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!

It's always good when people in their communities unite. If you live around East Tremont and Bronx, NY, you can make a difference in the lives of those who live around you. Safeguard Self Storage has the scoop on green living and how it can benefit you and the community in which you live.

A Guide to Make Your Community Green

Why make your community green?

Let's face it: Nothing lasts forever. So why not make things last as long as they can by helping others in our community embrace the green initiative? By reducing paper consumption, turning off the lights when we're not in the room, and recycling materials for reuse, we can save our world's natural resources and make the Earth a better place for future generations.

How you can help make it happen.

What better way to make your area green than to create a community taskforce? Think about it—everyone working together to work on green initiatives like growing a community garden or cleaning up the litter from the streets and alleyways. Start by gathering like-minded people and creating a community organization. You can make daily, weekly, and monthly plans for recycling, decluttering, garden tending, and performing community cleanups.

What are the benefits of green living?

Green living benefits everyone in your area and the world, as it helps to conserve natural resources and prevent the damaging effects of climate change. You can help save the environment by making small changes at first, such as using less water and electricity or recycling bottles—all of which help offset your carbon footprint. If you get everyone in your community to do the same, you'll make an even greater impact.

Safeguard Self Storage Leads the Green Initiative

Safeguard Self Storage knows how important it is to live as green as possible in East Tremont and Bronx, NY. We've implemented eco-friendly storage facilities using solar panels to reduce our overall carbon footprint. If you're looking for an environmentally friendly storage facility that has you and your community's best interests in mind, check us out on East Tremont Avenue and reserve one of our storage units today!

When your neighborhood is unkempt, it can be tough to be prideful of where you live. From litter on the streets to excessive yard clutter, a messy town can leave you feeling defeated. But what if you could take the revitalization of your neighborhood into your own hands? Thankfully, you can make a difference in how your neighborhood looks, acts and reacts to the things around it. If you want to transform your neighborhood, Safeguard Self Storage Garfield, NJ, has five ways to make it happen.

5 Ways to Revitalize Your Neighborhood

Clean up the litter.

Litter hurts everyone and everything—especially the planet. It's an eyesore and not only damages the landscape but paints a negative picture for those visiting the area. Do your part by cleaning up the litter and keeping your neighborhood clean and beautiful.

Start a neighborhood watch.

Want to help with crime prevention? Get your neighbors together to form a watch group. With more eyes on what's going on, you'll deter criminal activity in your neighborhood.

Take time to meet your neighbors.

Not enough neighbors take the time to meet up and introduce each other. Taking the time to greet your neighbors not only creates a union with those around you but also makes the community stronger and more capable of dealing with misunderstandings as they occur.

Be active in neighborhood associations.

You can sit in your home doing nothing on a Wednesday night—or, you can take part in a community organization. If you take the time to be part of your neighborhood's function, you can make a greater difference and help the community grow and flourish.

Keep yard clutter to a minimum.

Keeping the community clean starts by reducing the clutter in your own yard. If you have old tires propped up against your house or toys thrown about the side yard, clean it up. You can even put old clutter in a storage unit for safekeeping if you don't want to throw it out. Transform your yard into what you hope your community can be, and everyone else may follow suit.

How Self Storage Can Help

Transforming your neighborhood for the better not only helps with the overall aesthetic but also crime prevention. Our team at Safeguard Self Storage wants to help make Garfield, NJ, clean with affordable, secure self storage units that keep clutter stored away. Whether you're keeping your yard or neighborhood park clean and clear, we can work together to make a positive impact on the entire city.

It's getting so close to spring break that we can feel it in the air. Whether you're into shopping on Ocean Avenue or enjoying walks and sunbathing on Rockaway Beach, now's the time to start thinking ahead about all the things you plan to do once school's out for break. Safeguard Self Storage has a few things to keep in mind as the spring season hits East Rockaway, NY.

The Ultimate Spring Break Checklist

Get your tan on at Rockaway Beach.

What's the point of spring break if you're not spending those days on the sand catching some waves and rays? You don't have to spend the entire time lying on the sand, especially if it's still too cold to hang outside in a bathing suit. You can join a volleyball match, walk the shores, or play Frisbee with friends. You can also catch some deals at the local shops to break up the monotony of sunbathing the days away.

Be a part of the nightlife.

