Pest Control

   When the weather turns cold, rodents are on the look out for a sheltered location to escape the elements. They can squeeze through very small openings and even a tight and secure unit could be vulnerable. If you have items stored in a self storage unit, be sure to take precautions to avoid rodent damage to your property. Following are a few tips that will help keep mice and other rodents out of your unit and away from your things:

• Inspect your unit - look for tell tale signs of rodents throughout your entire unit. The first and easiest to spot is probably feces. Yep, mouse poo. You know what it looks like and if you don't, just google it. Also be on the lookout for balls of nesting material. This may be more difficult to spot as it will be tucked away in tight, dark areas. Also inspect boxes and fabric items for chew damage.
• Make sure absolutely no food items are stored in your unit - This is paramount as even small amounts of food are very attractive to rodents and draws them to your unit. Make sure clothes and dishes are cleaned before storing. Vacuum out sofas and chairs and if storing your vacuum empty the bag.
• Bait your unit with mouse poison - If rodents find their way into your unit, this can help keep them at bay. At our facilities, we bait all empty units in an effort to keep all the units rodent free. As a result, our customers experience little to no rodent damage. (Mouse traps can also be used, but this would require fairly regular monitoring as you want to remove any traps that have rodents.) If you store with us at Beaver Storage or Beaver Lake Storage and would like rodent poison to place in your unit, feel free to contact our facility manager. We are happy to provide this for our customers.
• Inspect your unit again - Yep, you have to keep looking to be certain. You want to check on your items regularly and make sure that you can get to the back of your unit easily to inspect everything!

   We definitely want to keep mice and other rodents out in the cold and away from our stored possessions. Working together, facilities and storage customers can keep all units free from damage! 

Bait station

Mattress Bags:  Just get one!


One thing is for certain, there are a lot of mattresses (and box springs) in self storage units. If you open a storage unit at random, odds are there is at least one mattress stored inside.

Very few customers, however, take advantage of plastic bags to protect their mattresses in storage. No storage unit is air tight and over months or years, dust is bound to accumulate inside. A mattress stored unprotected in a unit will become quite covered in dust and will eventually be ruined.

A simple plastic mattress bag can solve this issue, save your mattress and save you money. A new mattress can cost $200 or more. If your mattress is worth storing, it's worth protecting so that it can be used again!

Mattress bags are sized to fit each individual mattress and are made of strong plastic so your mattress can be moved and scooted a bit all the while protecting it from dirt and grime. Over time the bag will also protect your mattress from dust accumulation which can settle in the fibers.

Mattress bags are affordable and may be the best storage/moving product that you buy. Mattress bags start in price under $4 and vary according to size. As someone who has seen inside a lot of storage units I know it's an investment you won't regret!

Do you need Tenant Insurance?

Just in case you weren't aware, storage facilities do not cover the items that you store in their buildings or on their premises. This is usually spelled out clearly in self storage leases but it's easy to miss if you are distracted or rushed during the move-in process.

Our storage facilities offer a tenant insurance policy that is set up to cover only the items that you put in storage. The company that we go through is Storsmart Insurance and you can learn about them specifically at their web-site. The basic policy is $9 per month and covers up to $2,000 in stored property but larger limits are available. It's easy to enroll and the premium is billed every month with your storage rent.

If you are wondering whether storage insurance is a good idea in your situation, following are a few things to consider.

1.  Do you have homeowners insurance? If not, you have no coverage on your stored items. You should definitely consider purchasing tenant insurance.

2. If you do have homeowners insurance, you may still want to consider purchasing tenant insurance.  Many homeowner policies cover items stored in a self storage unit. Check to make sure that yours is one of them. Even if you are covered, a tenant insurance policy gives you coverage without affecting your homeowners policy.

3. Do you have a high deductible on your homeowner's policy? With Storsmart tenant insurance, you have no deductible if a claim is filed as long as you have used a disc lock on the space. If you choose not to use a disc lock, the deductible is still only $100.

If your things are worth keeping in storage, they are probably worth insuring. Call your facility manager and ask about the policies available.

Great Self Storage Tips

Follow this link for some really good self storage tips.  Whether you are moving into a new unit or just want to organize what you already have in storage, you'll learn something here.

http://blog.sparefoot.com/1679-5-self-storage-tips-make-the-most-of-your-unit/

Recycle your Christmas Cards

Did you receive a nice stack of beautiful Christmas cards this year?

