The spring semester is coming to a close soon and while most of our focus will be on acing our finals and bringing up that GPA, it’s also time to think about summer plans. If you are making a transition out of student housing, the bulk of your time and stress is dedicated to your new summer living situation. While you may only move a few times during your college career, we’ve become experts on it and to make it simple for you, we’ve broken down the process into six easy steps.

1) Separate shared items with roommates

“Sooo…who’s taking the TV?”

If you and your roommates are not living together when school resumes, decide which items you will be responsible for. If all of you pitched in on the TV, figure out who is taking it and come up with a fair way to split the cost. Also, figure out with your new roommates who is bringing the microwave, toaster, vacuum, etc.

2) For your items, decide what you will be taking and what can be disposed

“To throw away or not to throw away?”

After an entire school year, many items amass a good bit of wear and tear. For instance, you might have bought a used easy chair back in September, but ask yourself if it is worth moving and keeping for next year. If items have become defective to the point that it affects their functionality, it’s probably a good idea to put it on the curb. Less stuff is less hassle. Chances are those items that are on the fence will have been completely forgotten by the end of August.

3) Decide what items you are going to take home and what can stay near school

“ Aren’t I going to bring this back next year anyways?”

Where are you heading this summer? Are you going home? If so, you probably don’t need any kitchen materials (pots, plates, silverware, etc.) Also, why lug furniture back and forth if it’s going to be with you again in August? Many people store their seasonal items. You probably won’t need your Northface and other winter clothes until October (fingers crossed in Pittsburgh).

Not sure if it’s an essential? Walk through a typical day or week from when you wake up until when you go to bed. Take those items that you see yourself using when acting out your day, mostly everything else can be put away.

4) Choose an option to store your items for the summer

“See ya in the fall!”

There are definitely a few alternatives here. Is a friend staying on campus for the summer and does he/she have an empty basement? If you’re staying in the same house, you may be able to sublet your place so your stuff will still be used but secured.

If these alternatives aren’t for you, self storage is a great option that is more reasonably priced than you may think. Maybe storage companies anticipate many students moving at the end of the school year and use this to your advantage! There are plenty of great deals out there.

Also, consider renting a larger sized unit with a friend and split the cost. STORExpress allows you to put multiple names on a contract which dictates who can enter the storage space, so you won’t have to wait for your friend if you needed something from your unit.

5) Figure out how you are going to transport your items

“Moving time!”

So you picked out a storage facility and got a great deal for the next few months but now for the part that everyone dreads–the actual move. You might have that friend who has a car on campus but it’s hard to move an entire house in a Honda Accord.

Renting a moving truck is an option but consider checking the sizes of trucks before deciding. Many people guesstimate too often with trucks, either get a truck too small and making multiple trips or overpay for a truck with way more space than needed. Look for storage facilities that offer truck rentals along with renting a storage unit. STORExpress even gives you one for free!

6) Start planning in advance

“Perfect prior planning prevents poor performance!”
Because there are a thousand Pittsburghers doing the same move as you, remember to start early. Look into preleasing a unit to scoop it up before anyone else because they go fast! Be sure to determine who is paying the bills for your old housing and for your new housing in advance. You don’t want to store a 50 inch plasma TV only to have the cable company make you wait three weeks to use it!
Follow these steps and be ready in time for your move out weekend. It’s going to come sooner than you think! Cheers and good luck!

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Introduction Google Voice for STORExpress!

Call anytime Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm!  Or just leave us a message after hours

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We started playing around with 3D models and decided to start playing a game.

Give us some random items and we’ll fit them into a 5×10 storage unit.

First up is Jeff!

Jeff’s unit:

Mattress
SMARTcar
Coffin
Lawnmower
Ostrich

WILL! IT! FIT?!

VERDICT: PERFECT FIT 10/10

send us your own “WILL IT FIT”s to customerservice@storexpress.com. Be sure to put in the subject ‘Will it Fit?’ and include a unit size and list of items!

