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With just over one week to go, it’s official – Christmas is upon us!

December is generally considered one of the busiest and most stressful times of the year, and with it comes problems of buying the perfect present, cooking Christmas dinner for the in-laws and dealing with family tensions.

We take a look at some of Brits top Christmas worries, and how Spaces and Places can help you stay calm and bright this festive season.

1. Christmas shopping

While there’s not much you can do to avoid shopping for Christmas presents, you can prevent them from taking over your house. Gifts can quickly pile up in the back of your wardrobe and under your bed, leaving you without much room to manoeuvre.

Spaces and Places provide a safe and secure place to stash Christmas presents right up until the big day. For extra peace of mind over the Christmas period, we offer a number of additional services including trouble-free collections and delivery, and insurance for as little as 55p per week.

2. Putting up guests

Accommodating family members for far longer than we’d like is another big cause of holiday stress. While you won’t be able to lock troublesome relatives in a Spaces and Places unit this Christmas, we can ensure that you’ll have enough space in your home to get some well-needed peace and quiet. Clear your loft/spare room of anything you don’t need to ensure your relatives have a decent, comfortable place to stay, and don’t get under your feet whilst you prepare for the big day.

3. Disappointing gifts

You shouldn’t feel too guilty about giving someone the wrong gift – research has shown that around 1 in 5 Christmas presents end up in the back of a cupboard! It’s happened to us all, but the question is what do we do with unwanted gifts after Christmas is over? Rather than letting them build up and take over your home why not put your unloved presents into a self-storage unit. We promise to look after them until next year when you bring them out to give to someone else or until a decent amount of time has passed and you can put them on eBay!

It really couldn’t be easier to take advantage of our Self Storage facilities this Christmas.  With no fixed contracts, our storage is flexible enough for you to securely save items until the festive period is over.

Don’t let festive stress take control of you this year – speak to Spaces and Places about the self-storage options available to you.

After the huge success of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, millions of shoppers started their Christmas shopping off with a bang this year. With Christmas and the January sales just around the corner, it looks like the festive frenzy is only set to continue throughout December.

Whether you’re running a small business from your home or operating a large retail/manufacturing unit, December is usually a peak month for most businesses. If you’re finding it a struggle to accommodate the huge amounts of stock needed to meet supply and demand this month then why not consider renting a Spaces and Places business storage unit?

Spaces and Places provide the perfect ‘on-demand’ solution to your business’ needs. We know that Christmas can be an incredibly stressful and hectic month for many industries so we are happy for you to ‘flex’ your requirements and increase or decrease your space as required during the busy festive period.

Businesses can suffer from lost sales and profits over Christmas if they aren’t able to hold all the stock they would be able to sell, so it makes sense to maximise your storage space as much as possible to ensure your business is profiting. We offer three convenient sizes, with the largest being 20ft x 8ft x 8ft (approx. 150 square feet) so you won’t have a problem finding a unit that meets your needs. Just give us a call or email a few days before you require storage.

High levels of stock can also make your business vulnerable to a potential security breach so it’s a good idea not to overload your home, store or warehouse with valuable extra stock. We take security very seriously and when you rent a Spaces and Places unit you have peace of mind that access to the facility is via a secure, coded gate with 24-hour CCTV in place to protect your stock.

If you’re worried about storage space this month then contact Spaces and Places today to see what we can do for you and your business over the Christmas period.

With data showing that the weather this year has been warmer and drier than ever, we’re sure you’d agree that 2014 has been a great year.

However, as we enter into the first weeks of December, it’s time to think about storing all those warm-weather items and getting your home ready for the cold stretch of winter.

With many of us set to entertain friends and family this month, you may be wondering how on earth you’re going to squeeze them all into your house. It’s hard to imagine a cosy and inviting home when you have ‘stuff’ accumulating in every available corner, and you may be surprised at how much of it you won’t even use over the next few months – so why carry on storing it?

We bring you our guide to quickly and efficiently preparing your home for winter.