It's not spring break if you're not out on the town for a few nights. There's shopping to do, bars to visit, and food to eat. You can get a tattoo at one of the local shops, taste the offerings at one of the many restaurants and sip some of the finest cocktails the East Side has to offer.

Don't forget the Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade

You're not embracing March if you skip the Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade. It's perfect for people of all ages, giving you a place to spend a few hours watching floats and entertainers while also listening to good music and partaking in the local cuisine and drinks.

Spring Break Storage With Safeguard

You might not think about spring break storage when you're busy shopping, sunbathing and living the nightlife, but it's an important part of the season for students and out-of-towners. Safeguard Self Storage is conveniently located on Ocean Avenue in East Rockaway NY, giving you an affordable spot for keeping your things protected while you're busy with other things going on in your life. Reserve a unit today!

New York City is famous for lots of things—the Empire State Building, Broadway musicals, pizza, and much more—but it’s also become famous for its expensive rent. Apartment rents in Queens have soared in recent years, preventing many from getting the breathing space that they need.

Thankfully, there are options for small apartment storage. Check out Safeguard Self Storage’s tips on how to maximize your living space and see how our Richmond Hill storage units can help you with whatever you need to store.

Use a Creative Roommate Arrangement

It’s common knowledge (and common sense) that you can save money by living with a roommate. In most cases, this means sharing a two-bedroom apartment with one roommate or sharing a three-bedroom apartment with two roommates. That way, you have one bedroom per person.

However, that’s not the ideal setup if you want to maximize your space. Combine a standard roommate situation with some creative thinking by splitting a three-bedroom apartment with two people. That way, you can both have a bedroom and a third for additional space—a nice luxury in Queens. You can use that additional room for an entertainment room, storage, a makeshift music studio, a home office, or more! And if you need some extra money, you can always welcome a third roommate into your apartment.

Best of all, this type of arrangement isn’t much more expensive than splitting a two-bedroom apartment, and the additional bedroom can be a game-changer for those who need more space.    

Try the New York City Affordable Housing Lottery

Most apartments are priced according to simple supply and demand. Queens’ small geographic footprint limits the supply of apartments, and the sheer amount of people living in the city means a high demand for housing. The result is rents that are among the highest in the country. The significant financial resources needed to upgrade your space, as well as the limitations of apartment or condo living (as opposed to home ownership), make it difficult to expand your living area via traditional means.

However, there is a solution that you may be able to take advantage of: the New York City affordable housing lottery. Run by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Housing Development Corporation, the program provides artificially depressed rents for both new and older housing at below-market rates—letting you maximize your living space at minimal cost.

How Can I Apply for a Lottery Unit?

The easiest way to apply for a lottery unit is through the New York City Housing Connect online portal. You can search for units and apply for them from the comfort of your own couch. The housing list is sortable by borough, application deadline date, and your own application status.

Each application will feature a table with available units and income requirements and additional details, such as the status of heating and cooling or electricity. Here’s an example table:

The most important requirements you’ll want to consider are your household size and annual household income. Represented as a percentage of Area Median Income, or AMI, different units will be available for different AMI brackets and room type.

Once you’ve decided to apply, you can do so online or through the mail. The application process can take between two to ten months, and there tend to be many more applicants than there are apartments. But it is a lottery, after all, and there are new apartments that are available every week.

Utilize Self Storage

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to maximize your space in Queens is through self storage. Safeguard’s storage facility in Richmond Hill is a convenient location with lots of unit options for whatever you need to store. With features like a drive-in loading area, individual door alarms, seven-day access, online payments, and more, it’s easy to store items in your storage unit.

Best of all, our storage units are competitively priced—and more affordable than Queens apartment space. The average rent in Queens eclipses $3.50 per square foot, but you can get many of our Richmond Hill units for only about $2 per square foot. And with our month-to-month rentals, you can avoid being locked into a long-term contract so you can rent the space you need for when you need it.

Whether you’re storing furniture, clothes, toys, electronic equipment, or something else, you can be sure that the friendly faces at Safeguard Self Storage will provide great service and great storage units. If you’re ready to efficiently expand your living space or add to your small apartment storage, give us a call and rent from our Richmond Hills storage units or one of our other New York City storage locations today.

