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How to Store Your Belongings During a Piedmont Triad Move

zippy shell moving

Do you need to store your belongings during your Piedmont Triad move? Many times a move will require putting some or all of your belongings into short- or long-term storage for a variety of reasons. Maybe you need to move out some furniture or personal items to stage your home for selling. Or maybe your new place will not be available for immediate occupancy by the time you need to leave your current residence. No matter the reason for storage, you will, of course, want your belongings to be safe and secure until reaching your final destination. This is where the friendly folks at the Piedmont Triad Zippy Shell can help!

Consider the following tips when packing your items for an extended stay in storage.

  • Clean everything before it goes into storage. News flash – if you store something while it is dirty, it’s only going to be dirtier when you unpack it one, two, or twelve months later. Clothes, furniture, and all appliances should be as clean and dry as possible before storing them away during your move.
  • Make an inventory list. This is important during any move, but especially during a move that will include some or all of your belongings to be in storage. Take photos and make lists of how and where each item is packed.
  • Pack your boxes with intent. Use as many of the same sized boxes as possible to allow for easier stacking. A fully packed box will provide greater protection than one with gaps, so aim to fill each box without overloading it. Reinforce the bottom and top of each box with secure packing tape.
  • Fill your storage container with purpose. Pack heavier items such as furniture and appliances on the bottom, placing the heaviest items in the center of the storage container. Pack your items from floor to ceiling, creating wall-like layers. Fill any open spaces with boxes and other small items to provide stability. Odd-shaped items can go on top of boxes or near the doors. Furniture pads, blankets, and pillows work well to cushion fragile items. You can wrap couches, mattresses, and other soft furniture with stretch wrap. Taking the extra time and planning to pack your storage container carefully will make unpacking easier and keep your belongings secure while they are being transported and stored.

Zippy Shell storage containers are a particularly good choice when moving items to or from a more urban environment in the Piedmont Triad. We offer “street legal” containers with license plates and wheels, making it easy to park these containers in street parking spots. 

To keep your belongings safe and secure while you move, Zippy Shell storage centers are equipped with climate control and added security. When you are ready, we will redeliver your storage container or move it to your next destination. The Piedmont Triad Zippy Shell provides storage for moving that is convenient and hassle-free!

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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 Avoid a #MovingFail

Couple unpacking their boxes with their dog

It’s that time of year! The time of year when many people are moving into new homes and apartments across the United States and even abroad. According to USA Today, every year roughly 40 million Americans move at least once. That’s a lot of folks packing, storing and transporting their precious memories from one place to another.

We’ve learned a few things about what to expect when preparing to move or store your stuff, and we’ve seen it all! Here are a few things you might run into, but they don’t have to turn into a #MovingFail:

  1. No trucks: Even the best planned DIY moves may be derailed when there is no truck available! Summer is peak time for moving and it’s hard to reserve a moving truck for the time you need it anyway, but what if someone turns it in late? We’ve seen a well-planned move turn into a #MovingFail when a truck isn’t ready. Fortunately, with Zippy Shell, we handle all of the logistics, so your unit is there when you need it.

  2. No help: Picture it…you are packed. You’ve ordered the pizza. Everything is ready…except only 1 friend shows up. If you have rented a truck, then you are under the gun to get that truck loaded and on the way! If you’ve rented a Zippy Shell unit, then you can share pizza with the loyal friend and regroup because we won’t pick up the unit until you are ready.

  3. Uncooperative weather: People often choose summer to move because kids are out of school, vacation time is used and, usually, the weather is more cooperative. Even if you’ve been keeping an eagle eye on the extended weather forecast, you may still find yourself packing your unit or moving in rain. Keep some plastic sheeting on hand to avoid a big #MovingFail. Sheets can cover furniture and keep floor clean in staging areas. Non-slip rugs and mats can be placed in the garage or other entrances/exits, preventing slips and falls.

You can’t avoid all of the potential moving fails, but you can reduce the variables in a move by leaving as much as you can to the moving and storage professionals. Give Zippy Shell a call today at 888-947-7974 or check out our moving and storage services online and see how we can help you!

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How to Store Winter Clothes and Coats

winter clothes closet

No matter the temp outside, it’s always a good time to declutter your living spaces, attics and garage, creating more usable areas for entertaining and storage for seasonal items. Zippy Shell of North Texas offers portable storage units that are delivered directly to you and picked up when you are ready. Then, we store them in a climate-controlled facility until you need something.

One of the best ways to utilize a Zippy Shell portable storage unit is to store all the winter items you no longer are using, thus making room for summer stuff that is more useful to us here in Texas.

