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Storage Hunters has been a massive hit in the UK, so much so, that it has attracted many of the auctioneers from the U.S Storage Hunters series.

Whether the American Storage Hunter competitors are bidding because the show in the UK is in higher demand, or simply for the fact they love the UK, we don’t mind!

The show captured the interest of celebrities, which meant Storage Hunters UK decided to create a one-off celebrity special program. The celebrities included Happy Mondays stars Shaun Ryder and Bez, Boxer Carl Froch, ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard, comedian Jenny Eclair and former actress Lizzie Roper. Throughout the program, each celebrity bid for his or her chosen charity, and obviously the aim was to make a large profit after they finished bidding for the unit.

If you were expecting a light-hearted episode of the hit show, you will be sadly mistaken! The competition was high, and each person had tactics at their fingertips to make sure each storage unit didn’t go cheap!

Even though this was a celebrity special episode, there are many other episodes that are just as eventful. However, the difference is, is that on Storage Hunters UK, the people bidding take the auction extremely seriously because it is their job. If they make money on a storage unit, they have earned a profit, however, they can also lose money if they purchase a storage unit for too much money.

The program is tense, funny and extremely competitive!

Storage Hunters UK is shown on Dave every Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 pm

Even though it is unlikely to witness an auction at Spaces and Places , we do offer secure units that can be accessed 24/7. If you would like to rent a storage unit with us, just give us a call today

Everybody knows that the United Kingdom is a small Island, but I’m sure many of you will be shocked to know, that the U.K has the smallest homes in Europe.

The Telegraph states, “more than half of homes are falling short of minimum modern space standards.” With the price of properties increasing, especially nearer the city centres, and the unemployment levels still high, it is no wonder that many people have to settle for a house that doesn’t offer enough space.

If you live with a partner and have children, this lack of space increases physical and mental stress among all members living in the home. The constant pressure to move into a larger place can also put a mental strain on the homeowners, and chances of depression increase.

Even though you could buy a home away from the city centre and commute a further distance to work, this will affect the balance between work life and family life. If you are willing to travel to London so you will receive a higher wage, you will need to be prepared to have less time at home. However, if you only want to commute a few minutes to work, then you will have to prepare to live in a smaller home. So where’s the balance?

Firstly, you will have to decide for yourself whether providing for your family or spending time with your family is more important. If you are willing to commute five days a week, then you will more likely be able to live in a larger home. However, if you want to travel short distances and live in a smaller home, then you have to utilize the space that you have.

Instead of using a room for storage, or keeping all your important documents stacked up in a room, a storage unit is an answer. You can place any of your belongings that are making your house feel smaller in a storage unit, which will allow you to have more space in your home. By making your house clutter-free, you will suddenly have a home.

Contact us today for further information.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you will have noticed the drastic weather that has taken place throughout the United Kingdom over the last few months.

The downpour of rain has taken all of us by surprise, as who would have known that thousands of people would have to evacuate their houses and businesses?

There was not only a loss of electricity; many people were left with nothing after the rain destroyed their belongings. Even though we hopefully won’t be experiencing this level of rain again soon, the weather is extremely unpredictable. It will take people affected by the floods months, if not years to rebuild the life they had a few months ago.

Cities across the U.K, that were not prone to flooding, experienced some of the worst floods the country has ever seen. Instead of saying “this could never happen to me,” start preparing for the worst.

At Spaces and Places, we have locations in Nuneaton, Manchester and Winsford. We understand that people use storage units for different time periods, which is why we allow people to rent a storage unit from a week. If you are worried that the rain will come back and want to be safe rather than sorry, then contact us today. We offer units where you can store important documents or larger units where you can store your possessions.

If you have been affected by the flooding and are looking for a place to store your remaining items while you are either repairing your house or looking for a new home, feel free to contact us for further information.

With our locations having security cameras, and staff who follow strict protocol methods, your belongings will be in a reliable and secure place.

Storage units across the world are used to store items that people don’t want to throw away, however there have been cases of some people storing items that would never usually cross our minds!

Prepare to be shocked at these unusual items found in self-storage units…

A leg…

That’s right, a human leg!

