How Much Can a Zippy Shell hold?

Why You May Need a Professional

Our Zippy Shell franchises send out Zippy Shells for a variety of reasons. Many are starting small, and it is these small starts that reap big benefits! Clearing clutter can start with small steps or BIG ideas – and the use of a professional is a great way to start!

If you’re not sure where to start, then think about enlisting the services of a Real Estate Professional if planning on selling your home. If you just want to clear the clutter, a professional organizer may do the trick.  Both types of professionals will give you advice that will not only help you through the beginnings of de-cluttering, but also procedures and habits to take with you for a lifetime.

Real Estate Professionals walk through your house with the potential buyer in mind.  They can help you get rid of things you want to keep due to sentiment but interfere with the flow of the room.  The best part of a Real Estate Professional and a Zippy Shell is that with our safe and secure storage your sentimental and valuable items are moved out of the home, creating the flow for potential buys, but stored for your next home.

Organizing professionals help build flow (or perhaps “feng shui”) in your house and make it more efficient.  The best part of a Zippy Shell is that you can practice the “out of sight, out of mind” theory. Take those items they suggest and put them in a Zippy Shell, store it for 3 months and if you don’t “mind” them disappearing then it’s time to get rid of them for good!

Whether you’re looking to sell your home, or wanting a new home out of your old one, Zippy Shell USA franchises along with Real Estate Professionals and Organizing Professionals are the way to move this along in a flash!  Call your local Zippy Shell USA Franchise as your first step, they can put you in touch with either professional and the Zippy Way.

Organization Starts In Your Head

Sometimes organizing your material possessions has to start with organizing your mind first. We all know how busy life gets. Between work, school, children, family, and the normal responsibilities of every day, we forget to slow down and take a deep breath.

When was the last time you prioritized things in order to refuel your mind and body? Making time for yourself will lead to clearer thinking, which will lead to more efficient and effective organization of your material life. Here are some great ways to start clearing your mind:

• Exercise. Did you know that even just a few minutes of exercise (brisk walking, jogging, cycling, etc) starts clearing the cobwebs from your brain function? It’s amazing how quickly exercise can help us refocus. Take just 20 minutes before work, or during a lunch break to walk around the office or the neighborhood, and you’ll be re-energized for an afternoon of productivity!
• Write in a journal or talk to a friend. Seeing your own words on paper, or reflecting with a friend, can help you identify the major stressors in your life. Sometimes these stressors can be removed. But if it’s a necessity, like your job, thinking through it can help you to stay positive and do a few things differently to help alleviate the stress.
• Keep lists. Getting all those “to-dos” out of your head and onto paper can be an automatic relief. You don’t have to worry anymore about if you remembered to do something, you can just take a look at the handy list you made.
• Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation wrecks our ability to think clearly. It is unfortunately one of the things that goes first when we are stressed or behind on our work. Change your habits in order to make sleep a priority, and after just a few days, your mind will feel sharp and clear. The average person needs around 8 hours, so set your alarm clock accordingly!

Now your ready to live a more organized life! How do YOU stay organized? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

Saving Money Through Your Windows

Did you know that 50% of your heating costs are wasted on heat seeping out of your windows? Take a look at the graphic below and find out the ways you can save money with the proper window treatments.

How have you saved money on heating? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

The 3 Easiest Steps to Storing Your Things

Zippy Shell prides itself on being just about the easiest self-storage there is:

1. We deliver your storage trailer to you
2. You pack it
3. We haul it back to our secure facility.

It’s THAT simple! Watch the short video below if you’re aren’t convinced yet, and we promise you will be!

Do you have questions about Zippy Shell? Find us on Facebook and Twitter!

3 Tips to Protect Your Stuff For Storage or Moving

If you’re about to move or have to store some things for awhile, it’s hard to buy huge amounts of packing materials. Luckily, many of us have very useful things all around us that can be used for packing, especially breakables.

Use those plastic grocery bags. It’s hard thinking about those pesky little plastic bags filling up landfills. They cushion things very well when layered, so grab that pile of plastic bags from your pantry and pack away. You can use these over and over again, too. This way you don’t have to feel so bad about getting all those plastic bag from the grocery store!

Newspaper is great for packing items. It may get your hands a little grimy, but it washes off easily. You can recycle the newspaper when you no longer need it for your move or storage. If you know you’re moving or storing things, start saving that weekly paper you get.

Use your existing sheets and towels. Obviously you can wash them after your move/storage and use them for their original purposes later, but they are great cushioning for your dishes or other breakables. So break out those extra sets of sheets or towels and put them to good use instead of just filling another box with them.

These tips can save you a few bucks – as packing materials can be incredibly expensive. Start brainstorming about other things around your house that would be good to reuse for packing and don’t be afraid to get creative!

Let us know what YOU use to pack over on Facebook and Twitter!

5 Tips for De-Cluttering Your Home

Most people think that a clutter free home is in some far-off dream world.  Well you can have the dream world today by taking 5 basic steps to de-clutter. Once the small stuff is taken care of, a Zippy Shell can help with the BIG stuff.

