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Treasure Hunting in Self-Storage Units

December 7, 2011 By Lone Star Self Storage

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Self storage can not only save you money, it may even make you money off auctions.

Americans are participating in a new fad: treasure-hunting in abandoned self-storage units. According to a recent article in the Contra Costa Times, “public [auctions] of possessions abandoned by storage unit renters who defaulted on their payments” are now getting more attention than ever before.

Part of the reason for the heightened interest in these events has to do with the airing of “‘Storage Wars,’ a cable reality series that airs on the A&E network.” This television show has introduced viewers to a world where “savvy speculators and wide-eyed novices alike bid lavishly on the contents of dimly lit units viewed only briefly when the pleated metal door rolls up.”

Says one treasure hunter, “‘years ago, when you went to a storage auction there might be 20 units and only 10 people bidding on them. Now they auction off five units and 50 or more people are there.’”

Admittedly, most of the items that go up for bid are worth very little and include anything from fire extinguishers to furniture to porn. But sometimes, buyer-speculators get lucky. One individual reports that he bought “‘one unit with a gun case and got six guns out of it” and earned a handsome profit on a professional tablesaw he won at another auction and then later sold.

The key to success seems to lie in bidding on storage units that have a lot of items: “the greater the volume, the greater the chance for hidden gems.” Bidding on units that belonged to famous dead people can also yield impressive results. The winner of Jack Kevorkian’s unit found “$38,500 in cash stuffed in detergent boxes and trash bags.” And one lucky soul discovered “19 of Madonna’s personal diaries, which later sold for $400,000” in another, otherwise unremarkable unit.

Even if you’re not a self-storage treasure hunter, self-storage units still have a lot to offer if you’re moving or just need extra space for the “treasures” your closets can’t hold: check out the deals at Lone Star Storage today.

To find your perfect storage unit, call Lone Star Self Storage at (512) 444-4232.
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Choosing the Right Austin Self-Storage Facility

November 30, 2011 By Lone Star Self Storage

lone star self storage austin tx

Lone Star Self Storage in Austin, TX can provide you with great self-storage.

If you have belongings that just won’t fit in your closet, attic or garage, storage is your next best option.  Now you need to decide what kind of Austin self-storage facility works best for your situation.

You may try storing your things with friends or relatives. While this option may be less costly in the short run, you won’t be guaranteed long-term stability. If your friends or relatives have to move or experience any significant changes in their lives, you’ll be right back where you started from: looking for a place to keep your stuff.

Professional facilities like Lone Star Self Storage in Austin are especially good if you need to put your belongings away for more than a few days or weeks. Since you are a paying for the space, they have a vested interest in offering clients logistical stability.

However, not all self-storage companies are alike.  When you’re hunting for a storage unit, make sure that the facility where it’s located has:

  • good security—the premises should offer adequate protection in the form of security alarms and/or access control, including the option to use your own padlocks.
  • dependable storage areas—units should be well-built and weather-resistant.
  • a solid reputation—you may be tempted to choose a place that’s nearby and inexpensive. But be aware that facilities can and do close down, especially if they are brand new.
  • a helpful staff and convenient hours.

At Lone Star Self-Storage, we take pride in providing quality service to our customers. When you rent with us, you rent from professionals who’ll provide you with reliable storage space when you need it most.

Call Lone Star Self Storage for dependable, secure storage in Austin. Call (512) 444-4232.
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Austin Storage Rates Are Affordable and Helpful for Remodeling Projects

November 1, 2011 By Lone Star Self Storage

When you are completing a remodeling project in your Austin home, you might find that using some self storage to tuck away some of your items during such a project will make it easier. You might be doing the project by yourself or hiring someone to do it. In either case, self-storage Austin rates are affordable and this will make the journey easier for you. Getting all of your items out of the way during the job is a great way to make the job easier to accomplish, and if you are hiring someone, doing this makes it more secure for you and your things.

Austin self-storage rates

Austin self-storage rates are low with Lone Star Self Storage

If you are a “do-it-yourselfer”, or DIY, you will find that using self storage can be both affordable and convenient. Austin storage rates are very reasonable, starting as low as $30 monthly for a 5’ x 5’ unit, and going up to $120 for a huge 10’ x 20’ space. Terms are flexible, and at Lone Star Self Storage, you don’t pay any deposits, administrative fees, and you aren’t locked into long term leases with the month to month options available. This way, if you only need one measly month, that’s all you have to pay for!

Now on the other hand if you are not handy or this is a bigger job, then using storage while you are hiring someone is also a helpful option for many people. Some people feel more comfortable using storage due to the inherent risk of bringing strangers into your home, usually during the day while you are at work, to do the job. Although the company might be great, you never can be sure someone won’t swipe something valuable from your home. This is one reason to use storage. With Austin storage rates so low and reasonable, why wouldn’t you protect your things? Also, if you just need somewhere to put your things temporarily, this is again very helpful.