The post Will It Fit In A 5×10 – Pittsburgh Self Storage appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

Clutter is everywhere and starting to take over people’s garages.

Here are some innovative ideas on how to organize your garage in an inexpensive way!

Pick up a free pallet at your local home store and use it to organize your shovels, rakes, and brooms. No need to hunt for them in your garage anymore!

What a great way to organize that duct tape! Use a hacksaw blade and a filler block to make an easy dispenser.

Take advantage of those peanut butter jars! Screw the lids to the bottom of a shelf. Then fill with nails and bolts. Next, screw to the shelf. Utilize your space efficiently! This way you can see what you have.

No more bags with holes!  Use a trash can to store your bird seed or potting soil.

Tired of losing your drill bits?  Then attach them to strips of magnets on your tool bench for easy access.

The post Creative Garage Storage – Pittsburgh Self Storage Blog appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

The post Coolest Thing Found in Storage of the Month! appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

Huzzah! The holidays are upon us!  ‘Tis a time for opening our hearts and unfortunately our wallets too!  But just because your bank account might not be filled with gold (or frankincense or myrrh) doesn’t mean you can’t decorate your home for the season!

Here are some creative and SIMPLE, again, SIMPLE ways people have decorated their homes for the holidays.

1. Simple Tree Made Out of Tomato Hangers:

Just flip your tomato wire hanger upside-down, throw some lights on it and VOILA!  You have yourself a minimalist Christmas tree!

2.   Snowman Bottle Cap Ornaments

If there’s anything I have abundance of during the time before Christmas, it’s bottle caps left over from Thanksgiving weekend.  Heck,  if it takes 3 to make a snowman ornament,  I could probably hang one from every branch!  So go ahead and open that extra Winter Stout, you have a snowman ornament that needs a head!

3.   Crayon Window Decorations

This was posted on BuzzFeed but I’m not sure how I feel about this one….Sure kids! Draw on the window with these crayons! Little do they know that on January 2nd, they will be trading the crayons for paper towels and Windex.  NEXT

4.   Bottle of Lights

This post started off as legitimate and simple ideas for decorating but like the crayon window, I felt compelled to point this one out.  The bottle of lights!  I’m no mixologist, but I’d say the ingredients for this concoction are 1 part wine bottle and 1 part Christmas lights.  On second thought, it would be really cool if you had a plethora of wine bottles that were different shapes, sizes, and colors.  One bottle looks kinda lonely, and nobody wants to be alone on the holidays.

5.  Window Tree Branches

I like the idea of having fresh pine in my house during the holidays.  Putting branches in water will last about a week but can easily be changed week to week.  Having the small branches will provide an aroma and if you do it right, you neighbor won’t realize his Douglas fir has been looking a little bare lately! (just kidding!)

These ideas are all very simple and sometimes a little TOO simple, but the important thing is that you’re in the spirit and your heart is in the right place.

As users of storage, most of our customers are better organizers and crafters than the average bear.  We would love to hear any ideas of simple, crafty ways you decorate for the holidays.  E-mail us at customerservice@storexpress.com and share your ideas with us!

The post VERY Simple Ways to Decorate for the Holidays appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

When you look into most storage units, what you’ll find most times is a really great attempt at packing it…other times you’ll find quite the opposite attempt.  A rule of thumb is that the average person will only utilize 50% of their storage unit’s available space; and even the best will utilize  only 70% of the space.

Below are some tips that will help you to save money on your storage unit by packing it to it’s fullest potential.  The more effectively you pack the space, the smaller space you need and the more money you save!  Keep in mind, too, that these tips can even be applied to organizing your garage or even loading your cargo truck for your next move.

Arrange items based on your needs:

• Determine how often you will need to access each of your items.
• Always place the items that you will need to access frequently toward the front of the unit.
• Create an aisle space so that you can access items from more places.
• Place heavy items on the floor, and stack light and fragile items on top.
• Leave a step ladder near the inside of your unit door for vertical
  access.

