Whether you’re storing personal belongings, clothing, furniture, business items, or vehicles, taking the time to select the right self-storage facility is essential to keeping your items safe and in good condition.
Below are some items to consider before making your choice.
• Determine how often you plan to access your storage unit. If you plan to access it frequently, it’s important to choose a nearby facility for convenience.
• Consider which facilities have a variety of storage unit sizes to accommodate what you will be storing. A knowledgeable self storage facility will work with you to review your storage needs and recommend the right size unit.
• Look for a facility that offers a good value. While it may be tempting to go for the lowest price, keep in mind that you may get exactly what you pay for, but less than you expect! Lower-priced facilities may not offer resident managers, climate-controlled units, alarms on all doors, coded entry, and video surveillance. To ensure a satisfactory self-storage experience, always consider the characteristics of self-storage facilities to determine whether or not it is a good value.
• Do research on self-storage facilities in your area ahead of time. Talk to friends, family or neighbors to determine the best storage operators. Visit facility websites or call them for information.
• Visit the facility and ask for a tour that includes inspection of a variety of unit sizes to meet your needs. Accredited facilities will have staff members who can give you a tour and provide storage advice. An on-site visit will give you an idea of what your experience will be like. Look carefully for positive and negative signs. Are you able to see more than one unit? Are the units locked and secure? Is the facility well lit? Are self-storage units and facility grounds clean and tidy? Is the staff nice?
Taking the time to select the right self-storage facility will give you peace of mind and a pleasant experience. Good luck!