Rather than throw them away, recycle them as gift decorations and tags next Christmas!  Cut the front (picture) off the card and place it on brown paper bags or plainly wrapped gift boxes.

You can also use the picture card to cover up store logos on the bags and boxes so that you can recycle paper products you might otherwise throw away.  Write the recipient's name on the card so that the decoration doubles as a gift tag.

Add tissue paper and ribbon to match the cards.

Choose cards that fit the size of your package or cut the cards to fit.

Use several cards as a collage to cover up a large imprint on a bag or box.

Keep your eyes open throughout the year for boxes and bags to use with this recycling project.  Designate a box or tub in your storage unit to hold all the supplies until the Christmas season arrives!

Winter Motorcycle Storage

You can protect your bike for the winter by renting a small storage unit that is just the right size for a motorcycle.  A unit just for your bike will ensure that people and pets aren't passing by it frequently.  Boxes and other equipment won't be in danger of scratching your motorcycle either.

You put your own lock on the unit and no one else has access to it.  A month to month lease will leave you with no long term obligation.

At Beaver Storage in Avoca, AR we have several sizes available for motorcycle storage.  You can find more details at BeaverStorage.com or you can call our on-site manager, Ray at 479-636-9498.  Be sure to ask him about park and ride options.  You can drive to Beaver Storage and leave your car parked inside our security gate while you take a ride!  Afterwards, your bike will be safe and sound inside it's own storage unit.

You can follow Beaver Storage on Facebook and Twitter too!  Ride safe!

Rent a Storage Unit to Help Sell Your House

Beaver Storage can help sell your house!

Real Estate professionals will tell you that you need to clear out clutter from your home to make it appealing to potential buyers.  If your house looks less cluttered, buyers will be more enticed.  So how can our storage facility help?

• We have a wide variety of sizes so renting the smallest size that you possibly need will save you money.
• Our facilities are conveniently located so you can access them easily.  This means you can store items to which you need occasional access.
• You have 24/7 access to your unit when you rent from one of our facilities.
• Our leases are on a month to month basis, so you don't have a long term commitment to storage.  

If you need ideas for clearing out the clutter, we have a few listed here:

Closets will appear roomier if you clear out your seasonal clothing.  Buy a wardrobe box so that your hanging items can be easily swapped out when the weather changes.

If your 2 car garage only holds one car, pack up the extra lawn and garden tools, sporting equipment and seasonal decorations and put them in the unit.

Are your kitchen cupboards overflowing?  Pack up all the extra pots and appliances that you don't regularly use and put those in storage.  If there is space in the cupboards, the potential buyer will be able to imagine their own items in the house.  (It may be obvious, but you shouldn't store food items in a self storage unit.)

Do you have a lot of framed photographs or children's art in your house?  Wrap your more personal items with bubble wrap and store in boxes.  Keep them all together and you'll be ready to make your new house feel like your home when you move in!

If you have a boat or RV in the yard (or driveway) considering renting an outside parking space at the storage facility.  Our outside parking spaces are a great value and they are all inside our security gate.

By de-cluttering your house while it is on the market, you'll be one step ahead when it's time to move!  For more house selling tips, check out the following link:  http://blog.sparefoot.com/2909-5-home-staging-tips-to-win-buyers-votes/

List Your Boat or RV On the Beaver Storage Website!

Summer is winding down and boating and camping days are coming to a close for the season.  If you are a current customer of Beaver Storage in Avoca, AR or of Beaver Lake Storage in Eureka Springs, AR and are thinking about selling your boat or RV, you can list it for free at www.BeaverStorage.com!

All you need to do is email a picture of your rig to the facility manager along with a short description, your asking price and your contact information.  We'll post it on the Classifieds page of our website at no cost to you.

Potential buyers who view the ad will contact you directly either via telephone or email, whatever you prefer.  The facility cannot be responsible for taking calls or showing the boat or RV but you are welcome to meet your potential buyers at the facility.

If you have more questions, just call Ray in Avoca at 479-636-9498 or Mark or Faiza in Eureka Springs at 479-253-2020.  And if you are ready to post, just email your information to beaverstorage@earthlink.net or beaverlakestorage@earthlink.net.