Maximize your space:

• Utilize vertical space by stacking as many items as possible.
• Maximize stacking by filling boxes completely.  Make sure boxes have sturdy tops and lids.
• Store sofas on their ends.
• Disassemble large pieces when possible (i.e. take legs off of sofas and tables, break down bed frames, etc.).
• Stack chairs and sofas seat-to-seat.

Fill empty space:

• Store pillows, blankets, and other malleable items
  in spaces where nothing else will seem to fit.
• Pack small items in trash bags and store in empty spaces.
• Utilize dresser drawers as well as washers and dryers to store clothes or fragile items.
• Bundle long-handled items and store them in corners, under sofas, or behind other items.

If you are looking for storage in Pittsburgh, PA then visit www.storexpressselfstorage.com.

The post How to Pack Your Storage Unit to Save Money appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

Before Rusted Root hit it big, members practiced at STORExpress.

We were recently featured on the SpareFoot blog, highlighting our Band Rehearsal Spaces. Click through to read the whole post.

Highlights:

“Our band spaces are great because they turn something that’s a problem into a solution,” said Lori “Lo” Jablonski, marketing manager at STORExpress Self Storage, which offers more than 80 climate-controlled band rehearsal units at two of its seven facilities in Pittsburgh, PA. “Here, band practice is fun, exciting—and respectable.”

…

“Rock bands just kind of stay,” said Lori Kadales, operations manager at STORExpress. “I guess you can’t ever kill the dream.”

She insists that the day-to-day reality of interacting with aspiring rock stars is far different than storage skeptics might think. Big names like Rusted Root and rising stars like The Composure have tuned up their tunes at STORExpress.

If you’re interested in renting one of our band spaces, call Etna at 412.782.5625 or South Side at 412.431.5652.

The post Here’s How to Harmoniously Use a Self-Storage Unit as a Band Rehearsal Space appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

Our Car Storage was recently featured on the SelfStorage.com Blog. The post highlights a few facilities around the country with storage for collectible cars. Here’s how they thought ours stood out:

STORExpress Self Storage in Pittsburgh, PA, is jumping into classic car storage this summer with a purpose-built facility, unconventionally housed on the second floor of a refurbished building accessible by a concrete ramp.

One novel touch: Vertically suspended air mattresses protect your ride from swinging doors of other vehicles.

Check out more info on our Indoor Car Storage in Etna and Turtle Creek, plus outdoor storage at 6 other Pittsburgh area locations!

You can also contact us via email at etna@storexpress.com or call 412-782-5625,  for the most up-to-date information on the Indoor Car Club at that location.

The post Storage for Collectible Cars appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

When the weather turns warm and the leaves turn green, many motorcyclists – both new riders and experienced – take their bikes out of storage and hit the road. Motorcycles are a fun and fuel efficient way to get around, but the reality is that riding a motorcycle is way more dangerous than a driving a car. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, motorcyclists are 30 times more likely to die in a crash then people in a car.

Despite these sobering statistics, many motorcyclists ride a lifetime without injury. So how can you protect yourself?

• Two of the biggest causes of motorcycle accidents are speeding and alcohol. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the 4,323 motorcyclists killed in 2011, 33% of them were under the influence of alcohol and 35% were speeding. Eliminating speeding and alcohol when riding can substantially reduce your risk for injury and death.

• Wearing protective gear can greatly reduce your chance of injury and death during accidents. In 2011, 40% of motorcycle riders who were killed were not wearing a helmet. The NHTSA estimates that 1,617 lives were saved by wearing a helmet. And while helmets are important to protect your head, wearing a leather or reinforced jacket, boots, gloves, and pants will help to protect the rest of your body.

• Bad weather and motorcycles do not mix. Rain limits your visibility and also reduces your tires grip on the road. If you do get caught in inclement weather, be gentle with the brakes, throttle, and steering to avoid sliding.

•  Making sure your bike is in good working condition before hitting the road can go a long way to ensure a safe (and stress-free!) ride. Before going for a ride, check for leaks, loose bolts, tire problems, or anything else out of place. Make sure you perform regular maintenance and promptly complete repairs.