Storing winter clothes: First, wash your winter clothes, polish those boots and match up those thick socks. Storing your clothing and footwear when fresh and clean will help maintain their appearance until late fall. Second, repair or mend any items that look a little ragged. It’s a great feeling to pull out your favorite sweater in December and have it look and smell great! Rather than storing it with that pull, go ahead and mend it now. Third, pack them properly in plastic storage containers. Your Zippy Shell portable storage unit has a lot of room for your things and using plastic containers can maximize that space. Mark each container with a colorful marker so you’ll know what it contains (shoes, sweaters, workout clothes).

Storing winter coats: Even in North Texas we need heavy coats sometimes, but they sure take up a lot of space. It’s a great idea to store them in your Zippy Shell unit, as well. The type of coat makes a big difference in how you prepare it for storage, but for all coats, what is universal is that they need to breathe. Zip them up or button them up and lay them flat or hang them up. Don’t stuff them into plastic storage boxes or fold them. 

One of the best ways to preserve your winter clothing is to ensure a cool, dry, dark place for their storage. A Zippy Shell unit is ideal for this purpose. When cold does come our way again, your clothes will be ready! Check Zippy Shell out today to see how we can help you!

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4 Reasons to use Portable Storage for Your Move in the Piedmont Triad Area

Moving boxes

Whether you are moving to the Piedmont Triad area for the first time or moving to a new location within the area, either way you have made a very wise decision! In this area, we enjoy great weather, family friendly activities, a wide array of entertainment and recreation choices, a thriving economy, and a strong sense of community. What’s not to love? To make your move as seamless and stress-free as possible, portable storage units are definitely the way to go.

Here are 4 reasons you should use a Zippy Shell portable storage unit for your next move:

Convenience: We come to you. Your portable storage unit will arrive in your driveway or on your street ready to be loaded. You gain the convenience of packing up your storage unit right from your original destination. Our innovative design allows for placement in tight spots and at tough angles.

Flexibility: Life happens. Your closing date changes, an inspection causes delays, your moving helpers reschedule, your new job starts early or later than expected – any number of things out of your control can cause chaos during a move. Zippy Shells give you flexibility during that chaos. Delivery dates and storage dates can all easily be rescheduled when you use a portable storage unit.

Security: While on your property, a block will be placed on your Zippy Shell hitch that only we can remove to prevent anyone else from taking off with your valuables. While in storage, your container will be held in a secure, climate controlled indoor facility.

Simplicity: Leave the driving to us. Leave the storage to us. Leave the stress to us. You have more important things to attend to during a move!

Zippy Shell of the Piedmont Triad area will make your move simple and convenient. This is a fast-growing area and we look forward to meeting your moving needs. Visit www.zippyshell.com today to learn more about the services we offer.

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3 Problems with Moving Van Rentals

Moving boxes

You’ve heard a thousand times that moving is one of the top ten stressful events during a lifetime. The team at Zippy Shell knows all too well how hectic moving across the street, across town or across the country can be for families. To help ease the burden of decisions that come along with this time of your life, we want to take a look at one of the major decisions: moving van rentals vs portable moving containers. Below are several of the most common difficulties with moving truck rentals. We hope this outline will help to make the decision easier.

Aggravation when you have reached your limit. They say prepare for the worst and hope for the best, but it’s hot outside! Your help is probably late. The dog just got out. And you’re just plain irritated. Only thing that can add insult to injury is going to be problems with your moving truck. You’ll need to factor in a useless reservation number, a hike in price when you go to pick it up, sad fuel mileage, uncertain safety, and being unaccustomed to driving this large vehicle and more. At any other time, these mounting issues might be easier to deal with, but when you’re moving mole hills are mountains. You’re fussing, tired, anxious and probably sweating. Your stress level has peaked. And the setbacks with the moving truck could very well be what sends you to the moon.

“Sorry, we’re all out.” Surely, you’ve heard that tale of horror. You get to the rental place and guess what? Your moving van has been rented to someone else, or better yet, they can’t find your reservation. Just like the friendly skies, moving companies will often over book during a busy time of year to ensure they are maxed out. Fortunately, lawsuits have stopped this practice for the most part, but there’s nothing stopping John Doe from returning his truck, which happens to be your truck, late (or not until the next day)!

Changes in rates. This is probably the most important warning of all. Sure, you see those promotional rates for moving trucks stamped all over billboards, flyers and bus benches. However, they fail to mention the added fees like mileage, fuel, hitches, weekends, etc. And my goodness, for those out-of-town moves, the rates can jump even more during peak moving periods (the beginning and end of the month and the whole summer). Moving vans/trucks simply cost more to rent.

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 leave you with a lot less stress. No move is going to be perfectly stress free, but when it comes to the big decisions, make the smart one.

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Zippy Shell Containers are Perfect for Renovating your Home

Home renovations can be extremely inconvenient and time consuming. During the whole renovation a portion of your home will be completely shut off to you. Not to mention, your renovation might mean that your furniture from the rooms under construction need to be placed in other rooms in your home. This can turn your home into a clutter disaster! Luckily, Zippy Shell onsite storage solutions help ease the inconvenience!
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