Home organization doesn't have to be a challenge. It shouldn't be something that stays one step ahead of your best intentions. You can conquer it. You just need smart strategies, clever organizing tricks, and convenient self storage. These seven simple tips from Safeguard Self Storage in Metairie, LA, keep even the busiest home organized and clutter-free.

7 Items That Are Great for Organization

1. A Stop at the Door

Start decluttering the house at the front door with decorative hooks and shelves for bags and jackets. Toss keys, sunglasses, and phones into a big, bright bowl on a small entryway table.

2. A Dresser in the Closet

Move an unused dresser into the closet. Position it against an open wall or slide it under hanging clothes. Fill it up with anything that doesn't have its own place.

3. Self Storage Under the Beds

Keep home organization easy and out of sight with rolling under-bed storage. Gliding trays can hold everything from seasonal clothes and bedding to the kids' toys.

4. Drawer Baskets Under the Sinks

Stacked, mesh basket drawers are a perfect storage fit under kitchen and bathroom sinks. Their open construction keeps humidity at bay, so feel free to fill them up with countertop clutter.

5. Restaurant Kitchen Rails

Take a decluttering tip from commercial kitchens. Mount simple, space-saving rail organizers on walls or inside cabinet doors. Hang sliding hooks on the rods and fill them up with kitchen stuff.

6. Ottomans With Room to Spare

Make home organization fashionable, inviting, and comfortable with a cushy storage ottoman. The functional furniture seats extra guests while it keeps clutter tucked away. Storage ottomans are great in the kids' playroom, too.

7. An Easy-to-Use Scanner

Once a week, convert papers that pile up into digital files. Transfer invitations, receipts, insurance documents, and general paperwork to your computer or cloud storage. Be good to the planet by recycling your scanned papers.

Expand Home Space With Self Storage

Now that you're in control of general clutter, give yourself room to spare. A storage unit is perfect for expanding your organizing strategies with these simple tricks.
• Free up kitchen cabinets by storing seldom-used pots, pans, and countertop appliances in your unit.
• Seasonal decorations stay safely out of the way in climate-controlled self storage.
• Set up clutter bins in the unit to catch things you plan on selling or donating.
• A small file cabinet in one corner keeps important papers and documents safe until you need them.
• Give the car room to breathe by moving garage clutter to your unit.

Congratulations on Conquering the Challenge

It feels great to be on top of home organization. We're happy to help with affordable storage solutions that work hard for you. When you need extra space, Safeguard Self Storage in Metairie, LA always has plenty of room.

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.

You might be changing jobs or relocating to a different climate. Perhaps you're just ready for a personal fashion evolution. You've made up your mind to upgrade your style with a new wardrobe. Keep the transition seamless with clean closets, smart shopping, and climate-controlled clothing storage at Safeguard in the design district of Miami, FL.

Make Room for Changing Styles

Turn your wardrobe update into motivation for reclaiming lost closet space. It's time to move out the old and make room for the new. Go through everything. Clear shelves, clean out racks, and dig through closet corners.

Sort through your clothes, shoes, and accessories. Set aside things you're not sure about, and plan on moving them to a storage unit. Be honest about what should go and what can stay. Box up items you don't want to keep. Donate them to a local charity or flip them for cash at your next garage sale.

Divide your newly liberated clothing storage space into zones. Use different areas to arrange clothes for work, workouts, downtime, and special occasions. The goal is a perfectly organized closet ready for your incoming wardrobe.

Think Through New Wardrobe Decisions

Impulse buying is always fun, but it's not always a good long-term strategy. Aim for a balance between items you've decided to keep and things you want to add to your wardrobe.

When you're shopping for new clothes, ask yourself these questions before you buy.
• Does an expensive price tag mean it's really a good investment?
• Are you comfortable with the quality of items on sale?
• Is this new thing a basic that you just can't live without?
• Does it work with the clothes you've decided to keep?
• Are you happy with the materials, fit and color?

When the answers are yes, buy with a smile, but save receipts. If anything inspires belated buyer's remorse, you'll be ready to return it and save room in your beautifully organized closet.

Store Clothes Like a Fashion Pro

Everyone can use extra clothing storage space, especially after building a new wardrobe. Use your fashion sense and these tips to take care of old and new items in a climate-controlled storage unit.
• Make sure everything is fresh and clean before packing.
• Blanket folded items in storage bins with breathable muslin covers.
• Stuff shoe puffs or sock rolls into shoes and boots.
• Hang expensive clothes on padded hangers inside garment bags.
• Use wheeled racks for quick access to heavy outerwear.

