The WoW Style

The whole point of using storage units is to keep your belongings safe and secure. It can indeed clear up some space in your home, but you also want to make sure the items you store in the units are there when you need them.  

Even though storage unit break-ins are rare, they do happen. You can do yourself a favor by preparing in advance so that you don’t end up having your unit ransacked by thieves. 

Here are six tips for keeping your belongings secure in a storage facility.

Put Premium on Protection

Your primary consideration when renting a storage unit is protection. You’d want to be assured that your precious possessions, possibly collectibles or items with sentimental value, are safe from thieves. To minimize the risk of theft, you should choose a safe storage unit with added security such as camera surveillance, alarm systems, electronic gate access, and constant monitoring. Another theft deterrent is the presence of a warehouse manager.

Although storage units provide a good measure of protection for your belongings, it’s not the ideal place to keep your money, fine jewelry, and confidential documents. 

Go For Insurance

For peace of mind, you should ensure the contents of your storage unit are covered by insurance. Go over your homeowner or renter’s insurance policy and check if it explicitly states that items in storage are covered. If not, consider getting a storage insurance policy offered by the facility. Or you can opt for a third-party insurer. Regardless of your choice, make sure that your belongings in the storage unit are completely covered in case of damage or loss. 

Choose Climate-Controlled Storage

Another critical consideration when renting a storage unit is the protection it offers from the elements. If you’re storing items such as antiques, artwork, vinyl records, rare books, or electronic items, then it’s best to consider climate-controlled storage. 

With climate-controlled storage, the appropriate temperature is constantly maintained. This means you don’t have to worry about your wooden furniture warping in the summer heat and splintering in the winter cold. Aside from temperature, humidity is also kept at the ideal level. This prevents mold and mildew from damaging your fragile possessions. Yet another benefit of climate-controlled storage is proper air circulation, hence there’s no lingering dank smell. 

Invest In A High-Quality Keyed Lock

Although storage facilities provide multiple layers of protection, it’s still advisable to further secure your unit with a lock. Any high-quality lock is good but it’s best if you go for those that come with a key. 

Take note that combination locks are not as secure as keyed locks. They can be reset and their codes can be easily cracked. Aside from that, the mechanism inside also wears out over time. Keyed locks, on the other hand, are stronger and more secure. 

Keep A Record Of Your Items

If you’ve rented a unit before and stored items in it, then you already know how quickly you can forget what’s in it. For this reason, you should keep an accurate record of what you store in the unit. If you want to go a step further, take clear photographs of your items in storage.  

Storage facilities that offer insurance also typically provide you with a detailed inventory of your items so you never lose track of what you have in the storage units. 

Take Basic Precautionary Steps

There are precautionary steps you can take to ensure your belongings are well-secured. One is to wrap them in heavy-duty plastic instead of putting them directly on the floor to protect them from dust and insects. Avoid placing your valuables in plain sight. Also, use similarly sized boxes so it’ll be easier for you to stack them. Labeling each box might be a pain now, but it would prove to be immensely helpful later. 

You should avoid stacking boxes too high so your items won’t get damaged if the boxes accidentally topple. Arrange them in such a way that it’s easy for you to access the contents when you need to. 

If you have an assortment of items, it’s a good idea to invest in shelves to organize your items better. This way, you don’t have to rummage through all the boxes to retrieve any item. 

Most importantly, make a habit of visiting the storage unit regularly so you can keep an eye on your possessions. 

Final Thoughts

Storage facilities help give you extra storage space and declutter your home. But you need to make sure the items you’ll be stashing there will be protected from theft and the elements. Follow the tips mentioned above to keep your valuables safe and secure while in storage.