Feb 02, 2009 Downsizing? Seniors Moving to New Home Face Storage Problems Jan 15, 2009 Storage Can Be a Problem for All Those Holiday Gifts; Attic, Garage, Closet or Self Storage? Jan 14, 2009 It’s “In with the New and Out With the Old” Time; But Where to Put the “Old” Can Be a Problem Apr 02, 2008 New Site Launched! Jan 16, 2008 Our Attic Now Offers a $19.95 flat pickup rate! Feb 02, 2009 Downsizing? Seniors Moving to New Home Face Storage Problems Our Attic Storage Offers Seniors Some Tips for Storing Mementoes After Moving February 02, 2009 04:13 PM Eastern Time LEWISVILLE, Texas--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Whether you’ve settled into your new downsized home or are thinking about moving, finding safe, secure and affordable storage for a lifetime of memories and mementoes can be one of biggest challenges seniors face. You’re not alone. According to data compiled by the National Association of Home Builders 50+ Council, more than a 100,000 units targeting the over-55 seniors market were built in 2008. And although these units tend to be roomy - the average home in an active senior community has two bedrooms and about 2,000 square feet, the Council noted - they don’t have the extra all-purpose room or storage space that the old family home had. And that is a problem, particularly for women who are downsizing. A Canadian study done by a company that specializes in staging homes for sale, reported that while 32 percent of males ranked storage space as the "most important," aspect of a new home, 54 percent for females did. "The new place may have a small storage locker but it will probably not have an attic or extra large garage for storage," points out Bruce Klotzman of Our Attic Storage, "so the decision to downsize sometimes means facing another, more emotional decision for seniors - disposing of some precious family heirlooms." Bruce and his partner Michelle Harris have a few suggestions for seniors who are downsizing and moving to a new home. "First, determine which of those memories and mementoes are ones you just can’t give up," suggests Michelle, "and set those aside. Then have family get-together. Invite your kids, nieces and nephews to come over and have them put a post-it note on those items you think you can part with and that they might want." Whatever’s left can go to your favorite thrift store. If you’re still faced with more things than you have room for, consider off-site storage. If you’re not looking to store a roomful of furniture, Our Attic Storage could be the answer. "Our mobile storage bins are perfect for seniors to store those family memories and those items you only need occasionally like your good crystal and china, holiday decorations, seasonal clothing and sports equipment," notes Michelle. "They provide nearly 28 cubic feet of space in a rugged, heavy-duty wheeled plastic container that can easily be maneuvered to any room in your house." Our Attic Storage will deliver as many containers as you need for $19.95 and store them in their secure, climate-controlled warehouse for $24.95 a month each. The company can also supply you with the boxes you need to pack your memories and mementoes safely.  ^top Jan 15, 2009 Storage Can Be a Problem for All Those Holiday Gifts; Attic, Garage, Closet or Self Storage? Throw it away, give it away or store it somewhere—attic, garage, closet or self-storage. Those are the choices we’ll all face as the holidays fade into memory, particularly those of us already cramped for space. Bulging closets leave little room for those new sweaters, sweat suits and pajamas that came swaddled in bright colored wrapping. The kids’ toy box probably was overflowing before the overindulgent grandparents showed up. And those holiday decorations somehow multiplied and refuse to go back into the storage containers they came out of. It’s triage time for your stuff. First, figure out what’s broken, torn, or otherwise damaged beyond repair and put it out for the trash collectors. Check your local regulations for the disposal of home chemical or electronic trash. Second, separate the stuff that’s left into three piles: Stuff that’s too good to throw away, but you’ll never use again, and you know there must be someone somewhere who will (like those clothes you’ll never fit into, the toys that no one ever played with in the first place and that talking fish Uncle Eddie gave you); Stuff you want to keep handy, (like the new clothes you can’t wait to wear or the new toys the kids love to play with). And stuff you don’t want to part with but only need occasionally (like seasonal clothes, sports equipment, family keepsakes, holiday decorations, books, baby clothes and outgrown toys that you’re just certain someone in the family will need someday). That first bunch of stuff should go to your favorite thrift store, be it a local charity, the Salvation Army or Goodwill. They can turn your cast-offs into much needed cash to help keep their operations going. And in this economy they need all the help they can get. Putting the second bunch of stuff away in your closets, drawers and toy boxes usually leads to more of the last bunch of stuff—things you don’t want to part with but only need occasionally. For those things, you need to find a place where they will be dry, secure and easily retrievable. “The go-to place for most people is the back of the guest room closet, their apartment’s tiny storage room, under a bed, up stairs in the attic (if they’re lucky enough to have one) or