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5 Ways to Use Portable Storage While Selling Your Home

Beautiful home exterior shot

You’ve decided to sell your home. Now what? There are a lot of other homes on the market, so what will help yours stand out? And how can you use portable storage to help you gain a seller’s edge?

Portable Storage offers you the ability to store your stuff without making multiple trips to a facility and helps you prepare your home, whether during a remodel or staging it for potential home buyers. We’ve gathered the 6 tried and true ways to use portable storage while selling your home.

Removing Clutter

As every good real estate agent will tell you, decluttering your home is one of the best things you can do. Not only will you feel better about a neat and organized home, it makes the home appear more spacious. It’s also good to remove some personal items so the potential buyer can envision their own stuff in your home. Having a portable storage unit on-site makes this fast and easy, giving you the time and space to go through your things and store or throw away those items you want to remove from the home.

Staging a Garage Sale

It happens. We collect a lot of stuff and when it comes time to put your house on the market you wonder what will I do with all this stuff!? The Zippy Shell portable storage container is a great solution. It’s delivered when you want it and you can move items from garages, attics, unfinished areas, and interior rooms into the unit and sort through it all. Mark them with tags, throw away what you don’t want to sell, and then make host your garage sale!

Updating Your Home

One of the key things that probably needs to be done prior to receiving potential homebuyers is investing in a few key updates. Having a Zippy Shell portable storage container on-site makes this super easy! Move the room contents into the Zippy Shell container, which is conveniently on-site, make your updates, and then move the contents back into the home.

Cleaning Your Home

Another great way to utilize an onsite storage unit is for thoroughly cleaning every square inch of your home. Potential homebuyers not only want to see a well-organized and neat home, but also a home that is clean and sparkling. To reach every nook and cranny, it’s best to move room contents into the portable container, thoroughly clean the room, and then put back only what you need.

Staging Your Home for Buyers

Finally, having a Zippy Shell container available means easily removing home contents or open house weekends or storing those special pieces that only are in the home when it is staged for sellers.

Summary

Preparing a home to sell is not easy, but these tried and true ways to use portable storage during the process can make it much simpler. Zippy Shell’s onsite portable storage containers are the super convenient way to make your home it’s best so it can sell fast and for top dollar.

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Moving and Storage Made Easy and Safe

People Packing

Zippy Shell makes moving and storage easy and safe.  During the COVID-19 pandemic safety and social distancing are essential.  Zippy Shell puts the safety of our employees and customers first by following the CDC’s guidelines on sanitation and by providing our drivers with necessary protective equipment while in the field.  Click here to watch our latest video to learn more about the safety measures that Zippy Shell is taking.

One of the biggest advantages of using a mobile moving and storage company during COVID-19 is being able to follow social distancing guidelines.  Your sanitized portable storage container will be dropped off at your location, you will pack your items into the container, and only you will have a key to the container.  When you are ready to schedule pick up, your container will be delivered to its next destination with minimal contact.  Our warehouse employees and drivers are using sterile gloves while handling your container. 

Zippy Shell is open and ready to serve your moving and storage needs in the safest way possible.  Call today or click here to get a quote!

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Creating Space for College Students Coming Home for the Summer

College Students

What fun activities do you have planned for your college student who is home for the summer? Making their favorite meal, game night, movie night, or even a family vacation are all great ideas. But the more important question is, what are your plans for all the stuff your college student will be bringing home for summer break?

Inevitably, your college student will bring home more things than they left with last fall making your home feel more cramped and cluttered than usual. Check out our favorite tips for creating more space in the home so you can enjoy the time spent with your students in a peaceful environment this summer.

  • Find a proper “home” for everything. Staring at boxes for a few days is okay, but it is not something you want to do all summer long. Even if the boxes are going to remain packed, find a place out of sight for them to live for the summer. Trust us!
  • Invest in a few pieces of furniture that can double as storage. Multifunctional furniture such as ottomans, coffee tables, or benches that contain storage areas can stylishly hide items away.
  • Look up! Installing overhead ceiling racks in your garage and closets is a quick and easy way to store items that are not needed regularly. But don’t store anything too heavy up above – no boxes full of books or large appliances! Use small containers that you can easily maneuver up and down.

Store it. Create space in your home by storing everything that will not be needed by either you or your student over the summer. Pack those extra items in a Zippy Shell container and send them off to a secure, climate-controlled storage center. Then sit back and breathe a sigh of relief in your clutter-free space. When you are ready, you can bring everything back to your home.

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Whoa! You can’t pack that!

