Welcome back to the Albuquerque Self Storage Blog! We want to give you some ideas of what to do during your next trip to Albuquerque or new things in Albuquerque for you to try. Albuquerque, New Mexico is a city filled with history and excitement. From old to new locations there is no shortage of things to do and see in Albuquerque. The history of this city is believed to have begun over 12,000 years ago with Paleo-Indian hunter-gathers.

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Ok, I’m not crazy, but a portal opened on my patio and I was taken to the martian-made satellite planet Primus 5. I know, I didn’t know my patio was perfect either! I was aware of the possibility of a portal so I wasn’t terribly alarmed. I had a chance to leave this planet for the stars, and I took it. Of course, that doesn’t mean I stopped thinking about self-storage costs. Space, and specifically extra space, is going to be the most valuable commodity in the coming Space Age. The first thought I had when I landed on Primus 5 was ‘pretty cool’ but the second was ‘what are the self-storage costs on Primus 5? Luckily, Primus 5 isn’t bound to the galactic state currency which means–yep, that’s right–they use Splatoons. A small storage unit costs 40 Splatoons there! That’s the same as one American nickel.

Why Is This Important?

Let’s shoot the truth straight with each other. The earth’s population is bound to expand outside the bounds of what this planet can handle. City’s will swell until the whole earth is covered in metal and concrete. And when there is less space, the value of space goes up. Self-storage costs on earth are going to skyrocket in the next 1000 years–what Primus 5 offers is a hedge. A secure off-planet investment with a lot of room for growth. It will be cheap to maintain, and when things go sour and people start looking for storage off planet storage, you’ll already be there.

4000 Splatoons, 100 small storage units for one Lincoln, baby! You’ll be missing out on billions with self-storage costs these low!

However, it is not safe on Primus 5. Listen close, I learned a great many things when I was last there.

Tips and Tricks for Investing on Primus 5

1. Don’t Fight the Portal

It’s rather vague, but you need to have a ‘perfect’ patio to open a portal. There are other sources online for the right furnishings, good ones too. You gotta stay calm when that portal wham-bams into existence and jump right into it. I always repeat the same phrase to myself before a portal opens, “Jump into the mouth of the snake!” It’s what an indigenous people of the Amazon say to remind themselves to face fear head on. You need to be ready, because the longer the portal is open the more damage that is done to your corner of space-time. If you aren’t dedicated to seeking low self-storage costs, then this isn’t a good place for your mind to be.

2. Get Splatoons Before Arriving on Primus 5

People on Primus 5 will kill someone just for looking like they know the word Splatoon, much less give them to some lumpy off-world beggar. Do you want to steal fruit from horse carts and wrestle heels of bread away from other beggars? Then listen, you have to get some under the table on earth. Not a tough job. Any bank carries a reserve of Splatoons. Wink while wearing a Ring Pop and they’ll show you to the back.

3. Wait for My People

Remember that Ring Pop? Take it with you and my people will find you and get you underground. When they do find you, they will ask “What do you know?”and you have to respond “Self-storage costs a lot more than Splatoons.”

4. Hire Protection

A lot of self-storage areas on Primus 5 are right smack in the middle of gangland, and my people aren’t going to walk you all the way there. Luckily, it’s common practice to hire a local to bring you through safely. Can’t just get one nice person to shepherd you the whole way through, no way. You’ll need a few, so treat them well and with respect. If they like you, you can get away with paying 1000 Splatoons for each.

5. Learn Klak-Patlak

Klak-Patlak, not much worse than that. It’s the martial art practiced on Primus 5. Remember that Ring-Pop? Keep it in your back pocket, my friend. The gate to the self-storage area has been closed for 2000 years, ok, so this is a big deal and don’t mess it up. The gate is carved with the image of your perfect patio from back on earth. Twist the ring-pop into the patio umbrella and the gate will open, and that’s when you need Klak-Patlak. The gate guardian is obviously waiting.

