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Why Self-storage is a Good Investment All Year Round
Investing in self-storage facilities is something which will prove useful throughout the year, as there are a wide variety of household and business items which can safely be left depending on the season.
Hamiltons Removals, self-storage specialists with two Safe N Stored sites on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, know that space is a valuable commodity around the home or office. Here is our season-by-season guide to the type of possessions which are ideally suited to putting into self-storage.
Spring
Once the festive period is over then all the Christmas decorations and unused wrapping paper can come down. You won’t need them for many months, so why not put them into self-storage?
If you are having a major spring clean, then it becomes much easier if the rooms are as clear as possible. The same applies to major redecoration projects; you will have greater peace of mind if large furniture and fittings are safely in self-storage while you repaint any of your rooms.
Summer
Even allowing for changeable British climate, you shouldn’t need your bulkier winter clothing over the summer. If you have access to a self-storage facility, then you can move winter coats in, and take lighter summer wear out.
If you are a student who is returning home from college or university in the summer, you may need somewhere to store your items until term restarts in the autumn. If you are still living in the parental home, you may need self-storage for all the items which other members of the family have put in your room while you have been away.
Summer is also the most popular time of year for moving house. Self-storage can be useful if there is any kind of delay. You may also not be sure if you will have enough room for all your belongings in your new home, particularly if you are downsizing. Putting some items into storage will give you more time to decide what to take and what to give away or sell on.
Autumn
Once you have given your lawn the final cut of the year, the mower can easily be left in storage. You may also have other bulky gardening tools which you are unlikely to use again until the spring. Garden furniture such as patio chairs and tables can also be cleaned up and left in storage. This will protect them from damage and stop it being blown away in winter winds.
Businesses, and shops particularly, have more use for self-storage at this time of year as they get their Christmas stock in and will need somewhere to put it.
Winter
You may have friends or family staying over Christmas, so you might need to have a declutter in the weeks leading up to the festive season to make sure you have enough room for everyone. If you put your items into self-storage you can easily reclaim them once your guests have gone home. And if you are worried about your children discovering their Christmas presents in advance, ruining the occasion for them and you, why not put those into self-storage too?
Some hobbies, like surfboarding or powerboating, are usually for the warmer months only. The bulky boards and boats can easily go into storage until they are needed in spring or summer. Some motorcyclists may prefer not to use their machines on dangerous winter roads; the bikes can easily be fitted into many self-storage units too.
At Hamiltons Removals we can meet all sorts of self-storage requirements at our Safe N Stored sites for customers in Norfolk and Suffolk, including those living in the Diss, Bungay and Stradbroke areas. If you would like to know more about our personal storage facilities, follow the link above.
Our Aldeby site has a range of easily accessible containers which you can drive right up to; they are ideal for storing large individual items such as your boat or bike over the winter months. They are protected by CCTV cameras and the uniform padlocks they are fitted with allow for extra security checks.
At Harleston, we have storage rooms which start at 25 square feet and go up to 200 square feet; this means you pay for the space you need, and you can store plenty of smaller personal items and effects, including clothes. It is also protected by CCTV and the alarm is linked to Norfolk Police. There is also an on-site shop which supplies a comprehensive selection of cartons and packing materials.
The Most Popular Cars in the USA
If you are thinking about moving house to America, one of your biggest priorities may be getting on the road once you arrive. So what kinds of car or vehicle are the most popular in the USA?
Hamiltons Removals has been organising domestic and commercial moves to America for more than 20 years. Here we look at the major car manufacturers in the US and the types of vehicle which are most popular in certain states and cities.
Ford
This was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford and, although it has now been overtaken by Toyota and General Motors, is still the world’s third largest vehicle manufacturer, and the second biggest in the US. Its American headquarters is based in a suburb of Detroit. It also builds luxury models under the Lincoln brand name.
Its most popular marques today include the Ford F150 pickup truck, which sells particularly well in southern states such as Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky and Texas. The company’s most popular car is the Ford Fusion, a mid-sized sedan which is available either in petrol, petrol/electric hybrid or a full electric version. The Ford Escape Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) also is one of America’s biggest sellers.
General Motors
GM is the biggest car manufacturer in the US, and the second largest worldwide after Toyota. It also has its base in Detroit. It has separate divisions which sell Buicks, Cadillacs and Chevrolets, while its GMC section specialises in trucks and utility vehicles.
Its biggest selling models have included the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which has been particularly popular in the Chicago area, and the Cruze, which is available as a sedan and a hatchback. Its most popular trucks include the GMC Sierra and its mechanically identical cousin, the Chevrolet Silverado.
Chrysler
This multinational was founded in 1925 by Walter Percy Chrysler and is the third member of the so-called ‘Big Three’ manufacturers in the USA. Dodge and Jeep and Ram trucks are all brands which form part of the group, which is now officially known as Fiat Chrysler.
The largest sellers manufactured by Chrysler include the Jeep Wrangler and Cherokee, and the Ram Pickup truck.
Foreign Competition
A large share of the American market is taken by foreign brands, particularly after the world oil crisis of 1973 which saw car buyers become much more concerned about fuel economy. Many Japanese and Far Eastern companies now have manufacturing operations in the US, including Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota. German multinationals Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz also have factories in the States.
The biggest selling foreign models in the States include Honda’s Accord and Civic, which area particularly popular in California, Washington DC and New York, and Toyota’s Corolla and Camry marques. Petrol/electric hybrids such as the Toyota Prius are popular in California, and particularly in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas, although this still represents a relatively small percentage of the total market.
Hamiltons Removals ships to all the states in the USA, including California, Texas, Alabama, Arizona and Washington DC. If you are moving house to America, we can ship your items to your required destination, or send them via air freight.
You can also choose for us to pack and unpack your possessions as well. Follow the link above if you would like to know more about our commercial and domestic removals services to the USA.