In 2007, during an auction, Shannon Whisnant purchased a storage unit and had no idea what he was about to find.

Inside the storage unit, there was a meat smoker, but when Shannon opened the lid, he found an amputated leg.

After a lot of investigation, it was revealed that the leg belonged to a man named John Wood. John had lost his leg during a plane crash and didn’t keep up with the payments of the storage unit.

However, here comes the big twist in the story…winning bidder Shannon gave the leg to the police, who then sent it to a funeral home, where adults were charged $3 and children charged $1 to see the leg!

John Wood finally has his leg back after taking Shannon Whisnant to TV court.

A burglar…

If you have seen a storage unit up close, you’ll know that it is extremely hard to break into discretely.

However, in 2011, criminal Ronald R. Dennis decided to give it a go and after managing to break into the storage unit, a security guard noticed that the storage unit door was ajar. When security shut the door, the burglar realised he had no chance of escaping. The security guard alerted the police and Ronald R. Dennis was arrested! Justice.

Superman…

Actor Nicolas Cage was the lucky owner of the very first Superman comic, however in 2000, it was stolen from his home. 11 years later, the comic book was found in a storage unit. The man who found the comic book tried to sell the rare comic book, but unfortunately, because the comic book was reported stolen, it was returned back to Nicolas Cage.

Grandma?

In Florida, a family decided to keep their Grandmother’s memory alive by storing her in a storage unit. Grandma laid to rest in this storage unit for 17 years until she was found.

If you want to store (legal) items in a storage unit, please feel free to give Spaces and Places a call today!

Over the years, it has become increasingly popular to use a storage unit as a place to conduct business.

In fact, one of our customers here at Spaces and Places, Nuneaton, has recently turned her storage unit into a home!

When we say home, we don’t mean that she lives in the storage unit, but after seeing her photo shoots of the unit, she definitely makes the place look inviting!

Our customer sells ‘pre-loved’ furniture, mostly on eBay and uses the storage unit to stage the items she is listing to sell.

By looking at these photos, you may find it hard to believe that these are taken in a storage unit, but believe it or not, they are!

When we hear the word ‘self-storage unit,’ we automatically think of a cold, lifeless box where you store your belongings, but imagine transforming a storage unit into a place where you can enhance your business profit.

Instead of throwing away old furniture, or large items, why not rent a storage unit. This way you will not be cluttering your home with lots of large items, instead, you will be making money while maintaining a clutter-free house!

While our customer sells ‘pre-loved’ furniture, your options are endless. As we all know, eBay sells everything, and having an eye-catching backdrop increases the views and bids on products. Whether you are selling clothes or unwanted Christmas gifts, you are completely free to make your storage unit unique to you.

Spaces and Places offer self-storage units at affordable prices in Nuneaton, Winsford and Manchester. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us today.

2015 has gone in a blink of an eye.

The New Year is here and you no longer need to worry about cooking Christmas dinner or buying presents. You finally have time to focus on yourself.

Everybody sets themselves different goals for the New Year, and usually, these goals relate more so towards leading a healthier life.

Obvious resolutions would be to commit yourself to the gym or create a healthy eating plan; however, making your home clutter-free can also help you achieve your New Year goals in the long run.

Clutter causes stress!

If your house is untidy, you may find you become mentally distracted and anxious. Your home is meant to be a place where you can relax, but if piles of gifts or paperwork are constantly around, you will find it much harder to relax.

Spaces and Places have storage units specifically for documents, or you can opt for a self-storage unit to place meaningful items that you own. Spaces and Places self-storage units are available in different sizes, depending on the amount of storage room you need.

Once you have a clutter-free home, you will no longer dread going into your house and dealing with the mental challenge of tidying up today or waiting until tomorrow. By putting your mind at ease, you have eliminated one main cause of stress and frustration.

Clutter is easy to remove from your life. Yes, it may be time-consuming, but think about how many times you have seen the mess and had negative thoughts. There are many articles and books which all come to the same conclusion; ‘tidy house, tidy mind.’

Start de-cluttering your house today, and place your possessions in a Spaces and Places self-storage unit!

