Ensuring Your Office's Paperwork Remains Intact While In Storage
If you are moving your business from one location to another, you may have contemplated renting a commercial storage unit to hold belongings that are not necessary until you are up and running in your new building. This will give you time to prepare your new office with furnishings and necessary documentation without clutter in the way. Keeping paperwork in a storage unit is feasible if you take the time to protect it from moisture and pest invasions. Here are some steps you should take when putting paperwork in a storage rental unit to ensure it remains in the best of condition.
Make Back Ups Of Important Information Before Storing It
Before you pack up documentation to put in storage, it is wise to duplicate it on a media hard drive if possible. Take digital photographs of important paperwork and back it up to a cloud based system. This can be utilized if you go to your storage unit and find your documentation has been altered in any way. New copies will be able to be printed to replace lost documents. This may take a bit of time and money, but it is a safeguard step that may be lucrative if you worry about losing information.
Use Plastic Sleeves To Protect Papers From Harm
It is wise to put irreplaceable paperwork into plastic sleeves for an added layer of protection. Place several sheets of paper into a sleeve and then seal the information inside by taping the open edge of the sleeve so the paper is locked away from harm. These sleeves can then be organized in heavy-duty binders to keep them from bending or crumpling while in storage.
Purchase Plastic Storage Containers To Hold Paperwork
Paperwork would fare best in an airtight container. This will ensure it does not fall victim to cellulose-eating insects like termites or roaches. It will also protect it from mold as moisture will not be able to get into the enclosure. Make sure the lid fits the container snugly to keep humidity away from your papers. If you opt for cardboard boxes to hold your paperwork, line them with garbage bags before placing paperwork inside. These can then be tied shut before sealing them with packing tape.
Keep Documentation Away From Cement Flooring
Place your plastic storage containers or cardboard boxes on top of wooden pallets inside your storage unit. This will be handy if a container has a non-visible hole in it. Many storage units have cement floors, which are prone to moisture buildup if humidity makes its way into the enclosure. Keeping paperwork raised will eliminate damage from puddles on the floor.
If you want to learn more about storage units, check out one facility online at http://www.atozstorage.net.