6. Keep your Ear to the Ground

Ok look, I’ll be frank, I’m not only interested in self-storage costs. I have a lot invested in the development of Primus 5, which means I need eyes and ears on the ground. I asked my friend Chris to write a really cool and dramatic political story for this section, but I hung up the phone after 5 minutes. He has this weird dominance thing. He coaches an 8th grade debate team and he tries to make me feel small by telling me over and over how much smarter the kids are than me. Yes, Chris, please paint a picture of how terribly sad it is that these 8th graders don’t have a comprehensive knowledge of the Arab Spring. Yes, what a world, indeed! Anyways, keep me informed about what’s happening over there.

Have Fun!

How cool is it that you get to help develop a whole industry on Primus 5, right!? I really appreciate it, so take some time for yourself and have a good time! Self-storage costs can handle themselves for a few minutes while you sample all of the noodle bowls.

If you’d like to look into self-storage in Albuquerque, contact us today!

Welcome back! When I was kid, my mom turned all of my chores into little games. I pretended broomsticks were injured people that had to be raced to the hospital in the closet, and that spills on the floor were poisons that I had to clean up so our dog wouldn’t get sick. My mom never knew how much I appreciated all of those games.

So today, I’m going to liven up the blog by playing a game about the question “Where can I store my car?” Usually, I just tell you all of the information about self-storage, like how to prepare your vehicle for long-term storage. Not very exciting. Games: real fun. Don’t believe me? Get some friends together for a game of four-square out in the driveway. For this blog’s game, I’m going to list out three possible answers to the question “Where can I store my car?” However, only two answers will actually be a place where you can store your car, and one answer is going to be somewhere you can’t store your car. Your job is to figure which answer DOES NOT belong! If you want to check your score, there will be an answer key at the bottom.

1. Where Can I Store My Car . . . In A Barn?!

Barns are those big ol’ buildings on a farm that store livestock, animal feed, farming equipment and . . . cars! In fact, my great-grandma stores her late husband’s classic ford in a barn. There is plenty of space, and there is something romantic about the car collecting hay dust on its hoods and the early morning light enshrouds the car in a golden haze. He bought the car in 1932, got up and left his parents’, and spent the next ten years driving that baby from Detroit to LA to New York, and everywhere in between. Afterwards, he went back to his hometown in Michigan. He reconnected with his family, married my great-grandma, and settled down on the family farm. One day, he said “Where can I store my car?” and then at some point put the car in the barn.

      2. Where Can I Store My Car . . . Indoor Self-Storage?

I respect you as a reader, so I’m not going to try and talk objectively about self-storage like I don’t have bias. In fact, I have an overwhelming bias. Promoting self-storage is the driving motivation in my life When my partner and I were going through a rough patch, I’d could always get lost in the world of self-storage. I’d sit in my midsize unit where I stored my car during the winter for hours. I’ll admit the arguments were my fault, but it helped knowing my car was safe from the cold, and for a reasonable month-to-month price. You do need to take certain precautions, though. The car needs to be jacked off the ground to protect the wheels, all of the fluids (coolant, brake fluid, oil, etc) need to be replaced, the car needs to be covered, and you can put down mouse traps to protect the car’s wires from rodents.

3. Where Can I Store My Car . . . uhhh . . . Whatever I Don’t Know

This was supposed to be the section about a place you couldn’t store your car, but I couldn’t think of anything funny to write. There is a difference between randomness and absurdity, and all my ideas were just random. Picking an inanimate object is so juvenile. Anyone can randomly pick ‘muffin’ or ‘sweater’ or . . . whatever, I can’t even pick examples of inanimate objects now that are funny to ironically counteract my original point. Is anyone even reading this out there? I just wanted to make a fun game but I guess I didn’t do a very good job. I wonder how my mom would make a game out of sitting alone in a storage unit.

You know what, at least I tried to answer the question “Where can I store my car” in a fun and engaging way. At the end of the day, you can store your car pretty much anywhere bigger than a car, but options like indoor and outdoor self-storage are more secure and easy to manage. But by all means, try to come up with your own options! It’s very fun and rewarding and challenging. It reminds you of when life was all fun-and-games.