Fruit Fly Trap

This fruit fly trap doesn't have much to do with self storage, but it works so well, I had to share it!

Fruit fly season is in full swing at my house.  If you eat and cook with fresh fruits and vegetables in Northwest Arkansas, you are doing battle with them as well!  This simple to make trap will solve your problem!

1. Form a sheet of white paper into a cone shape.  Leave the small end open no larger than the size of your pinky finger.  Tape in place.
2. Pour a small amount of wine in a quart jar (1/4 inch deep is more than adequate.)
3. Place the paper cone in the jar.  Be sure the bottom of the cone does not touch the wine and become saturated.
4. Place your trap in the location where you have the most fruit flies.  Flies will be attracted to the bright white paper and the smell of the wine.  When they make their way down through the cone they won't be able to find their way back out and will eventually drown in the liquid.

I think that apple cider vinegar might work as well, but I haven't tried that yet.  Let me know how this tip works for you!

20 Tips for Using Self Storage

If you are new to self storage (or even not so new,) these tips from our new brochure can get you started off on the right foot.

1. Plan your storage space.  Place items that you need to access often in the front and allow for aisle space.

2. Write an inventory of your items and include serial numbers and photos of valuables.

3. Prepare your space by placing a protective cover on the floor.  Use a tarp or place items on paletes to guard against dampness.  Any concrete floor may become cold or damp.

4. Do not store combustible items like paint thinner, gasoline, solvents, paint, etc.

5. Use uniform size boxes to make stacking easy.  Use strong boxes and don’t fill them too full.

6. List the items in each box on all 4 sides.

7. Stack lighter boxes on top of heavier boxes.

8. Dishes and glasses should be wrapped in paper or other padding and placed in sturdy boxes.  Stack them on top of other non-breakable items.  Dish and glass packs have divided compartments to keep breakables separated.

9. Pictures and mirrors should be wrapped in bubble wrap & cardboard.  Mark these “FRAGILE.”  Most should be stacked upright.

10. Furniture with drawers can be used as storage for small, breakable items.  Wrap these in linens, tablecloths and towels that also need to be stored.

11. Large appliances can hold blankets, comforters, pillows and other large items.

12. Long handled garden tools can be stored in empty garbage cans.

13. Tables with removable legs should be broken down to save space.  Place screws and other small pieces in a sealed ziplock and tape it to the underside of furniture.

14. Couches can often be stored on end to save space.  Cushions should be wrapped in plastic or plastic bags and placed on top.

15. Cover upholstered furniture with cardboard, blankets or loosely with plastic to protect against dust.

16. Be sure mattresses are standing straight up so they don’t loose their shape.  Headboards and bedrails can be placed in between mattresses to help keep them straight.  Use a plastic mattress bag for dust protection.

17. Lock your unit with your own personal lock.

18. No food should be stored in your unit.  This could attract bugs or rodents.  Periodically inspect your unit and use rodent bait and bug spray.

19. Cover electronics and televisions with blankets or plastic to keep the dust out.  These can stack on top of dressers and tables that can’t be broken down.

20. Tape curtain rods together and lay flat or prop in a corner.

Padlock Maintenance

Most of us don't think much about the lock on our self storage unit, but over time your lock may be subject to a lot of wear and tear.  If your lock is exposed to the elements, (rain, wind, ice, etc.) you may need to replace the entire unit occasionally.  The get the most mileage out of your lock, give it a little TLC once or twice a year.

• First, give your lock a good visual inspection.  If you see signs of rust, it may not mean you need a new lock.  Be sure that the key slides in and turns easily and test the shackle to make sure it turns and slides smoothly.
• Spray the key hole of the lock with silicone spray.  Be sure to hold the lock so the silicone drips down into the hole.
• Spray the shackle and the hole that the shackle fits into with silicone spray.  Work the shackle by turning it around both directions and up and down to make sure that the silcone is coating all metal parts.
• Give your key a good inspection as well.  Look for any cracks or bending that could cause the key to break off in the lock and replace it with a duplicate if necessary.

Keep your possessions safe and secure with regular lock maintenance!  Be sure to call us if you have any questions.  We have an assortment of locks for sale and our friendly managers can help you with any of your padlock questions.

