A home office is an office space at home to run official business functions. Start-ups and entrepreneurs commonly use home offices as their very first office to lower the cost of operation. However, as a business owner, there will be times when you feel ready to move out of your home office to an actual office space.

Here are five good indicators to start packing and move to an office space.

Your business is growing quickly

Take a look around your home space. If you feel like your home space is turning into an office space with business inventory occupying more than 50% of your home space or space to work, it’s time to set up an office elsewhere. You can always start by renting a small office space of a good size to fit your business items and office equipment so that the cost of renting an office space is minimal and upsize accordingly.

You are hiring more employees

As your business grows, you will need more manpower to help you in the daily operation of your business, as it will be hard to do everything on your own. When that time comes, you will need to hire more employees, and it might be hard to fit everyone comfortably in your home. This will be the right time for you to look for a new space that is big enough to fit your team and workflow.

The lack of space to store business inventory

Planning to bulk up on inventory for the upcoming festive sales? If this is causing you a temporary space problem, you can always rent a self-storage unit at a storage provider such as Extra Space Asia Self Storage, where you will enjoy unlimited space to store all of your business inventory. Renting a storage unit is like an extension of your office space where you can access your goods and inventory 24/7, any time, any day. You can also be assured that your items are in good hands with the 24/7 CCTV monitoring in the storage facility area. With a wide storage size available at the storage facility, you will also be able to affordably find a storage space to store all of your items. If you need storage assistance, you can always contact 1300 22 0288, and Extra Space Asia Self Storage will assist you accordingly.

If this space-related problem is a long-term issue, you can always find an office space near a storage facility. This way, you will be able to enjoy ample space for your goods and also a comfortable room to operate your business.

The lack of space to hold client meetings

When you just started your business, most of your client meetings might be at home or a local coffee shop. However, as your business grows, it might look unprofessional to hold all the physical meetings in your home. Firstly, there might be limited space to move around. Secondly, it might be hard to speak about confidential matters with all the employees in the same room. As such, it’s good to consider renting an office space with some rooms so that each function can have room to operate clearly.

Too many distractions at home

We can all agree that working at home is comfortable and ideal for most as everything is within reach. However, it’s not always the best place to work as distractions are too many at home for us to work in peace. Especially if you have kids or rowdy pets at home, distractions make it challenging for us to engage in deep work and stay focused during a meeting.

 

 

The terms self-storage is starting to become common for most living in Malaysia Self-storage primarily provides extra storage space for families and businesses to store their personal, family and even business items. With this extra space, they can now enjoy more room in their home and office space. That is why not only families and businesses can benefit from using self-storage. If you own a business, here are three benefits to look forward to when you rent a self-storage unit with Extra Space Asia.

  1. Fuss-free move in process

Similar to setting up a business and company easily, business owners can expect an effortless move-in procedure when you rent a self-storage unit at self-storage providers like Extra Space Asia. All you have to do for a start is to visit a preferred storage facility during operating hours for a tour. During the facility tour, you will be able to figure out the right unit for your storage needs. You can also choose to either store in an air-conditioned storage unit if the items you are storing are temperature sensitive. Once you are happy with the storage size, simply let us know how long you would like to rent, sign up and start moving in!

If you choose to store your business inventory, business document and personal items with Extra Space Asia, you can be assured that your items are good hands as we have on-ground security and 24-hour CCTV monitoring for extra protection. Our team is also available for any quick assistance during office hours. Just pop by any time from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday to purchase any box shop items or sign-up for a storage unit – no prior appointments required. This will also be more convenient as you can choose to visit our storage facility at your preferred timing effortlessly without the hassle of scheduling your visits in advance.

  1. Flexible storage terms

Unlike big warehouse storage and office leases where you are locked in for a specific rental duration of one year or more, the rental duration of a storage unit is more flexible. For self-storage companies like Extra Space Asia, customers can choose to store from as short as 14 days to as long as needed. In this case, businesses do not have to worry about long-term operation costs or the need to break the fixed rental contract just to downsize the business.