We Keep It Easy and Manageable

Fresh fashion changes make you look and feel brand new. Keep them easy and manageable with our convenient clothing storage solutions. You can count on Safeguard Self Storage in the design district of Miami, FL, for affordable storage units that fit every wardrobe change.

The start of every new year means new beginnings. From revitalizing your home to give it a fresh look to giving yourself more breathing room by simply getting things out of the way, downsizing your space can help you achieve bliss. Here at Safeguard Self Storage, we can show you how living with less can lead to more, including eliminating waste especially in the already crowded neighborhood of East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

A More Popular Solution

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) the average size of new houses fell for the third straight year in 2018. The average square footage of a single-family home has dropped from over 2,500 square feet in 2015 down to 2,320 in 2018. Furthermore, most New Yorkers live in spaces much smaller than that (as anyone who has ever lived in a tiny studio understands).

Combine this with the trend that Marie Kondo and others have popularized—a trend towards minimal living and cleanliness—and it's the perfect storm for downsizing to become popular. As a result, if downsizing sounds like something you want to do, you won't be the only one. You'll have plenty of help and advice in achieving your downsizing dream.

Of course, a smaller space means less work to work with, and you can't keep everything you had in your previous home. That's where self storage comes in.

Assess Your Needs

When downsizing, you should always take a moment and figure out what you actually need and what you can get rid of. It's a task that is easier said than done, though. It's easy to not want to get rid of anything, even if it's probably the most meaningless item in the house. Try not to fall into the trap of "I might need this later," which, let's be honest, can be applied to almost everything. 

If you're having difficulty making decisions on certain items, ask a third party—like a friend or family member—to help you decide if you need an item or if you're unreasonably attached to it (we've all been there). They'll ask how often you use the item, when the last time you used the item was, and why you've been keeping it around if you haven't.

Less is More

There are plenty of benefits to downsizing. A smaller home is both less expensive to purchase as well as less expensive to heat and cool. That extra money can go towards upgrading your new home the way you want it or towards a larger storage unit.

Another benefit? More free time! With a smaller home, you will spend less time with everyday tasks around your house. In addition, less space almost means less of a reason to buy things you don't need, giving secondary savings. If you don't have anywhere to put it you're less likely to buy it.

Downsize With Safeguard

Downsizing is a popular way to save money and simplify your life for a reason. No longer is it seen as a step down in society, but instead as a more efficient way to live. You can't keep everything, but for the things you need to keep but don't have room for in East Williamsburg, reserve a storage unit at Safeguard Self Storage in Brooklyn, NY, to keep your belongings safe. 

With the recent sewage floods displacing hundreds of people in Massapequa, NY, learning how to file a natural disaster claim with your insurance company is crucial to protecting your home and belongings. Safeguard Self Storage is here with tips on how to file a claim and reasons why a storage unit can protect your belongings.

How to File a Water Damage Insurance Claim

If your home and belongings have water damage, don't wait to file an insurance claim. We have a few tips to get you started on the process:

• Secure your belongings from further damage.
• Make an inventory of your damaged items.
• Record a video of the damage so that you have proof.
• Review your insurance policy to see what steps to take.
  

Natural Disaster: The Benefits of a Storage Unit

It secures your valuables from moisture damage.

When you store your belongings with us, they stay protected from flooding and other natural disasters. Our units are also secured with locks and have video surveillance, so you won't have to worry about other threats while your stuff is in storage.

It has climate-control options.

Climate-controlled units are the ideal choice for storing your belongings. They keep the interior at a consistent temperature and protect your items from heat, cold, and humidity damage.

It provides storage while you're in-between living spaces.

If the New York floods have displaced you, you can rest easy knowing that your belongings are kept safe and secure while you're in-between places. Once you're ready to move back home, you can pick up your belongings and take them with you.

Protect Your Belongings With a Storage Unit

It's important to file an insurance claim if the flooding in Massapequa, NY, has affected your home. If you want to protect your belongings from water damage in the future, Safeguard Self Storage can help. Our Massapequa storage units will protect your items from flooding and keep them safe while they're stored away from home.