• Taking a motorcycle safety course can help you become a better rider. These classes go beyond the basic skills you needed to obtain your motorcycle license and can help you break bad driving habits and gain new knowledge and skills that will keep you safe on the road.

        And remember, when the seasons change and winter winds blow in, you can keep your motorcycle safe and dry in one STORExpress’s climate controlled vehicle storage spaces!

The post Motorcycle Safety Tips appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

Join us on December 11th for a Holiday Open House & Artists Market at 448 Studios at our main headquarters in Etna! Support local artists, find great gifts, meet the makers, enjoy light snacks and entertainment while you shop!

WHERE: 448 Butler Street Pittsburgh, PA 15223

WHEN: Friday, December 11, 2015 6-9pm

WHO: Everyone who loves local art!

RSVP: holli@storexpress.com

The post Holiday Open House & Artists Market appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

Burt Reynolds hard at work.

Storage Units are used by people from all walks of life for a world of different reasons. Unfortunately, sometimes these people may have their belongings auctioned by the storage company. Sometimes, even iconic celebrities forget their storage units and they get auctioned off.

This was the case when Burt Reynolds, The Bandit, forfeited (or forgot) his storage unit which was then auctioned off. What was found when the lock was cut was a treasure trove of Hollywood Memorabilia. Items ran the gambit from a bill of sale for a horse named Trigger owned by Roy Rogers, the canoe from 1972’s Deliverance and a horse carriage reportedly built by Dolly Parton. Also included in the unit was a chair made out of hockey sticks from the film Mystery, Alaska, a Smokey & The Bandit toy car, and several letters and photos from friends and co-stars.

These items, along with several others, were then used by the auction bidders to create the Burt Reynolds Museum of Jupiter, FL. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a happy ending for these relics of a fading Hollywood. The museum has since closed and plans to reopen are still unclear. Where these relics are now remains a mystery. Perhaps they are once again in storage unit slumber, waiting for the spotlight to shine on them once more.

The post STRANGE STORAGE: Smokey & The Storage Unit appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

Have you ever watched Storage Wars or other auction shows and wanted to join in the treasure hunt? Read on to find out how you can strike gold!

• Practice assessing value of items by watching auction shows.
• Use the time to view the unit to determine how much you’re willing to spend on it.
• Don’t rush to bid. Wait to gauge the crowd’s interest before letting everyone know you’re interested.
• If you win a unit, have a plan for what to do with the contents of the unit after the auction is over.

STORExpress has auctions every other month. Our next auction is this Saturday, March 19^th, 2016. The best way to keep in the know is to sign up for our mailing list.

http://www.storexpressselfstorage.com/auctions/

The post AUCTION DAY TIPS! appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

Time Capsules. We all know what they are. Take items that identify the times, seal them up, usually burry them, and then forget them. Many have been there at the start (when it’s buried) but not many people have been there when they were opened.

One of the oldest Time Capsules in American history was opened in 2014. The capsule was laid into the ground by Paul Revere and then Massachusetts Governor, Samuel Adams. That’s right! The guy on the beer you’re drinking laid a time capsule in the Massachusetts State House in Boston, MA.

It was laid on July 4, 1795 and, with exception of a brief opening in 1855, sat for 219 years until December 2014, when it was re-discovered by a worker assigned to fix a water leak.

A MFA Curator examines a newspaper. After failing to swipe they had to open it manually.

The capsule was opened in January 2015 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston as a crowd of press and history fans gathered.

Inside they found a treasure trove of coins including a 3-cent coin, a dime, a half-cent, a half-dollar coin, and one-shilling piece from 1652. There was also a medal depicting George Washington and a silver plaque

commemorating the erection of the same State House.

Miraculously, a great deal of paper had survived the years underground. The title page from the first volume of the Massachusetts Colony Record was found along with a Saturday Morning Edition of the Boston Traveler newspaper.

Think about what’s in your storage unit. What would people say about it if it were sealed for 219 years?

If that happened to this guy, they would say ‘Wow, he really loved 80’s horror movies.’