If you’re looking for a safe and easy-to-access self-storage unit for your car, contact us at Albuquerque Self-Storage today!

Who Needs Secure Car Storage?

Gather ‘round, readers, and I will tell you a tale. A tale of conflict and loss. A tale of triumph and joy. A tale of what it means to be human and in need of secure car storage. Is it a Comedy, or a Tragedy? Perhaps a bit of both. There is great knowledge in stories, and our story begins simply–in the garages of people just like you. They may not yet know it, but our heroes are embarking on a journey that begins in the soul and ends in the storage unit. Close your eyes, and open your heart to their stories . . . our stories . . . your stories . . .

Military Personnel

Meet Samantha, Sam for short. Sam joined the Army Reserves three years ago. She felt compelled to serve, but didn’t want to leave her civilian life behind. Her father served before her, and she feels proud to have followed in his footsteps. Besides serving her country, Sam’s other passion is restoring her dad’s old 1978 Firebird Pontiac. It still runs, but they want to recapture the fire of its youth–and they appreciate spending the time together.

However, she gets the call. She is getting deployed to Italy for one-year. While this is a long time for her, it’s an even longer time for the Pontiac. Before she leaves, she walks into the garage and runs her hand along the newly finished paint. The smell of oil reminds her of the hours she has spent with her father here. She turns and leaves the car to the silence of the garage. If only she had opted for secure car storage . . . when she returns the tires are deflated and the stagnant oil wore on the engine. The winter moisture damaged the paint, and rats chewed through the drive belts. How will she tell her father? Secure car storage is a sure way to prevent the heart-ache of a damaged car and a broken relationship.

Snow Birds

Bob and Joanna spend their summers in Michigan. After they both retired, they decided to follow the warm weather and bounce between Ann Arbor and Phoenix. There is nothing they love more than to drive out into the country on sunny days. Joanna is enchanted by Michigan’s glittering lakes, and Bob loves the lazy clouds floating over the green hills. However, the story takes a turn when winter creeps in . . . if only I could reach out through the ether and whisper “Beware, despair awaits those who do not buy secure car storage.”

Bob and Joanna have a lovely winter in Phoenix. They walk amongst the stoic Saguaro Cactus’ and meander along desert trails. While sitting on the balcony watching the sunset burn above mountain silhouettes, they are reminded of their long-burning love for each other. If only they knew what loomed beyond the horizon.

The next summer in Michigan. Spark plugs shot. Battery dead. Fluids frozen and pipes cracked. Drive belts snapped. Silent country roads on sunny days. On the wind, Bob hears “Secure car storage . . .”

Seasonal Workers

Jack works as firefighter in the city during the fall and winter, but in the summers he heads west to fight wildfires in the forests of California. Surely, Jack is a great hero–but the greatest heroes fall from the greatest heights. Ever heard of Oedipus? Read a book people!

Jack drives a Chevy pick-up truck, and takes great care of his car while he is at home. When he leaves to dig trenches in the forests, though, he leaves his car. The department provides all of the transportation. However, they don’t provide a stipend for self-storage, and don’t even mention secure car storage in their newsletter! He leaves his pick-up in the car port when he heads into the west.

Jack returns home in the fall with calloused hands and fond memories of digging trenches next to his newfound brothers and sisters. Weary and hungry, he grabs his keys to head over to his favorite hamburger joint. Don’t look away readers, you need to see this. He turns the ignition, and the engine sputters, spits, and dies. When he looks under the hood, his eyes widen and his heart drops . . . you can fill in the rest.

Secure Car Storage: The End

Whelp, that’s about it. If you didn’t catch the moral of the story, it’s make sure to look into secure car storage if you’ll be gone for a long time. Unattended cars can be damaged by fluctuating temperatures, pests, and not taking the proper precautions before you leave. Don’t make the same mistakes as our ‘heroes’. And pay attention to the drama of everyday life and have reverence for the small aspects of the human condition.

If are interested in protecting your car and your very soul, contact us at Albuquerque Self-Storage today and our helpful staff will help find the perfect unit for your needs!

