you get here.
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