in the garage instead of one or both cars,” said Out Attic Storage co-owner Bruce Klotzman. None of those alternatives are perfect, notes Michelle Harris, Bruce’s partner. “The guest room closet only works when you don’t have a guest,” she notes, adding: “And your apartment storage unit is already overstuffed with that one bag of charcoal; your bed is too low to the ground to hide anything but a few serving platters; your garage is already occupied with what garages are meant to be occupied with; and your attic is upstairs and your stuff is heavy.” Both Bruce and Michelle suggest you consider a self-storage solution. And if you’re not looking to store rooms full of furniture, Our Attic Storage and its patented storage containers could be the answer. “Our mobile storage containers are perfect for storing all those items you only need occasionally like holiday decorations, seasonal clothing, toys and sports equipment, or family keepsakes,” notes Michelle. “They provide nearly 28 cubic feet of space in a rugged, heavy-duty wheeled plastic container that can easily be maneuvered to any room in your house.” Our Attic Storage will deliver as many storage containers as you need for $19.95 and store them in their secure, climate-controlled warehouse for $24.95 a month each. The company can also supply you with the boxes you need to repack your Christmas decorations neatly. ^top Jan 14, 2009 It’s “In with the New and Out With the Old” Time; But Where to Put the “Old” Can Be a Problem Throw it away, give it away or store it somewhere. Those are the choices we’ll all face as the holidays fade into memory, particularly those of us already cramped for space.   Bulging closets leave little room for those new sweaters, sweat suits and pajamas that came swaddled in bright colored wrapping.  The kids’ toy box probably was overflowing before the overindulgent grandparents showed up.  And those holiday decorations somehow multiplied and refuse to go back into the boxes they came out of.   It’s triage time for your stuff, says Bruce Klotzman, co-owner of Lewisville’s Our Attic Storage. First, he says, figure out what’s broken, torn, or otherwise damaged beyond repair and put it out for the trash collectors.  Check your local regulations for the disposal of home chemical or electronic trash. Second, separate the stuff that’s left into three piles: o    Stuff that’s too good to throw away, but you’ll never use again, and you know there must be someone somewhere who will (like those clothes you’ll never fit into, the toys that no one ever played with in the first place and that talking fish Uncle Eddie gave you); o    Stuff you want to keep handy, (like the new clothes you can’t wait to wear or the new toys the kids love to play with). o    And stuff you don’t want to part with but only need occasionally (like seasonal clothes, sports equipment, family keepsakes, holiday decorations, books, baby clothes and outgrown toys that you’re just certain someone in the family will need someday); That first bunch of stuff should go to your favorite thrift store, such as Christian Community Action, the Salvation Army or Goodwill.  They can turn your cast-offs into much needed cash to help keep their operations going.  And in this economy they need all the help they can get. Putting the second bunch of stuff away in your closets, drawers and toy boxes usually leads to more of the last bunch of stuff—things you don’t want to part with but only need occasionally. For those things, you need to find a place where they will be dry, secure and easily retrievable.   “The go-to place for most people is the back of the guest room closet, their apartment’s tiny storage room, under a bed, up stairs in the attic (if they’re lucky enough to have one) or in the garage instead of one or both cars,” said Bruce Klotzman.   None of those alternatives are perfect, notes Michelle Harris, Bruce’s partner. “The guest room closet only works when you don’t have a guest,” she notes, adding: “And your apartment storage unit is already overstuffed with that one bag of charcoal; your bed is too low to the ground to hide anything but a few serving platters; your garage is already occupied with what garages are meant to be occupied with; and your attic is upstairs and your stuff is heavy.” Both Bruce and Michelle suggest you consider some sort of off-site storage. And if you’re not looking to store rooms full of furniture, Our Attic Storage could be the answer. “Our mobile storage bins are perfect for storing all those items you only need occasionally like holiday decorations, seasonal clothing, toys and sports equipment, or family keepsakes,” notes Michelle.  “They provide nearly 28 cubic feet of space in a rugged, heavy-duty wheeled plastic container that can easily be maneuvered to any room in your house.” Our Attic Storage will deliver as many containers as you need for $19.95 and store them in their secure, climate-controlled warehouse for $24.95 a month each.  The company can also supply you with the boxes you need to repack your Christmas decorations neatly. ^top Apr 02, 2008 New Site Launched! We've completed renovation on our new website.  Please drop us a note to let us know what you think (or just to say hi)! ^top Jan 16, 2008 Our Attic Now Offers a $19.95 flat pickup rate! Our Attic now offers delivery and pickup of containers for a flat rate of $19.95!  This means that you can use as many of our containers as you want, and we'll transport them for you for one low fee! ^top