Besides the flexible storage duration, customers are also able to downsize or upsize their storage unit anytime. If your business needs more inventory to keep up with the growing demand, you can just let our Customer Service Executives know, and we will find you the next suitable storage unit to fit all your extra inventory. If your business is moving slower than usual and you need more cash flow, you can also downsize your storage unit and pay for only the storage space you require. These flexible storage terms will be beneficial to SMEs and e-commerce businesses.

  1. 24-hour access to your storage unit

By storing at self-storage companies like Extra Space Asia, you will have the freedom of round-the-clock access to your storage unit. All you have to do is to key in your unique PIN code, and you will be able to access the storage unit. This is important for businesses as it enables owners and operators to boost efficiency without being affected by the operating hours of a storage facility. Some storage units at Extra Space Asia are air-conditioned. This means inventory management tasks such as packing or stock checks will definitely be more comfortable. Simply speak to our friendly Customer Service Executives to find out more today.

At Extra Space Asia, we would like to extend a helping hand to entrepreneurs and businesses who need an immediate storage space to store their business inventory and document. To learn more, call our hotline +1300 22 0288 or visit us from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday.

Just moved into your new home and wondering if you still need that storage unit that you rented during the transition period? Don’t fret, and let us help you decide if you should continue renting that storage unit. Here are three cases where the self-storage unit will still come in handy even when you have moved to your new space.

The new home is much smaller than your previous home

We understand that some new home settings can be smaller than the old homes. As such, when you move and bring over all of the items from your previous home to your smaller new home, you might find it hard to store everything. If you have included ample storage space in your new home to keep all your items, then you do not have to extend your storage lease.

However, if you still do not have enough space at home to store your family or personal collection, a self-storage unit might be useful. With the storage unit, you can store those hardly used seasonal clothing and furniture pieces or even memorabilia.

By renting a self-storage unit at storage providers such as Extra Space Asia Self Storage, you will be able to upsize or downsize your current storage space according to your storage needs. In this case, you will only be paying for the storage size you require.

More people living in your new home

Living with your extended family or the in-laws? When you have more people staying at home, your living space will tend to become smaller. In such cases, it would be beneficial to continue your storage lease to enjoy more space at home. If you are a personal collector or hobbyist, by having a self-storage unit, you will also enjoy extra space to grow your collection.

storage space is like an extension of your home where you will enjoy 24 hours access, any time and any day. To minimise the storage rental cost, you can also share your storage unit with your family members and divide the storage cost among your family.

You can maximise the storage unit space by setting up shelves to utilise the depth and height of the storage space fully. In this case, your family members can each enjoy a dedicated corner in the storage unit too.

Own a home business that requires business storage space

If you are a home business owner, a self-storage unit will continue to come in handy for your business purpose even after you have moved into your new space. You can convert your storage unit to a business storage space where you can store all of your business inventory and document. With a storage unit, you will be able to enjoy more space to grow your business and be able to maintain a neat and conducive working environment at home.

Self-storage is a good business storage option as you can enjoy maximum flexibility on your storage duration and choose to either store long term or short term. You are not tied into any leasing contract by renting a self-storage unit with storage companies like Extra Space Asia, unlike a warehouse space that usually comes with at least a year contract.

At Extra Space Asia Self Storage, you will also be able to choose from a range of storage unit sizes depending on your business needs which will be more cost-efficient in the long run. With round-the-clock access to your business items and documents coupled with a state-of-the-art security system, you can be assured that your business inventory is in good hands. If you would like to find out more about the various storage solutions that Extra Space Asia Self Storage offers, you can contact us at 1300 22 0288 today or visit any of our storage facilities located at Petaling Jaya, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm or Saturday 9am to 1pm.

Many will ask why we need to store our items and furniture in a self-storage facility during the moving or renovation transition period. A self-storage unit can be a lifesaver, especially during these stressful transition periods, as it provides you with a temporary storage space for all your items while you move into a smaller home or nowhere to keep all of your belongings.