1. Clear out closets

One of the easiest but most effective ways to clear space in your home in winter is to get all your summer clothes, shoes and accessories into storage. Separate all your warm-weather clothing and store anything you won’t be wearing for a while. This will also give you the opportunity to sort through your winter wardrobe and clear out anything you don’t want for good.

2. Garden furniture

With temperatures set to drop over the next few weeks, it’s safe to say you probably won’t be calling on your garden and patio furniture for a while. Due to the nature of outdoor equipment, wooden chairs, benches, tables, parasols, and deckchairs all need to be stored in a dry and protected environment in order for them to stay looking their best. Store them with care in a Spaces and Places Storage Unit and you will find that come next summer, your items are as good as new.

3. Overwinter car

When parked and unused over winter, some cars can be vulnerable to deterioration through freezing conditions and lack of use. If you own a car that requires a bit more TLC than usual this winter but are struggling for garage space, then you could opt to store it in one of our larger units.

4. Gardening tools

Extend your seasonal cleanse to your garden. Bulky items such as lawnmowers, hosepipes, and digging tools can take up huge amounts of space but won’t necessarily be used until next year. Instead of letting them rot and rust in a damp shed why not store them in a secure storage unit. You can come and go whenever you want should you fancy a bit of winter gardening.

5. Sports equipment

Depending on how adventurous you were this summer you may have collected a plethora of sports equipment. Our units come in a range of different sizes so whether you’re looking to store bikes, tennis rackets, camping equipment or trampolines we can accommodate it.

You may also be reassured that we take security very seriously as we know our customers want to be assured that their prized possessions are stored securely over winter. Access to the self-storage facility is via a coded gate, which will allow you to access the units 24/7.

For more information, feel free to contact us to discuss how we could help you.

With just a month to go until Christmas, it’s likely that during the next few weeks you will be running around stocking up on gifts and decorations and sorting out party plans ready for the festive period. With so many things to consider this month, there is one thing you can rely on.

Spaces and Places Nuneaton has the perfect solution for all your Christmas storage needs this year, saving your home from becoming one big festive mess.

Take a look at just a few items you could store with us over the next few weeks…

Artificial trees

With suitable care, artificial Christmas trees can potentially last for years and years. With most trees too heavy to drag upstairs to the loft and too big to stick in the back of a wardrobe, self-storage can provide the perfect solution to keeping your tree in great condition until you come to use it. Our Nuneaton facility provides the flexibility you need to store your tree short or long term.

Presents

There’s nothing better than seeing the look of surprise on your little elves faces on Christmas morning, but we understand that in the run-up to Christmas it can be a struggle to keep their gifts safe and, more importantly, secret. Rather than fighting to keep away prying eyes this year, self-storage can provide a safe and secure place to stash Christmas presents right up until the big day. For extra peace of mind over the Christmas period, we offer a number of additional services including trouble-free collections and delivery, and insurance for as little as 55p per week.

Decorations

If you’ve spent hours making or shopping for Christmas decorations and want them to stay in the same condition ready for the next time you come to use them, then self-storage is the only way to keep your creations safe and in perfect condition. You can re-use them over and over again, saving you considerable amounts of time, money and energy.

Entertaining

Expecting a house full of visitors this year? Spare chairs, mountains of crockery and boxes of table decorations can only add to your stress when you’re running around trying to prepare for a party. Get anything you don’t need out of the way in the run-up to Christmas to save things getting under your feet and jamming up valuable space in your home.

It really couldn’t be easier to take advantage of our Self Storage facilities this Christmas.  With no fixed contracts, our storage is flexible enough for you to securely save items until the festive period is over.

Don’t let Christmas items take control of your home this year – speak to Spaces and Places Nuneaton about the options available to you.

What’s lurking in your loft? If it’s been a while since you had a good clear out, chances are you won’t have much of an idea!

