Storage solutions

Philip Pertoldi, group managing director of Abels Moving Services, by appointment to HM the Queen for removals and storage services, provides key tips and some more in-depth guidance on storage

Many home moves involve storage as part of the process. Short term storage could be needed where a new home is not going to be ready in time or a long chain has been broken, or longer term storage where someone is being posted abroad through work.

Storage top tips

• Visit the storage facilities and ensure they are well-ordered, maintained and secure premises, not someone’s barn or dilapidated warehouse.
• Ensure the facilities have 24-hour security and proper fire control precautions.
• Check that the company has facilities for special care items such as purpose-built racks or storage containers for soft furnishings, upholstered furniture and other delicate objects .
• Make sure that items you may require during the storage period are ‘held forward’.
• Ensure that documents vital to the home move or relocation are not packed into storage.
• Create a ‘hot box’ containing important documents, keys, vital screws and fitments, remote controls, etc. which you keep or is ‘held forward’ in storage.
• Check you have adequate insurance cover. Avoid arrangements which are only an extension of the storage or removal company’s liability insurance. If offered insurance, check that the company is FSA regulated.
• If self-packing, use the special packing materials provides by your storage of removal company.
• Remember to empty and clean vacuum cleaners, dry garden implements and other outside pieces.
• Ensure fridges and freezers are fully defrosted and dry to avoid leakage and the risk of mildew forming.
• Items prone to deterioration or leakage, such as batteries, aerosols, gas bottles/cylinders, petrol, food or other perishables, are not appropriate for storage.
• Leather and related products require special care, while personal valuables like jewellery or special collections should not be stored.

Guidance

You are going to entrust your treasured possessions to a company you probably do not really know, so you need to be sure that they are going to care. It is best to look around their storage premises for assurance that it meets your expectations. This means well-ordered, maintained and secure premises, not someone’s barn or dilapidated warehouse – do not simply believe advertisements and photographs.

The storage company should provide facilities with 24-hour security and stringent fire control precautions. A reputable company will provide features to protect items that need special protection from the effects of storage, such as purpose-built racks or storage containers for soft furnishings, upholstered furniture and other delicate objects, which are prone to pressure damage if incorrectly stored. Separate facilities for storing cars and other large heavy items should also be available.

Professional storage is usually in purpose-built containers, which can be brought to your home for loading. Effects will be labelled and colour coded, inventoried, then packed and sealed into the containers. This means the items are only handled during loading and unloading, although some effects may be required while in storage, making it necessary for them to be specifically itemised so they can be ”held forward”.

Another important consideration is to make sure documents crucial to your move, such as insurance, house purchase documents, passports, driving licences and even birth certificates, are not packed away. It may sound obvious now, but it is surprising what people will pack or leave in drawers! A good practice is the creation of an easily identifiable carton ‘hot box’. Important documents and small essential items such as keys or crucial screws and fittings for furniture can be stored here. This ensures all documentation is readily available and avoids small essential pieces from being misplaced when needed on delivery.

“All risk” insurance is an important consideration when organising storage. It is essential that exclusions and financial limits are checked to make sure they are sufficient to cover any possible loss or damage. Ideally it should be an extension of transit cover as it is not recommended to split the risk between two insurers. Companies offering insurance products have to be regulated by the FSA, although some companies offer limited insurance cover under their own public liability insurance to avoid this regulation – take considerable care with these as the cover may not be as comprehensive as required.

Insurance is a consideration when deciding whether to pack goods yourself or have the storage or removals company do it. Owner-packed goods can be insured, although breakage, denting, chipping, scratching and bruising will be excluded by the insurance company, as this kind of damage is usually caused by poor packing. Where an international move is involved another consideration is the heightening levels of security at overseas entry points. Owner-packed consignments, if allowed, will usually be physically checked, resulting in delays, costs and an increased risk of damage.

Whether packing yourself or having an expert packer, it is recommended that quality packing materials are used, which will usually be provided by the storage or removals company. Not only is there less risk of damage, if moving abroad second-hand packing materials are not allowed to be imported into some countries.

Certain items need special attention. Vacuum cleaners, garden implements and other outside pieces should be clean and dry prior to storage. Fridges and freezers need to be fully defrosted and dry to avoid leakage and the risk of mildew forming. Items prone to deterioration or leakage, such as batteries, aerosols, gas bottles/cylinders, petrol, food or other perishables, are not appropriate for storage. Leather and related products require special care, while personal valuables like jewellery or special collections should not be stored.

Moving home is one of the most stressful life events, especially so if it is to a new country. The key to success is careful preparation well in advance of the move, including reviewing the storage options available and selection of the right removals company. For peace of mind it is worth some additional cost to minimize the risk of anything going wrong.

Useful Contacts:

British Association of Removers: www.bar.co.uk or tel: 01923 699 480

National Guild of Removers and Storers: www.ngrs.org.uk or tel: 01494 792279

Abels Moving Services: www.abels.co.uk or tel: 0800 626 769