Winter Storage Preparation

As the last of the autumn leaves fall to the ground and the air begins to turn bitterly cold, it’s time to do a little winter prep work in your self storage unit. It’s that time of year when we all settle in for a long cold winter in Squamish, and many of us start dreaming of an early spring.

Winter Storage Prep in Squamish

First things first, it’s time (regrettably) to pack away the swimwear, pool equipment, and lawn chairs. Start by making a list of everything you need to take from home and put into storage. Be sure to pack away the summer clothes, prep your lawn mower by draining the gas and oil, and gather all the garden supplies. Let’s face it, none of those are going to see the light of day until April or May. I know I know, it can be sad to think those warm days are now six months away. But here is a reality check for all of us – winter is coming whether we like it or not!

Make a List and Check it Twice

Next, you want to make a list of everything you need to bring back home from your storage unit. If we have a winter that’s anything like last year’s, that snowblower should be top of the list! Your list should include the essentials – snow blower, shovels, rock salt, snow boots. Don’t forget about all your bulky winter clothes because you will need them soon – jackets, sweaters, snow pants, extra blankets. You also need to think about your winter fun – sleds, skis and poles, ice skates and hunting gear. The last thing you want to do is hunker down in a Whistler lodge for your ski weekend and realize you forgot some of your ski gear in the back of your storage unit!

Dealing With The Holidays

And don’t forget, the holiday season is right around the corner! Black Friday is the largest shopping day of the year, and it’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy with hard to resist sales. If you have children that are as inquisitive as my son is (or maybe your spouse is very curious about what will be in his or her stocking this year), your storage unit is a great place to stow away your holiday shopping steals. Since you’ll already be visiting your storage unit to hide your new purchases, you can pick up your holiday and winter decorations.

Dealing With Moisture

Now that we talked about all the packing, unpacking and stashing that will take place in and out of your storage unit. You need to remember to replace the DampRid that was most likely used up during the hot and humid summer months. This can often be overlooked in the hustle and bustle of the season. It’s also a good idea to just give everything inside your storage unit a good once-over. Check your boxes and make sure they are still in good shape, not crushing or smashing in. Look around and see if you accidentally knocked anything over when loading and unloading. You don’t want to unknowingly cause damage to something.

Winter Toys

Another thing to keep in mind is your winter toys such as ATV’s and Ski-Doos you keep in storage over winter. Stop and Store Squamish offers drive-up storage units that can be used for vehicle storage. A battery check is a great start, along with going over tire pressure. A short drive around the neighbourhood is an excellent way to make sure all things are in tip-top shape before the lull of winter.

Preparing for winter storage can be easy, as long as you plan well and follow your checklists. Our property manager is a great resource to lean on if you need help with how or where to get started. You can stop in our rental office or call our property manager during normal business hours, or fill out our quick contact us form any time, and we will be sure to get back to you.