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The rules surrounding business tax and accounting seem to be constantly under review however one part of owning a business hasn’t changed and doesn’t look likely to; the amount of paperwork that must be kept. Five years of customer records, accounts, invoices, order sheets and more take up a considerable amount of space and are rarely ever needed. The law is, however, the law and Lock N’Leave self-storage are uniquely placed to help a business with their archiving needs.

The beauty of Lock N’Leave is that you can do just that; lock up your bulky paperwork and leave. Archiving is an effective way of drawing a line under the previous business year and moving forward.  With self-storage and adjoining areas Lock N’Leave are able to offer competitively priced safe and secure storage to assist in the necessary and often therapeutic de-cluttering that is archiving.

Businesses are not the only institutions that use self-storage to archive their rarely used items. By definition, archives are a collection of records that need to be preserved for business, cultural, historical or legal reasons. Basically anything that needs to be preserved for use at a later date can be archived, a prime example being family history records.

Genealogy is a popular hobby across the world which has become better known with the introduction of the internet into most residential homes. Genealogists, amateur or professional will in the course of their research collect an impressive amount of paperwork and records including birth certificates, marriage and death records and unique pieces which are irreplaceable. The very nature of genealogy is to collect data which can prove a timeline but is not necessarily needed again. It is evidence and as such needs to be stored carefully and securely. Lock N’Leave self-storage can provide a safe environment for these important records.

For most people, an interest like genealogy is not a professional interest, therefore, does not earn them anything. Paying over the odds in this case for self-storage would prove too expensive however Lock N’Leave can provide containers for just £16.50 a week.

Space is at a premium, be it in the home or the office, and having to archive your paperwork or research takes up room that could be put to much better use. The cost of increasing office space far outweighs that of Lock N’Leave self-storage service which is infinitely cheaper than moving to a bigger home. Lock N’Leave offers reasonably priced, top quality safe and secure storage that can be accessed at any time so that you can free up space and save yourself money in expanding.

 

Self-storage Cheshire and surrounding areas do not need to be overly expensive. Lock N’Leave believe in top service for a top service and that’s what it offers. To find out how Lock N’Leave can help with your archiving needs visit the main website for pricing and contact information.

Recent surveys suggest that a staggering majority of homeowners and tenants would like to improve their homes by simply having more storage space. As our families grow we accumulate clutter that we don’t need on a daily basis but find it almost impossible to throw out.

The clutter culminates from memories and gifts that have been given to us over the years, added to this the family paperwork, books and letters and our possessions need a home of their own.

Many lifestyle gurus suggest keeping items in a loft, and if they are not used for over one year then to throw them into the bin. However, this does not take into account precious items such as baby’s first playsuit, a child’s first drawing or letters from lost loved ones that would be impossible to replace.

It’s a shame that we feel forced to throw out the memories we hold close, life is very short and although we may only view these items during the annual spring clean, there’s a sense of security we feel knowing that these still exist and are still close to hand should we ever need them.

Choosing regional storage can be the answer. With Lock N’Leave storage you can affordably store all of your precious items in a secure container and gain access whenever you choose. Open twenty-four hours a day seven days a week, you can drive straight up to your designated area and know that only you have the key to unlock the door.

Whether you visit annually or weekly your memories will always be kept safe and dry, and unless you empty the container yourself, they will always be close to hand. Storage in the West Midlands has never been simpler. With self-storage in Winsford, storage in Cheshire and self-storage in Warwickshire, you can guarantee there is a self-storage depot near you that is never more than a ten-mile drive away.

Now you can accumulate memories and gifts without ever worrying about saving space, as our storage in the West Midlands will protect every item until you are ready to retrieve it.

Lofts are also used for old clothes that no longer fit, gym equipment that is never used, or record collections from an age gone by. We’re all familiar with the situation where we have bitten the bullet and thrown these out, only to find a few weeks later that we have a use for them and wish we hadn’t.

