Father's Day Special

$39.95 Move In Special

$39.95 Move In Special!

Tips for Holiday Decoration Storage

HOLIDAY DECORATION STORAGE

Tips to Save You Time, Space and Money

by CC Isole

Each year, the holidays are a bustle of activity! As much as we look forward to and adore the season, we despise the part that requires us to pack up all the trim and decorations when the season comes to an end.

While it may be tempting to just throw everything into boxes and worry about sorting it out next year, you’ll find regret when one or more of those precious decorations or heirloom ornaments is lost or broken. Everyone who saves their Christmas ornaments from year to year knows that these pretty ornaments are more than just holiday decorations. Most of them are special keepsakes with treasured memories. Some will be kept in the family and passed down from family member to family member for years to come.

As the New Year rolls in and the time to take down holiday ornaments and other Christmas trimmings arrives, shoppers should take advantage of the after-Christmas sales to stock up on the items for their Christmas ornaments and decoration storage needs.  It’s also the perfect time to re-stock ribbons and wrapping papers, or replace worn strings of lights or garland.

Following the tips below will help you save time by getting your decorations organized, so they are easy to find next year.  They will also help you save space by using the right kind of boxes that can be easily organized and stacked.  And lastly, these tips will help you save money by managing your decorations in a fashion that will preserve their quality and extend their life span.

Use Clear Plastic Storage Containers

These are excellent because you can see the contents without the tedious task of labeling each box. You’ll also find that the plastic does a better job than cardboard in protecting the contents from moisture.  And remember, when stacking these clear boxes, begin with the heaviest on the bottom and work your way up to the lightest on top.

Separate Strand Beads and Small Garlands

If you decorate with strands of beads or small garland, you can pack them easily in small plastic shoeboxes. Again, use clear plastic for easy visibility of the contents. To keep the beads from becoming tangled, place individual strands in zip lock baggies, or old socks. You’ll also find that empty paper towel rolls are perfect to wrap strands of beads and garland around.  Simply secure at both ends with a rubber band.

Don’t Stack Too Many Lights in the Same Box

The box will become too heavy and the lights on the bottom could be damaged. Lights can easily become tangled, so individual strands of lights should be bagged separately or wrapped around paper towel rolls or something similar, and placed in plastic grocery bags or large freezer bags. Make sure to dispose of any lights that have been damaged or are not working properly.

Save Space with Re-Shapeable Decorations

Bows made of wired ribbon can be flattened and reshaped next year. Wired ribbon garlands and streamers can be tightly rolled. They don’t need to be flattened unless you need to conserve space.

Don’t Crush Your Wreaths

Wreaths can be stacked in larger boxes but each wreath should be wrapped with bubble wrap. If they aren’t wrapped then they shouldn’t be stacked. Bubble wrap can be purchased where office supplies are sold or from your local self-storage provider. Wreath boxes can also be purchased.

Wrap Christmas Ornaments Properly

Ornaments should be wrapped individually in white tissue paper, or in bubble wrap, if greater protection is needed. Since most ornaments are lightweight they can be stored in large boxes. If you still have the original boxes the ornaments came in, then store them in these and then place them in the storage container.  Old egg cartons make great storage for smaller ornaments.

Protect Christmas Decorations from Moisture

If your climate is humid, using plastic containers may not be enough to protect from moisture. Place packets of silica gel in each container to avoid damage from humidity. Silica gel can be purchased at any arts and craft store. If you cannot find individual packets, you can make your own by wrapping several tablespoons of silica gel in white tissue paper and securing with tape. Several packets should be placed throughout the box.  A simpler solution?  Store your décor in a climate-controlled storage unit.

Guard Against Temperature Extremes

Delicate decorations such as ornaments made with photos or wax can be temperature sensitive. Store them in a climate-controlled area or they could deteriorate, melt or stick together.  Same goes for your holiday candles, or those left over candy canes you are saving to hang on the tree next year.  Try wrapping the candles in old socks or knee-high stockings to prevent scratching.

 Avoid Misplacing Decorations Boxes

Attach a red ribbon or tag to each Christmas storage box. This will make them easy to identify next Christmas if they have been stored with other boxes unrelated to Christmas decorations.  Another idea is to color key the lids or bases of the storage containers you use for your holiday decorations.  This will allow you to easily ID them next year.

Toss the Trash!