The secret to a de-cluttered home...

1. Make the family responsible. Make each family member responsible for their own things. Teach children at a young age to purge the stuff they don’t need. Throw away old school papers, broken toys or unwanted clothes.
2. One year rule. If you haven’t worn it, played with it, worked on it or you’re not even sure what it is after a year – throw it away!
3. Start with what you can see. You can always tackle all those skeletons in the closets later. Many times we just skip on by the clutter that’s staring us in the eye on our tables and junk drawers.
4. Open your mail by the recycle bin. This way most of the paper ends up where it belongs. Better yet, sign up for paperless billing on all your bank accounts and save boat loads of paper right there!
5. Once a day trash pickup. Take the trash bin around your home once a day – you will be amazed at the amount of trash you find.

De-cluttering is the first step in making your home ready for your family or for sale. Once the everyday clutter is managed, think about the larger things and how they can detract buyers from your home when it is on the market.

Call and schedule a Zippy Shell meeting. Then, walk through the house with your realtor for tips on which items might need to spend some time in the Zippy Shell until you move into your new paradise!

What are your tips for decluttering? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

Zip Tips for Home Staging

One of the fastest growing real estate considerations in America today is something called “staging” your house. This means furnishing, decorating, clean-ups and ultimately arranging your home in such a way to attract increased buyer interest.

A recent national survey indicated that staged homes sold on average in 13.8 days, while non-staged homes sold in 30.9 days. Because of the housing market, staging your home is more important than ever for getting the best price when you sell.

Here are some outdoor staging tips to optimize your curb appeal, give you a competitive edge vs other homes for sale in your area, and sell your home quickly:

Ensure your flowerbeds are turned, weed free, and properly edged. All hedges should be evenly trimmed and the lawn regularly maintained. It’s a clear indication that you are a conscientious homeowner and that you value your home’s appearance. If you’re not into gardening, paying for a quick landscaping job might be well worth the investment.

Check to make sure all outdoor lighting is in good working order. Consider leaving them on slightly longer than normal to encourage potential ‘drive-by’ viewings from interested buyers during the evening hours.

First Impression: Ensure your front entryway is presentable. A great exterior accent piece is a freshly painted front door, which, when combined with a few seasonal potted plants will create a more welcoming entrance for prospective buyers.

Give things a polished feel. Polish the front doorknob or handle and replace a dented or tarnished mailbox. Make sure your home address numbers can be easily seen from the street to facilitate potential viewings.

Give things a fresh feel. Check to see if your aluminum siding or brickwork needs washing or your gutters need cleaning. If dead leaves are spilling over from your eaves troughs, buyers tend to get a negative impression.

Check the deck and patios. If you have a wood deck, make sure the stain or paint looks fresh. Good-looking patio furniture will contribute to the look of the backyard. If yours looks slightly rundown, consider purchasing a new set – something you can take with you when you move.

Don’t forget your about your lawn. Clean up yard clutter and put away the kids’ outdoor toys to help enhance the size of your yard. Also have a freshly mowed yard and keep it nice and watered throughout the time you are selling your home (hopefully only around that 13 day mark!)

If you have questions about home staging – let us know on Facebook and Twitter! We’d love to help out!

26 Ways to Save Energy In Your Home

This great infographic comes from the UK, but it’s a fantastic source of energy-saving tips! You certainly don’t need to try them all at once, but pick a couple per week for the next few months, and see what happens! Many of them aren’t even a huge inconvenience like you might expect.

What do you do in your home to save energy? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Packing Tips from Zippy!

Moving is made easy with a Zippy Shell!

We all know that moving isn’t fun. Let us just face that fact. Here at Zippy, we aim to make your life a little easier in that regard. So here are a few tips on packing:

1. Labeling is king – if you haven’t invested in a labeling machine, buy one before you start packing.  Label everything with the standard room and item.  For example, “Living Room, books.”  Number your boxes then keep a notebook with the numbers and contents.
2. Pack room by room, and take it in small chunks. Start with a room and move from one end to the other packing as you go. This should stem the confusion a little bit.
3. If you are using mobile self-storage (like Zippy!), make sure the last things you pack are the things you need the most (like the coffee maker, perhaps). That way you can unpack all the essentials then lock up your Zippy Shell when you call it a day.
4. As your house goes on the market, start packing! Why wait until the last minute to pack and move? Doing it in increments makes it easier on the mind and body!  In addition, it will lessen the clutter and your house will look great when it’s time for those open houses.
5. Don’t forget your “Open Me First” box – dish towels, set of bathroom towels for family, toiletries, Kleenex, soap, pens, labels, and some snacks for the new destination.

With Zippy Shell you can take the hassle out of moving as it is delivered directly to your door. Making plans and packing early takes the hassle out of moving and helps get everything a little bit more organized. What are YOUR moving plans?

See our Facebook and Twitter pages for moving and storage tips, as well as franchising news!