The post STRANGE STORAGE – Sam Addams & Paul Revere Buried My Newspaper…AGAIN! appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

Going away for the summer is an exciting time but there’s a lot to think about. Once you’ve made your plans, what are you going to do with all your stuff?

Some places offer a pallet-based storage service. This means all your stuff goes onto a pallet (typically on the small side) and is then kept in a shared warehouse.

At STORExpress, you’ll have your own personal self-storage unit that contains only your items and can only be accessed by you. We have personal lockers for rent as well as a variety of sizes of storage units. Getting a larger unit and sharing it with friends is a great way to keep costs low and store more.

We offer Pick-Up Service for Student Storage. After selecting your unit, simply select a time range for a pick-up of your items by a STORExpress licensed employee.

Our Southside Location is close to many universities including, Duquesne, PITT, and Carnegie Mellon. We are across the Birmingham Bridge at 200 S. 22nd Street, behind the AT&T clock. Come down and see what we can do to make your summer simpler.

GET STARTED TODAY!!
http://www.storexpressselfstorage.com/students/

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Spring is in the air. Flowers are coming up and so are the STORExpress locations! We are opening 2 NEW LOCATIONS. In Murrysville (6335 William Penn Hwy; Route 22 & Mellon Rd) we are expanding our location with a new 4 story building; while in Turtle Creek (1210 Airbrake Ave) we are opening a renovated Westinghouse Factory.

Murrysville has been home to STORExpress for some time but now we’ve added a new building! This 4-story building will be climate controlled and have a drive-thru section for loading and un-loading no matter the weather.

Historic Murrysville Tree Sign

Turtle Creek was a warehouse from the Westinghouse days when we started. Now, it’s a bright, beautiful facility offering Indoor Car Parking, Indoor RV Parking, and Contractor Units, along with Climate Controlled Self Storage.

Historic Turtle Creek PA

These new locations will still have STORExpress perks you’ve come to expect like 24-hour access, boxes and packing supplies for sale, around-the-clock video surveillance, and a FREE truck with gas for move-in.

Call Today to Schedule a Tour of these Awesome Locations!
Murrysville: 724-733-1331
Turtle Creek: 412-823-(LOCK) 5625

The post COMING TO TURTLE CREEK & MURRYSVILLE appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

Spring Cleaning is a great time to change your surroundings and plan re-decorating projects. If you’re moving furniture to clean, why not play with the room’s layout?
We all accumulate that dreaded word ‘STUFF’ throughout the year. Holidays. Seasonal Sports & Hobbies. Fads. All these are great fun but also can become cumbersome burdens. Chairs can pile up and clutter a great room. While you don’t need them every day, they make more sense for that Dinner Party then having your boss’s wife sit on inflatable furniture.
Closets are another hot-bed of clutter. It’s a terrible trap that wastes space, time, and money buying again and again small items that just get lost in the shuffle.
Clear an area of the room and just pull that closet inside out. Lay everything out like you’re packing a suitcase. Then decide what you use regularly, what going to the curb, and what you don’t use but can’t live without, these are called Occasionals.
These Occasionals are anything you just can’t part with because they are incredibly useful but only at certain times, like that cot for when extra guests stay over at New Years.
These can also be items you love and don’t necessarily use. They can have an emotional attachment, or they took trouble to collect or make, or just items you can’t help but love. Maybe that extensive collection of boots or high-heels? Maybe the Scrap Booking Nook needs to make way for the kids’ playset? Seasonal Sports equipment is another common clutterer that’s perfect for storage.
Separate these items, it’s best to put them in a separate room to keep from ‘just-putting-it-back’ and allow you to see the room in a fresh new way.
After sorting a room, look at your Occasionals section. Decide again when you would use them, if it’s once a month or less, Self-Storage is a wonderful alternative to living in clutter or having to spend money needlessly replacing items.

The post STICK-IT TO ‘STUFF’ appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

Moving is one of the most stressful parts of life. However, a good plan makes for a good move. These tips you can relax and focus on the exciting new adventure before you. These smart solutions will lead to a stress-free move. With consideration and a planning you can make any move the smart move.