Beaver Storage in Avoca:  479-636-9498

Beaver Lake Storage in Eureka Springs:  479-253-2020

Economical Way to Winterize

   The cold weather means many of you will be storing your boat or RV for the winter.  A great way to keep the refrigerator and other sealed compartments fresh and dry is to fill them with wadded up newspaper.  The newspaper absorbs excess moisture and keeps mold and mildew from growing.  It's easy, free and you can recycle the paper in the spring.
   It's also a good idea to place some mouse bait in your boat or RV this time of year just in case!
  For other tips on storing your big toys call Ray in Avoca, AR at 479-636-9498 or Cesar in Eureka Springs, AR at 479-253-2020.

Why You Need Tenant Insurance

Recently we learned about lightning strikes that resulted in fires at 2 different storage facilities.  The buildings were burned to the ground and the stored property inside was completely destroyed.

We can all learn from others tragedies.  Be sure to check your homeowner's policy to make sure that it covers property that is kept at a self storage facility.  If your policy does not cover property stored at a location other than your home or if you rent and don't have a homeowner's policy, get signed up for tenant insurance at your storage facility.  Most policies are affordable and it's easy to get started.  The policy premium is usually billed out with your monthly rent payment.

If you have any questions or want to get a price quote, call Ray at Beaver Storage in Avoca, AR at 479-636-9498 or Cesar at Beaver Lake Storage in Eureka Springs, AR at 479-253-2020.

Spring Weather in the Ozarks

Well, there is no need to tell you that we've had a lot of rain lately.  Rain, hail and high winds.  Thank goodness we have had no damage to the storage buildings at either Beaver Storage in Avoca or Beaver Lake Storage in Eureka Springs.

Even though all is well, I would encourage everyone to look in on their stored property and double check things.  In weather like this almost anything is possible and if you catch a small water leak early you can avoid damage to your property.  Since storage facility managers don't have access to individual units, the only way they know a problem is brewing is if the tenant catches it and brings it to their attention.

Stored property is the responsibility of the person leasing the storage space.  The storage facility does not insure the items being stored in their buildings.  Find out if your home owner's insurance policy will cover your belongings that are stored in a self storage facility.  If it doesn't, consider purchasing tenant insurance.  We offer a policy that has different coverage limits and is billed out with your montly storage rent.  You can get coverage for almost anything except flooding for as little as $8.00 per month.

Give your storage facility manager a call if you have any questions or find any problems in your unit.  You can reach Beaver Storage at 479-636-9498 and Beaver Lake Storage at 479-253-2020.

Spring Cleaning

Of course a storage space can help with your spring cleaning this year.  As you go through your cluttered garage or crowded spare room, wouldn't it be nice to be able to relocate the boxes and items to which you don't need daily access?  Organizing them neatly in an off-site storage unit will allow you to keep them out of your hair but not out of your life!

But spring cleaning doesn't just apply to your home or garage.  Everyone needs to spring clean their existing storage unit as well.  You may not need to go thoroughly through the boxes each year, but it is wise to check on your unit and it's contents periodically. 

Storage managers do not have access to customers' units.  If there is any problem in a unit, the manager would have no way of knowing unless the customer informed them.  If a unit has a roof leak or a pest problem, it's up to the customer to catch this.  Remember, any damage to the contents of your storage unit is the customer's responsibility!  It's in your best interests to check on your stuff every now and then.

Spring is a great time to evaluate what you are storing and how you are storing it.  You may find boxes and items that you no longer need to keep.  In this case, a quick garage sale or donation to your favorite charity may allow you to size down your storage unit and save a little money.  Purging from your unit could also make room for new items you bring from home.

You may want to look at items that have been stored long term and make sure that the boxes they are in are still in good shape.  Corrugated cardboard does deteriorate over time; especially when things are stacked on top of them.   For longer term storage you may want to consider resealable plastic tubs.

Whatever spring cleaning you do, don't forget self-storage.  We can help!  Call our managers for more ideas:  Beaver Storage in Avoca/Rogers - 479-636-9498 and Beaver Lake Storage in Eureka Springs - 479-253-2020

Job Opening in Eureka Springs

Our self storage facility near Eureka Springs has a job opening for a resident manager. 

Duties of the manager include computer work, office work, customer service, sales collections and light maintenance.  Office hours are M-F 9-5 and Sat 9-1 but actual hours worked are aproximately 3 per day.  The office is connected to the residence.