With storage in Winsford, you can clear the loft and make it a space of your own; turning it into a study or bedroom you could add thousands of pounds to the price of your house without making any compromise on space.

In today’s tough economic climate many are choosing to improve, not move, and Lock N’Leave self-storage service enables customers to do just that at a fraction of the cost of the big named brands.

The extra benefits being, your items will be stored locally, making them seem like they never left your side at all, and always being on hand in the case of any eventuality.

All businesses accumulate mountains of paperwork. No matter how paper-free we try to be official bodies stipulate that we must hold onto written evidence for at least seven years. Computers are a wonderful tool for keeping records, however, despite the majority of businesses using them on a daily basis, as a nation, we’re still not 100% comfortable placing all of our important documents in the hands of a hard drive.

No matter what the size of the business, be it a small hotdog van in a layby or a whopping great retail store on the High Street, each one has its own storage problems, needing extra room for those extra papers, just in case.

Unless we’re at the heart of an Inland Revenue investigation it’s unlikely we’ll rifle through these papers again, which makes the space they take all the more frustrating as the office becomes a warehouse for folders.

Unlimited Access

Storage solutions in Winsford have the ability to store your important papers, with their lock-up storage local to you; you will have access twenty-four hours a day seven days a week.

Not only will your documents be kept warm and dry, but the spaces are also such that the organisation is simple. IF you want to spend time categorizing your papers, our units have all the space you need. No longer will your office floor resemble a sea of paper, and when finished you can stack and leave knowing that the only person to have access is you.

Or Just Lock N’Leave!

At Lock N’Leave Storage we don’t even own keys ourselves, you are given a completely unique set of keys that give you access to your documents whenever the need arises. Whether you need papers every day or once a year, you’ll know that those files will always be right where you left them.

We also have special rates for the long term, so if you’d like a space to store securely, and have little intention of visiting again, we can make sure that you pay less than you would be using your own commercial space.

Each lockup is completely watertight giving you the added insurance of knowing that no matter how long they’re left your documents are always in safe hands.

What’s more, with Nuneaton storage, Winsford and all around Cheshire we’re never far away, and if you’d like to instantly transform your office into a paper-free friendly space we can collect saving you time and money.

We have a range of options from small self-storage units to huge lock up areas and you can choose whichever is right for you. Easily accessible with added security, our storage solutions in Winsford are the local affordable choice.

eBay is a fantastic way to make money, from the comfort of your own home you can buy and sell any product making a pretty profit.

Many people use eBay to sell unwanted gifts or furniture; however, a craze is sweeping across the nation making entrepreneurs mountains of money as they search for a bargain to sell online.

Whether you sell furniture, catalogue returns or your own crafts, storage can be a problem. As you sit at the desk uploading the photos, your home study resembles something of an auction house. Items kept in outhouses or lofts can be risky as mice love to nibble and water has a habit of trickling through the smallest of spaces.

Just a tiny drop of damp can make your item used and not new, potentially creating bad feedback or reducing the price significantly.

Commercial Conundrums

There is another option; some successful EBayer’s branch out to buy commercial premises. A little lock-up shop just off the high street they display their items as they’re being sold over the World Wide Web.

However, this eats into expenditure, and all of a sudden that profit plummets, with business rates, utility bills and extra rent, your items rack up bills just by sitting there.

Big Brands = Big Bills

Big Brand storage solutions in Nuneaton and Winsford may seem like the ideal answer, but by their very nature, they are difficult to access with limited opening hours making their hefty price tag seem quite absurd.

Sealed, Safe, Secure- Storage of Any Size!

Here at Lock N” Leave Winsford we are proven to have the storage solution to suit any sized eBayer. Our watertight secure lockups are large enough for a family of five on holiday whilst being accessible 24/7.

As you sell an item, you can drive straight up to your own personal Winsford storage space, using the only set of keys bespoke to your self-storage unit, you will be secure in the knowledge that not even the owners have access.

For a price guaranteed to half the cost of the big brands, our Winsford storage solutions are an affordable way to store your items for sale, removing the worry and giving you back your spare room!

