Renovations and Your Site Storage

Posted on February 15, 2012 by publisher

Do you really want to live in a renovation zone? To reduce the possibility of damage to your possessions or injury to workers, remove your possessions before doing a major renovation.

GO BOX has many customers who are doing renovations on their homes. Some of these customers are experienced renovators. Our happiest renovating customers use goboxes to store any items that would be in the room of the renovation, any rooms in the transit area and any room that needs to be converted to other uses during the renovation.

Storing possessions from these rooms avoids accidental damage that can happen during the renovation process. It also avoids workers getting injured on your property because they are trying to work around your possessions. Even without someone making a mistake or getting hurt, furniture and possessions in a renovation zone do not mix.

I knew one woman who was almost in tears over the dirt, dust and construction debris all over her furniture, display shelves and storage boxes. Every item had to be wiped down with a damp cloth to remove the dust. Some things didn’t wipe down very well, especially when drywall dust was involved. All her window coverings had to be laundered or dry cleaned. It was a nightmare cleaning her possessions after the renovation.

When the rooms in the renovation area are empty, clean up is much easier. Any damage can be quickly repaired. If you are doing a major renovation in your home, using a gobox for storage will save time and money. Time is saved by avoiding unnecessary clean up. Money can be saved by having your workmen focused on the renovation and not worrying about damaging your stuff. With many trades working at over $50 per hour, it doesn’t take very long to pay for your gobox.

Many customers who are renovating use your site storage. Your site storage is where the gobox goes to your property and is stored on your property the whole time during the renovation. When the renovation is over, the gobox is returned to our warehouse empty. The great thing about your site storage is the low cost and your return trip to the warehouse is already paid for.

Your site storage is really convenient because it allows you to have access to all your possessions during the renovation. Usually your homeowner’s insurance covers your possessions in the gobox while it is on your property, but contact your insurance broker to be sure. Your site storage does have some disadvantages. Please read Three GO BOX Storage Options for more information about how to protect your possessions.

Occasionally, renovators want the goboxes off their property during the renovation. This is no problem. GO BOX has both heated and unheated warehouses. There will, however, be an added cost to re-deliver your goboxes at the end of your renovation.

Usually renovators want to store at one of our warehouses if the renovation is very extensive and they are not going to be living in the house during the renovation. Renovators prefer heated warehouse storage if the gobox will be used for storage of antique furnishings or items that can be damaged by extremes in temperatures. Sometimes there is just not enough space on the property for the goboxes and the work crew’s vehicles.

Using a gobox during a renovation helps:

prevent damage to your possessions by workmen;
avoid accidents in your home by having a clear working area; and
saves time and hassle by avoiding unnecessary cleaning after the renovation.

Most customers doing a renovation use one gobox. Here is where you can order your gobox online.

If you are doing a very large renovation and are not sure how many goboxes you will need, please use the GO BOX Estimator. If you are wondering how best to use the Estimator, walk around the rooms that are going to be renovated after reading Using the GO BOX Estimator.

Are plastic totes better?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by publisher

This is my favorite plastic tote. I like the solid lid because the tote can get wet without damaging the contents. My possessions survived a bad basement flood in these totes. I also use them for car trips, camping, canoeing and long-term home storage.

I have had a number of people ask me if plastic totes are more environmentally friendly than using cardboard boxes. The quick answer is no. Plastic totes are made from non-renewable, petroleum-based products. Plastic does not easily recycle back into the environment. Cardboard boxes on the other hand are made from a renewable resource–tree pulp. After the useful life of cardboard ends, it can be ripped up and composted in the garden.

Of course, if we really want to be environmentally friendly we would make baskets out of weaving materials from our local bioregion and store our stuff in that instead. What a different world that would be!

Some people have asked why GO BOX doesn’t sell plastic totes. We cannot find a wholesale supplier that could get them cheaper than the price that any big box retailer will sell them for. Plastic totes do cost more than cardboard boxes. They probably should cost far more than cardboard boxes, but the true costs are externalized into the greater environment.

Plastic totes are great for someone who moves a lot. They can be used between moves for storage, organizing or even as a piece of furniture. Totes are great if you have to store your possessions in damp conditions. They are mostly rodent and spill proof. I like using totes for camping, canoeing or road trips. The totes help organize my stuff and keep everything clean and dry. My all time favorite tote is the original Rubbermaid Roughneck Storage Box. It has the straightest sides which means less storage space is lost to air.

