Overwhelmed with the amount of stuff you own? You could store it in a self-storage facility, which is both safe and convenient. Nevertheless, before you do so, you might want to think about a strategy for organizing and tracking your belongings. Otherwise, the clutter in your home will quickly become the same clutter in your self-storage facility.
How to make the most of your storage space and keep track of your inventory?
Using a retail-style inventory system is a great way to keep track of your stored goods. It’s easier to remember where you put your college CD collection, your yearbook from high school, or your seasonal decor if you take this approach. Keeping this in mind, here are some suggestions on how to make the most of your storage space while also maintaining an accurate inventory of the items stored there.
Selecting the items you want to keep
What to keep and what to discard is a matter of personal choice just like it is in other areas of one’s life. When we no longer need something, it’s easy to just throw it in the basement, garage, spare room, or mini storage without giving it any thought at all. As an example, would you put your great-treasured grandmother’s heirloom in your garage with the shovels and bikes? What about the things you’re saving for a loved one, like a piece of art or a promise ring? As soon as you need them, you want to keep them in a secure location. So we highly suggest hiring reliable storage solutions. With a warehouse for rent in Jeddah, you can rest assured that all of your items will be safe and sound.
Organizing and storing
If you’re going to store your things in a storage unit, be sure to pack them carefully. Especially if you’re moving long distances to Saudi Arabia. In this case, we suggest hiring logistics companies in Saudi Arabia to help you with the process. This can be done by ensuring that you have enough storage space and setting it up correctly. It’s also a good idea to put up some shelving or racks if you plan on frequently accessing your storage unit’s contents.
Packaging and labeling procedures
In general, it’s a good idea to store your things in airtight plastic containers. They’re more durable than cardboard boxes, and you can see exactly what’s inside thanks to their transparency. You should label everything, regardless of whether it’s a plastic container or a card box. In order to know what’s inside a container and avoid having to scratch off the label, consider using self-adhesive index card pockets instead of scratching it off the container. Make sure to choose trustworthy shipping and logistics companies to move your items with you to Saudi Arabia.
Writing it all down
In other words, knowing exactly what you have is essential for an effective inventory system. Each box should be numbered on every side with a permanent marker if you prefer to use a pen and paper. After that, you can make an inventory in a notebook by writing down everything you’ve put in each of the labeled boxes. Better to keep things simple. Even if you don’t write down every single cup, fork, and spoon you use, or even the number of serving trays, it’s good to have a general idea of what you’ll need. If you don’t want to have a hard time finding box number 9 from box number 29, consider loading the boxes into your storage unit sequentially as much as possible.
The best tools to help you keep track of your inventory
Do you prefer to use a computer or phone instead? What’s important is that you have a detailed inventory of your stored items, no matter how many shoeboxes or folders of postcards you’ve collected from around the world. Here are some of the best ways to keep track of your inventory on your laptop or phone.
1. Spreadsheet
Consider using a spreadsheet to keep track of every item in your storage unit. Both Microsoft Excel and Google Drive have programs you can use for free. You can sort by rows or columns using this type of inventorying system. Each box could be assigned to a column or a separate sheet. Make sure to include the item’s quantity, description, and price. Identify valuable items by their serial numbers.
2. A collection of digital images
Take a picture of each item in your storage unit with your camera or smartphone. This is suggested by the professionals at the logistic companies in Riyadh as well. Before you put the lid on each box or bin, take a photo of the contents just to be safe. It’s a good idea to photograph large items like furniture or electronics from a variety of perspectives. To record the serial number, take a picture. You can use these photos if an item is stolen while you are loading or unloading the storage unit. Make a copy of your digital files in the event that your memory card is stolen or damaged.
3. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Tags
RFID tags are a good idea for storing expensive items or business products. These tags allow you to keep track of inventory at any given time. You can also use QR codes or bar codes that can be scanned with a smartphone to label your products. So, for example, if you’re trying to sell items from your storage unit, you can just cross them off the list.