As you can see, when remodeling, self storage is a great help, whether to get things out of the way or to protect your valuables. Here at Lone Star Self Storage, you will find month to month terms and low storage rates to help you do what you need to do without paying an arm and a leg. You can do it, and we can help! Storing your items is a great way to make sure you can accomplish what you need to do with the most convenient terms.

Call Lone Star Storage at 512-444-4232 for storage availability and rates.
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Top 5 Ways to Use Self Storage

October 21, 2011 By Lone Star Self Storage

austin self storage storage tips

Have clutter? Use Lone Star Self Storage in Austin 78704 to help organize your life!

When you are looking for a way to de-clutter your home, store large and seasonal objects, move, renovate, or stage your home for sale, using Austin self storage to tuck away your things is an economical and helpful choice. Storage units are economical, easy to use, easy to access, and helpful for your sanity. Here we’ll review 5 reasons you might consider using this type of storage, and how it can help you.

One of the best ways to use self storage is to de-clutter your home. Once useless clutter is removed, you’ll probably even feel more relaxed. In a few years, people often don’t even remember what is in the boxes. It’s likely you won’t have missed it one bit! If you find that you did miss some of it, like photos for example, pick out the ones that mean the most and make a collage or scrapbook out of them and get rid of the half-blurry, over- or under-exposed thumb photos!

Another great way to use storage units is to store out of season bulky objects, like sports equipment. If you are really into sports, this is a common collection that takes up way too much space!

If you are moving or renovating your home, self storage can be a lifesaver. Pack up your non-essentials and put them into self-storage while moving. This saves you from stacking boxes all over your home while your family attempts to live a normal life. When you are renovating the home, this can spare you from stacking boxes in your bedrooms and other areas that you need to use regularly. This will save you a good bit of sanity. Pack up those boxes and stack them tall in a handy storage unit!

If you are in the process of preparing your home for sale, nothing deters buyers more than clutter and your personality being expressed all over the house. If you have never watched one of those home shows where they tell the sellers what is wrong with their home and why it won’t sell, this is usually it. Pack up your clutter and personal photos, ship them out and your home will likely sell much faster. Let people see themselves in your home, not you. This is the last of the 5 ways to use self storage, but don’t let this fool you. There are many more great reasons to use storage for your things! The possibilities are endless!

To acquire Austin self-storage, call Lone Star Self Storage. We’re conveniently located in South Austin in the 78704 ZIP code and have secure, inexpensive self-storage options for you.
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Self Storage—Self Storage Makes Storage Easy

October 13, 2011 By Lone Star Self Storage

self storage units austin texas

Need storage in Austin, Texas? We have plenty of it and just what's right for your needs.

If you need to store items, you are in luck. Self storage is a great way to deal with too many items in your home or store things for awhile for any reason. The reasons a person need storage are many. Some people are doing it due to downsizing, some are remodeling their home, some store things for their parents who go into a nursing home, and people even do it while staging their homes for sale. Whatever your reason is for needing storage, these modern day storage units make it so easy to store your goods. Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your unit.

First of all, when shopping for self storage, make sure you get the right size unit. Look at the width, depth, and height of the unit to see if it is the right size for you. Allow a little extra space for getting things in and out unless you know without a doubt that you will not need to get anything out at all. Okay, now that you have selected the right size unit, you will want to pack up your things to go in there. Pack like items together so that it is easy to find them and identify on the sides of your box. Mark each box with what is inside to save yourself the hassle of figuring it out inside the storage unit with boxes all around you.

The next tip revolves around how you will pack, stack, and place the items in the self storage unit. Pack heavy items in small boxes and lighter items in large boxes. Your large boxes are going to be stacked on the bottom of a pile of boxes, and of course, the smaller ones on top. Don’t stack a really heavy small box on top of a big pile of light boxes. This can cause a problem sometimes too. Just use common sense in this part of the job and you will do just fine.

Self storage is a great tool to use when you have excess items that need to be packed away for many various reasons. No matter the reason for obtaining that extra storage, you will find it easier to find your items if you use the tips contained here. Also, you will be able to fit more into your storage unit as well. Easy as this sounds, using these tips will keep the job simple.

Count on Lone Star Self Storage in Austin for all of your self storage needs. Call us at 512-444-4232.
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Self Storage Austin, Texas Offers Moving Assistance

September 7, 2011 By Lone Star Self Storage

moving_storage_austin_texas_self_storage

Moving? Need storage? Let Lone Star take care of ya!