I am not against the use of plastic totes for storage, but we shouldn’t be under any misconception that plastic totes are environmentally friendly. They’re not. Aside from environmental concerns, the biggest disadvantage of totes is that they take up more space and store less. Cardboard boxes stack better and with careful packing there is no unused air space between boxes. As long as cardboard boxes do not get wet, you can expect to get six or more moves from a standard singled-walled box. Just remember rodents and dampness are a potential problem with cardboard boxes.

After your cardboard boxes outlive their useful storage life, use the cardboard as pathways in your garden until they compost and return to the soil. Next growing season you could enjoy a tomato that came from that once helpful cardboard box. THAT will never happen from a plastic tote.

labelled storage totes Are plastic totes better?

The standard sized tote has the straightest sides making it better for storage. I like the standard lids because they can be used with any tote. The tote labelled "crafts" is bigger than the standard totes and has more of an angle between the bottom and top, increasing the lost of storage space between totes.

How can I save on packing supplies?

Posted on February 3, 2012 by publisher

GO BOX sells 1.5, 2, 3 and 6 cube boxes. We also have specialty boxes for plasma TVs, mirrors, clothing and china.

Professional packing supplies are very convenient but can be expensive. It is also more environmentally friendly to reuse packing supplies as many times as possible. As long as the box doesn’t get damp, the standard single-walled cardboard box will do six or more moves before needing to be replaced. If you are on a budget there are a number of ways to save money on packing supplies:

If you move a lot and have the storage space, break down your old moving boxes and store them flat until the next move.
If you have space, break down and store any specialty boxes that come with new plasma TVs, computers, stereos, china, household appliances, etc.
Call your local BC Liquor Store and see if they give away used boxes. Call first. Many liquor stores do not give out used boxes anymore.
Use newspaper and fliers to pack your china and kitchen equipment. What a great use for junk mail! You will, however, have to wash your china and kitchen equipment before use to remove the printer’s ink.
Use old towels, linen and blankets to cover and protect your furniture, mirrors and artwork.
Use heavy plastic bags for good blankets, towels, linen and clothing.
Look around your house and see if you already have the following items: markers for labeling boxes, tape and tape dispenser, Ziploc or garbage bags in various sizes, utility knife and scissors, boxes in various sizes and plastic bins. See if you can find any wrapping and cushioning materials such as: tissue paper, newsprint, bubble wrap, foam and Styrofoam peanuts. Collect any useable rope, straps, and bungee cords for packing and tying down. Don’t buy packing supplies you already have!
If you move a lot, or have to store your possessions in damp conditions or rodent infested areas, consider buying stackable plastic totes with lids. Buying totes is more expensive then buying cardboard boxes but they will last for decades. GO BOX doesn’t sell totes but you can buy totes at any big box store. I use totes in my house on a daily basis for all kinds of storage. I have even used them as night tables, clothing bins, recycling bins and as a medicine chest. I even use totes for vehicle emergency equipment, car camping and canoe trips. This is my favorite plastic tote.

Finally when you do get down to packing, label the top of each box with a destination room in your new house. Label each box with: kitchen, living room, garage, bathroom 1 or 2, bedroom 1, 2, 3 or 4, deep storage, etc. This avoids boxes having to be moved a second time because the box was brought to the wrong room. There is no need to label the contents of each box unless the box is going into deep storage. Remember to label the box “deep storage” and then label the contents of each individual box.

go box packing supplies2 How can I save on packing supplies?

GO BOX sells bubble wrap, newsprint and locks as well as plastic covers for chairs, sofas and mattresses. Call ahead and we will prepare your packing supply order for pickup. Or get your packing supplies delivered with your gobox.

If you are in a hurry and need to buy professional packing supplies, GO BOX can help. We have GO BOX Packing Kits with a wide variety of packing supplies for moves of different sizes. GO BOX gives 10% off on Packing Kits or you can buy the packing supplies individually. If you are getting a gobox delivered, we can bring your packing supplies order at the same time. This will save you time and effort.

Three GO BOX Storage Options

Posted on January 27, 2012 by publisher

There are three GO BOX storage options: heated warehouse, unheated warehouse and your site storage. This post will demystify which option is best for your needs.

go box heated warehouse Three GO BOX Storage Options

This is the GO BOX Heated Warehouse which is our best quality storage option.

