Author Archives: George W

Is It Hot In Here?!

storage near california beachesIt’s that time again!  Students are counting down the days till school is out; campsites are starting to fill up and many of us start planning a few getaways where we can cool off.  Summer is almost here!

Some of us may be contemplating doing different activities this summer.  Trying to camp for the first time, taking a trip to a location we’ve never been to or maybe doing something big: like purchasing a boat, jet skis or an RV.  Being that Dollar Self Storage has five storage locations in California we’ve come to appreciate the beauty this state has to offer.   Continue reading

Dorms: Not Just For College Students

Private Bedroom with Kitchenette in Communal Living Home

Private Bedroom in a Starcity Communal Living Home

College.  It wasn’t just about going to school and getting that degree to end up at your dream job.  It was about making new friends, creating memories and for many of us dorm style living.  Most of us either lived in a dorm on campus or we rented an apartment/condo/home with our friends off campus.  Regardless of the location we can remember needing to share a bathroom, living room, kitchen and possibly a bedroom with other people.   Sure there were some not so great things – like having to go to the bathroom and your roommate was taking the world’s longest shower, but aside from that, the feeling of sharing a space, dividing housework up, paying less in rent and constantly having people around to interact with was lots of fun.   Continue reading

Living With Less

Small HouseThere are usually a few times in one’s life where you think you just want to sell all your stuff, simplify and go live somewhere where there are less people, less noise and less stress.  For most of us, these are fleeting thoughts for one reason or another.  But maybe you’ve had this thought and it isn’t going away.  You’ve been watching HGTV shows like Tiny House Hunters and Tiny House, Big Living and you love the idea of downsizing and simplifying your life.

Look no further than New Frontier Tiny Homes, according to their website they have been in business since 2015 and they have three different models: Alpha Tiny House, Escher Tiny House and Cornelia Tiny House.  How tiny are these homes?  According to their website they are 24′ x 8’6″ x 13’6″ tall.  Each model is slightly different in the layout to offer either a loft for a baby or an office/guest room space. Continue reading

Storage – Fun Facts!

self storage growthWe’re coming up on springtime and that means getting outside and connecting with neighbors. But what happens when the small talk starts to run short? Well here’s an answer – just bring up storage – because who doesn’t want to know some interesting self-storage facts?!

Whether you are looking for a storage unit or already have one, here are some fun facts about these precious extra units of space that are sure to make you the hit of the neighborhood! Continue reading

Storage: Then and Now

Clay Pot StorageFor as long as people have had possessions, we have needed a way to store and protect them.  In Ancient times, storage was mainly used to protect and preserve the most prized possession: food.  Since Ancient civilizations lacked refrigerators they needed to come up with a way to preserve their meats.  In Greece, Rome, and Egypt they used salt to remove the moisture from the meat to preserve it.  It was then stored in clay pots.  These clay pots become the ancient world’s first storage unit.  Along with meat, grains like wheat and barley were a valuable commodity that needed to be properly stored and protected from insects and small rodents.  Beginning in 8500 BC they built above-ground buildings out of pottery known as granaries.  According to Wikipedia, granaries were used in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Great Britain. Of course, we now know the ones used in modern farming as grain elevators.  Continue reading

You’ve Got Storage – Now What – Part 2

appliance storageIn our previous post we had tips on the best way to pack/store boxes and how to properly prepare furniture for storage. Today, we wanted to discuss some steps on how to prepare large appliances for storage. Once again, we want to remind you that these are just suggestions and you should always consult any manufacturer instructions you may have as well as using your best judgement.

Some general rules are to: Continue reading

You’ve Got Storage – Now What

Storing BoxesYou finally realized you need a storage unit.  Your house is cluttered, your garage has more boxes than it can handle and you aren’t ready to part with a large majority of these items, so you finally rented a unit. Now what?

In today’s post, we have some tips on how to store boxes and furniture to make sure that your items remain undamaged. We hope you find this information useful, but as always, please use your best judgment and follow any manufacture instructions regarding long term storage.

When preparing items for storage, you want to organize and pack them in a systematic and practical manner, so that you can easily find and access whatever you might need and any time. You also want to ensure the best possible protection against dust, dirt, moisture and possible damage. Continue reading

Love the Holidays – Hate the Storing

storing holiday decorationsChristmas is always such a wonderful time of year. The mood around town is festive, homes are decorated with lights, a Christmas tree and all sorts of festive décor fill our homes with warmth. But come January 1, most of us are ready to pack up Christmas and put it away. But boy, Christmas sure takes up a lot of room.

Every year, I am amazed that over half of the garage is filled with bins that hold Christmas items. Bins that are taking up precious garage space….bins that are only needed for a very small window of time. Continue reading

Stored Memories

storage of memorable itemsWe all go through life collecting memories. We collect them in our head, heart and the material things around us. The christening gown your mom saved for you, the high school year books signed by people who once meant so much to you, your old varsity jacket, your wedding dress, the blankets you brought your baby home in, photos of parties, milestones, life….and the list goes on. When you look around your home, memories are attached to the things that you keep. In your 20’s there aren’t too many “things”, but as you get older and life keeps going by those things start collecting. Add in a spouse and a couple of children and all of a sudden you realize you have more things than you ever thought you needed, but you can’t seem to part with them. You cringe when you think of Continue reading

Spotlight on Apache Junction

Apache Junction Self Storage SignApache Junction, Arizona is located at the base of the Superstition Mountains about 35 miles east of Phoenix. Incorporated in 1978 it has a current population of approximately 40,000 people.

Like many parts of Arizona, Apache Junction is rich in Western heritage. In fact, just a few miles away is the historic Goldfield Ghost Town. Adding to its western heritage is a history of film-making with many movies of the Western genre having been filmed in the area.  Movies with stars such as Audie Murphy, Elvis Presley,  Jason Robards, and John Wayne were shot nearby. Continue reading