Compensation for this management position includes a 2BR, 2 bath home, utilities, phone, satelite television and internet.  The position is perfect for someone with a spouse or room mate who works outside the home or for someone with another source of income.

If you are interested in applying for this job, please send a resume to storagejob@live.com.

Choosing the Right Size Storage Unit

If you are getting ready to rent a storage unit you want to take some time to choose the best size.  You don't want to pay for more storage than you need but on the other hand, you want plenty of room to move around in your unit so you can access boxes, furniture or seasonal items when you need them!

Following are some general guidelines that can help you narrow down the possibilities:

5 X 10:  This is about the size of a small closet.  It will hold about one room of furniture and belongings or a studio apartment.

10 X 10:  This unit is the size of a large walk in closet.  It will hold about 3 rooms of belongings or a 2 bedroom apartment.

10X20:  This is about the size of a garage.  It will hold furniture and miscellaneous items from a 4 bedroom house or a full garage worth of items.

Additionally, you can keep these tips in mind when you are narrowing down your unit size:

• In units over 10 feet deep, plan to leave a walkway space open down the middle of the unit for accessing items in the rear of the unit.
• Long items such as sofas and mattresses can be stored on end to save space.  Most units have plenty of headroom.
• If you are storing a vehicle or boat, don't forget to account for the trailer tongue or hitch length.  A 20 foot boat on a trailer won't fit into a 20 foot unit.
• When you visit the facility to look at sizes, be sure to walk all the way inside the unit and look back out toward the door.  This gives you a better feel for the actual size of the unit.

If you have any questions about units sizes or availability, you can call our facility manager at 479-636-9498.  Chances are, we've stored something similar before and can help solve your storage dilemma!

Help with Selling Your House

Are you trying to sell your house but the slow market is making it difficult?  A storage unit could help! 

By moving out some of the extra items that are cluttering up your rooms, you could make your house more appealing to buyers.  Leaving furniture in the rooms is often a good strategy but personal items such as family photographs should be removed.  In addition, it might be a good idea to pare down the number of toys in the kids room or the amount of craft supplies in the extra bedroom.  Lawn and garden equipment could be moved out of the garage to make the place look more appealing.  Eliminating extra small kitchen appliances, seasonal dishes and any unused kitchen gadgets can make the kitchen feel clean and roomy.

Place your items in heavey duty boxes or plastic tubs and label them well.  Stack them in the unit with labels pointing out and the back of the containers against the storage room walls.  This way you can have an aisle down the middle of your boxes and you will easily be able to locate and retrieve items as you need them.

Get the clutter out of the way and let someone fall in love with your house!  Call us at Beaver Storage 479-636-9498 or at Beaver Lake Storage 479-253-2020 if you would like to discuss our different unit sizes and what might work best for you!

Commercial Storage

If you own or manage a business, a self storage unit could be invaluable to your operation. Extra inventory can be neatly and conveniently stored off-site so that expensive retail or office space is left clear of clutter. Units at Beaver Storage near Rogers, AR and Beaver Lake Storage near Eureka Springs, AR range from $4.56 - $3.12 per square foot annually. This may be significantly lower than the rent at your business location.


Using less expensive space for inventory storage, means that you can afford to order larger quantities of inventory items and save with quantity price breaks and shipping deals. You can optimize the use of your main business location and easily access the extra inventory as you need it. All of this translates to better sales and lower cost of goods sold! Who wouldn't want that?

Businesses are required to keep receipts and records for 7 years by the IRS. This can amount to boxes and boxes of papers that owners and managers rarely (or never) need access to. Off-site storage in a self-storage unit is a great solution to this space eating problem. The records can be packed away at the end of the year, clearly labeled and stacked in a storage unit at a minimal cost to the business. Old records can be rotated out and destroyed as new years are added. Shelving can be set up in the unit to accomodate the file boxes so that they are easy to get to if a particular reciept or file is needed.

Businesses should consider using off-site storage for a variety of needs: overstocked inventory, office files, promotional items, seasonal items, decorations, uniforms, replacement equipment and extra display racks or shelving pieces.  Check out our size options and prices at http://www.beaverstorage.com/ or call 479-636-9498 (Avoca/Rogers) or 479-253-2020 (Eureka Springs) and our managers will help you with all your storage needs!