If you are moving in the Austin area, sometimes renting an Austin self storage unit can be helpful. You may wonder how it can be helpful when what you normally need is a moving truck. The reason you would use self storage relates more to temporarily storing your goods temporarily than actually moving. There are two different types of ways that self storage can help your move go smoother.

The first way you can use self storage Austin units to store your goods while moving is to slowly pack up in advance, which allows you to get those cumbersome boxes out of your current home while you are waiting for moving day to arrive. If you have ever moved out of a home before, you know what it’s like living among towers of boxes. This could be annoying or even dangerous, if you have a young child in the home. Make sure that when you place boxes into the storage unit that you stack them safely with the heaviest and biggest boxes on the bottom of the piles.

The next way you might use self storage units in Austin is when you are not experiencing easy timing between selling one home and buying another, or between rental ending and beginning dates. Sometimes this can be awfully hard to coordinate, so using a storage unit can make it a lot easier! Label your boxes with 1 for open immediately, 2 for open within the first week, and 3 for “not urgent” boxes. Label each box with the correct room it goes into and a general description of what’s in it. This will help you sort out the boxes when you arrive at your new home and you don’t remember what was in your boxes.

Using Austin self storage units can be a huge helper when you are moving from one home to the next. If you are selling a home and having difficulty with the dates for the buyer and yourself, self storage is a great tool. If you just want to take your time packing up without towers of boxes around, it’s great for this reason as well. Storage is not difficult to get and it is a very economical option to help with just about any aspect of moving.

For more information about Lone Star Self Storage and our storage options, call us at (512) 444-4232.
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Sailboat Storage in Austin, TX Provides Protection and Security for Your Investment

August 31, 2011 By Lone Star Self Storage

sailboat_storage_austin_lone_star_self_storage

Sailboats can be a dream. But where to put them can be a nightmare. Turn to Lone Star Self Storage.

If you are a sailboat owner, no doubt you have considered what could happen to your prized water vehicle in the event of theft, vandalism, or unpredictable fierce storms. Your insurance might even cover such things, but what if that happens during peak sailboat season, and you end up waiting out the whole season, or longer, due to waiting for the insurance company to handle it. In either case, sailboat storage in Austin, TX at Lone Star Self Storage provides a great deal of security and peace of mind. Keep reading to learn more about how you can protect your investment.

The sailboat storage Austin, TX has to offer is surprisingly convenient and affordable, and you will find it to be very secure. With these types of storage options available, why would you risk your sailboat becoming vandalized or even stolen? It is an unfortunate fact of life today that so many dishonest people are out there stealing and vandalizing things, but it is the truth and we must not ignore it.

When you go away on an extended trip or for a seasonal stay away, you will want to store your sailboat somewhere. The sailboat storage Austin, TX offers at Lone Star Self Storage will provide you with secure, safe, and convenient ways to keep your sailboat out of harm’s way. A reason this is so important is that even if your regular sailboat location is safe and someone is watching it, what happens if nasty thunderstorms or a tornado comes through, devastating much of the things that are outside? A storage facility has the protection necessary to keep your boat safe. These storms are nothing to mess with, and as a resident of Texas, there is no doubt that you are aware of this.

When seeking sailboat storage Austin, TX offers, consider Lone Star Self Storage. We have month to month rentals available, therefore not requiring long term commitments. We also do not require any deposits, which many storage facilities do. Another thing we don’t charge you for is administrative fees. We don’t think it makes a lot of sense to make people commit to long terms, or pay fees when they are already paying a monthly rental fee. With that in mind, go ahead and take some time to shop around. Decide what’s best for you. Make your sailboat safe and secure in self storage. You will be glad you did!

To inquire about sailboat storage in Austin at Lone Star Self Storage, call (512) 444-4232.
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Austin, Texas Storage 78705—Units to Stage Your Home for Sale

August 24, 2011 By Lone Star Self Storage

Self-storage 78705 can help you sell your home

Self-storage 78705 can help you sell your home

If you are selling a home in Austin, chances are you will want to stage your home for sale to increase the chances your home will sell quickly. You will also want to do this in order to assure the highest possible profit you can expect to earn on the sale. If you don’t know what staging a home is, it is in essence making your home look like anyone could live there, that person being your potential buyer. This means eliminating clutter and neutralizing the décor of the home. This also means making your home appear to have the most potential living space as possible. Staging is often helped along by Austin, Texas storage 78705 units.

The first thing you will want to realize is that when you are going to rent Austin, Texas storage 78705, you will want to choose a space that is the right size for your needs. You want to eliminate all possible clutter from the home. This means your kitchen counters and cabinets, every single closet, the attic if you have one and any other storage space too. Take it all out and pack it up into boxes, because the more space the potential buyers see with their eyes, the more of their stuff they can see fitting inside.