It is also a storage solution to store your furniture during your home renovation to protect them from dust. When researching for the best storage fit for your needs, here are some tips on how you can choose a self-storage solution.

Search for storage providers who offer short term storage plan

During these transition periods and renovation times, most people are looking for a short-term storage solution (approximately three months or less). When you are finding a self-storage facility, it’s important to find out the shortest storage plan available.

This will help cut down on the unnecessary cost when you only need to store for one month. If you are looking for a self-storage facility that offers less than one month of storage, you can choose to store with providers such as Extra Space Asia Self-Storage. Our facility provides a minimum 14 days storage period as compared to a minimum of one month storage period at most storage facilities.

Look for a storage facility near your home

If you are planning to store your furniture and belongings in a storage facility, it is always good to find the storage space nearest to your home. This will help cut down the travelling time and cost if you are thinking of moving your items by yourself to the storage unit. By choosing to store in a storage facility near your home, it will also be more convenient if you need to store or retrieve from your storage unit. For Singapore, it will be easy to find one storage space near your home as there are many storage providers available. However, it is important to choose a reliable option so that you can be assured that your items are in good hands.

Choose the storage provider that has a person in charge at the facility 

With a professional present at the facility, you will enjoy peace of mind knowing that if you need immediate assistance during operation hours, there is someone there to assist you immediately. The on-ground service staff will also act as a form of security as with them around, you can be assured that your items are stored in a safe environment. If you are looking for a self-storage in Singapore with on-ground customer service executives, you can always store with Extra Space Asia Self-Storage.

Store with a storage provider that offers a wide range of storage sizes

Unsure about the storage size you will need to store all your items? It is good to visit the storage facility that you plan to store your items before confirming all of the details. This will help you to better understand the storage surroundings, the available storage sizes and also know who to find should you face any problems down the road. If you choose a storage provider such as Extra Space Asia Self-Storage with a wide range of storage sizes, it would also be more convenient for you to scale up or downsize your storage space to fit your changing needs. This will also be a cost-effective storage solution as you will still be able to enjoy more space at home and also save the cost of relocating your items to another storage facility.

Choose Extra Space Asia Self-Storage

Founded in 2007, Extra Space Asia has over 60 storage facilities with over 15,000 storage units across Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan and Japan. Our industry-leading presence in Asia gives us credibility and allows us to operate self-storage facilities of the highest standards worldwide. We’ve also always strived to build facilities to improve people’s lives and work. This is professionally delivered through our cutting-edge services, uncompromised security, and a wide variety of storage unit sizes available 24/7. If you’re looking for storage solutions for personal, family or business use, rest assured that your items are in the safe hands of Extra Space Asia.

Learning how to pack your items efficiently can help to make your moving process easier and smoother. It will also help to make your unpacking tasks much easier after the tiring moving process. With plenty of moving tips that have been tried and tested to work, why not give them a try when you are packing for the big move? Here are some moving tips on how to pack moving boxes efficiently.

Pack your items in the right size boxes

When you are packing your items, it is essential to choose suitable box sizes to fit your items. If you are packing heavier item like books and folders, you can try using a smaller box. That is because if you were to use a large box for these heavy items, it might be a more challenging job for movers to move them, and it might also have a higher chance of breaking. Thus, it’s always a good choice to balance out the weight of the boxes.

Don’t leave spaces in the boxes

Remember to always fill in the empty gaps in the boxes with some bubble wrap or newspaper or cloth. These space fillers will help to protect your items from moving too much around the boxes. The cloth or bubble wrap will also help protect fragile items from knocking into one another during the moving process. If you are packing glasses, use a box with cardboard dividers to protect these fragile glass items and wrap them with paper to protect them further.

Pack accordingly to your room allocation

During the packing process, it would be good to pack accordingly to what goes in each room. When items in the same room are placed in the same boxes, it can make the unpacking process easier. While packing your room items, you should also sort your things by category, e.g. all of your clothing in the same box and shoes in another box.