Welcome back to the blog! Let’s talk furniture. Maybe grandma gifted you a tacky set of paisley love-seats, or you’re cleaning out your kid’s room to make space for your dusty workout equipment. Sometimes furniture comes into our lives, and we just can’t hack it. Luckily, the Collum family opened Lauderdale Storage in 1958, pioneering the self-storage industry. Thanks to the Patron Saints of Self-Storage, we have been blessed with the opportunity to create a furniture storage unit. However, be wary–throwing furniture in a unit willy-nilly might damage the furniture over time. Don’t do grandma dirty like that. Today, we’ll give you 4 tips to protect your furniture during long-term storage.

1. Protect from Pests

Insects like termites and cockroaches can squeeze through tiny cracks, and they always have the wood munchies. Rats can also fit through small openings, and rat fluids wreak havoc on upholstery. It doesn’t take long for insects to tear through wooden furniture. Without thinking ahead, pests can cause financial head-aches and sentimental heart-ache. But not in our furniture storage unit. You’re going to buy some simple sealing caulk and fill in all of the cracks and openings you see–even the smallest ones! I’ve seen rats fit into some unbelievably small holes. Then, get some mouse traps and sticky insect sheets and place them around the walls. Then, spear some flies on tooth picks and place them as a warning around the unit.

2. Clean all of your Furniture Before Hand

Dirt, dust, and existing stains will wear down the wood and upholstery if left alone. It doesn’t seem like much, but a furniture storage unit isn’t air tight and dust and moisture can weasel their way in. Trust me. After a few months in storage, that small amount of debris can do some slight damage.

The cleaning process is rather self-explanatory. Dust each piece thoroughly, and make sure to scrub any dirt. If there are stains on the upholstery or wood, use a light cleaning agent. It shouldn’t take long, but look over every inch of the furniture to make sure you didn’t miss anything. From there, it isn’t a bad idea to purchase some cloth covers. Avoid synthetic tarps and such, because they accumulate more moisture than a cloth cover. Finally, clean out all of the dust and dirt from the storage unit itself. Never trust the dust, unless you must.

3. Take Apart Bigger Pieces of Furniture

Dismantling is the best way to create more room in your furniture storage unit. Also, there is less chance that items will be damaged. For example, consider the table. A large table is already a pain to lug into a unit, but oftentimes you can remove the legs. Chairs, too, should be taken apart. The more you remove, the more space you’ll have and the easier it will be to move into the unit. Remove all of the drawers from cabinets from dressers so they don’t slide out.

Don’t make yourself move big ol’ tables. Moving big items is a pain, and also increases the chance you’ll scratch and scuff furniture. Not only that, but you’re risking injury. In fact, the Washington Post reported that you’re more likely to be crushed by furniture than be harmed by a terrorist!

4. Put Larger Items on Bottom, and Smaller Items on Top

Think of it like a pyramid–do you think King Tut’s tomb would be protected under an upside-down pyramid? Absolutely not. Jumbling large and small items together means 1) small items will be crushed and 2) furniture will topple, slip, and slide. With a little forethought, you can easily avoid scratched, scuffed, and broken furniture. Also, having an orderly furniture storage unit makes it easier to remove things down the road.

Couches and tables should go on bottom, and then you can use the space under the tables for dismantled chairs. A table is sturdy enough to hold a lot of weight, but put a cloth down over the top so it doesn’t get damaged. Another good idea is to put another flipped table on top of the other. Smaller and more fragile items like ottomans and tiny chairs can then be placed on the sturdy surfaces.

Move that Furniture!

Get going! Go! Move it! Now, it should be a breeze to move everything in to your furniture storage unit. Not only will you be saving money replacing broken furniture, but you’ll feel the satisfaction of doing a job well done. In the end, that makes it all worth it.

If you want to get the best possible storage unit, contact us today at Albuquerque Self-Storage and we’ll get the best deal for your needs!

