In a consumer society that we live in today, storage space is becoming indispensable. While you can hire self-storage units for your needs, there must be a more meaningful way to spend your money on. As a matter of a fact, if you are going to invest money into storage, you might as well invest in long-term gain. Storage units are a great option for people who need to store their items for a limited period of time. For us who need space to store our items for longer, we need to think about how we can find a solution that is going to solve our storage problem in the long run. Converting your attic into storage space will do just that. It will provide you with a place to put your items in without having to pay the rent. Let’s take a look at your storage options.
Check electricity and joists in your attic
What have you been using your attic for so far?
Now is the right time to take a look in the mirror and ask yourself the following question: what have you been using your attic for in the past years. Heck, what are you using it for as we speak? Perhaps, there are some of your items up there. On the other hand, it is totally possible that there is nothing there apart from dust and spiders. So, depending on what is going to be inside, you will have two options on your hands:
- You might want to rearrange your attic with minimal investments.
- If you are interested to make the most of your attic, you may decide to redo it from scratch.
Your options when converting your attic into storage space
If you are planning to keep your items in the attic, you need to make sure that your attic is entirely functional. Therefore, take a good look at its state. You should figure it out whether there is something that you need to take care of. Start with making sure that you have an easy access to the attic.
Ease of access before anything when converting your attic into storage space
In order to be able to do anything structural in your attic, you need to be able to access it easily. To do this, you will either need to install a drop-down ladder or a fixed stairway. Think about it and then talk to your contractor about what would be the best option for you.
Make sure that access is easy into your storage space attic
Start converting your attic into storage space by examining the roof
You would not want any leaks to ruin your items after you store them in there. Therefore, the first thing on your to-do list should be to examine the roof. Water finds a hole or a crack to go through very easily. Therefore, get on your roof in the daylight and look for holes.
Also, you are going to be able to take a look at the joists as well. Do that and try to find out if any one of them is rotten. If it is, you are going to have to replace it. The same goes for tiles on your roof. Try to stick your head out and look if there are any broken ones. Now is the right time to put new ones if needed.
The floor is the next step
After you are sure that your roof is fine, or you have found out what needs changing, you need to take a look at the floor. Even by walking on it you will feel if something is crooked or just plain and simple feels wrong. Also, keep your ears sharp. Should you come by any squeaking sounds, you should consult professionals and have them check it.
Temperature is going to play an important role in deciding what you are going to store in your attic
When you are thinking about converting your attic into storage space, you need to have a plan of what you are going to put inside of it. Depending on your goals, you might need to think about investing in insulation, just like many storage services NJ already have.
Make sure that floor is in good state before you make your attic your personal storage space
What kind of storage space are we talking about?
As we have already pointed out, you will need to know what kind of storage space you need in order to do a proper conversion of your attic.
Storage for documents and records
In the case that you might need to store documents and records inside of it, you should think about how you are going to file them. Sometimes, people decide to put them in plastic crates and then place them on shelves. We would suggest a different approach. We believe that it would be better if you would file them in registers or document keepers and then place them on shelves. This would ensure that you can easily browse them.
Personal storage
If you are going to place your personal belongings inside of your personal storage, make a good selection of them. Think about what would be the most logical and necessary to place inside. It might help to make a list of items. It can also help you make all the needed changes as you go if you realize that something could still be omitted.
If it turns out that you will have a lot of work to select and pack the storage, you might want to get some help from packing services. Obviously, you would not be moving, but professional help could be beneficial in saving space in your new storage
Buy insurance for your storage
In the case that you already have an insurance policy for your home, you should make sure that it covers the damage that your storage can suffer. If, on the other hand, you do not have any storage insurance policy active, you might want to look into the possibility of buying one. You would not want to suffer damage after converting your attic into storage space and not have anyone cover your costs from damage.