Some people have a tendency to hang onto things in hopes that they’ll find a use for it later. Don’t waste space by holding onto old ornaments or decorations that you are sure you’ll never use again, unless there is some sentimental significance to do so.

Your Holiday Linens, Towels, and Rugs

Most of us have a collection of holiday linens, tablecloths, dish towels, bath towels, or small rugs.  An easy storage solution is an old suitcase. Before packing away, be sure to launder.  If you are so inclined, a couple scented dryer sheets will keep things smelling fresh until next season.

A Few Final Pointers…

Before you take down your holiday decorations to begin packing them away for storage, take pictures to remember the way you have your decorations set up. Then, take everything down in reverse order of the way it was put up.

Save yourself time next year by thoroughly labeling your Christmas decorations. Number the boxes so that you'll know how many you have (i.e. Box 1 of 12). Labeling the boxes this way, also lets you order them according to how they should be unpacked.

Be sure to prominently label the first box to be opened at Christmas. As an example, Box #1 might contain your advent calendar, tree stand, Christmas cards, or whatever you need to begin your holiday decorating.

By creatively organizing your holiday decorations today, you can provide a stress-free and enjoyable start to next year’s decorating season!  

©2011 CC Isole

How To Pay Online...

Paying your account online is easy as 1-2-3 once you have registered your account. 

Go to our website payment screen and follow the steps below on your first visit.

Still have questions?  Give us a call at 757-838-1515 or email us.

WWW.AMERICANCLASSICSTORAGE.COM

(click on pictures below to enlarge)

Using Climate Controlled Storage

CLIMATE CONTROLLED

STORAGE

by CC Isole, Facility Manager

“When should I consider using climate controlled storage?”

Choosing a climate controlled storage unit over a standard storage unit can be a difficult decision and often times comes down to simple personal preferences. It really is about the level of risk you are willing to take. Some people believe that maintaining an even temperature is the only sure way to protect their valuables. Others are more apt to look at their geographic climate and how long they intend to store their belongings in assessing that risk.

Knowing what kind of weather to expect, how long you intend to use storage, and the types of items you plan to store, will help you decide if climate controlled storage is a necessary extra expense for your storage needs.

A good litmus test is to consider whether you would be willing to store your goods year round in an unregulated garage environment. If not, then you most likely want to consider using a climate controlled storage unit.

“How does climate controlled storage work?”

Simply put, the storage unit has a regulated temperature year round to avoid dramatic swings in heat or cold that could affect the goods you are storing. In addition to regulating the temperature, the more typical climate controlled unit today also manages the humidity. An overabundance of humidity (moisture) can promote the growth of mold and mildew or cause warping in an unregulated environment. Conversely, a lack of humidity (dryness) can also affect items negatively by causing splitting, cracking or peeling.

Climate controlled storage can prevent damage to fine furniture, fabrics, sensitive electronics, artwork and many other valuables. Scorching hot summers and bitter cold winters can leave their evidence on even the sturdiest of items. As I mentioned earlier, you must assess the level of risk you are willing to take based on what you will be storing, the climate you will be storing in, and the length of time your goods will be in storage.

Remember, facilities that offer climate control do charge a premium for this type of unit; however, it can be well worth the additional cost, depending on the nature of the goods you intend to store. Discuss your needs with the Facility Manager prior to your rental. They are storage specialists who can offer expert advice and will be able to answer specific questions to assist you in your decision making process.

CC ISOLE ©13-0402

April Move In Special

St. Patrick's Day

(click on recipe to enlarge and print)

March Madness!

February Move-In Special

 

 

 

 

We Store Exercise Equipment

January Move-In Special!

 

RING IN THE NEW YEAR

MOVE IN SPECIAL

$39.95 First Month

(and not a penny more)

moves you into any size unit!

 

This price includes a one-time Admin Fee and

$2000 of insurance coverage for your stored goods!

 

 

RESTRICTIONS: Must be new customer to American Classic Self Storage.

 

 

December Move In Special

Secret Santa Special

SECRET SANTA SPECIAL

Did you know that Santa's Elves store with us during the month of December? They need a safe, secure space for Santa to keep all the gifts for Hampton's good little boys and girls!

HOW ABOUT YOU?  Do you need a Secret Santa space to keep the little prying eyes in your home from peeking?

Just $39.95 gets you a 5x10 storage unit to stash all your holiday goodies for the month of December! You'll even have access 'til midnight on Christmas Eve!
Call us today and ask about our Secret Santa Special!