Now that Christmas is over, and you have many gifts and not enough space, a storage unit may be an option you are considering. Instead of placing all your gifts and items in your ‘man cave’ or shed, why not place them in a storage unit? Your house will become clutter-free and your home might even start to look like a room you see in a magazine!

Clutter seems to happen instantly overnight. One morning your house is neat and tidy, and before you know it there are toys, magazines and work scattered everywhere. When you finally get the energy to organise the clutter, you might find it difficult to throw items away, as everything we have, has a memory attached to it.

Making space for all the new clothes, toys and large items is a mental challenge. Making compromises with yourself and your family can be avoided with a storage unit, as you are not throwing away your precious memories, you are instead keeping them safe. If you suddenly need an item, which you have placed in storage, do not worry, Spaces and Places is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

With all this extra space, you can create a new room, whether it is a gym or allowing yourself or your significant other to have that ‘man cave’ they have dreamt of, your options are endless. Spaces and Places offer different sized containers for different needs; whether its placing documents, a Christmas tree, or endless boxes of clothes, the storage unit is good enough for many items. If you have a particular requirement, do not hesitate to contact us.

Start the New Year with a clutter-free life; call Spaces and Places today!

With the Internet at people’s fingertips, there are bound to be a few horror stories about storage unit disasters. However, Spaces and Places pride themselves at their customer loyalty and customer satisfaction!

The top two questions that come to people’s minds when renting a storage unit are, ‘will my possessions be safe?’ and ‘will my possessions get ruined?’ All storage units at Spaces and Places are constructed from steel, and each unit has wooden floors, ventilation and rubber door seals. This means that your valuables and possessions will stay dry and clean. Take a look at why you should trust Spaces and Places with your possessions…

Security

CCTV and secure fencing throughout all three locations is definitely an aspect that puts Spaces and Places, customers, at ease. Also, the lockbox, which is placed in each container, can be used alongside your padlock, which will add extra security. Lastly, each person that owns the container keeps both sets of keys; resulting in each person to be in complete control of their container.

Accessibility

24/7 access is one of the many benefits which Spaces and Places offer their customers. This allows you to come to the storage unit at any time that suits you, whether it is a Saturday night or early hours of Monday morning, the choice is up to you! Spaces and Places will give you a secure access code when you purchase a unit, which will allow you to come at your leisure.

Relax

We, unfortunately, cannot control the weather, however, now you will be able to relax when there is a downpour of rain, or heavy snow, as your items are secure. The security cameras and secure fencing will also put your mind at ease, especially if you need to access your container late at night.

If you have any further enquiries about access and security, please do not hesitate to contact us

Storage units are becoming increasingly popular, due to the fact they appeal to so many people. If you are looking to set up a business or store your items, Spaces and Places have the ideal storage unit for you.

1.    Cost-effective

The price of a storage unit is extremely cost-effective, especially if you want to run a business. When you compare prices for renting buildings, to the cost of a storage unit, you could save hundreds of pounds a month.

2.    Access 24/7

This is a massive benefit, especially if you are moving house.  When you move house, not everything is going to go as smoothly as planned. Whether it’s picking up your keys late, or the moving truck arriving late, at least you have the guarantee you can pick up your prized possessions at any time.

3.    Safety and security

When you store your items, especially if they are meaningful or valuable to you, you want to make sure that you are placing them in a safe area.  Each unit at Spaces and Places is fitted with a lockbox. The lockbox acts alongside your padlock to give you the utmost safety. You will keep both sets of keys. There is also additional security cameras and secure fencing at Spaces and Places in all their locations.

4.    Reduces stress levels

Having set deadlines to move items increases stress. Having a storage unit allows you to place your items in an area where you can go to at your leisure.

5.    Seasonal

When the summer comes, campervans and canoes come out. However, when winter comes, where do they go? Storage units are popular for people who do not possess enough space to store seasonal items.

Want to rent a storage unit? Call us today

When you have a lot of possessions, and not a lot of space, it is easy to get frustrated and throw everything into the storage unit and think ‘I will worry about my stuff later!’