Next you want to take a look at your décor. You want neutral colors. You want to store any family photos. You should eliminate anything eclectic in your décor. Take out all the flashy items and place them into Austin, Texas storage 78705 units. You will find that this will aid your buyer into being able to see their style in the home. If they see your family on the mantle, how can they picture theirs there? It’s just visualization, and it works like a charm. For this very reason, you should take as much advantage of it as you can. Un-personalize it and you will see definite results.

So the keys here are de-cluttering and un-personalizing the home so it will sell quickly and for the price you want. You know by now that if a home sits on the market too long, buyers will find out and lose interest, wondering what’s wrong with your home. Just by placing some of your personal items and clutter into Austin, Texas storage 78705 units will give you the space you need to show off your home in Austin. Take our advice and find a short term rental space and sell that home fast!

To secure a self-storage unit for your items, call Lone Star Self Storage at (512) 444-4232.
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Austin TX Storage—Reasons to Use Austin TX Storage

August 17, 2011 By Lone Star Self Storage

Austin, TX self storage

Our storage units can help you remove the clutter and save space!

When you have too much stuff for any reason, Austin, TX storage is a good way to manage it all. There are many reasons that someone can benefit from self storage. Here we will review the many reasons why self storage can help you manage all that stuff. Selecting a good location for your storage needs and a good size space are important things to consider when renting a space, but in this article, we’re going to take a good look at the many useful applications of self storage space.

One of the primary reasons that people will rent Austin, TX storage is because they are moving from one home to another. Moving can be a complicated timing process, especially if you are selling and buying a new home. If the home you are selling needs to sell a week or two before you can settle on your new home, it might become tricky to find storage in the homes of family members or friends, if you have some that live nearby. You can choose to store your items close to the old home or near the new one. It’s much better to rent a storage facility and pack your stuff in there tightly than it is to ask favors of everyone you know.

Another reason many choose to rent Austin, TX storage is remodeling. Remodeling often requires that the space in construction be free and clear of furniture and other space-demanding items. Rather than dislocate it all inside your Texas home with no basement, renting a storage space is so much easier. There are many benefits to renting a storage space, and one of those benefits is usually easy access. If you are putting your stuff into a friend’s or relative’s home, you might not be able to get your things out in a time frame that is convenient to you. This could cause problems if you need to retrieve files or documents for other reasons.

Renting Austin, TX storage is easy to do and is a convenient and economical alternative to borrowing extra space from five of your closest friends to store a few pieces of furniture or a stack of boxes. Whether you are moving, remodeling, or just need the extra space to de-clutter your home or office, this is a great solution that is pretty much pain free and can come in handy. Self storage is a convenient, safe, effective, and favor-free way to store your things indefinitely or short term.

To check the availability of our self-storage units, call (512) 444-4232.
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Austin TX RV Storage—Off Season Austin TX RV Storage

August 10, 2011 By Lone Star Self Storage

RV storage austin tx lone star self storage

Using storage for your RV is a great option when you're not out traveling with it

If you own a recreational vehicle, an RV, you might find that during some parts of the year, it’s not in use. It may be too large to keep at your home unless you are using it frequently, or you think your neighbors would prefer if you didn’t have it there in the neighborhood. It completely depends on your living situation, of course. Off season RV storage in Austin, TX is a great option when any of these circumstances apply to you, or if you are concerned about the safety and security of your RV at night or when you are traveling out of town in another vehicle.

If you live out in the country, of course, you might find that it is much more likely that you could store it at home. However, many people live in neighborhoods that are more intimate and the homes are closer together, and you might not have a very big driveway or other paved areas in which to store your RV. If so, Austin, TX RV storage might be a good option for you to consider when you are not using your RV much.

The safety and security of your RV might be at stake in several situations. Perhaps there’s been some crime in your area, or maybe you travel by air or boat to some other locations where you cannot take your RV. Of course it is the ultimate in traveling comfort, but there might be times when you are not home to monitor that. Austin, TX RV storage might come in handy even while you are home if you just will feel better about having it protected under lock and key. These are all valid reasons to use RV storage.

Using Austin, TX RV storage is a great way to protect the investment of your recreational vehicle. It is the most luxurious way to travel, but when you are not traveling in it, there are certain risks and other factors that might make you feel inclined to protect it from vandalism or theft. Using storage for your RV can give you the peace of mind that your RV will be just the way you left if you have to travel by another means or if you are just concerned about theft. RV storage can provide you with the protection you need from any of these things.

For more information on storing an RV at Lone Star Self Storage in Austin, call 512-444-4232.
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