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 storage unit today!

Can it be as simple as it seems on TV? You love saving money, but how do you make the bidding process work for you? If you're sizing up storage auctions around Edison Park, IL, welcome to the affordable world of furnishing your home.

Auction Rules Are Easy to Follow

Most auctions follow the same format. An auctioneer starts the bidding on the contents of an abandoned self storage unit. The action is usually live, but some sales allow on-site sealed bids and online bidding.

You're not allowed inside the unit before bidding begins. You do get to look at its contents through an open doorway. Winning bids are paid in cash, and you're given a set time frame for hauling everything home.

It Works to Your Advantage

Storage facility auctions owe their popularity to one thing: a chance to save money. Resale listing sites and thrift stores mark up inventory to make a profit. Each item comes with a set price.

Storage auctions let you buy multiple items for one low price. You don't have to worry about evaluating the cost of a new couch. Your winning bid gives you resale options that cover your original investment.

[H3] You Can Find Almost Anything

Are you looking for office equipment? Check out self storage auctions near business districts. Fill every room at the house with just one residential sale. If you need dorm room furniture, head for an auction near campus. Location counts, so count on finding just about anything including:

• Stoves, washing machines and refrigerators.
• Clothes, shoes and personal accessories.
• Couches, beds and dining room sets.
• Gaming stations, sound systems and televisions.

You Can Master the Power Tips

It doesn't take long to figure out how a self storage auction works. You don't have to be a resale pro to make the most of every bid. Just keep these easy, power tips in play.

• Budget your day and stick with it.
• Bid on clean, well-organized units.
• Size up unit contents for resale.
• Be ready to haul heavy items.

We Help You Store It All

Once you get that gently used new furniture home, you may not have room for everything. Don't worry. Safeguard can help with self storage in Edison Park, IL and all across Chicagoland. Stop by one of our locations soon, and size up our affordable world of storage solutions.

Your special keepsakes take up too much space. You love them, but you need to make room for new treasures or something that’s simply useful. You have plenty of self storage solutions here in Chicago, IL, but how do you prep, pack, and stash favorite things? This quick guide offers keepsake storage tips and tricks.

Protect Precious Things

Whether it's Star Wars action figures or memorabilia from Chicago's 1933 World's Fair, everything stays sheltered in climate-controlled storage units. Protect your precious belongings with smart packing strategies.

• Blanket keepsakes in bubble wrap before boxing.
• Pack heavier items first and lightest treasures last.
• Don't overstuff boxes with delicate things that break easily.
• Keep larger fragile keepsakes on shelves in your unit.
• Clearly label boxes and then make an inventory.

Preserve Paper Treasures

Paper keepsakes might be old photographs, family records, or even a vintage comic book collection. Preserve your paper treasures in self storage where everything stays protected from humidity and temperature extremes.

• Slip photos into individual acid-free sleeves.
• File important records in archival folders.
• Store valuable comics in mylar bags.
• Place protected paper keepsakes in lidded plastic bins.
• Keep bins off the unit floor on palettes or tiered shelving.

Curate Favorite Artwork

Your favorite images may not be museum quality, but to you, they're irreplaceable. Climate-controlled storage units are essential for curating oil paintings, watercolors and pastels. These tips keep artwork protected in storage.

• Cover oil painting canvases with wax paper.
• Wrap individual pieces in archival tissue paper.
• Cushion frames and glass with acid-free mat board.
• Elevate artwork on palettes, and drape with light muslin sheets.

Secure Holiday Treasures

Stashing holiday decorations in self storage protects the fragile ornaments, mantel decorations, and special heirlooms that make the season sparkle. Preserve family traditions and save closet space by securing your holiday treasures.

• Store small, delicate ornaments in egg cartons.
• Pad individual boxes of decorations with bubble wrap.
• Keep boxed collections in plastic bins with snug lids.
• Label bins with lists that make it easier to sort through decorations.

We Keep Your Keepsakes Sheltered

Don't worry about your Cubs bobblehead collection. Your John Hancock Center tree ornament is protected with us, too. If you love it but you don't have room for it, we have 13 convenient facilities across Chicago, IL. You can depend on Safeguard for storage units that keep your keepsakes covered. Reserve a unit today!

You might be inspired by the wonderful ethnic food markets on Argyle Street. Maybe you want to prep for a Lincoln Park picnic. If messy kitchen drawers cramp your home cooking style in Uptown and Lake View, it's time to get organized with drawer-expanding ideas and convenient storage units here in Chicago, IL.