1. GO BOX heated warehouse storage is our best warehouse storage. Heated warehouse storage is the industry standard for moving companies. This storage is what professional moving companies use. The heated warehouse is temperature controlled to avoid extremes in temperature. We proactively monitor the warehouse to prevent any problems with rodents. The heated warehouse has no public access, making it extremely secure. If you are storing valuable antique furniture, musical instruments, plasma TVs, computer hardware or any other items that could be damaged by extremes in temperature, heated warehouse storage is for you. Heated storage is for people wanting our best quality and most secure warehouse storage.
2. GO BOX unheated warehouse storage is an economical warehouse storage option. The unheated warehouse is not temperature controlled. This is usually not a problem in the summer time since the mass of the warehouse will tend to keep your possessions cool. But during the winter, the unheated warehouse can get really cold. I would not recommend storing any possessions in the unheated warehouse that could be damaged by cold. We monitor proactively to prevent any problems with rodents. When you come to visit your gobox, our public access area is under cover in the front of the unheated warehouse. This makes the unheated warehouse a bit less secure than the heated warehouse because GO BOX customers do have some limited access to the unheated warehouse.

go box unheated warehouse 1024x768 Three GO BOX Storage Options

This is the GO BOX Unheated Warehouse. If you visit your gobox, it will be placed here.

3. GO BOX your site storage is for people who do not need warehouse storage but want to store a gobox on their own property. Your site storage came into being because some of our customers needed a storage option on their own property. Many customers that use your site storage are doing renovations. A second group of customers that use your site storage want extra time to carefully sort and pack their possessions before being transferred directly to their new home.

Your site storage is our cheapest storage option but it does have some potential problems. Because your site storage is not in one of our warehouses, it is not as secure. You can lock your gobox with a padlock but a thief could make short work of your lock. Our customers know their neighborhoods and feel comfortable about security or wouldn’t consider your site storage as an option. The customers who use your site storage value the convenience of having access to their gobox any time they want.

The second problem with your site storage is rodent control. This is more of a problem with goboxes that are going to be sitting for months at a time, which can happen with renovations. We have rodent control at the warehouses but goboxes in your backyard or on an acreage cannot be controlled as easily. We have industrial rodent bait available from the driver during delivery. But you will have to monitor for any signs of rodents yourself and take appropriate action if a problem arises. Problems with rodents are most serious during the fall when they are looking for a warm, dry place to nest for the winter.

To sum up, if you want our best and most secure storage, use heated warehouse storage. If you are looking for economical warehouse storage, use unheated warehouse storage. If you are doing a renovation or want extra time to carefully pack before having your gobox(es) transferred directly to your new home, use your site storage.

Should I use a GO BOX Inventory?

Posted on January 20, 2012 by publisher

This is a GO BOX Inventory Sheet available on our website. Click on the image to download a copy.

I have had many people wonder if it is a good idea to use a GO BOX Inventory. The people that use the Inventory tend to be our most organized customers. But sometimes an Inventory is not needed. An Inventory is not needed when:

You have only one gobox.
You are planning on being in storage a very short time.
You have multiple goboxes in storage but will not need to access them.

This third situation happens most often when a customer has sold their old home and is in the process of building a new home. Generally, these customers are living in a smaller rental unit for a number of months during construction. These customers have all their daily living possessions in the rental unit and are only storing items they want re-delivered directly to the new home when it’s completed.

If you are going into storage for a while because your new house is being built or you just haven’t found a new place or you are going overseas, consider filling out a GO BOX Inventory. Here are some common situations where an Inventory is useful:

You have two or more goboxes in storage.
You are going into storage for some time.
You are planning to access your goboxes while in storage.

If you are going into storage for a while, have two or more goboxes, and want to access your goboxes while in storage, here are three tips for using the Inventory:

Fill out a GO BOX Inventory for each gobox going into storage. Each gobox has its own number. Look under the gobox cover at either the foot of the front door or the back of the gobox. The Inventory will keep everything in order and make it easier to find something while you are in storage.
Have one “easy access gobox” while in storage to reduce your work. If you have been packing slowly over a number of weeks, the last gobox you pack will likely have the items you use most often. Most of us use only 20% of what we own on a daily basis. Choose one gobox that you will access while in storage and have the other goboxes filled with possessions that you will not need until you move into your new house. This easy access gobox will have all your seasonal clothing, important paperwork, and those important high use items. Having one easy access gobox reduces your time searching for important items.
Keep your easy access gobox number handy. Use this gobox number when you book your visit. You can book online to visit your goboxes or call our office. It is sometimes impossible to predict what you will need while you are in storage. Don’t worry if this happens and you need to access some or all of your goboxes. There is no charge to visit your goboxes while in storage. We ask that you book your visit the night before, so we can have your goboxes ready for you the next day.

gobox number Should I use a GO BOX Inventory?