Zippy Shell Portable Storage Container

It’s moving day and you’re all geared up. You have the portable storage container, boxes, blankets, tape, packing foam, newspaper and, most importantly, the help! You’ve been organizing for weeks and your plan is set. The kids are at grandma’s and you’re exercising your supervisory skills when you see Brad pick up that tank of gas in the garage and start to move it into the storage container.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, Brad!

There are some things that you never want to pack or store and it’s important that you set those things aside well before your moving commences. You may either want to dispose of them or haul them personally. This is a friendly reminder of what NOT to pack or store:

  1. Important documents: We mean things like birth certificates, marriage and death certificates, bank information, deeds, bills of sale, wills and social security information. These sorts of things should always be kept with you when you move to your new place. Ideally, they would be placed in a fire-safe place when you arrive at your new home.
  2. Illegal items: Seems like a no-brainer, but when you move across state lines, sometimes the laws change. Consider leaving firearms, ammunition, and even prescription drugs for someone to handle personally.
  3. Perishables: Food spoils quickly and can easily attract bugs and rodents into your things, as well as a stench that may stick to your items. The only exception to this rule is if you are moving a short distance on the same day. You might be able to pack a cooler and keep a few things, but your best bet is to toss it or give it to the neighbor and start over.
  4. Hazardous Materials: “No, Brad, you can’t pack that gas can in the portable storage container!” There are lots of things in your home that may be considered hazardous when moving. It’s best to consult your moving company for their specific list, but things like aerosol cans, fingernail polish remover, fertilizer, charcoal, cleaning supplies, ammunition, fire extinguishers, and gas cans are just a few you may not have thought about. Always consult with the experts at Zippy Shell if you are unsure.

If you’d like to know more about what can and can’t be packed in a Zippy Shell portable storage container, please ask one of our representatives for a complete list. We look forward to helping you move one day soon.

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Make Your Piedmont Triad Move Easier with a Portable Storage Container

Zippy Shell Portable Storage Container

When it comes to moving into or out of the Piedmont Triad area, you have a lot of decisions to make. And it’s only natural to have some anxiety over the moving process. The team at Zippy Shell knows all too well how stressful moving across the street, across town, or across the country can be for families. To help ease the burden, we want to explain how ditching the moving truck rental and using a portable storage container instead can make the whole moving process easier and less stressful.

Pack at Your Own Pace

Zippy Shell can deliver a portable storage container or containers to your home at your convenience. You will be able to take your time loading them up and let go of the feeling of being rushed. Delivery dates and storage dates can all easily be rescheduled when you use a portable storage container.

Ease of Loading

Unlike moving truck rentals, portable storage is loaded at ground level. This eliminates the need for difficult and dangerous loading ramps. The innovative design of our containers allows for placement in tight spots and at tough angles. And if you need assistance, we can even recommend professional help to get your stuff loaded into the Zippy Shell container.

Leave the Driving to Us

Leave all the worries of sad fuel mileage, uncertain safety, and being unaccustomed to driving a large, unfamiliar vehicle behind! You have more important things to attend to during a move. And if you are moving to or from an area with intense traffic, you really don’t want to be weaving in traffic with a worn-out truck full of your precious things. When using a Zippy Shell portable storage container, all you need to do is load and unload your container. Leave the driving to us! After we pick up your loaded container, we’ll take it to a secure storage facility or transport it directly to your destination.

Added Flexibility

Portable storage containers give you added time during your move. Send the things you need right away to the new place and then put your other things in storage. Doing this will mean you have less hassle on moving day and you can leisurely unpack all the extra stuff. The added flexibility of being able to move some things while storing others is a convenience not provided when using a moving truck rental. And if you need temporary storage between move-in and move-out dates, the Piedmont Triad Zippy Shell can take care of that as well.

We invite you to compare Zippy Shell to moving truck rentals. We think our portable storage and moving containers offer tons of flexibility with a predictable cost that will make your Piedmont Triad move much easier. 

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How to Store Items During a Home Renovation

Home Renovation

A growing number of homeowners are making the choice to renovate their home instead of relocating. Home renovations are fun and exciting. You get to transform the home you already love into a better version of itself. There is a reason so many shows are dedicated to the process! But unlike the edited version of home renovation on TV, there are messy parts to upgrading to your dream home. One of the biggest challenges you will face is figuring out what to do with all the furniture and other personal belongings that are currently being held in the room or rooms you want to update. You don’t want the added stress of worrying about your possessions getting broken or covered in dust or paint during the process. Have you considered using a portable storage container?