No longer will you have to crawl into the loft with a torch, or pay for that new roof on the outhouse, made from corrugated iron, you can walk straight into our lock-ups, knowing the only thing that can penetrate the tough walls and doors is you!

Help is on Hand

We’ll even help you move in, and with our manned office and 24-hour surveillance there will often be someone on hand should you need a lift with that leather bed or chest of drawers.

With easy access and space to swing a tiger, you can also escort customers to pick up their own items, saving you time and money and eliminating the need to invite strangers to your home.

This truly is the most cost-effective way to store items in Winsford, so call us today and bring out the best of your budding empire!

Recent media reports only confirm what anyone looking for storage in Warwickshire already knows – the demand for self-storage is growing and there are no signs is a slowdown, despite the economic climate.

Indeed the downturn in the economy may be fuelling the demand for self-storage. People hold on to items rather than folk out to replace them, even if they don’t use the items on a daily basis. Additionally, holding on to much-cherished possessions can provide a bit of a ‘comfort blanket’ in difficult times.

Let’s look at some of the facts behind the growth in self-storage

There are over 800 major storage facilities in the UK  There is a total of around 20 million rental sq footage in the UK  Modern self-storage began in the USA in the 1960s and was introduced into the UK in the 1990s Britain has the same amount of storage units as the rest of Europe combined  Storage in Warwickshire mirrors the UK market

Private users are taking advantage of flexible space, short leases and low prices to retain a wide variety of items – from furniture and household goods to cherished collections of DVDs, clothes, books etc.

According to the UK Self Storage Association, private individuals store for 27 weeks on average – with this period continue to grow. In fact, there are lots of stories of people never returning to their goods at all; although storage in Warwickshire and the rest of the UK will often provide 24/7 access so there is no lack of accessibility. Perhaps it’s the enhanced security that assures people that the items are safe at all times.

Of course, there are many reasons why many people don’t use self-storage. In a survey of UK households by Access Self Storage – quoted in a recent BBC online article – 90% of respondents reported an inability to part with treasured possessions, and this may be one of the factors involved.

Whatever the reasons, growth in local private users searching for storage Warwickshire continues.

Christmas is great family time but also often a very stressful one, and lack of space is often one of the causes of this stress. It’s easy to see why lack of space becomes a problem at this time:

there are often guests staying; the house is packed full of presents, food, drink, trees etc; in addition, the kids are enjoying a long break by messing up the house; and there is often a never-ending procession of family and friends popping in so it’s important to keep everything looking neat and tidy.

For families in Birmingham and surrounding areas, help is at hand with convenient self-storage in Warwickshire. Self-storage units offer a great solution for any family needing more space over a short period of time – and here are some reasons why:

Convenience

There’s bound to be a storage unit that’s convenient for you– either near home or work so you leave/collect items as you need them.

Cost

One big benefit for households in Warwickshire is that there is flexible storage to meet your needs. You only pay for the space you need. You only pay for the time you need it.

Security

It’s important when storing the possessions that you have peace of mind. You’ll find that your unit is secure, and you can further padlock security if you wish. When selecting your self-storage company, see how busy the company is – lots of activity and attentive staff often adds to the level of security

Accessibility

Check that you have the keys to your secure unit. This means you can access your possessions 24/7 so whenever you feel the urge you can collect [or deposit] more items.

We can’t guarantee a Happy Christmas but we can easily solve any festive space problems for those looking for self-storage in Warwickshire.

Now that Christmas is fast approaching, it’s great to know that storage in Warwickshire can help local businesses maximise their festive sales.

Here’s how:

1. Take advantage of bulk discounts

The more you buy the cheaper it gets but storage can be an issue: either you don’t have enough space or it’s not cost-effective to rent extra. Using storage units in Warwickshire solves this problem. They are available for short-term periods so you only need to rent what you need when you need it.  Choose one near to you so you’ll make delivery/collection easy and keep transport costs to a minimum.