Venturing up into your loft could prove to be well worth it, as research carried out by online valuation service Value my Stuff has revealed that a large proportion of Brits could be sitting on untapped wealth. The report revealed that more than one in ten households have antique furniture worth over £500, and almost one in five is harbouring a painting worth hundreds of pounds.

It seems that antiques and possessions passed down from family members could be worth a great deal more than their owners think, and our lofts could be filled with collectable and potentially valuable items. The following items are commonly found stowed away in storage but could have the potential to fetch you

1- Books

If you look through your collection with a sharp eye you could find a book that could be worth a great deal. First editions, rare copies and signed books all have potential value.

2- Sporting memorabilia

Dig out old football programmes you saved from past matches. If you have one from the right game, it could be worth thousands.

3- Vinyl

Rock and pop memorabilia from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s is incredibly popular while certain records from any era could fetch a high price from an avid collector.

4- Retro toys

Antique dolls, classic board games or collectable toys could make you money at auction. The nostalgic appeal will boost their value, and Star Wars and Doctor Who figures are often popular.

5- Designer clothes

Keep an eye out for hand me down clothes and costume jewellery as vintage fashion pieces are always in demand. Designer pieces from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s are particularly desirable to buyers.

6- Comics and annuals

Were you an avid comic collector in your childhood? Well now might be the time to revisit your collection as their market value continues to increase.

7- Old gadgets

Most of us upgrade our smartphones at least every couple of years so if your old models are stashed in your loft why not recycle them? There are loads of online sites that will exchange your old gadgets for cash so it’s well worth checking out.

So why not have a good clear out and see what’s lurking in your loft?

With Spaces and Places Self Storage, your clear out can be made as simple as possible. If you have antique furniture or valuable items you want to hang onto, then give your loft some breathing space and put your collectables into self-storage. Our high-quality steel containers are fully sealed and secure so no matter what you want to store, your possessions will be kept safe, secure, clean and dry.

Call us free on 0800 124 4363 or email us at info@spaces-and-places.co.uk for more information.

While most people turn to Spaces and Places to store sporting equipment, clutter, furniture or business use, owners of self-storage facilities have found themselves coming across a whole host of unusual items. From the weird to the wonderful, we take you through the 10 most unusual findings ever to come out of self-storage.

1- Knight Rider

While many people come to us looking to store classic and vintage cars, UK Storage Company were surprised to spot a replica of Michael Knights famous K.I.T.T vehicle from Knight Rider going into one of their units.

2- A $1m comic book

Nicolas Cage filed a police report back in 2000 after he realised that a rare 1938 edition comic book, had been stolen from his home. More than 10 years later, the book turned

up in an abandoned storage unit. The man who had bought the contents at auction contacted a comic book expert who happened to have sold the book to Cage back in 1997 and immediately recognised it. The actor was soon reunited with his $1m book.

3- Pirate Treasure

Back in 2011, a man from San José struck gold after he bought a storage unit in a blind auction. It was reported that the lucky anonymous buyer bought the unit for $1,100 and discovered approximately $500,000 worth of pirate treasure containing rare gold doubloons, silver Spanish dollars and gold and silver bars.

4- Unreleased Michael Jackson recordings

A US storage facility reclaimed a unit due to a number of unpaid bills, only to discover that the unit belonged to Joe Jackson and contained 270 unreleased tracks recorded by his son Michael. Because the king of pop was in between record deals, no one had a legal claim to the records and the owner agreed to work exclusively with Katherine Jackson over the contents.

5- Live hand grenade

A man got more than he bargained for after finding a live hand grenade in a storage unit in Michigan. Thankfully no one got hurt and the bomb squad arrived immediately to detonate the grenade.

6- Coffin

A storage company in Florida contacted a family to inform them that the unit was going to be auctioned off due to unpaid rent. The family responded saying they couldn’t possibly auction the contents as the unit contained the body of the family’s grandmother who had passed away 17 years previously.

7- Dinosaur bones

Back in 2011, a rare jawbone of an ancient flying reptile known as a Pterosaur turned up in a storage unit at the University of Alberta.