Convenience

A portable storage container is like having your very own storage facility located right on your property. You gain the convenience of packing up your storage unit right from your home as opposed to making several trips driving to and from a storage facility.

On-site storage containers provided by Zippy Shell feature barn-style doors and ground level design making the containers very easy to use. There’s no need to worry about going up and down a ramp! Our innovative design allows for placement in tight spots and at tough angles. Zippy Shells can fit anywhere including city streets. While the containers are on your property, a block will be placed on the hitch that only we can remove to prevent anyone else from taking off with your valuables.

Flexibility

Portable storage containers are a popular option during remodeling because they provide you with the ability to completely clear items out of your home while also maintaining the flexibility of having those items on hand when you need them. If your project is going to take a few months and you don’t want to keep the container on your property, that is okay too. We can pick it up at your convenience and store it in a secure, climate controlled facility until you’re ready to have it back. Of course, any number of things out of your control can cause delays during a remodel. Delivery dates and storage dates can all easily be rescheduled when you use a portable storage unit.

Sounds easy, right? Zippy Shell makes storage during a home renovation simple, convenient, and affordable. You can feel confident knowing that your furniture, appliances, and personal belongings are safe and within easy reach during the chaos of remodeling. Learn more about our storage solutions by visiting www.zippyshell.com today!


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5 Tips to Help You Safely Move Your Aquatic Pets

Fish

Many people are familiar with the benefits of having a pet, especially a dog or cat. But you may not know that there are also benefits of having an aquatic pet, specifically fish. According to Deborah Cracknell, a marine biologist, “Fish tanks are often associated with attempts at calming patients in doctors’ offices and dental waiting rooms.” Besides helping to alleviate anxiety, here are some more benefits of our aquatic friends:

  • Helps people with insomnia
  • Helps decrease high blood pressure
  • Helps people suffering from dementia
  • Helps kids with behavioral problems
  • Helps children learn about biology & chemistry
  • Helps teach children responsibility & inspire learning

Now that we know how beneficial it is for pet owners of all ages to have aquatic pets, let’s learn how to safely move them to a new destination. If you have more specific questions regarding the health of your fish during a move, we recommend you contact a veterinarian with aquatic pet knowledge.

Tip #1: Before the move, do not feed your fish for approximately 24-48 hours. Don’t worry! Healthy fish can survive a week or more without food.

Tip #2: Have the proper materials to store your fish in for the move. For short moves, bag the fish individually and keep in a dark place. For long-distance moves, add pure oxygen to the bag. Maintain a normal temperature for your fish by storing in a sealed cooler. Do not leave fish in extreme heat or cold.

Tip #3: Be sure and pack your aquarium last and unpack first to help get your fish back into its normal habitat quicker. Take measures to safely pack your aquarium to avoid damage.

Tip #4: To preserve as much of the good bacteria needed to maintain the tank environment and cut down the cycle time for your tank, store as much of the water and rocks from the tank as you can. If your move lasts longer than six hours, you will need to do a complete refresh of the water and system.

Tip #5: When you reach your destination, set up your aquarium as soon as possible. Allow fish to acclimate to the new temperature and environment by keeping them in the bag, in the tank, for approximately 60 minutes. Once you release them from the bag, they may act a little unusual as they get use to their new habitat. Go ahead and feed them as well.

Continue enjoying the many benefits of your aquatic pets by reducing the risk of harm during a move with these tips. And remember, if you need to store some items that aren’t making the move with you, consider a climate-controlled facility with Zippy Shell!

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3 Step Plan for a Long Distance Move

Young couple eating while unpacking belongings

Long distance moves are a major life event. The key to making sure yours goes smoothly is to make a plan and stay organized. The long-distance moving tips below will help you remember some of the key items you need to do ahead of time in order to have a successful move.

  1. The first step of your plan is deciding who is going to move your belongings. Choosing a moving company can be overwhelming. Our best advice is to get referrals, do your research to look for red flags, and then ask for in-home estimates. If you would prefer to have a little more control over your moving process, consider using Zippy Shell. Whenever you’re ready to move, we’ll drop off our Zippy Shell unit at your home. Then, you can either take up to three days to pack it yourself, or we’ll do it for you. When you’re all packed up, we’ll pick up the trailer and drive it to your new home.
  2. Spend extra time downsizing your belongings before you pack. You should get rid of unwanted items before any move, but especially before moving over a long distance. If you don’t use it, love it, or need it to survive, it doesn’t need to make the move with you. Decluttering can have positive effects on your mood to, as well as making packing and unpacking much easier in your new home!
  3. Create a change of address checklist. Changing your address requires updating your information in a lot of different places – utilities, insurance, doctors, banks, license and registration, post office, etc. And it gets even more complicated when you’re moving a long distance. Make sure to plan ahead and research what all needs to be updated in plenty of time before your move.