2. Keep stock safe and sound

Christmas doesn’t last forever – it just seems that way. Warwickshire businesses will need storage for their year-round stock. Self-storage offers the ideal solution. Of course, you only pay for the time you need the storage, but there are usually flexible space options so you only pay for the space you need too! Your stock is accessible at all times but you can rest assured it will be kept safe and in clean units, ready for next year’s trading.

3. Get a Room!

Despite difficult trading conditions, the number of so-called ‘bedroom entrepreneurs’ continues to grow. They operate from home, using a room in the house for as office and stock room and sell direct mail via eBay. Xmas is often a great time for business but presents two problems: the bedroom is just not big enough for storage, but they also need to maximise houseroom for family reasons – extra guests or a place to hide presents. Local ‘bedroom entrepreneurs’ can take advantage of the storage options available in Warwickshire – they only need to rent the space they need for the time they need it – and their stock is safe and secure in the meantime.

4. New Year, New Start

For many Warwickshire businesses in the service industry, Christmas is actually a quiet time and offices often close between Xmas and New Year. It’s a good time for a good clear out to end the year. Cluttered offices are often demotivating, as well as looking untidy to staff and clients. Over the course of the year, paperwork, samples, stationery etc are collected which aren’t used on a daily basis. Warwickshire storage units offer a safe, secure and low-cost way to keep these items but keep the office looking clean and tidy – what a great way to start the New Year!

We can’t promise a profitable Christmas but we can offer a convenient, secure and low-cost self-storage service suitable for businesses in the Warwickshire and West Midlands regions.

It’s a difficult time for local businesses with lower demand, higher material costs and increased transport and energy costs. Maximising opportunities is essential for entrepreneurs, and self storage in Nuneaton and Warwickshire can help local businesses gain a competitive advantage.

Here are just some ways:

MINIMISE STORAGE COSTS

Long term rental of warehousing and lock-ups only makes sense if they are used to their maximum capacity but that is rarely the case. It makes better commercial sense to rent storage on a short term basis – increasing your need when a consignment of stock arrives and decreasing as sales pick-up. Storage units in Birmingham and Warwickshire offer just that flexibility for local businesses.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BEST PRICE

Getting the very best price often means buying in greater quantities than you are used to or think you can handle and may require short term, one-off storage needs. Again, storage units in Birmingham and Warwickshire often allow you to rent from week to week so you can quickly find the extra space you need, pay only for the space you require and you are not tied to a long contract – keeping storage costs to a minimum so you can use all your spare cash on that great deal.

BE SECURE

Security can often be an issue when storing stock. Renting a warehouse or lock-up on some remote industrial estate doesn’t guarantee the safety of your stock. Self-storage units often have their customers coming and going all the time so they feel more secure, and the owners are often on-site checking that everything is safely locked away. Midlands businesses that value security, as well as value, should check out the security features on self-storage in Birmingham and Warwickshire.

A BUSINESS HOME FROM HOME

The past decade has seen a growth in ‘backroom entrepreneurs’ – small business who operate out of their home and often sell via the internet especially eBay and Amazon Marketplace. It’s a great way to run a business on very little capital and avoid costly commercial rents. Storing stock often becomes a problem though as back bedrooms soon fill up. Storage units in Warwickshire and Birmingham offer the solution. Importantly, rental is low and tailored to the amount of space needed, but perhaps crucially access is 24/7 so there is no problem in collecting stock at a time to suit you and your business. Self-storage solutions are helping businesses in Warwickshire and Birmingham – no matter what their size – buy at the best prices, reduce their overheads and maximise their cash flow.

Not all self-storage companies are the same. Not only does the type of storage vary from company to company but their terms vary too – minimum leases, access to units, deposits required and notice to be given to vacate are just some of the elements that can change from place to place. And, of course, the amount you pay also varies from firm to firm.

If you are looking for storage in Warwickshire and Birmingham use this checklist when asking information from self-storage companies:

Size

– deciding how much space you need is notoriously difficult to get advice from the experts in storage. Talk to them about your requirements. See if you can switch to smaller or larger units at the same location if your requirements change.