8- Aretha Franklins wardrobe

Aretha turned to self-storage to keep her clothes safe after her home caught fire. After failing to pay her bills, the R&B divas iconic wardrobe was auctioned off to the highest bidder.

9- A Dalek

A North West man used his self-storage unit to store a former Dr Who Dalek, surprising other owners by racing the machine up and down corridors.

10- NASA rocket

An auction winner on American TV show Auction Hunters uncovered a NASA rocket and countdown clock in the winning unit.

Whether you’re converting a loft, adding an extra bedroom or excavating a basement there’s no doubt that converting dead space into useful, liveable areas can add thousands of pounds to the value of your house.

Reports and surveys have revealed that a loft conversion could boost your property’s value by up to 12.5% and converting your garage could add up to £10,000 onto the value of your home.

Improving your home can make sense on every level, and you can find inspiration everywhere. You don’t even need to change the footprint of your home to add value.

Look up, down and all-around your house. Do you have a garage, loft or basement that is currently filled with unwanted furniture, sports equipment or hidden under piles of clutter? These types of areas are the perfect places to find hidden space in your home. If you’re looking to boost your home’s value then experts say that adding an extra bedroom is the best option. If clutter and storage are stopping you from making the most of the space available in your house then take action and get rid.

Clearing out years of accumulated ‘stuff’ from your house might seem like a daunting task, but the end result could prove extremely profitable. Space has overtaken location as the main concern for house hunters for the first time in years, so it makes sense to make the most of what you’ve got. It’s common to see whole bedrooms, lofts and garages soon give over to storage. Paying a mortgage for storage is perhaps the most expensive storage option you can get – especially when there are low-cost solutions available.

If you want to make the most of the space available in your home, talk to us at Spaces and Places Self Storage. We will talk you through the self-storage options available in terms of space and rental periods and can even offer discounts for longer-term rentals.

Camping and caravan sites around the country have seen a leap in reservations this summer as thrifty Brits flock to pitch up a tent for a holiday under the canvas.

Reports from outdoor accommodation specialist PitchUp.com have revealed a huge surge in demand for camping facilities this year, as holidaymakers look to stay closer to home rather than face delays, cancellations and disappointment abroad. The UK has been home to world-class music, sporting and cultural events this summer with events such as Glastonbury, the Commonwealth Games, Tour de France all taking place right on our doorstep.

It’s no wonder that so many people have been inspired to explore the UK on a ‘staycation’ this summer, but with festival season almost over and school holidays drawing to an end, you may be wondering what on earth you’re going to do with all the stuff you’ve accumulated from the camping and caravanning season. With no baggage costs or limitations, taking everything plus the kitchen sink is tempting when you go camping, however, when it comes to the end of the holiday you can end up coming home with accumulated sports equipment, sun loungers, and beach bargains with absolutely nowhere to store them.

If you’re a regular camper or like to enjoy a ‘staycation’ a few times a year then a self-storage facility could be the answer to your problems. With 24-hour access 7 days a week, Spaces and Places allow you to store all your camping equipment and acquired summer items in a secure unit until next year.

We offer three convenient sizes to fit in as much or as little equipment as you need:

20ft x 8ft x 8ft, approx. 150 square feet, approx. 1200 cubic feet 10ft x 8ft x 8ft, approx. 75 square feet, approx. 561 cubic feet 8ft x 8ft x 8ft, approx. 64 square feet, approx. 500 cubic feet

Our facilities are located in three convenient locations around the UK, meaning with Spaces and Places you are never far from a great campsite. Get in touch to find out how a Spaces and Places self-storage unit could help you this season!

Summer’s officially here, and so is the opportunity to make some serious, quick cash!

