10 tips for selecting a self-storage facility
At some point in almost everyone’s life, they need to use a storage facility for short- or long-term storage of household or business items. Are all public storage facilities the same? hell no. This article focuses on the top 10 things to consider when selecting a place to store your valuable belongings. After all, whatever you’re storing must have some meaning or value to you or you wouldn’t be saving it, right?
1. Rental: One of the most important factors when considering a storage unit is where it is located. The storage facility should be conveniently located near major highways or highways and be somewhere close to where you live or work (or in between) for easy access. If you are moving and need short-term storage, consider the advantages of selecting a site that is closer to your old home or business or closer to your new one.
2.Security: Improvements in technology mean that security should be one of the most important criteria to consider when selecting where to store your home or business items. Newer storage facilities provide high-tech security systems, such as matching your door access code to your individual storage unit. This means that when you enter the grounds and open the access gate, the same number you use to enter also unlocks your storage unit and then re-arms it when you enter your code to exit the premises.
By the way, the most secure facilities should definitely have access gates and fences or high walls around them. Another important security feature is video surveillance that records activity in and around the units. Finally, on-site administrators help ensure your items are stored securely.
3.Insurance protection: Most modern public storage facilities have storage insurance available if you don’t already have your items covered under your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. Although there is a small chance that you will ever need it, catastrophic events and other unforeseen events can occur.
4. Access hours: Most quality storage facilities limit access to certain hours of the day. You will want to factor this into your decision for maximum access to your drive. Ideally, you should be able to access your unit seven days a week from early in the morning until well after 5:00 p.m. your drive, which is probably not what you want in a secure install.
5. Pest management: Depending on where you live, you may need to ask about insect, mouse, and rat control. Newer facilities tend to have fewer pest problems, but it’s still important to ask the facility you’re considering what their pest management protocol is.
6. Variety of unit sizes: If you have a small number of items you want to store, the last thing you need is a unit the size of a one-car garage. Self-storage facilities typically offer a variety of unit sizes to their customers for small and extra-large needs, such as furniture for the entire home, car and boat storage, and business files and supplies. With a selection to choose from to fit your needs, you don’t have to pay more than you need or try to fill a small unit from floor to ceiling. When that happens, it increases the chance that you may have to unpack the entire unit just to find one item.
7. Outdoor storage: If you need to store an RV or other large vehicle, make sure the facility you select has the type of space you want. Some storage lots even offer covered parking for boat and RV storage.
8. Support services: Most storage facilities provide a variety of supporting services and supplies. They usually sell boxes and tape at the very least, but others also have mattress, sofa, and chair covers for sale. Similarly, storage companies also have dollies and carts that they lend or rent to their customers. Whether you purchase boxes and covers from your public storage facility or not, be sure to enclose your items tightly to better protect them from weather, dust, or other related damage.
9.Community Attentive and courteous staff: The best self storage facilities are operated by community-minded people who give back to the communities they serve. Self-storage facilities that offer a discount to seniors, the military, and others who may be more subject to difficult financial situations says something about their business philosophy. Delivery-accepting facilities are also an added bonus.
As with all services, it is always best to do business with friendly and professional staff members. Although most of your interactions after you sign out won’t involve much interaction with the facility’s staff, it’s always good to know that customer service is a top priority for any facility you select.
10.Terms of service: In most cases, renting storage units on a month-to-month basis is the preferred method of storage units. By selecting a month-to-month storage facility, you have the flexibility to set up monthly payments for longer needs without having to worry about entering into a contract that you don’t ultimately need.
With these resources in mind, you can find the perfect storage solution to meet your business or home storage needs.