Below are our top 5 tips, which will help you organise your belongings and gain the most space for your money.

1.    Purchase boxes

Now, this may seem obvious to many storage users, however, the width and height can be overlooked. The first thing you need to do is measure your storage space as this way you will be able to calculate how many boxes can fit in the storage space!

2.    Label your boxes

When you decide that you suddenly need an item that is in your storage unit, but you have no idea which box you placed it in, you will get stressed. To avoid the blood, sweat and tears; label your boxes!

3.    Buy plywood

In order to guarantee you are making the most of your space, you will be placing boxes upon boxes upon boxes. To avoid placing too much weight and pressure on the box at the bottom, you can put strips of plywood across each row of boxes. This will not only make everything more stable, but it will also avoid crushing the boxes below.

4.    Heavy items at the bottom, lighter items at the top

As simple as this sounds, we guarantee there will be one person out there who will get to their last box of possessions and will either not be able to lift it in the storage space or end up crushing all the softer boxes below!

5.    Place necessity items near the opening

Now you have mastered your Tetris skills and your storage unit looks organised and secure, what happens when you move into your house, or suddenly need an item you have left in the unit? At Spaces and Places, we would place a kettle and tea bags near the front of the unit! But everyone is different. Decide which items you will need more than others and place fewer necessity items near the back.

If you have any questions on what size storage space is for you, do not hesitate to contact us today

It was recently reported that increasing numbers of people are turning to ship containers and storage units as a low-cost solution to housing shortages across the world.

But what is it really like to live in one? And can units & containers really become a permanent housing solution?

In cities including London, Amsterdam and Berlin, people have already begun to make their own homes from large, repurposed shipping containers.

The Wenckehof student village in Amsterdam is the largest development of its kind, with over 1,000 recycled shipping containers.

In London, young adults who are struggling with high rent payments and are at risk of becoming homeless have also been bucking the trend for self-storage living.

The 20 “mYPad” containers in London’s Walthamstow are currently being utilised by Forest YMCA who offer occupants the option to stay for up to one year.

Supporters of storage container housing say that savings on materials, speed of installation, and the ability to re-use storage units in different locations make it a realistic and effective option.

While we wouldn’t ever recommend our customers live in one of our self-storage units, the trend for container living proves just how clean, secure and protective modern storage units can be!

Many of our customers are surprised by the great quality of all our units, which offer fixed ventilation, wooden flooring and rubber door seals to ensure all possessions stay safe and dry.

Some of our customers even do business from their units!! Our Manchester Business facility is home to a number of brick storage units equipped with lighting, power and roller shutters.

Here at Spaces and Places, we like to make things quick and simple for our customers to digest, so we recently launched a series of informative videos outlining everything you need to know about our self-storage facilities.

The new videos take you through everything from storage arrangements to the safety of your documents, business stock and personal belongings.

Read on to find out more about our quick and easy storage guides…

Overview…

Watch our overview video to find out more about Spaces and Places three storage centres….

https://vimeo.com/135651825

Business Storage

Business moves fast these days so find out how you can react smartly when it comes to storing business goods and moving them around…

From seasonal stock to point of sale displays and promotional material, think Spaces and Places! Flexible, simple secure. Find out more about business storage…

https://vimeo.com/135651827

Domestic Storage

There are loads of reasons you might be needing storage space. Whether you’re moving house, needing extra space for sports equipment or want somewhere to store valuables while you’re away on holiday, Spaces and Places have the answer. Find out more about domestic storage….

https://vimeo.com/135651824

Document Storage

Remember all that talk about the ‘paperless society’? Well as any growing business knows, we’ve all still got a long way to go, which is why it’s good to know you can rely on Spaces and Places…

Find out more about document storage…

https://vimeo.com/135651826

Storing with Spaces and Places is so quick and easy.

Just decide how much storage space you need, what you’d like to store and get in touch with one of our facilities. We have three convenient locations across the UK for your benefit and ease of use.

From 24-hour access, long term storage deals, to our collect and store service. No matter what you need, Spaces and Places have got you covered.

For more information get in touch with our friendly team today!