Our offices will be closed in observance of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 29th. Normal access hours are available at most locations, please check with yours to confirm. For your convenience, we also offer a 24 hour rental/payment kiosk at 19 of our A-1 Self Storage locations!
We would like to express our gratitude to those members of our Armed Services, and their families, who paid the ultimate price for their service. Thank you for answering the call to defend our freedom. We sincerely appreciate your service and sacrifice!
Did you recently receive deployment papers? Depending on your military unit, you may only have a very limited time to prepare. Don’t panic yet! Here at A-1 Self Storage it is our job to give deployed military personnel peace of mind knowing their vehicle and other items are in a clean and secure facility.
Here are important tips and questions to consider prior to deployment:
What items will you be storing? A few boxes or entire household? Before you decide how much space you will need, you need to organize the items you intend on putting into storage.
What size and type of self storage unit will you need? It’s important to get the right size because it means you aren’t wasting money on space you don’t need. Check storage facility website and see what they offer. Many local facilities offer promotions, deals, and discounts on storage. It is very important to do your research on all the options in your area. Prefer to see some units in person? Store mangers would be happy to give you a tour of their facility.
Will you need climate controlled unit? Climate controlled storage units keep items in a constant set temperature. If you are going to be placing valuable items in storage, you will want to consider a climate controlled unit. You may not know the length of your deployment, if you suspect it be longer than a year, climate control is recommended.
Will you need to store your vehicle? What about your car or boat? Unless you have a family member or friends who plan to use these items during deployment, you may consider vehicle storage.
Did you ask about move-in specials & Military discounts? A-1 Self Storage offers Military discounts. Be sure to stop by the office to get more information about Military discounts.
Did you ask about payment options? A-1 Self Storage provides you with easy payment options: auto-pay, online payment, pay-by-phone, etc.
What car storage options are provided? In some cases, you may be able to store your vehicle and household items safely in a large storage unit.
Getting organized ahead of time to file your taxes can alleviate a lot of the stress involved with meeting the April 18th deadline. Now is the time to start on this year’s taxes if haven’t already started on your 2016 tax return. Below are helpful tips and reminders to make sure you have all the information you will need when its time to file your taxes.
Designate a space for tax organization – Whether it be your home office, kitchen table, or even a storage unit, make sure your tax record keeping has a designated spot.
Decide on a filing system – If you use paper clips, accordion folders, color-coded post-it notes, or some other filing system, decide on how your going hold together important paperwork and documents. If you do everything online and decide to do paperless, be sure to keep electronic records.
Gather all income statements and documents (including receipts) – Group together all sources of income, including W-2, 1098, or 1099 forms, as well as paid invoices or any other evidence of income you have received in the past year. Keep your receipts in a separate folder.
Plan ahead – To limit last minute stress, create a calendar to plan your tax time to-dos, and aim to have your taxes filed in advance. You will want to have a schedule for keeping your documents organized. Is it that you will file the proper items at the end of the work week? Create a habit, use alarms, and set reminders to help you create this habit.
Decide how you will file – Will you be using a tax filing software program, give everything to your accountant, or just file the paperwork by yourself? Whatever you decide, make sure you have everything in order prior to the deadline.
Tax season doesn’t have to be stressful. Stay organized and plan ahead of time. With these simple tips, tax organization should be simpler!
Please make note of our upcoming holiday schedule:
New Year’s Eve – Saturday, December 31st – our offices will close at 4 PM
New Year’s Day – Sunday January 1st – our offices will be CLOSED
Normal access hours are available at most A-1 Self Storage locations. Please check with your local facility to confirm the schedule. For your convenience, we also offer a 24 hour rental/payment kiosk at 19 of our A-1 Self Storage locations! We will reopen on Monday, January 2nd.
Wishing you a new year filled with peace, prosperity, love, and laughter. Happy New Year!
The holiday season is upon us! Turkey, Christmas lights, and shopping are all holiday traditions that bring great joy. Here are some tips to keep you safe and enjoy the holiday season.
Turkey Safety
Fried turkey can be very tasty but pose a potential hazard. The hot oil can spill causing a fire or skin burns. To avoid accidents, don’t overfill the fryer and always thaw the turkey prior to cooking.
Christmas Light Safety
Candles and Christmas lights are a fire hazard, especially near a Christmas tree. Christmas trees can become dry and extremely flammable. It is important to keep candles in a safe place away from children and decorations. Check holiday lights for any frayed cords and keep tress well watered to prevent drying. Always remember to turn off lights when you go to bed or leave home.
Shopping Safety
Higher cases of theft happen around the holiday shopping season. To prevent theft try to shop during the day, or shop with a friend or family member at night. Never leave shopping bags or purses visible in your vehicle. When shopping always be aware of your surroundings and never leave your purse or wallet unattended. Always report any suspicious activity.
Additional Tips
Keep your travel plans off social media
If you are traveling out of town notify a trusted neighbor who can keep an eye out
Secure all valuables
Leave a television on so it looks like someone is home
Ask a neighbor or friend to pick up your mail if you will be gone for a long period of time
Consider shipping your packages to work office or amazon locker to avoid thieves
We hope you have a happy and safe holiday season. For more safety tips, visit your local police department website.