Label each box 

Include a liner or two on each box when you are packing. These labels will be useful during the moving process, unpacking process and even the sorting out process. Besides adding words, you should also include a number on each box to keep track of the number of boxes that you are moving. It is good to also keep an inventory list to keep track of the number of boxes and the content to ensure that you have packed everything. If the items in the box are fragile, do remember to also add a “Fragile” sticker and arrow to show how the boxes should be placed.

Tape the moving boxes well

During the packing process, it is important to tape up every moving box well. You should always use a few tapes to close the bottom seams if you place heavy items in the cardboard boxes to ensure that the tapes can keep the box close when it’s lifted. Once you have finished packing your items into the box, you should use the tape and go around the top and bottom edges a couple of time to ensure that they are fully taped up.

If you need any packing boxes or packing materials like bubble wraps or tapes, you can always purchase them at any of our Extra Space Asia storage facilities located around Singapore. Call us at +1300 22 0288 to find out more.

Miss having a casual chit chat with your coworkers in the office? We totally get that feeling! However, with the ongoing COVID situation, working from home will definitely remain the default option for most organisations to keep everyone safe. In this case, why not find ways to make your work-from-home (WFH) more joyful during this pandemic?

Here are 3 tips for you!

1. Give yourself a break

Unlike working in the office when lunchtime is determined by when your colleagues eat, there is no fixed timing (read: milestones of the day) when you are working from home. Time can become unclear, and you might even miss those meal breaks altogether. As such, remember to give yourself a break of at least an hour to eat your meals peacefully away from your workstation. You can order food in advance and eat it when they are hot. Intentional breaks will make your day better, and you can avoid suffering burnout too, which is quite common when people start working from home. Remember to also not overwork as we know it is hard to know when the workday ends. Give yourself a break when you need it cause only you know your body best!

2.Upgrade your home office setup

In the initial stages of working from home, some of us might think that this is a short-term plan. However, as time passes, WFH has become a common default arrangement. When we’re in the office, we probably have an ergonomic chair and a proper workstation. But at home, most of us would just settle for a kitchen table and basic chair or even stool. Why not give yourself some upgrades to improve your work efficiency but also bring overall benefits to your health? These upgrades can include an ergonomic office chair and laptop stands, tech upgrades like a wireless mouse and a good desktop monitor. Another benefit of WFH is the flexibility of choosing where to work in your home, so try testing different spots in your home to find the best place to work. Your body will definitely thank you over time.

3. Create a comfortable home space

When you WFH, it can become common to spend a good 24 hours at home. As such, consider creating a comfortable home space where you can work and rest. Start by decluttering your home and throw or donate items that you no longer require. If you have bulky items or even seasonal items that take up a lot of space at home, you can also try storing them in storage facilities like Extra Space Asia Self Storage and enjoy more space at home.

By storing your items in a self-storage unit, you will still be able to enjoy 24 hours access to your items any time and any day. You can also use the storage unit for your family, personal and even business storage purpose. Click here to find out more about Extra Space Asia Self-Storage.

After you are done with decluttering, you can also try spicing up your home with a new wallpaper or buying some green plants to add some new colours to your home space. Hopefully, with these new additions, it will be more joyful for you to work at home.

 

Planning for a renovation to spruce up your home? We understand that it can be both exciting and stressful.

During the home renovation process, you’ll be letting third-party contractors and workers roam and work freely around your home. In order to create more space for everyone to move, most homeowners would start to declutter right about now, clearing items they no longer need and keeping their personal belongings in boxes neatly. Renting a self-storage unit is also one of the most convenient ways for your personal and family items. Here are three reasons why.

  1. Safe and secure

By storing your items in a self-storage facility like Extra Space Asia, you can rest assured that your items are in safe hands. Customers have their own unique PIN code, which they will require to access the storage area. Each storage unit will also be locked by your very own personal lock. This will ensure that only you have access to your storage units and your items.

There is also 24-hour CCTV monitoring in the storage facility premise to assure the absolute security of your items. What’s more, unlike other storage companies, Extra Space Asia remains staffed during operation hours to provide you with further assistance when needed.

