Running a small business from home puts you in charge of every detail, including carving out space to efficiently manage your inventory. And, without knowing how to properly manage your merchandise, it can be easy for your growing enterprise to overrun your house or apartment. Through a combination of inventory strategies, management software, and affordable small business self storage in Chicago at Safeguard, you can take control of your inventory with ease.

Size-Up Your Inventory Needs

Storing inventory at home doesn't leave much room for expansion. Whether you're selling handcrafted jewelry, specialty pet products, or smartphone gadgets, you need extra space. Setting up an inventory system for a small business starts with an honest assessment.

How many square feet do you need? Are climate controlled storage units best for your inventory? Will a drive-up unit make it easier to move? Safeguard in Chicago offers all the storage features and amenities you need to securely store your inventory near you.

Set Up Smart Self Storage

After you rent your unit and start transferring inventory, prioritize everything. Give bestsellers prime spots near the front of your space so that they're easy to access and restock. Set up smart storage strategies like clear, lidded bins and easily movable rolling shelves. You want to see exactly what you have with one look around. When you need to rotate seasonal stock, roll and reposition your shelving.

Stay on Top With Inventory Apps

If you're unsure about how to manage your inventory on your own, there's an app for that! Small business inventory management software streamlines the process. The benefits of real-time analytics quickly add up, allowing you to:

• Access centralized inventory data from your smartphone or tablet.
• Focus on instant sales information instead of time-consuming paperwork.
• Let POS connections track and auto-adjust inventory counts.
• Customize features to include bar code scanning capabilities.

Stay Ahead With Flexible Self Storage Units in Chicago

Taking control of inventory storage helps fine-tune your business strategies, especially with month-to-month leasing at Safeguard. When sales take off, you're positioned to expand capacity on-site.

Check your unit regularly. Audit exactly where you stand. A business slowdown might be a good time to stock up on discounted inventory. If your sales follow the seasons, keep your options open. Stay flexible with enough self storage space to fit your needs now and grow with your success.  And, if your inventory does outgrow your original storage unit, transferring to a larger one is very quick and easy at Safeguard.

Trust Us With Your Business Inventory

It's exciting to watch your home business take off. It's even better when that success doesn't spill out of closets and fill up the garage. Safeguard is ready to help with the best small business self storage in Chicago. From climate controlled storage units (both air-conditioned and heated) to high-tech security features, you can trust Safeguard with your small business inventory. Find your neighborhood Safeguard Self Storage facility now.

Homeownership is a major step in your life, especially if you've never bought a home before. Buying a house isn't always a simple thing to do, and the costs can skyrocket and drive buyers away. Thankfully, it's the perfect time to buy a home in the Chicago, IL, metro—whether you're doing it for the first time or you've purchased one before. Safeguard Self Storage on North Northwest Highway has a few reasons why buying a house now is in your best interests.

Why Buying a Home Now is a Great Idea

Homes cost less right now.

That's one good thing about the housing market: It fluctuates. One year it's down; the next year it's up. If you want to get the best deal on a home, now's the time to buy. You can find a great deal on a house and finally stop renting an apartment or someone else's property.

Renting means throwing your money away.

That's right. Renting someone else's house or an apartment is like giving your money away. You're not actually paying someone for something that will eventually be yours. You can lose it at any time. When you mortgage a home, you're paying for something that will be with you and your family for generations.

You'll make a profit in the future.

One good thing about buying a house when the market is just right is the fact that you can make money in the future. Since the market is down, you can purchase a home for much less than what it would normally be listed at. If you plan to sell later and the market is just right, you can list it for much more and make a profit. It's a good idea to speak with an agent to make sure you're making the best purchase for a future home sale if that's why you're buying now.

Ready to Move? Get Moving Storage With Safeguard

Homeownership is wonderful but does come with its own share of ups and downs. No matter if it's your first or fifth home, we can help with affordable moving storage when you plan to make the jump to a new home. Our storage facility on North Northwest Highway in Edison Park is a fantastic place to get storage whether you’re renting or buying. Stop by and reserve a Chicago storage unit today!