Type of storage

– check whether you are talking about units in a warehouse or converted unit or container storage, and how clean, dry and ventilated the units are. If you have particular specialist needs, then check they can accommodate these.

Accessibility

– think about how often and at what times you will need to access your stored items and be clear that the company can meet this need. Does 24/7 access – if promised- really mean 24/7 access?

Location

– there are plenty of storage units in Warwickshire and Birmingham, so it makes sense to select one that is convenient for you –  especially if you need to access it regularly. But ‘convenient’ might not mean close to home; it may mean between home and business or centrally located to where you collect or drop off stock, for example.

Rental Period

– be clear about rental periods. Of course, you will want to know the minimum period, but also check to see if there are any discounts or reductions if you can commit to a certain period of time like 6 months.

Deposits

– as well as finding out how much deposit the company requires, check what it covers and how soon it is returned after you vacate: do you take it when you leave or is it returned later?

Insurance

– does your rent include insurance, and, if so, how much cover do you get? If not, ask about available insurance especially if you are storing high-value items.

Costs

– it seems obvious but ask if there are any other charges in addition to the rent, and find out how the charges are calculated. Do you need to pay for a minimum period and then have rent returned if you vacate sooner or can you pay month by month? How can you pay and are there surcharges for credit card payment or discounts for payment by standing order? Finally, when looking for storage in Warwickshire and Birmingham, see if the units are kept clean and tidy. Is the area looked after, and does it look like the units largely occupied and the place popular? Ask about the company and get a ‘feel’ for the business. After all, you are storing items of value – whether real or sentimental – so you will want to feel you have made the right choice.

Here’s a daily exercise for anybody who works in an office or studio: take a look around you.

Do you see clean, clear spaces with everything sorted and organised, leaving you with a calm environment in which to maximise your productivity?

Repeat this exercise daily.

If your workplace is like the majority of offices in Warwickshire and the West Midlands you’re working environment will probably far from an oasis of calm.

Businesses find increasing demands on often already limited space. Offices often find themselves storing more and more items including:

Business-related paperwork: timescales vary depending on the type of business and the type of records but it’s likely their paperwork dating back some 7 years Correspondence Stationery Samples from suppliers Samples of work

 

Additionally, most offices have a fair collection of general ‘stuff’ (other descriptions may apply) that tend to clog up space for no apparent reason but never gets thrown away.

Seriously, there’s a good reason to think that messy, disordered offices and workplaces can lead to messy, disordered work. Psychologically, if staff see piles of documents and samples placed everywhere and anywhere, then new items to be stored can be added to the already disordered pile. And don’t you owe it to staff to provide as clean, tidy and smart a working environment as possible? Of course, these situations often develop over time and, despite intermittent attempts at tidying up, the volume never seems to reduce – in fact, the reverse is often true.

Fortunately for all Midlands businesses, storage facilities in Warwickshire and West Midlands offer a genuine solution.

They allow businesses to free up space without adding greatly to the cost base:

 

Low cost – as companies only need to rent the space they need, they are not paying unnecessary costs. And remember, rents for storage in Warwickshire and West Midlands are much lower than office rents Low commitment – there is no long term commitment to these Midland’s storage units so they can provide even a short term solution while you decide what needs to stay – and what doesn’t. 24/7 access – business hours get longer and longer so it may be that you need to recover a document or sample at short notice. These storage units can be accessed when required so the business is not affected. Clean and secure – ideal for documents, self-storage units provide a secure environment for all those old invoices, tax returns and employee form that your friends at HMRC want you to retain.

 

Not all self-storage facilities offer the same packages – so get some quotes and make sure there are no hidden extras but you may find yourself taking that first step to the office ‘declutter’ that may give your staff – and your productivity – a boost.

House prices in the region continue to decline and there is fairly pessimistic talk about a further decline in both prices and sales levels throughout the rest of 2011. However, there are some steps to take to help you get the best out of the property market – for buyers and sellers.