 

 

AMERICAN CLASSIC STORAGE

906 Big Bethel Rd, Hampton, VA 23666

Big Bethel Rd just N of Todds Lane

(757) 838-1515

The Potato Chronicles Wrap Up

It's officially Fall, and Daylight Savings Time has come and gone.  That means it's time to do a wrap up on the 2012 American Classic Potato Project for this year!

For those just joining us, our Potato Chronicles began in April, with an update here and another one here.

All caught up?  Okay, let's continue.

Last weekend was harvest weekend.  That means lugging out the blue plastic tarps and carefully tipping over the growing barrels (aka: trash cans).  Here's a peek at some of our harvest:

We had red potatoes...

...and we had white potatoes....

Final tally of our harvest was over twenty pounds!  We're storing them in a cotton sack, in the cool recesses under our stairway. 

 

One of our objectives for this project was to be able to grow these potatoes to use in our Soups On Saturday program that runs from November through February. We enjoy giving back to our customers, and this seemed like a fun way to do so!

 

I'm excited to say that tomorrow, November 10th we'll be serving us some very special Potato Soup! The fact that it's homemade has an extra special meaning!  Stop in and enjoy a cup, won't you?  We'll be serving from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, or until the pot runs dry!

 

Thanks to everyone who asked about and supported our project this year!

Storsmart Tenant Insurance

ARE YOU PROTECTED?



Many customers presume that self-storage facilities automatically provide insurance for theitems being placed into storage. Although some self-storage facilities don’t require that you have insurance coverage, we do. It makes sense to have adequate replacement coverage in place.

Don’t be lulled into a false sense of well-being because our facility has implemented good security measures or has a smoking ban on site. We do everything we can to avoid theft on our premises with the use of fencing, gates, lighting and security cameras. However, there is little we can do against damages caused by accidents, storms, or other natural disasters.

We recommend you check your insurance options carefully. Your first step should be to consult your homeowners or renters insurance agent to see if the items you plan on storing are covered by your current policy. It may be you are fully covered for items stored away from your residence, or additional coverage may be available to you. Be sure to ask your insurance agent about any policy exclusions, deductible amounts, and coverage limits.While you may be covered through your existing policy, you may find that the insurance available at American Classic Storage provides more specialized coverage with a lower deductible. If you do provide your own insurance coverage, be aware that we will ask for proof of coverage during the rental process.

The insurance coverage available at American Classic Storage has excellent features including a variety of coverage amounts, a wide range of covered perils, and affordable monthly premiums, billed along with your monthly rent.In addition, your goods are covered while in transit to and from our facility when moving in and out. In the event you suffer a loss, our insurance will waive your $100 deductible if your unit was secured with one of our disc locks.

Coverage begins at $2000 for a low $8 monthly premium. Less than 26 cents a day! In today’s world, it’s necessary to insure our cars, our homes, our life, our health, even our cell phones. If you care enough to store your goods, be sure you safeguard them with adequate insurance coverage.

Contact us today to learn more about the insurance program we offer.



November Move-In Specials

 

Don't miss out on our November Move-In Specials

at our Hampton location!

 

 

*************************************

It's November! Soups On!

Back by popular demand!  Begins Saturday, November 3rd! 

Stop by and join us, won't you?

 

(and yes, it's homemade...)

 

 

 

October Bread Baking

This first weekend in October has arrived in the true tradition of fall. Blustery winds, scattered rain showers, and much cooler temperatures will fast forward our still green treescapes into a burst of reds, oranges, golds, and yellows. Driving back from Philadelphia yesterday, every roadside stand on the eastern shore had their displays filled with pumpkins and every gourd imaginable. Stacked hay bales and gathered cornstalks screamed that Halloween is just weeks away.

With a high of 57 degrees as today's forecast, I'm taking off the chill by baking bread. Simple ingredients and no preservatives make home baked bread a must have in our home. From October through April, we bake bread almost every day. Some we eat, some we share. In the summer? Not so much. Setting the oven at 450 degrees competes with the air conditioning, and that's counter productive, don't you agree?

As my bread rises, I thought it just wouldn't be right not to share my bread making tutorial with you.  (Click on the picture below to open this tutorial as a large slideshow).