How to Organize Your Kitchen Drawers

1. Clear the Counters: Give yourself plenty of room to purge kitchen drawers. Turn countertops into clearing houses, and set aside labeled boxes for things you'll want to move to self storage. 

2. Start by Sorting: Sort things by use. If you only pull it out of the drawer once or twice a year, move it to a designated box. Climate-controlled storage units hold seasonal kitchen items year-round. 

3. Clean and Line: Pull drawers out, and clean with a good shake and wipe over the trash can. Line them with colored or patterned washable contact paper. 

4. Turn the Silverware: Make room in the silverware drawer by turning its tray horizontally. This frees up extra storage space at the back of the drawer. 

5. Think Clearly with Acrylic: Clear acrylic trays keep full drawer interiors from looking cluttered. They let you enjoy your attractive drawer linings too. 

6. Divide Drawers Diagonally: This trick works well for storing long utensils in kitchen drawers. A diagonal layout makes it easier to organize and access extra-long spoons, spatulas, and tongs. 

7. Layer Tiered Storage: Make the most of deep drawers with several tiers of sliding storage trays. Use the layered layout for utensils that you don't need often. 

8. Store for Convenience: Keep kitchen utensils conveniently close. Store knives in drawers next to prep areas, spatulas by the stove, and silverware within quick reach of serving areas. 

9. Mark Things to Move: As you finish up, clearly label boxes of drawer extras headed for self storage. When you're ready to retrieve seldom-used items like holiday cookware, just follow the labels in your storage unit. 

10. Junk Is Okay: Allow yourself the luxury of one junk drawer. Let it be the place to toss things you don't want in your newly organized kitchen drawers. 

Keeping You Inspired 

Once you organize those messy kitchen drawers, you can set your culinary talents free. Keep on conquering pantry problems with any of our six Safeguard Self Storage locations in Chicago, IL, including ones in Uptown and Lake View. It's our pleasure to keep you inspired in the kitchen and all around the house.

You love living in the big city. The high energy level brings out the best in everyone who works and plays in the heart of this great place. Still, expanding personal and business space can be a real challenge in bustling Chicago, IL. Finding self storage solutions in and around downtown makes metro life so much easier.

Space Comes in Sizes

Whether you rent an apartment or own a condo, efficient floor plans don't leave much room to grow. Downtown Chicago storage units solve the problem with a range of sizes. A 25-square foot unit serves as an extra closet, a bigger unit holds furniture, and you can lease enough space to store the contents of an entire house. It's easy to find exactly what you need.

Convenience Always Counts

You're constantly on the go, so every minute counts. Self storage lets you choose a nearby location that works with your daily routine. Flexible hours and 24/7 access keep personal and business schedules simple. You can manage your account and even lease new space conveniently online.

Security Is Important

It's important to feel secure in a large metro area. The best downtown storage units provide layers of on-site security that protect you and your belongings. Lot entrance and building access are computer-controlled. Digital and video recording systems track activity all hours of the day. Facility-wide intercoms and individual door alarms watch over every unit.

Extras Make a Difference

Businesses that want loyal customers offer extras that make a difference. Professional storage management teams also work hard catering to your expectations with these amenities and more:

• Climate-controlled units
• Drive-in loading areas
• Boxes and packing supplies
• Delivery acceptance services

It's All Affordable

Residential and commercial square footage comes at a high price in the city. With self storage located downtown, you can expand your space for a fraction of that cost. Short- and long-term options help match tight budgets with storage needs. A nearby unit gives you affordable, flexible room to grow personally and professionally.

We're Always Around the Corner

If you're like us, you don't want to make your home anywhere else, and you don't need to. You have Safeguard Self Storage to help stretch your space in the Chicago, IL metropolitan area. Our storage units make life in the city easy and secure. We always have your perfect fit, and we're always just around the corner.

Our city's been making and preserving history since its incorporation back in 1837. Our municipal treasures can serve as inspiration for protecting your personal antiques in self storage. Chicago, IL celebrates everything collectible from art and architecture to science and ancient artifacts. These five museums are just a few of our favorites.

Five of Our Favorite Museums

1. The Museum of Contemporary Art: Browse away an afternoon enjoying one of the country's largest and most renown modern art collections. Finish with fine dining at the museum's on-site Marisol Restaurant.

2. The Art Institute of Chicago: This is the place to view art from almost every corner of the world. Exhibits showcase more than 300,000 pieces dating from antiquity to today.