  1. Keeping your things in good condition

When your home is undergoing a renovation, it’s inevitable to find dirt or dust around. Even if we were to move all of our personal belongings to one isolated room covered with a huge protective canvas, they might still be dusty. Or worse, covered with paint.

By storing your items in a self-storage unit, you’ll be able to ensure that they are not compromised in any way. To keep your items dust-free, you might want to clean all of your items before storing them in a clear plastic box and vacuum-sealed bags. This will help you organise, and you’ll also be able to see what items are stored in a single glance. This will be useful and time-saving when you plan to retrieve your items.

  1. 24-hour storage access

A self-storage is like an extension of your home where you can access any time and day you wish. All you need to access your storage unit would be your PIN code and key to your storage unit. It’s that simple.

In addition, you’ll be able to also enjoy extra space to keep all of your personal collection, furniture and family items all in one place. This will make things more convenient when you decide to bring your items back home in one trip.

If you’re in need of a reliable storage provider, visit Extra Space Asia Self-Storage today or call us at 1300220288.

With the rise in property prices in recent times, land is quickly becoming a scarce commodity. More and more people are starting to look towards self-storage as a quick and easy solution to a lack of space. However, we often get many questions in the form of, “What can and cannot be stored?”.

 

Today, we shall address this very question and clear up any misgivings you may have thus far.

 

Let’s start with what you CANNOT store in a self-storage unit.

 

CANNOT BE STORED

 

Hazardous Materials

Well, this goes without saying. If it goes boom, it’s not allowed. This means no gasoline, oil, chemicals, cleaners, propane, and so forth. Our facilities are not equipped to store this sort of materials. The environment may not be the most conducive for said materials, as some may require a certain optimum temperature to be kept safe.

 

It would be best to store any non-hazardous liquids such as beauty supplies in containers and bags so that in the event they do leak, it will not contaminate anything else.

 

Perishable Items

Perishables generally refer to food that has a shelf life and is required to be stored in the fridge. Avoid storing any form of perishable food such as meat, dairy and produce as it may go bad, and the smell would then be the least of our worries! Decomposed food could attract unwanted attention in the form of rodents and bugs! Canned and tinned goods are fine, but remember to check back every once in a while on the expiry date. Don’t let food go to waste!

 

Living items

While we know how comfortable our units may be, keep in mind that it is not a place to live in! Please do not keep your pets in here as well. It’s not ideal to be kept in a confined space for long periods. A gentle reminder that this also applies to plants. Most plants won’t survive without sunlight, and our storage units would be a death sentence for them, which could lead to bacteria and pests appearing.

 

Stolen or illegal goods

This pretty much speaks for itself. While we may not know the contents stored in your unit, we are obliged to report to the authorities should we be aware of any stolen or illegal items kept in your storage unit. Let’s all be good citizens and not steal anything in the first place, and the world shall be better.

 

CAN BE STORED

Now, we move on to what actually can be stored. And the answer is just about anything else that is not listed above! We figure it would be easier to list out what cannot be stored first. 

 

Examples of some of the more common items stored with us include furniture, documents, books, building materials, commercial stock, wine, antiques, sports equipment, and many more! Our clientele comprises toy collectors, business owners, homemakers, students, corporate entities, film-makers, and so on.

 

 If you’re ever in doubt and need some clarification, please do not hesitate to visit our website at Extra Space Asia to find out more, or you can call us at 1300220288 to speak to our customer support team!

Hiring movers just a tad bit too expensive? That sofa doesn’t look too heavy, I can do it myself – we often think to ourselves. Moving homes can often be a stressful process, not to mention an expensive one. More often than not, we try to save money where we can and hiring movers is one area where we try to save on. Not to worry, we’ve got your back! (literally and figuratively). Here are some tips and tricks that we’ve put together to help take the load off.

  1. Knowing your limits

The first step to moving heavy furniture/objects is to actually know your own limits. There are times when we think we’re stronger than we really are, and instead, we’re sorely mistaken. It’s important to know this, as the health implications on our body can be painful. Always lift with your legs and not your back, as this is the easiest way to blow your back and cause years of backaches. Wearing proper clothing will also help. You don’t want to be doing the heavy lifting in a pair of jeans that is not stretchable. Bend your knees when picking stuff up, and keep your back straight as well.