One Month Before…..
• Create a moving binder to keep track of everything. Keep all your estimates, receipts, and inventories.
• Take an inventory of your home. Decide what you want to keep and what you would like to discard. Have a yard-sale or donate items that you no longer want.
• Select a moving company or reserve a rental truck with STORExpress.
• Begin packing the things that you do not use frequently.

Two Weeks Before….
• Once you know your new address, contact the following utility companies: phone, electric, gas, water, trash removal, and cable (schedule installation the same day as move-in).
• Arrange to have the utilities shut-off at your old address and turned on at your new home.
• Make an approximate floor plan of your new home that allows movers to properly place your furniture.

The Day Before…
• Make sure you have the following items on hand: Keys, maps, directions to your new home, a copy of your floor plan, and all moving-related documents.
• Do a final walk-through of your current house to make sure that you are not leaving anything behind.

Moving Day….
• Reserve a parking space for the moving trucks as close as possible to your new home. They normally require at least three parking spaces per truck.
• Pick-up the rental truck. If you hired movers instead, make sure that they are on their way.

The post Movin’ On Up Made Easy! appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

STORExpress Turtle Creek Open

STORExpress is proud to announce our NEW location in TURTLE CREEK!!! Located at 1210 Airbrake Ave, our facility offers Indoor Vehicle Parking, Outdoor Vehicle Parking, a variety of Climate Controlled Self-Storage Units, and Contractor Units.
As you’ve come to expect from STORExpress, there’s a state-of-the-art security system with video surveillance, keypad entry, month-to-month leases, and a bright, clean environment you feel safe storing your valuables.

Our Vehicle Storage can accommodate all kinds of vehicles; cars, boats, motorcycles, campers, trailers, and even RV’s! With month-to-month leasing, you can store your vehicle for as long or as little as you need!

Our Contractor Units can be custom built for your needs whether you’re an independent contractor who is expanding out of your home or you’re an established company who just needs extra space during the busy summer months. Heavy duty shelves can be added to your unit to make the most of the space. Several of our clients use them for production while others use them for warehousing. No matter the need, people enjoy having 24/7 access to their unit and the peace of mind that their expensive tools and equipment are safe with STORExpress.

STORExpress Turtle Creek is located just 8 minutes from both Monroeville and North Versailles and 3 minutes from Wilmerding. Call Us Today! 412-823-5625

The post Turtle Creek STORExpress appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.

For a lot of college students it’s a magical time of coffee, energy drinks, and watching the sun rises over a pile of study guides. It’s time for FINALS!

This is a time when you get so busy you can only see getting through the next exam. In the hassle to get good grades and get ready for summer don’t forget your belongings as you take on the new internship or travel abroad.

STORExpress’ Student Summer Storage is a great solution. All you do is select a unit and pack!!! It’s that easy. We pick up you belongs and keep them safe until you’re ready for them.

Here’s some packing tips.

1). Make the most of your space. Pack books on their sides and not their spines or edges. This prevent damage and keeps you from over packing the box.

2). Wrap breakables in clothes and then keep these in a Rubbermaid container. A hard plastic container is far less likely to break than boxes and you can use them again and again for all sorts of things.

3). Use shower-caps to cover your shoes so you don’t have to worry about your shoes getting other items dirty. Don’t forget that there’s space to be used in shoes. Boots are a great place to pack socks, underwear, and even scarfs.

4). Use Press-And-Seal-type plastic wrap to keep jewelry from tangling into a necklace-monster. Lay your jewelry out on a sheet and lay another sheet on top. Pressing the two sheets together creates a bond that can keep them straight while in storage.

Now that you’re all packed up, the easiest part is all that’s left.
A STORExpress representative will come and collect your belongings, move them safely into your own locker, and that’s it.
Go! Have a Fun Summer!

The post Students Summer Packing Tips appeared first on Pittsburgh Self Storage STORExpress.