You probably have friends who do it. They let someone else handle the driving. Think about the advantages of using public transportation in Chicago and suburbs like Hermosa, IL. Combine those benefits with secure vehicle self storage at Safeguard, and it can all add up to a cheaper, safer way to navigate Chicagoland.

What Are the Advantages of Ditching the Car?

It's great to come and go on your own schedule. Driving a car gives you personal convenience. However, using Chicago's public transport system offers solid advantages over staying behind your own wheel.
• Say goodbye to commuter headaches because you're not driving through rush hour traffic.
• Statistically, you're less likely to be involved in an accident riding the bus or train.
• You save money on parking, gas, and tolls for roads, bridges and tunnels.
• The time you spend riding is also free time to spend on working, reading or just relaxing.

How Does Chicago's Public Transport Work?

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) makes it easy to catch a ride with different lines serving downtown and the suburbs. CTA also makes it easy to buy different public transport packages with its Ventra card.

An unlimited Ventra card pass works best if you plan on frequent rides with CTA. You can also buy single-rider cards good for up to 30 days. One-time ride tickets are always available, too.

If you decide to go with car storage and transition to commuting, CTA gives you plenty of public transportation choices. Chicago's L lines all converge on the Loop with free connections between stations. Metra train lines and more than 120 Pace bus routes cover the rest of the city and suburbs.

Is It OK to Park the Car in Self Storage?

Many drivers enjoy the best of both worlds by combining public transport with affordable storage for their cars. The arrangement moves you around town on CTA lines while you enjoy these car storage perks.
• The security of not leaving your car parked in an open lot or on the street
• Flexible leasing arrangements for short- or long-term storage
• Online management tools with convenient payment options
• Professional, on-site staff with answers to all your storage questions

We're Just Around the Corner

You don't have to give up your wheels for easier city driving. Park the car with us. Leave commuting headaches in the rearview mirror. Safeguard Self Storage is at your service with seven locations across the city, including Hermosa, IL. Wherever you are in Chicagoland, Safeguard car storage is just around the corner.

Convenient, affordable self storage keeps life organized at home, work, and school. It's the perfect solution for expanding tight spaces until it doesn't work. How do you maximize the room in your unit? How do you make everything fit? Try these packing tips for your Lombard, IL, storage unit from our storage pros.

10 Tips to Pack Like a Pro

Plan Ahead Online

The best storage facilities offer online calculators that let you size up different storage units. These handy digital tools make it easier to figure out exactly what you need.

Declutter Your Clutter

Be honest about what you really want to keep in storage. Don't just move clutter from your home base into your unit. Save that storage space for the important stuff.

Take Things Apart

If you can disassemble it, it will probably fit better in the unit. From bed frames to bikes, this is one of your best packing tips for large bulky items.

Invest in New Boxes

You won't find mold and bugs in new storage boxes. Fresh containers are strong enough to hold heavy loads and stack safely. Most self storage facilities sell a variety of sturdy boxes.

Fill Them Up

Maximize space in the unit by filling up boxes, sealing them with heavy tape, and labeling the contents. Tightly packing boxes gives them extra stacking strength.

Vacuum Bag Clothes

A climate-controlled storage unit protects clothing from mildew and bugs. Add another layer of safety while saving space too by using vacuum bags to compact clothing.

Stack Like a Pro

Maximize vertical space by building stacks of same-sized containers with heaviest boxes at the bottom. This tip also minimizes the risk of unit avalanches.

Bring in Shelving

Keep thinking vertically while you keep fragile things safe. Bring in wheeled shelving units or old bookshelves to extend secure floor-to-ceiling storage options.

Use Hidden Spaces

Some of the smartest packing tips are hiding in empty spaces. Store extra belongings in dresser drawers, under small tables and inside ovens and refrigerators.

Resist Plastic Bags

Plastic bags don't compact very well. They tear too easily and they trap moisture. They don't stack either, so keep them off your list of packing strategies.

Let Safeguard Help

Our teams know all about maximizing storage unit square footage. We're always happy to share ideas that make the most of your space. When you want a little help from self storage pros, you can depend on us here at Safeguard. Rent a unit today at our Lombard, IL, location or one of our other facilities!