  1. Protect your furniture

Often enough, we find ourselves bumping into doorways and corners when lifting heavy objects, especially as our line of sight is somewhat limited. The professionals would recommend wrapping your furniture in bubble wrap as the best form of protection, but alternatively, you can also use towels and even comforters! You don’t want to move into a new home only to have your furniture all dented and scratched!

  1. Remove the items inside your storage furniture

To ease your burden, it’s a good idea to remove everything from inside a piece of furniture before moving, such as clothes from a wardrobe, books and ornaments from a cabinet and so on. Some will argue that it’d mean double work, as eventually, the clothes will go back into the same wardrobe. But lighter furniture to lift will save you a ton of time and energy, so we say that’s a better outcome! One can also consider disassembling a particular piece of furniture and assemble it back later on in your new place. However, it’s important to note that repeatedly taking apart and reassembling furniture back together will cause some wear-and-tear over time, so do so at your own discretion.

  1. Use the ‘Friends and family’ lifeline

As the saying goes, ‘Many hands make light work.’ This couldn’t be any truer in this context when one is moving homes. Call in favours from friends and family. You can even turn it into a party at the end once the process is done, ending the day with some good food and some drinks. The more, the merrier! Everyone pitching in will definitely speed things up and, of course, lighten the load. Your back will thank you in years to come.

All in all, it’d probably be best to leave it to the professionals, but if one had to do it yourself, do keep in mind these pointers that we have compiled for you! They may come in handy one day! Should you also need a space to store your furniture and belongings that are too bulky and troublesome to handle during your moving transition, consider Extra Space Asia! Drop us a call today at 1300220288 to find out more.

When you have children at home, expect toys, books and knick-knacks scattered all over the floor. We know this mess can be frustrating to look at. But it does not have to be that way. Here are 3 smart ways for all parents to try today!

  1. Make use of storage boxes

One affordable way to organise all of our kid’s toys, books and miscellaneous items is to use storage boxes. Parents can instantly make a room look more orderly and clean by storing all of these items in different storage boxes and labelling them.

Parents can also explore the option of using transparent storage boxes, so that they can see the contents inside easily without opening each and every box to find something. It will also be good to have different sizes of boxes so that every item in the room has a dedicated storage space. For even more space, you can also think about adding furniture with clever built-in storage compartments.

  1. Involve your kids

Good habits start young. It is never too early to introduce and instil good healthy habits in our children. So, encourage them to clean up their toys after playtime. We can start by organising the items in their room properly so that they get accustomed to seeing things in an orderly and organised manner. Once they are older, they can be a part of your small cleaning and home projects. By building all of these good habits regularly, our children will soon learn and make an effort to keep their items and room organised.

  1. Explore the KonMari Method

Parents can try the KonMari method, Marie Kondo’s minimalist-inspired approach to tackle your items by category instead of by room. This method begins with tidying our clothes, then moving on to books, papers, miscellaneous items and finally sentimental items. We should only keep items that speak to the heart and discard those that no longer spark joy in our life. We can thank these items for being in our lives and then let them go.

By utilising the KonMari method, it will also help to organise every aspect of the kid’s room. This will also allow our kids to let go of stuff that they don’t require. If the items are still in good condition, we can choose to donate and pass it on to people who would find them useful. Through this process, we can also educate our children about the benefits of decluttering, where we are giving their items a new home and not just getting rid of it. We understand that the process of decluttering and organising a room takes loads of time and effort. However, if the end result is a clean and organised room for children to play, study and sleep in, it will definitely be rewarding.

With these 3 smart tips, you can say goodbye to the stress and frustration when organising your kid’s bedroom. If you are planning to make even more space at home to live in comfortably, you can always consider storing those hardly used items or seasonal items in a self-storage facility like Extra Space Asia. Call us at 1300220288 today to find out more about the various storage plans.