Top 5 Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Self-Storage Facility
Shopping for new stuff is always an exciting prospect. Who doesn’t love the feeling of carrying home the plush couch you saw at the furniture store or the gorgeous 4K TV that caught your eye while purchasing your child’s bicycle? Inadvertently, your space may start getting cluttered by purchases made over the years. Self-storage facilities can help you store your surplus stuff affordably. However, these facilities are not only for people looking to create more space in their homes. They can store your belongings while you’re renovating your house or preparing it for a real estate showing. These facilities also serve commercial clients looking to keep their business inventory organized. In essence, if you are looking for a place to store your belongings temporarily, self storage provided by SecureSpace is simply the best solution to your problem. This article will talk about five top mistakes people make when choosing self-storage facilities.
Choosing the wrong unit
This is one of the most common problems people face when choosing a self-storage facility. After all, it can be hard to estimate the size of the unit needed when you’re not an expert. You may be trying to pick a smaller unit because of cost, but more often than not, you may find yourself in a corner because your stuff won’t fit.
Self-storage units come in many sizes ranging from small units suitable for small household goods, sporting goods, and decorative goods to large units that can fit full-sized commercial vehicles. The smallest storage unit, a 5 by 5, is the size of a closet and can be used to store small items such as a full-size mattress, a desk, a Christmas tree, or a dresser. Medium-sized units such as 10 by 10 are suitable for items that can fit in a living room or two bedrooms. To avoid the stresses of picking a small unit, you should contact a self-storage unit facility, and they will recommend a proper unit size for your belongings.
Not inquiring about storage conditions
Climate-controlled storage units use thermostats, ventilation, and air conditioning to maintain a constant range of temperature and humidity within the unit that you rent. Additionally, these units are sealed and insulated, and as a result, they are less susceptible to flooding, dust, and debris. These units tend to be pricier because of the equipment and power used. If the items you’re planning to store in the unit are sensitive to changes in the environment, you certainly need to seek out facilities that offer this option. Furthermore, suppose you intend to keep your items in the storage unit for an extended period. In that case, you should invest in a climate control unit because it will be a hedge against changing environmental conditions.
Being guided by price alone
As they say, you get what you pay for, which is especially true for self-storage facilities. Understandably, you may be trying to minimize the cost of storage, but you should not make the price tag the sole determining factor when choosing a self-storage unit. More often than not, this cost-cutting measure shows up in some ways- unavailable stuff, poor customer service, low-quality physical upkeep, and poor security.
Refusing storage insurance
Storage insurance exists for a reason: to protect your possessions. Storage insurance covers loss or damages to the stored items in case of fire, theft, and water damage. Many self-storage facilities require storage insurance, and some even provide it themselves at a low cost. You can also purchase self-storage insurance from third parties. Most insurance coverages have a limit, and it is in your best interest to insure close to this value.
Not checking you out the company’s security
Self-storage units attract criminals hoping to make a quick buck off the stored valuables. When choosing a self-storage facility, you must check whether it employs the latest security measures. When checking for security, you should check the following:
- The facility should have a solid perimeter wall that is not easy to climb. It should also have a strong gate. Experts recommend motorized gates since it eliminates the need for manually opening and closing the gates.
- The facility should have a self-contained video surveillance system.
- The facility should be well-lit to discourage criminal activity.
- The facility has some sort of access-control mechanism to keep any problems out.
Self-storage units offer solutions to people seeking space for excess items. They are also a good option for people and businesses seeking temporary or long-term storage for their belongings. However, the safety of your items and how well they are kept depends on the facility you have chosen. By avoiding the mistakes highlighted in the article, you will select the best facility that will serve your needs.