When you're sizing up summer storage options, size really does matter. How much space do you need to store a motorcycle? What kind of square footage can handle the flag football team's gear? We offer a definitive guide to the best storage unit dimensions in Edison Park, IL.

Small Spaces, Big Convenience

Enjoying self storage doesn't mean leasing something large. A 5-by-5 unit gives you enough space to store fishing rods, tackle boxes, and assorted sporting gear. If it all fits in a walk-in closet, it fits in this compact unit.

Plenty of Room for Wheels

Stop crowding your car in the garage. Give it breathing room by parking your motorcycle in a secure 5-by-10 space that's easy to access. With 50 square feet of storage, you have room to spare for a dirt bike, too.

Summer Storage for Students

Direct students on summer break to the nearest storage facility. A 7.5-by-10 unit holds books, bedding, boxed belongings, and more. You hold on to clean closets and drawers. Point out the convenience of having all their stuff in one spot when they head back to the dorm.

A Place for the Home Team

Round up the kids' sports gear and organize everything in a 10-by-10 space featuring cool climate control all summer long. Keep the team on track with room for equipment, jerseys, and cleats. Keep up team spirit by designating the unit as their 100 square-foot team locker space.

A Home for Big Water Toys

With so many ways to enjoy the waves on Lake Michigan, summertime self storage makes sense. Make it fit your plans with a 10-by-15 unit big enough to hold your biggest water toys.

Water toys you can store include:

• Stand-up paddle boards
• Snorkel and scuba gear
• Single and double kayaks
• Skiffs and surfboards

Summer Storage That Always Fits

We understand how much size matters. Let us help you find your summertime unit here at Edison Park, IL, or any of our other 15 Chicagoland Locations. When you need self storage that always fits, you can always count on Safeguard.

In a perfect world, your house sells the same day you close on a new home. You have plenty of money and time to make the move. When real estate daydreams and realities collide, be prepared with smart options that include short term storage here in Edison Park, IL.

Why Would You Sell First?

Motivation matters when you're selling a house. You may have fallen in love with a dream home or a location that's perfect for work. You might want to downsize for retirement. Sometimes the timing just doesn’t work out.

Your plans depend on cashing in on your home's equity. If you're positioned in a seller's market, a quick closing makes the transition from old to new much easier.

Can You Speed Up the Buying Process?

Perhaps you're not in the market for a dream home. You want to make your move before closing the sale on your current home. These options can speed up the hunt for a new address.

• Limit your search to houses within a 15-mile radius.
• Keep an eye out for home foreclosures and auctions.
• Ask your realtor about properties that are ready for move-in.

Speed shopping isn't for everyone. You might want to slow down, move belongings to a nearby storage unit, and consider an easier relocation strategy.

What Are the Pros and Cons?

If you can plan ahead, you can actually benefit from selling a home before buying a new one. When you sell first, you're free from the obligations of dealing with two loans. Closing on the old house keeps you from overextending as a buyer. You know exactly what you can spend on a new home.

With that financial security, you can afford a short lease on living space and short-term storage for holding things until you make your final move. The downside of this plan is packing and unpacking twice.

On the upside, taking your time offsets the work of a double move. You don't feel pressured to make quick decisions. You can relax and shop with confidence. When you finally settle in a new home, keep your storage unit. Everyone can use extra space on a long-term basis.

Self Storage Will Keep You Ready

Regardless of when the house sells, you can be confident thanks to the safety net of self storage.  Safeguard Self Storage keeps you ready for the move with short-term and long-term storage units in Edison Park, IL and all across Chicagoland. You can count on us to help make your real estate daydreams come true.

Your special keepsakes take up too much space. You love them, but you need to make room for new treasures or something that’s simply useful. You have plenty of self storage solutions here in Chicago, IL, but how do you prep, pack, and stash favorite things? This quick guide offers keepsake storage tips and tricks.

Protect Precious Things

Whether it's Star Wars action figures or memorabilia from Chicago's 1933 World's Fair, everything stays sheltered in climate-controlled storage units. Protect your precious belongings with smart packing strategies.

