Top tips

Calculate the value of what you have to store and arrange insurance cover. This can be done at your 1st Access Self Storage Peterborough Centre and must be arranged prior to the start of storage.

Buy good quality packing materials – cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, foam wrap and tape. To see our comprehensive and honestly-priced range, visit our box shop

Fill boxes completely – stacks of partly-filled or bulging cardboard boxes may tip or collapse – and distribute weight evenly.

Hang your clothes – we offer wardrobe boxes for careful clothes storage.

Label all boxes clearly to help when retrieving goods from your storage unit and unpacking. If you can, take an inventory. It will help you remember and may be an aid to insurers.

Cover all furniture with dust sheets and remember to protect table and chair legs with bubble wrap or foam wrap to avoid scratching, and use foam corners on picture and mirror frames. For further information, view our protective packing products.

Allow large and heavy items to form the base of any stack in your storage room, with lighter items at the top.

Using a chest of drawers or wardrobes to store boxes and paperwork will give extra flexibility and make good use of space.

Position items to which you will need access at the front of your storage unit.

Avoid stacking or leaning furniture against outside walls, as this may prevent proper ventilation.

Make sure that fridges and freezers are fully defrosted and dry to prevent water leakage, and wedge the doors open to allow ventilation.

Clean all garden furniture before storing and make sure that your lawnmower is drained of petrol.

Purchase a padlock to secure your unit (available in store). If there will be more than one person accessing the unit (you must tell us this), you might find a combination padlock convenient. Ours are hand-made in the UK and very tough.

Do not store highly flammable liquids like petrol, spirits or paints.