Welcome back to the blog! We’ve covered a lot of ground in this blog, from preparing your car for storage to the overall costs of storage. . . sometimes the topics can be a bit dry. Today, we are going to bring some levity to the blog and give you some unique uses for your storage unit.

Dream Space Storage Unit

Ever wanted a room filled with all of the goals you have wanted to accomplish in your life? Now you can. You can inspire yourself by piecing together the moments you want to never forget right here in your storage unit.

Picture Perfect: Hang pictures of your goals. This is a great way to consistently motivate yourself to try and accomplish the things you want to do.

The Places You’ll Go: Use a map of where you long to travel to! Place small markers on the places you have been all around the world, and ones for where you want to go next! Remember, the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.

Party: Unleash the party animal inside you! Want relive your old frat days? No problem. Set up a beer pong table and invite your buddies over for a cold one. Perfect for trying to get a small get together and enjoying the little things that life has to offer.

Organize: Albuquerque Self Storage allows you the chance to be yourself and have fun in your own space. So after a long day at the office, unwind and see what adventures can await you! Get a pen and paper and start jotting down those notes on how to make your space work with you.

Princess: Did you ever dream about being a princess? Now you can. Set up gorgeous colors that pop, fantastical glitter to decorate, and get a dragon (hopefully a friendly one) to guard over you while you wait for your knight in shining armor.

Your story never ends: Maybe all of your dreams have already come true, if that’s the case; use that storage space to make your children and grandchildren’s dreams be answered. Grab a whiteboard and a marker and start planning your new storage unit!

Superhero Storage Unit

Business person by day, superhero by night! Your storage unit is your canvas, and you are the artist.

Batcave: Turn your storage unit into your very own Batcave and become the superhero that you were always meant to be! Complete it with your own high Tech computer software, special gadgets customized personally for you…and cup holders, got to have cup holders.

Superhero Body: Now you might not always want to fight crime and wear spandex, but with a space like this, you can get that superhero body in a Flash. Your storage unit can become your own personal playground of workout equipment so you can fight crime, and look good while you do it!

Gym Equipment: No longer will you have to go to a gym that is crowded with people hogging all of the equipment. You can place it all within your unit! Free weights, bench-press, and even a pullup bar to get you into shape!

Bulk Up: Self-conscious about trying to lift that five pound weight next to the body builder? Not anymore! Instead, your storage unit can be your own workout sanctuary where you can slowly start to make Thor look like a “puny God” in the comfort of your own space.

Motivation: Besides your workout equipment, hang up posters of your favorite heroes to motivate you. Getting a toned stomach like Black Widow has never been easier. Put down those donuts and let your superhero storage unit begin.

Zen Storage Unit

Namaste here forever with this Zen storage unit! With Albuquerque Self-Storage, you can turn your space into a place of tranquility.

Peace And Quiet: We all need a moment to ourselves, away from our bosses screaming at us, or the kids who ate WAY too much sugar. Your storage unit can become your very own Garden of Eden.

Yoga: Place down your yoga mat and start to feel the stress and negativity flow out of your body. “Inhale magic, exhale purpose”.

Happiness: Surround your space with things that make you feel at ease, that give you happiness. Harness that happiness and channel it into your mind, body, and soul. Pictures of those you love, your hobbies, even things you find most beautiful in this world…even a mirror.

Oil It Up: Use essential oils to soothe your muscles and treat yourself to your very own spa day. (Cucumbers on your eyes are optional). The oils can manifest an aroma to dull your stress and illuminate relaxation.

Contact Albuquerque Self Storage for more information on getting your unit. Remember, whether you are a dreamer trying to cast your imagination, a superhero re-inventing the person you want to be, or a yogi at peace with your wonderful life, you always have a place in this world.

Supply, demand, profit, buy low, sell high all of these economic terms can have our head spinning. We’re business folks ourselves of course, but we have fine-tuned our business to one thing, space. We have a set supply (number of units) and the demand is always revolving and so for us at least we do not have to think too hard about how we are going to meet demand aside from the occasional decision to grow and add more units. But this blog is not about us, it is about you, and how self storage facilities (like us at Albuquerque Self Storage) can assist you and your business. Storage solutions cover a wide net, so let’s get to it!