Each gobox has a number. This is a sample from the front of gobox #132. There is also a number on the back of each gobox.

Using the GO BOX Estimator

Posted on January 13, 2012 by publisher

The GO BOX Estimator is easy to use. It does require an investment of time. By using the Estimator, you will have a clear picture of how big your move really is. The Estimator will mentally get you in the mood to move and brings your awareness to all the items that need to be sold, given away, or dumped.

If you just don’t have the time to use the Estimator, and it hasn’t been a long time since your last move, think about the size of vehicle you used for your last move. If you used a van in your last move, this is equal to one gobox. If you used a 16′ cube truck, this is equal to three goboxes. If you used a five ton, 24′ cube truck, this is equal to five or six goboxes. If you used a semi-trailer truck, this is equal to ten goboxes. Use the Estimator for a more exact number. Use the Estimator if you haven’t moved in a while or have substantively increased your possessions.

Here are the steps to using the Estimator:

Print out a GO BOX Estimator Worksheet.
Walk around your home, basement, garage, garden, and shed with the Estimator Worksheet. Check off the items on the list as you go.
Make a separate list of the items that you want to sell, give away or dump. If you are going to sell or donate, do it now. Don’t wait. It takes time to sell and even to have a charity come and pick up your unwanted possessions. Here are some useful links: Craigslist, Kijiji, Interior Buy and Sell, The Salvation Army, Penny Pinchers, and Value Village. If you are looking to dump some things, here are the City of Kamloops Landfill Locations.
When you finish filling out the Estimator Worksheet, go back to your computer. Enter the quantities of each item into “Qty” box found on the left hand side of the GO BOX Estimator. The totals will be calculated automatically by moving to the next item or by using “enter” on your keyboard. The area calculated will change to a pink color.
When you are done, hit the “Calculate Total” button at the bottom of the Estimator. You will get two totals. The first total is the number of cubic feet required for your possessions. This number is then converted into the number of goboxes you will need.

gobox estimator worksheet Using the GO BOX Estimator

This is a GO BOX Estimator Worksheet. Walk around your house and fill out the form. Go back to your computer and fill out the GO BOX Estimator. Have a separate sheet for items you want to sell, give away, or dump.

The Estimator gives you a very important number regardless of whether or not you use GO BOX Storage. The total number of cubic feet is very important if you are going to rent a moving truck. If you give this number to the rental company, they will give you the right size of truck for your needs, or you can use this number yourself to figure out the size of truck you need.

If you are downsizing or off traveling, the Estimator will give you an idea of which items you need to sell to get into the number of goboxes you want to store. Many people don’t realize how much space that unused exercise bicycle (6cuft) or treadmill (40cuft) will cost them in storage. Do the math. It will be very enlightening.

Just remember, there is 240 cubic feet of storage in each gobox. Let’s say you use the Estimator and get a total of 750 cubic feet. The Estimator will say you need four goboxes, but if you sell, give away, or dump 30 cubic feet of stuff, you will only need three goboxes. If you are going into storage for some time, a little bit of planning can save you a lot of money.

The GO BOX Estimator is very useful for budgeting purposes. Do not move or store anything you do not need anymore. Use the Estimator and save time and money.

Hello Kamloops!

Posted on January 7, 2012 by admin

My name is Caroline Cooper. I am a working partner at GO BOX.

GO BOX has been operating in Kamloops since 2007. It is a home-grown Kamloops business. Over the years, I have seen many people make moving and storage fun. I have also seen many people have a really tough time. The goal of this blog is to help make the moving and storage experience great.

This blog has a two other contributors. Christine Rougeau and Shaen Cooper are both working partners of GO BOX. We each have our own areas of specialty that we would like to share with you.

The goal of the GO BOX blog is to help our community:

enjoy the process of moving and storage
learn how to pack like a professional mover
declutter and make our homes more liveable
home stage like a professional
organize our moves to help reduce stress
prepare for emergencies

I invite you to watch this video for a quick one minute look at what mobile storage can do for you.

GO BOX Moving & Storage Blog

Moving & Storage Made Easier in Kamloops, BC