Did you know Zippy Shell offers 30 days of free storage for customers who are moving cross country and need to store items until they’re ready to move into their new home? Your items will be stored in one of our secure facilities until you arrive. Call Zippy Shell today at 888-947-7974 or go to our website to get a quote for helping you with your moving and storage needs!

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4 Tips to Make your Fall Move a Breeze

Couple doing work during a move

Now that we are beginning to say goodbye to summer, it’s time to get ready for that fall move. There are some wonderful advantages to moving in the latter months of the year, but the most obvious is the lack of oppressive heat that can severely impact a productive moving day in many parts of the country. Fall brings a new air of excitement with the leaves changing colors, cooler temperatures, and hints of holidays are starting to blossom.

We hope you find these four tips for a fall move helpful!

Shop to negotiate lower moving expenses. Moving in the fall offers benefits that one may not enjoy in other months of the year. Business for moving companies is traditionally slower in the fall, so you may be able to take advantage of specials and lower fuel costs. Availability of trucks and storage containers is also better, which will better accommodate your moving schedule. Take some time to do your homework and shop around. You will probably find that competitive rates will work in your favor this time of year.

Secure your utilities in advance. Typically, setting up utilities can take a couple of days, especially if a technician must make a site visit to turn the gas on. Be sure to do your research in advance, so that you don’t arrive at your new place and it’s freezing. You may have different utility companies that handle gas and electric. Make sure you consider this when you move to your new home to reduce any unexpected stress when you arrive.

Eliminate accidents by removing fall debris. Before your moving crew arrives, take a moment to check the weather forecast and assess their walking paths inside and out. Wet days can make for slippery floors. Falling leaves and twigs make for tripping hazards. A nonslip mat by the door may be helpful. Consider keeping some old towels around to prevent slippery entrances for your helpers, too. And, be sure that the broom is always on stand-by!

Get rid of the summer clutter. Packing wisely will create much greater efficiency for your move. If you have summer toys that you won’t be using next year, throw them away. While you’re at it, cull all of the items you haven’t used in some time. The general rule is: if you haven’t needed it in the past two years, it can go! Make the most of your moving help and save money by not asking them to transport things that you no longer need.

At Zippy Shell, our goal is to make moving and storage solutions as cost-effective and simple for you as possible. We hope these four guidelines to help you move this fall will make a constructive difference! For information on additional storage or moving solutions, please give us a call at 888-947-7974!

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Avoid These 4 Common Moving Mistakes

Couple enjoying time together after move

If you are like most Americans, you will move several times in your lifetime, whether across town or across the country.  There are a few other things Americans-on-the-move also share – common moving mistakes! We’ve seen it all here at Zippy Shell and want you to avoid these mistakes.

Late planning: Like many things in life, planning usually makes things easier. Start planning for your move weeks or even months in advance, utilizing free checklists and apps that will help you get organized and stay on track. Waiting until the last minute could really derail the best intentions.

Choosing a total DIY move: Great planning cannot overcome trucks that break down or aren’t ready when you are, wasting time driving to and from the truck rental place, or attempting to move all your stuff with an old dolly. Decide how much peace of mind and time is worth. Also consider that moving heavy things can be costly physically, as well. You won’t have to worry about rental trucks with Zippy Shell and if your friends aren’t available, we can even recommend professional help to get your stuff into the Zippy Shell container.

Forgetting what you’ll need the first few days/nights: Picture it – you are excited to be in your new space, but you did not mark a box with things like toilet paper, paper plates, salt, pepper, shower items, towels, etc. That can put a damper on things. Avoid this common mistake by marking boxes with essential items so you can scan your unit and pick them out easily.

Ignoring the forecast: The show must go on when you are moving, but keeping a close eye on the weather not only will make for a smoother move, but it will also keep you and your helpers safe. If you see that rain, sleet or snow is forecasted for your moving day, be sure to have tarps and non-slip boots available.

Packing the cleaning materials: After much of your stuff is in the Zippy Shell unit, you’ll want to go back in and start the final cleaning of your apartment or home. But, wait? Where are the cleaning items? Be sure to keep what you will need aside so you can make the final sweep through the space.

When you are ready to move and store your stuff not only can the experts at Zippy Shell help you avoid the most common moving mistakes, we can have your stuff ready when you are. Give us a call today at 888-947-7974 or go online today for a free quote! See how we can make moving and storage simple for you.