If you are a student, teacher or graduate looking to earn some extra dosh to spend your summer holiday in style then now is the time to start turning a profit. Stuck on ideas? Let Spaces and Places fuel your entrepreneurial fire with 5 ways you can be your own boss this summer

1.House Sitting

It’s likely that the majority of people on your street will be going away for some amount of time this summer, even if it’s just on a short weekend break. Take the stress and worry out of home security by offering to keep an eye on their house while they’re away. Propose that you’ll pick up mail, feed the fish or earn more by offering a full housesitting service.

2.Garden Maintenance

For people with lawns and big gardens, garden maintenance can be a real pain over the summer, and full-time, professional gardeners can be expensive and often require you to set up a regular contract.

Put flyers up in your local area or ask your neighbours if they would like a hand while they are on holiday. It’s hard work but you could see a real return!

Once you’ve got your equipment don’t let it build up in your shed or garage – store lawnmowers, trimmer, leaf blowers and garden tools in a handy storage unit you start getting regular business.

3.Pet Services

Dog walking, cat sitting and pet grooming can all be very profitable, especially during the summer when families are away.

4.Car wash service

With more airborne dust around during the summer, cars can become dirty very quickly. Why not offer your services and earn a decent income by offering a full car wash service to those in your local area. If you do a good job people may end up using you all year round!

5.eBay Pro

For most people, eBay is a great way to flog old clothes, DVDs and books they are never going to read. Invest in a professional eBay shop, however, and you could be looking at a great little earner.

Take some time to research what’s selling and invest in some stock. Is storage a problem? Spaces and Places is a popular choice for professional eBay sellers who rely on us for affordable, convenient storage space while they take care of securing the sales!

We have storage facilities in three convenient locations – at Nuneaton, Winsford and Manchester, so whether you are looking for personal self-storage space or to maximise your business space options we can help.  You’ll find our costs are clearly set out, no hidden surprises, no nasty shocks!

Give us a call today to find out more.

Despite their multi-million pound mansions and acres of land, it seems that even celebrities struggle with clutter and overflowing homes just as much as anyone else. It’s therefore unsurprising that some of Hollywood’s finest turn to self-storage to store their prized possessions.

While not every celebrity’s self-storage habits will make the front page, there have been some interesting and entertaining incidents over the years. Spaces and Places bring you just a few of the most memorable A-List storage tales.

Kanye West & Kim Kardashian

It seems that new mother Kim Kardashian learnt the value of self-storage after her daughter North was born last June. A move into a new home and the birth of a child are the two most common reasons people turn to self-storage, which prompted US storage facility SpareFoot to offer the new family one years worth of free storage, valued at $1,000.

SpareFoot CEO Chuck Gordon said: “We realize Kim and Kanye can easily afford to rent storage space. However, as a way to congratulate them on their new bundle of joy and to help ease the transition into their new home, SpareFoot is extending this storage offer to the proud new parents”

Burt Reynolds

The 78-year-old actor kept his possessions in a self-storage unit for years, but it wasn’t until he stopped paying and the contents were auctioned off that it was revealed what a hoarder the iconic film star was. The unit contained items from the film Deliverance, personalised notes from Steve McQueen, Elizabeth Taylor and Cary Grant, an Emmy Award and a horse carriage built by Dolly Parton. The items were purchased by fans and now form part of the Burt Reynolds Museum in Florida.

Paris Hilton

The auctioning of the socialite’s unit caused a media frenzy, with the highest bidder securing the contents for $2,775. Rumour has it that the unit contained personal diaries along with a number of revealing photos. After taking ownership, the bidder sold the contents of the unit to a gossip site for a small fortune.

Lindsay Lohan

The actresses unit was set to go up for auction if she did not come up with the rent she owed, totalling $16,000. It’s rumoured that the star reached out to friends and family to front the money, and since the sale was never made public it’s safe to assume that they did!

Lionel Richie

The R&B singer used a self-storage to park his tour bus so that his soon to be ex-wife couldn’t find it.

Why not join Hollywood’s elite and rent your own self-storage unit? Whatever your requirements, Spaces and Places offer a storage service designed to meet your needs without the celebrity price tag.

For more information, get in touch with a member of the team by calling Spaces and Places today.

