You’re on the hunt for a new place to live and you have your eyes on apartments in Seffner, FL. This beautiful Tampa suburb boasts a modest population that has seen burgeoning growth in the last few years. It’s a quaint, friendly place to live for individuals and families of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Before deciding on a place to live, it can be helpful to create a list of amenities or features that are must-haves. Safeguard Self Storage can help you cover your bases as well as provide a few tips on how self storage in Seffner, FL, can facilitate an easy transition into a brand new home.

Assess Your Needs 

It can be helpful to prioritize needs vs. wants when searching for apartments. While there are a lot of great perks of having a fancy apartment with new appliances, you’ll also want to ensure you have sufficient storage space in your apartment for all of your belongings.

Whether you’re bringing along pets or roommates will help determine what kind of apartment would be the right fit for you. If you have a large family or like to entertain guests, you may want an apartment with plenty of living space or multiple bedrooms. However, a smaller apartment will likely be a more affordable option, which is great if you’re living alone or with a significant other.

If you are a pet owner, you’ll need to find an apartment complex that allows pets and your specific type of pet. Additionally, you’ll want to find an apartment that has nearby grass or walking trails for your pet to play and get exercise. 

Location

When deciding what to look for in an apartment, many people focus on things like the cost of rent and the distance to their workplace. Something to also consider is the surrounding area. The right location can make all the difference in your quality of life. Living in a spot where you feel safe to go on walks and feel comfortable is important. Plus, you don't want to be too far from places you visit frequently, such as grocery stores and restaurants. 

Cost

Perhaps the greatest factor of any new move is the cost. How much will you need to pay in rent and utilities each month, and is it possible with your current income? A general rule of thumb is that your rent shouldn’t cost more than a third of your take-home pay, and many apartments require you to submit proof of income to guarantee you can afford the unit.

The cost of apartments can widely vary, so take time to shop around and make comparisons. Some apartments may include utilities in the rent, while others may charge separately for heat, water, and electricity. Keep parking space in mind as well, as you may have to pay extra for a garage or covered parking space. 

Additionally, instead of paying for an extra room to fit all of your belongings, utilizing a self storage unit can be a more affordable option. Many self storage facilities offer flexible leasing options, so you’ll never have to worry about being locked into long-term contracts. You can also find discounts on various units as well.

Maximize Space in Your Storage Unit With Safeguard Self Storage 

While you can find apartments that have a decent amount of storage space, you may find yourself needing more space as you move in. Many apartments have minimal closet space and outdoor storage closets. Storing boxes or seasonal items in outdoor closets is not ideal as they can be affected by inclement weather and pests. Luckily, at Safeguard Self Storage, we have climate controlled storage units available at many of our storage facilities, protecting your belongings from various elements. 

Whether you need to store spare furniture or seasonal clothing, Safeguard Self Storage can help. With a wide variety of storage unit types and sizes, you can be sure to find the right storage unit to accommodate your storage needs. Unsure what size of storage unit you’ll need? Our size estimator can help narrow down the options. Contact us today to reserve your storage unit! 

With spring semester right around the corner, it's time to move back into your college apartment. Consider living in an off-campus apartment for more room to yourself, but it also means having to fill up your space with the essentials. Before you head back to college in Bronx, NY, use our checklist to help keep track of what you'll need for the semester ahead, and what can stay in storage.

10 Must-Have Items for Your College Apartment

1. Desk Organization

Though you could study on your bed, it's better to have everything organized at a desk. Furnish your desk with a lamp, an ergonomic chair, a dry-erase board and a couple of desk-side storage spaces for an ideal study nook.

2. Dining Room Essentials

If you want to eat, you'll need utensils. An affordable 8- or 16-piece dinner set with matching flatware will keep you and your guests fed. Some glassware, salt and pepper shakers and placemats will complete the look.

3. Living Room Entertainment

Futons are inexpensive and make great furniture for college apartments. You'll also need a TV, a DVD or Blu-ray player, speakers and maybe a video game console to complete your entertainment setup.