Business, Storage, Solutions!

We have talked about it at length earlier this month, the benefit of a storage unit that makes them profitable is their providing the resource: space. How you use that space is up to you. We have talked previously on the blog about some examples of business storage. Solutions can be many things, as we point out there. It can be simply using the space to act as a stockroom, so that your headquarters or office is not littered with products. If a small personal business, maybe you do not even have that so a storeroom is greatly more appreciated than a garage, attic, or backyard space.

You can use this space in whatever way your business needs. Not quite ready to upgrade to a new office or stuck because of your lease? Finding secure, legal storage solutions may be the step you need. So really it boils down to that. Space. How can your business use the extra room to better run efficiently? Do you need all those cumbersome desks that are not in use? To this we unfortunately cannot speak, we do not know your business perfectly. But you do, and you have a better idea on how that space can be utilized for you and your business.

That said, there are always some stipulations and it would be in our best interest as well as yours to make note of them. For instance, there are some things that just should not be stored in a unit. Things like chemicals, flammable or otherwise, are not usually permitted. The number and type of items that cannot be stored in a storage unit does vary from business to business so it would behoove you to speak with any prospective storage facility to see. Chances are if you have to wonder about it it’s very likely not storage unit material and may need a safer storage solution.

Ultimately, it is up to the business to determine if using a self-storage facility like ours is a solution to their storage woes. We just want to get the word out that they absolutely are an option if what you are looking for is cost effective square footage. If you determine that is something you could use, reach out and contact Albuquerque Self Storage today!

When it comes to self-storage, the storage units themselves are not the only piece to the moving puzzle. After all, all those belongings you are putting into storage need to get there somehow. That’s where moving truck rentals come in. When you don’t have the vehicle to move everything, when you don’t have the time to make multiple trips, or maybe you don’t need a storage unit at all.

Renting a moving truck can be the solution to your conundrum. But there are things to take into account before you roll up to U-Haul or wherever. Follow this blog to know everything you need to know before making your moving truck rental.

Assess Your Space Requirement

Before you head down to the moving truck rental place, have an idea about what size truck or trailer you are going to need. Keeping in mind that a truck will be using space as efficiently as possible, as well as stacking vertical at times. It’s not just square footage you will be using, it’s cubic! Now give yourself a little wiggle room as nothing will fit perfectly, you don’t want to have to make even just one more trip than you anticipated.

Gas or Diesel

Moving trucks can be gas or diesel fueled so you will want to have an idea of which of these you would prefer. Diesel trucks do get better miles per gallon making them a sound option for a long-distance move. However, diesels also are a bit at the whims of weather as anything colder than 32 degrees Fahrenheit can give them trouble starting up.

Know Your Questions

Not all rental places are the same, there is no set standard. Their prices per miles may be different, insurance rates vary, what moving equipment are included etc. Know what you are interested in and what features you need for your move.

Driving Your Moving Truck Rental

You have gotten the truck you decided on as the best bet for you. Chances are, you have never driven as large and seemingly unwieldy vehicle before. Here are some tips to get you on the road safely.

• Look for road signs that relate to trucks. You’re driving a new vehicle and need to be vigilant for these things. Weigh station stops, lane restrictions and overhead clearances all apply to you now.
• Be extra cautious in intersections. You are operating a much larger vehicle than you are no doubt used to.
• Never tailgate and avoid making any sudden stops. Trucks need more time to stop, never mind the space needed.
• Don’t try and pass any vehicle going faster than 40 mph, and never pass over hills or around curves.
• On long trips, make sure you are taking adequate breaks. Stopping every 2 to 3 hours is the best to ensure you are fresh and alert.

This has been only a handful of tips for renting and driving a moving truck rental. Obviously, you will know best what works for your individual needs. But hopefully with this primer in mind, you will have a better idea of what you will need. If, meanwhile, you need a storage unit contact us and we will get you squared away.