Moving home from University for summer can be an exciting but stressful time.

While students are trying to cram in last-minute coursework deadlines, parents are often left wondering how on earth they’re going to fit all their accumulated gear into the spare room.

So if you’re heading back to the parent’s house for the summer, Spaces and Places bring you a few tips on how to pack and store your stuff in the easiest way possible.

Packing

·      Use good quality, sturdy boxes so your stuff doesn’t end up falling through the bottom

·      Protect fragile possessions with plenty of bubble wrap

·      Organise your clothes into ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ bags so you can unpack as quickly as possible when you get home

Storage

When the time comes to pack up and move home for the summer, it can be a big shock when you realise just how much stuff you have accumulated!

As well as food, suitcases and piles of laundry, chances are you will also be carting home the contents of your university digs over the summer break.

It’s likely that your mum won’t want half of the contents of Ikea moving back into the garage or spare room at the end of term, so why not consider putting your stuff into self-storage?

Using a storage facility doesn’t have to be daunting and we can assure you that you can store anything safely and securely with us, from textbooks to computers and university furniture. All of our units are steel containers with wooden floors, fixed ventilation and rubber door seals so your stuff will be kept secure, clean and dry.

One of the benefits of choosing Spaces and Places Self Storage unit is that we offer 24 hours access to your possessions. You won’t have to take any time off work or university to come and drop off/collect your things.

Spaces and Places offer storage facilities at three key locations around the UK. If you need to travel to and from major Universities in Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield or Leeds then our conveniently located storage facilities could be the ideal solution!

If you would like to find out more about renting a storage unit this summer, then get in touch today!

New research carried out by RAC Home Insurance has revealed that it could be the end of the road for the garage as we know it, as 4.6 million of Brit’s garages are no longer used for their cars.

4 in 10 of the 1000 car owners polled about their garage revealed that their garages were so full of ‘stuff’ that they could no longer fit their car in.

It seems that half of Britain’s motorists have taken to storing clutter, sports equipment and gardening tools in their garages, like our ever-expanding households overflow.

The RAC report said: ‘The death of the garage as a place to keep the car is now confirmed.

It suggests we have become a nation of hoarders with our garages capturing the overspill from our homes which are not built with enough storage space available for today’s consumers.’

The research revealed that other than a car, the top five items Brits store in their garages are:

1.DIY tools – 76%

2.Decorating kit, ladders etc. – 67%

3.Gardening equipment – 64%

4.Sports and gym equipment – 49%

5.Bikes and scooters – 47%

RAC Home Insurance spokesman Simon Williams says: “It’s frightening to think that nearly 5m garages are not used for the purpose they were made. The findings of our research appear to indicate that there is an issue with the design of houses as people do not have enough space to keep all their possessions in the house itself and many garages are so small that anyone in the car has to perform a contortionist act to get out.

“More than a third (37%) of the people we surveyed said they would still rather use their garage for its original purpose if possible, but for some, the idea that the garage is a place to keep the family cars is secondary compared to the need for storage for household goods, or indeed to create additional living space by converting it into another room in the house.

In the past,  Britain’s motorists used garages to protect their vehicles from theft and damage from the elements, but with so much clutter filling up the extra storage space, cars are left to sit on the drive or parked on the street. More than a third of the people surveyed by the RAC stated that they would still rather use their garages for their intended purpose, but tiny properties and growing amounts of household items mean that it may never be possible.

With self-storage you have two options:

1.    Put your seasonal sports gear, DIY tools and other household clutter into one of our secure units. You can access your Spaces and Places unit whenever you need and your car can return to its rightful place in the garage!

2.    Another option is to keep your garage as a storage area and store your car with us. Owners of vintage vehicles or seasonal sports cars often come to us looking to store their vehicle safely and securely. When parked and unused, these types of cars can become vulnerable to theft and deterioration.

Call us free on 0800 124 4363 or email us at info@spaces-and-places.co.uk for more information.