In today’s world renting a self storage unit may be a necessary, often unwanted, fact of life. Nearly 1 out of 10 American households use self storage for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons for using self storage include moving, home remodeling, military deployment, a major life change (marriage/divorce, a new child, death in the family, etc.) or for business purposes.
Regardless of why you may need to rent a self storage unit, it’s very likely that you have no experience with what to look for when choosing a facility. The intention of this article is to help you find the self storage facility that meets your specific needs. Here is a checklist of the important items to consider while searching for your perfect self storage facility.
LOCATION – Most people prefer to store their valuables somewhere close to where they live or work. This provides a feeling of comfort and security knowing that your items are close by and accessible. If you do not think you will be accessing your storage unit very often, then this may be less of a factor in your decision. You should also think about how easy it is to get to the storage facility. For instance, is it located off a highway or major road, or tucked away on a back country road? Obviously you want you to make sure that the facility is in a safe, clean area where crime is not a problem.
SECURITY – Modern self storage facilities will have all the basics covered when it comes to security features. At a minimum these should include a bright, well lit property in case you need to be there when it’s dark; a security fence around the entire facility; a computerized, pass-code protected access gate; some kind of closed circuit TV (CCTV) or video camera monitoring of the facility. After all, you do expect your valuables to be there when you need them, right?
UNIT SIZES – You will find that there is a large variety in the sizes of self storage units available today. The smallest units are often 5×5, 5 feet wide by 5 feet deep. And they increase gradually up to 10′x30′, or even larger depending on the facility. This will give you many options in choosing the right size for your needs. If you have not used storage before then you may not know what size unit you will need. This is where a knowledgeable property manager will be of assistance. The property manager should be able to recommend a unit size to you based on the items you plan to store. It’s a good idea to have the manager show you the actual storage unit as well. Seeing the space will help you get a better idea of how your things will fit into the unit, being that it is the correct size for your needs.
PRICE – While price is certainly a major consideration when choosing self storage it’s probably not at the top of the list. It’s a fact that people will gladly pay a little more for a facility as long as it meets a person’s needs and has the features important to them. The old saying, “You get what you pay for,” is true in self storage also. Often times the cheapest facility is not usually the best. There is probably a reason why it costs less. Maybe it doesn’t have video cameras or a pass-code protected gate and, therefore, is less secure. It could be that the facility is older and the property is in disrepair and has not been well maintained. Most people would not feel comfortable storing their valuables in a dirty, rundown property. Be wary of a storage facility whose rates are much lower than their competitors. Always visit the facilities you are considering before making your final decision. Be sure to inquire about any special rates or promotions the facility may be offering at the time. In today’s tough economy discounting is common and self storage is no exception.
OTHER AMENITIES – Today’s self storage facilities offer a wide variety of additional features and services which may also factor in to your decision making process. A major one is climate controlled storage. Climate controlled storage protects items from extreme variations in temperature and humidity. If you’re storing important documents, antique furniture, paintings or other artwork, or high end electronics then you may need a climate controlled space. Access hours are something you will want to know about. Many facilities allow for 24/7 access, conveniently allowing you to access your storage unit anytime you need to.
This would be helpful if you work odd hours and may need to get things outside of normal business hours. What about paying for your storage unit? Does the facility allow for automatic payment with a credit card? Or better yet, can you pay online through the company’s website? These options offer you convenience and make it easy to do business with the storage facility. How will you get your stuff into the storage space? More and more facilities are offering the FREE use of their own moving truck to entice customers their way. If a facility does not have their own moving truck, they will often rent moving trucks through other vendors, such as U-HAUL.
Choosing which self storage facility to store your valuables with is not a difficult task. Although there are probably several storage facilities in your area, not all self storage is created equally. By using this guideline, knowing what features are most important to you and asking the right questions, you will have no problem picking the self storage facility that is just right for you.
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