It might not be obvious to homeowners in the Midlands but taking advantage of storage facilities around the West Midlands and Warwickshire can be a great benefit in getting and keeping a buyer. For those buying, the storage units can also help them get the property they want at the price they want.

 

1. Move Fast

When a buyer comes along, it makes sense to do your very best to meet their needs. If they are willing to wait for you to look around the property market at leisure, that’s great. But if they want a quick move and you haven’t found anywhere to go then renting self-storage units will allow you to keep your possessions safe but accessible whilst you move into smaller, cheaper temporary lettings [or stay with family and friends if you are lucky]. There’s no long-term commitment so you only pay for the space you need for the time you need it.

 

2. Declutter

Buyers don’t lack imagination but in an overcrowded market, they simply don’t need to use it. If your home is like most and over-cluttered with the everyday accumulation of ‘stuff’, then buyers will see the clutter, not space; they will see the mess, not the potential.  So before you start marketing – and certainly before the estate agent takes those all-important photos – ruthlessly declutter and put what is not essential into a storage unit. With 24/7 access, nothing will be too far away if it is suddenly required.

 

3. Downsize

Moving to a smaller property after the luxury of a larger property is one of the most difficult property moves people make. Aside from the emotional impact, the question often asked is ‘where will all my things go?’ One answer is into a self-storage unit. Even if it is only a temporary measure – and there is no long term rental commitment – it will allow you to take time to decide what possessions you really do want to keep or not. Furniture can be stored safely and cleanly, so you can move items from storage to home easily.

 

4. A mortgage for storage

In previous blogs, we have written about how home buyers often overestimate the amount of space they actually need and tend to fill spare bedrooms, reception rooms and garages with possessions. Effectively homeowners are paying a mortgage for storage, and that makes no sense at all. There are enough self-storage units in the West Midlands and Warwickshire for the smart homebuyer to be ruthless about the amount of space they actually need – enabling them to buy a smaller property at a lower cost – meaning a smaller mortgage and lower running costs.

 

So while the property market remains difficult – with falling prices, overpopulated stock and few First Time Buyer mortgages – local buyers and sellers can use self-storage West Midlands facilities to find and keep a buyer, ease the pain of downsizing or lower the cost of their next [or first home].

Remember the day you first viewed your house? As well as spacious rooms, lovely gardens and a great location, one of the features that sold it to you may have been the garage. Fast forward a short time, chances are that garage is now no more than another storage room, piled high with stuff you’ve forgotten you ever had and certainly too full for the one thing it was meant for – the car! The crazy thing is, when buying your home, you probably paid extra for the garage [or paid even more for a double garage which now has twice as much stuff in it] so now your mortgage is effectively paying for a storeroom! You might have saved the bother and bought a house without a garage and paid for a shed – at least you won’t be paying for that off for the next 25 years. Storage in the West Midlands is much cheaper than property in the same location! The reasons you wanted a garage are still relevant – it’s a place to keep the car secure, protect it from the elements and help lower your insurance costs. In fact, with motor insurance costs rising by 30% per annum, there is even more reason to clear out the garage and make way for the car. Easier said than done? Well, this is where self-storage can help. In fact, think of it as a kind of off-site garage. Just like a garage self-storage units are:

Accessible 24/7 Safe and secure

With ground-level storage, you can even drive straight in. Unlike many garages, the units are also clean and dry so there’s no limit to the type of items you can store. Again, unlike your mortgaged garage, you can rent self-storage from as little as 1 week and there are no long term contracts. So if the car goes then you can move everything back. You’ll probably be surprised at how low the rents are, especially as you rent only the space you need – but costs do vary so make sure you get a quote that includes everything. Today there are plenty of units around so you’re certain to find one near you – perhaps somewhere between work and home in case you need to pick up something on the way home before you put the car away in your ‘new’ garage. It’s easy to see how self-storage can help you get back the garage you always wanted.