• Blanket keepsakes in bubble wrap before boxing.
• Pack heavier items first and lightest treasures last.
• Don't overstuff boxes with delicate things that break easily.
• Keep larger fragile keepsakes on shelves in your unit.
• Clearly label boxes and then make an inventory.

Preserve Paper Treasures

Paper keepsakes might be old photographs, family records, or even a vintage comic book collection. Preserve your paper treasures in self storage where everything stays protected from humidity and temperature extremes.

• Slip photos into individual acid-free sleeves.
• File important records in archival folders.
• Store valuable comics in mylar bags.
• Place protected paper keepsakes in lidded plastic bins.
• Keep bins off the unit floor on palettes or tiered shelving.

Curate Favorite Artwork

Your favorite images may not be museum quality, but to you, they're irreplaceable. Climate-controlled storage units are essential for curating oil paintings, watercolors and pastels. These tips keep artwork protected in storage.

• Cover oil painting canvases with wax paper.
• Wrap individual pieces in archival tissue paper.
• Cushion frames and glass with acid-free mat board.
• Elevate artwork on palettes, and drape with light muslin sheets.

Secure Holiday Treasures

Stashing holiday decorations in self storage protects the fragile ornaments, mantel decorations, and special heirlooms that make the season sparkle. Preserve family traditions and save closet space by securing your holiday treasures.

• Store small, delicate ornaments in egg cartons.
• Pad individual boxes of decorations with bubble wrap.
• Keep boxed collections in plastic bins with snug lids.
• Label bins with lists that make it easier to sort through decorations.

We Keep Your Keepsakes Sheltered

Don't worry about your Cubs bobblehead collection. Your John Hancock Center tree ornament is protected with us, too. If you love it but you don't have room for it, we have 13 convenient facilities across Chicago, IL. You can depend on Safeguard for storage units that keep your keepsakes covered. Reserve a unit today!

It used to be so much easier. You retrieved extra luggage from your closet, basement, or self storage and filled it up with whatever you liked. Today, packing for a flight out of Chicago, IL takes a lot more planning. Our handy how-to guide can help you get ready for your next trip like a seasoned travel pro. 

Conquer Carry-On Bags 

Carry-ons work like personal storage that let travelers pack just what they need. Knowing how to conquer a carry-on lets you avoid the expense and hassle of checking luggage for short trips. Pack plenty of underwear, but save space by adding just a few changes of clothing. 

If you're traveling with checked luggage, think of the carry-on as your designated emergency kit. Pack enough clothes for a day or two, and include essentials like toiletries, electronics, and chargers. Keep travel ID and flight documentation in a carry-on pocket for quick access during check-in. 

Lighten Up Luggage 

The standard luggage weight limit is 50 pounds, but that's a heavy load to wheel around the airport. Pack light, and leave room for souvenirs. Save suitcase space by tightly rolling clothes instead of folding. Make even more room by stuffing shoes with socks and wrapping them with a shower cap. 

Secure liquids like shampoo, lotion, and sunscreen in plastic bags with zip seals. Pack heavier items at the bottom of your suitcase, and put things you'll want right away at the top, including backup copies of personal identification, flight information, and hotel reservations. 

Fly High with Power Tips 

Always make a quick list of must-haves before you start packing, and double-check it before heading out. Once you're ready for take off, take a few minutes to maximize your flying prowess with these travel pro power tips. 

• Scan important travel documents, and email copies to yourself and a friend.
• Check your destination's weather forecast for the upcoming week.
• Plan on wearing shoes that slip off easily at security checkpoints.
• Top off your carry-on with relaxing essentials like earplugs and an eye mask.
• Make room in the carry-on for packaged snacks, but leave peanuts at home.

Let Us Handle Your Baggage 

We have one more travel pro tip: Don't crowd closets with luggage you only use a few times a year. We're just around the corner with small inexpensive locker storage units that are ideal for luggage and other small household and seasonal items. We offer convenient locations all across Chicago, IL including West Rogers Park, Uptown, Lake View, Hermosa, and Beverly. Let Safeguard Self Storage take care of your excess baggage.