4. Closet Storage

Make the most of your closet space by organizing things on hooks. You can also get some stacking drawers, dividers and organizers to help take advantage of every inch of your closet space. Self-storage is also an affordable option to alleviate your closet restraints.

5. Bedroom Comforts

You'll need more than a bed and a few pillows. Make sure to pick up an alarm clock, a nightstand and a lamp. A wastebasket, fan and a full-length mirror are also must-have items to ensure your comfort.

6. Bathroom Necessities

Don't forget the hand and body towels, a soap dish and a wastebasket. Having a plunger on hand will help in case of emergencies.

7. Kitchen Supplies

Unfortunately, you can't order out every night; so fill your kitchen with small, affordable appliances. Invest in a microwave, blender, toaster oven and a coffeemaker, and don't forget the odds and ends like dish towels, utensil trays and a trash can.

8. Laundry Items

It's nice to have a laundry basket or a tote to transport your clothes to the laundry facility. You should also consider buying an iron or a steamer to remove the wrinkles from your clothes before class.

9. Cleaning Products

A clean apartment is a happy apartment, so don't skip out on the cleaning products. All-purpose cleaner, a vacuum and a mop are all important items.

10. Home Safety

Apartments come equipped with smoke detectors, but you should also keep a fire extinguisher within reach. Keeping a first-aid kit on hand is also a good idea.

Safeguard Self Storage Welcomes You Back to College

If your college apartment is short on space, store your belongings with us. We have storage units in Bronx, NY that are perfect for seasonal items, giving you enough room to store extra school supplies, home decor and clothing for the coming spring semester.

What the Bronx lacks in space, it makes up for in lots of personality. That’s why, despite the tiny living conditions, people keep flocking from all over the country – and even the world. Don’t let your little living space take over your life; get it back with smart household storage. In fact, there are many different areas in your apartment that you could dedicate to storing more things. You only have to know where to look. 

1. Hang a rack on the doors.

Once you start thinking of your door as just another part of the wall, you'll see the opportunity for more household storage space. You can purchase inexpensive racks to hang from the top of the doors. Hang one on the inside of your closet door for holding shoes and one in the bathroom for storing your amenities. Use racks here and there to store all those little things that get in the way.

But don’t stop at racks. Shelves come in all shapes and sizes and they can go from a few feet above the floor all the way to the ceiling. The only thing limiting you is your creativity!

2. Get a cubbyhole bed.

Replace your bed with something more functional. A cubbyhole bed has small storage compartments underneath for storing everything from extra blankets to shoes and bedroom accessories.

For those who can’t just up and replace their entire bed, think outside the bed box. Dresser drawers from a no-longer-used dresser can be quickly painted and touched up with floor gliders to offer you simple storage space under the bed. 

3. Invest in functional furniture. 

Don't just set your feet on a plain ottoman. Get rest and functionality in one with a storage ottoman. It looks like a traditional footrest but has a secret lid for storing away remotes, magazines and other items. There are even some storage ottomans with built-in storage compartments for extra organization. 

More than that, you can look into furniture add-ons, such as an arm tables, over-the-arm storage bags and caddies.

4. Make more counter space.

If you're short on counter space, extend your prep area with a cutting board that perches above the stove burners. Mount a paper towel holder on the inside of a cabinet door to gain even more space, and use a small kitchen cart for holding those extra items and keeping them out of the way until you need them.

Don’t forget about your walls and even your ceiling in the kitchen. Hanging pots and pans and even a spice rack is a good way to get the stuff out of the cabinets and off the counters, but still in easy reach.

5. Downsize your living area. 

You don't really need a large couch in a small apartment. If you can't part ways with the family sofa, consider moving it to a storage rental in the meantime. You'll have more space to bring in something smaller and more reasonable for your living area.

The same goes for the rest of your furniture. All your bulky furniture ends up taking entire feet of usable space. Just like with your couch, though, you can keep it in the family for years to come with a storage rental.

Creating Space Out of Thin Air

Need help creating more space in your apartment? Use a Safeguard storage rental nearby your Bronx apartment to clear out the clutter and make more room. Whether you need extra closet space or to store furniture until you move, you can keep your belongings safe and secure in a personal storage unit at Safeguard Self Storage.