Make Moving Easier for Older Adults

Make Moving Easier For Older Adults

CC Isole, Facility Manager

American Classic Self Storage

Many have had to face the major decision of downsizing from a larger home to a smaller apartment, moving into a retirement community, or perhaps an assisted living facility. It is very difficult decision for everyone in the family. What do you do with all the personal items from the larger home that will not fit in the new residence? Typically, the heirlooms and special items that are important to your family member will be kept in the family, for future generations to cherish and enjoy. Self-storage is an option to house these items in a safe and secure way until arrangements on their disposition is decided. It is important to remember to choose the best self-storage facility to meet your needs.  If you will be storing photos, family heirlooms, antique furniture or sensitive electronics, you should consider a climate-controlled storage unit.  These units have a constant temperature and humidity level year-round that will protect items during storage.

 When it comes time for you to help someone–such as a parent or grandparent–move, you need to be aware that he or she will need special attention to make the transition. Many older adults don’t have the mobility that younger people do, nor are they always as tolerant of change. Some may also have health conditions that need careful monitoring.

Be sure that the person you are assisting has visited their new residence at least once before the actual move takes place. This will help them get acclimated to their new environment and surroundings, and any new faces that may be associated with it.

 What can also be beneficial is to make the new environment look as much as possible like the old one. Surroundings that appear familiar can alleviate some of an older adults anxieties about moving to a different location. Digital photos that show how the old home was decorated can give you a visual reference that allows you to arrange any furniture, books and pictures in ways that will put them more at ease.

 If your older adult plans to be around on moving day, make sure to eliminate as many potential hazards as possible. This means:

• getting lamp and phone cords out of the way;
• rolling up carpets that could otherwise create a trip hazard;
• breaking down boxes as soon as they are empty; and
• setting up lights immediately so that everything in the new home is well-lit.

Once everything is unpacked, don’t forget to show them how appliances, the thermostat, alarms and any other household items work. Be sure they know how to easily contact you or a designated community manager in the event of an emergency. You might also check to see if they need assistance getting cable, Internet or telephone services put in place.  If relocation is to a retirement community or assisted living facility, be sure to arrange an orientation meeting with the appropriate staff for the person you are assisting, as well as yourself and/or other primary family members.

In some cases, it might be best if the person you are helping is not around for the actual move. If he or she is going to a retirement community, such facilities often have guest rooms that can accommodate new arrivals for several days. If this is the case, check to see that the senior has the medications he or she needs along with appropriate clothing and toiletries.

What if you are faced with the relocation of an older adult location in another state, or out of your immediate area?  Today, there are movers and services that cater to just this circumstance.

In 2002, a new organization was formed specifically to facilitate all types of local and long distance relocation issues for older adults. The National Association of Senior Move Management, known as NASMM,  is a 501(c)(6), not-for-profit group of professional senior care specialists who cater to the unique – and frequently unexpected – physical and emotional needs of America's aging population and their families who find themselves faced with any type of moving or relocation arrangements. Initially formed by two dozen independent operators and small businesses, today the rapidly expanding national organization boasts over 500 active, involved members. Visit www.nasmm.org to learn more about their resources.

Here are some questions you will want to ask when shopping for a well-qualified senior move management professional:

• Are you insured with full liability and workmen's compensation insurance? – If so, ask for proof. If not, keep shopping. 

• What are your professional credentials and industry affiliations? – Resources affiliated with  NASMM, list their professional relationships at their websites. Verify them if you're in doubt.

• How are fees determined and when are they accessed? – The list of services provided and their related charges will vary among companies that specialize in senior move management. Request a copy of their contract and a list of potential fees so everyone involved understands the costs.

• How long have they been in business? – Although tenure doesn't necessarily guarantee quality, a long history with few or any BBB complaints is a good indicator. Ask for proof of their good standing from their State of registration. 

• What have former customers said about their service? – Due to privacy issues, many companies today don't hand out personal references from previous customers. User generated testimonials can frequently be found at company websites and in their collateral material. If your suspicious, request to have some of the company's satisfied clients contact you to verify their claims.

Whether you are coming from near or far, American Classic Self Storage understands that it is a stressful time when family members are in transition. That is why we try to make your storing experience as simple and seamless as possible. We pride ourselves in helping our customers find the best storage solution for their needs. American Classic Self Storage has units in a variety of sizes to suit every need and budget. Our rental contracts are month-to-month, so there’s no pressure for a long term commitment. Let us help you make a senior-in-transition’s life a little easier. Contact us today!

www.americanclassicstorage.com