You might be inspired by the wonderful ethnic food markets on Argyle Street. Maybe you want to prep for a Lincoln Park picnic. If messy kitchen drawers cramp your home cooking style in Uptown and Lake View, it's time to get organized with drawer-expanding ideas and convenient storage units here in Chicago, IL.

How to Organize Your Kitchen Drawers

1. Clear the Counters: Give yourself plenty of room to purge kitchen drawers. Turn countertops into clearing houses, and set aside labeled boxes for things you'll want to move to self storage. 

2. Start by Sorting: Sort things by use. If you only pull it out of the drawer once or twice a year, move it to a designated box. Climate-controlled storage units hold seasonal kitchen items year-round. 

3. Clean and Line: Pull drawers out, and clean with a good shake and wipe over the trash can. Line them with colored or patterned washable contact paper. 

4. Turn the Silverware: Make room in the silverware drawer by turning its tray horizontally. This frees up extra storage space at the back of the drawer. 

5. Think Clearly with Acrylic: Clear acrylic trays keep full drawer interiors from looking cluttered. They let you enjoy your attractive drawer linings too. 

6. Divide Drawers Diagonally: This trick works well for storing long utensils in kitchen drawers. A diagonal layout makes it easier to organize and access extra-long spoons, spatulas, and tongs. 

7. Layer Tiered Storage: Make the most of deep drawers with several tiers of sliding storage trays. Use the layered layout for utensils that you don't need often. 

8. Store for Convenience: Keep kitchen utensils conveniently close. Store knives in drawers next to prep areas, spatulas by the stove, and silverware within quick reach of serving areas. 

9. Mark Things to Move: As you finish up, clearly label boxes of drawer extras headed for self storage. When you're ready to retrieve seldom-used items like holiday cookware, just follow the labels in your storage unit. 

10. Junk Is Okay: Allow yourself the luxury of one junk drawer. Let it be the place to toss things you don't want in your newly organized kitchen drawers. 

Keeping You Inspired 

Once you organize those messy kitchen drawers, you can set your culinary talents free. Keep on conquering pantry problems with any of our six Safeguard Self Storage locations in Chicago, IL, including ones in Uptown and Lake View. It's our pleasure to keep you inspired in the kitchen and all around the house.

You love living in the big city. The high energy level brings out the best in everyone who works and plays in the heart of this great place. Still, expanding personal and business space can be a real challenge in bustling Chicago, IL. Finding self storage solutions in and around downtown makes metro life so much easier.

Space Comes in Sizes

Whether you rent an apartment or own a condo, efficient floor plans don't leave much room to grow. Downtown Chicago storage units solve the problem with a range of sizes. A 25-square foot unit serves as an extra closet, a bigger unit holds furniture, and you can lease enough space to store the contents of an entire house. It's easy to find exactly what you need.

Convenience Always Counts

You're constantly on the go, so every minute counts. Self storage lets you choose a nearby location that works with your daily routine. Flexible hours and 24/7 access keep personal and business schedules simple. You can manage your account and even lease new space conveniently online.

Security Is Important

It's important to feel secure in a large metro area. The best downtown storage units provide layers of on-site security that protect you and your belongings. Lot entrance and building access are computer-controlled. Digital and video recording systems track activity all hours of the day. Facility-wide intercoms and individual door alarms watch over every unit.

Extras Make a Difference

Businesses that want loyal customers offer extras that make a difference. Professional storage management teams also work hard catering to your expectations with these amenities and more:

• Climate-controlled units
• Drive-in loading areas
• Boxes and packing supplies
• Delivery acceptance services

It's All Affordable

Residential and commercial square footage comes at a high price in the city. With self storage located downtown, you can expand your space for a fraction of that cost. Short- and long-term options help match tight budgets with storage needs. A nearby unit gives you affordable, flexible room to grow personally and professionally.

We're Always Around the Corner

If you're like us, you don't want to make your home anywhere else, and you don't need to. You have Safeguard Self Storage to help stretch your space in the Chicago, IL metropolitan area. Our storage units make life in the city easy and secure. We always have your perfect fit, and we're always just around the corner.