3. The Clark House Museum: Walk back in time through Chicago's oldest surviving home. This 1836 Greek Revival residence in South Loop features extensive ceramic, glassware, and furniture collections.

4. The Museum of Science and Industry: Explore interactive exhibits that define our nation and our city. Navigate a World War II submarine, board a diesel-electric train, and walk a Chicago cobblestone street dating back to 1910.

5. The Field Museum: Lose yourself in the city's premier natural history museum while investigating an Egyptian tomb and making friends with a Tyrannosaurus rex. Learn more about both at the museum's 3-D movie theater.

Preserve Your Special Treasures

A visit to the city's museums renews our appreciation for the grace of age in so many things. Take care of your antiques by keeping them safe in climate-controlled self storage. These tips can help preserve your private collection.

• Protect antique furniture with layers of bubble wrap around legs.

• Drape furnishings with clean sheets that allow fresh air circulation.

• Wrap framed mirrors and paintings with glassine paper, and store upright.

• Preserve paper items like books and photographs inside acid-free sleeves.

Choosing the right storage unit for your antiques is very important. The temperature should remain as consistent, and the size should allow ventilation around all of your cherished pieces. Our on-site storage experts are here to help you find that perfect unit.

We're Just Around the Corner

Our city continues to make history every day, and we're proud to be a part of it all. We're here to help you preserve your personal treasures with our South Loop facility located at 1353 South Wabash Avenue, or any one of our 14 additional locations across Chicago, IL, including:

• Uptown – 5026 North Sheridan Road

• West Rogers Park – 6014 North California Ave.

• Beverly – 1909 West 95th Street

• Lake View – 2757 West Clybourn Ave.

• Hermosa – 4534 West North Ave.

Safeguard Self Storage is always just around the corner to house your most important collections.

It's that time again when the annual Christkindlmarket comes to Chicago, IL. This winter event brings in more than 1 million people, including residents here in Uptown and West Rogers Park as well as visitors from across the country. This is the 21st year of this cherished tradition and features numerous vendors offering everything from toys to delicious German chocolates. Your local self storage experts at Safeguard Self Storage are here to show you what you’re missing.

Discover Christkindlmarket This Year in Chicago IL

This annual event began as an idea to promote trade between the USA and Germany and was first held at Pioneer Court in 1996. The event was moved to Daley Plaza a year later and has become an anticipated tradition in the area. Because it has become so popular, the Christkindlmarket committee has set up a second location in Naperville about an hour from the Lake View and Beverly areas of Chicago.

Although Christkindlmarket is known for its vendors, it's also the ideal place for teachers to take their students. German students can practice their skills at the market, which features many German-speaking vendors. The students can also take part in scavenger hunts and sing German holiday songs. Christkindlmarket really gives students a feeling for German traditions without having to leave the country. If you're a teacher from Lake View, West Rogers Park or anywhere in the Chicago area, consider a field trip to Christkindlmarket as a fun and educational gift to your students.

So Many Vendors, So Little Time

Christkindlmarket lasts from November 18 to December 24, so you have a little more than a month to visit the event. With so many vendors, it can seem overwhelming as you shuffle through the crowds and become entranced by the dazzling lights above the vendors' shops. You can purchase most anything from the vendors, like hand-blown and painted ornaments for your Christmas tree. Some German vendors sell nutcrackers and cuckoo clocks while others offer toys, jewelry and clothes.

You can buy German home decor and handmade crafts; you can even watch a wood carver make goods for sale on the spot. Try not to get hungry while you're making your way through the crowd as the tempting aromas from strudel, spiced wines and roasted nuts fill the air. You can stop at any time and quench your thirst with a German beer or fill your belly with sausage and potato pancakes.

If you're looking for unique gifts for the holidays, you can find them at Christkindlmarket. Whether it's toys for your children or beer steins for your friends, this annual event gives you a way to find something eclectic and original for those you love during the holidays. 

Keep Your Gifts Secret With Self Storage 

Don't let your trip to Christkindlmarket get ruined because your family and friends discover their presents early. Whether you're from Uptown or Beverly, Safeguard Self Storage has convenient storage units available close to home. We have affordable monthly plans, so you can invest in a short-term self storage solution for keeping your presents hidden from prying eyes. With temperature-controlled storage units and around-the-clock security, your gifts will remain a secret until you're ready to hand them out on Christmas Day.

Santa Claus stores his Christmas gifts with Safeguard Self Storage, shouldn’t you?