Tag Archives: storage

Getting the Most Out of Your Storage Unit!

The more time we all spend at home, the more time we spend looking at all the extra stuff we have accumulated over the years. Many of your Robert Hancock & Co. properties have storage units available for all those things you don’t want to look at but aren’t ready to get rid of. Things like holiday decorations, seasonal clothing, extra furniture, and even electronics, can add to the everyday clutter that gets on our nerves. A storage unit can provide that little bit of extra space.

Now, just because all these items can FIT in a storage unit, that doesn’t mean they will be easy to find. To maximize the use of your storage unit, follow these simple tips!

  • Write it out:
    • Keeping a list of everything that you bring into a storage unit will save you time looking in the wrong place! A list will help you keep track of what you have in a storage unit at any time, which saves you time digging around.
  • Picture this:
    • Keep a picture or diagram of where things are within the storage unit to keep everything organized and easily accessible. A picture of sections of your storage unit can be kept on your phone so that you can see where the item is before you even start looking!
  • Safety first:
    • Place large, heavy, or bulky items closer to the ground for safety. Heavier items toward the top of a pile have a tendency to fall or damage the items below.
  • Think CLEAR-ly:
    • Investing in clear plastic storage bins so that you can see everything before you start stacking gives you a better chance at finding anything you’re looking for. One alternative would be large labels that you can briefly summarize what each box contains.
  • Organization is key:
    • Having an organized storage unit not only looks better, but it saves you the hassle of digging around looking for things. Organizing things by holiday, color, size, or function, can really come in handy when you’re looking for something specific. The items that you are going to use the most should always be the most accessible, so they should be stored near the front of the storage unit.

If you have one, or are thinking about getting one, these tips and tricks should help you get the most out of your storage unit!

Tips for Clean and Safe Halls and Balconies

Living in an apartment means that you have to LIVE in the apartment: bring your items in and make the space a home. Often times, this carries over to an attempt to fill other spaces, such as you balcony or patio, and even sometimes your entry door or hallways. We have seen a lot of ways people have made their apartments a home here, and while we absolutely love the personalization and care that everyone puts into it, there are some points in which we have to ask them to hit the brakes. There are rules that allow us to keep the shared spaces clean, safe of clutter, or have other reasons why we enforce them. In an order to re-express these rules, and to enlighten non-residents of possible policies you may have living at other apartments (including Robert Hancock and Co. communities), we decided we would state some many rules for what can and can’t be done on a balcony or shared space.

  • No personal items can be stored in the hallways of our buildings (this is a common policy at almost all communities). This is to avoid any fire or tripping hazards when resident leave and enter the building, and avoids making those spaces look cluttered. You can, however, have a door mat or door decor.
  • While we do have cleaners that clean the common areas of the buildings once a week, that does not mean that trash and debris should be ignored. If you track in dirt, drop garbage, or something of the like, please deal with it the same way that you would in the apartment.
  • Balconies/patios are for patio furniture and plants only. Please make sure that these items are properly tethered down. No trash, bikes or other items are permitted to be stored on balconies.
  • Electric grills are permitted to be stored in the community or on a balcony with complete supervision while in use. Gas and charcoal grills are strictly prohibited (that is a common law at least in the state of Nebraska), and can’t be stored or used anywhere in the community, as they are a dangerous fire risk.
  • No flags/signs can be put up on the balconies/patios/windows of your apartment. All flags will be asked to be removed, as there is no way to avoid having signage or flags that are inappropriate in nature if we allow them in anyway.

These are simple rules and do not give information on the complete guidelines we have, or any other community has. If you ever have questions about what can or can’t be done with a shared space or a balcony/patio, please make sure to contact your property manager or consult your lease/community policies guidelines.