Many people look to self-storage units in order to save some space in the home or apartment. It can be worth every penny for someone looking to clear out a garage or storage room. However, if you make the wrong choice, it could cause a lot of headaches. The last thing you want is your valuable items getting damp or getting ruined by pests.
What to Consider Before Calling
Before you even initiate the search, you should start by assessing what it is you are going to need. Take inventory of the items you have, and consider the following.
- What sized unit will you be needing? – Decide right away what items you plan on storing. Find out how many boxes or pieces of furniture you would like to move into storage, and then get a measurement for how much space you will need to comfortably fit all of the items. It is important to pick a space that will not only accommodate all of your items but will also not have wasted space that you are paying for.
- Do you want to insure any of your items? – Depending on the value of your items, you may want to consider buying personal items insurance, or a type of insurance that may also cover these items. Even in the best circumstances it is possible that there will be an accident at the storage facility.
- How long do you want to store the items? – There may be a storage facility with a cheaper long-term contract if you plan on leaving the items for a long period of time. Likewise, if you just need to temporarily store items you will want to take that into account when searching.
What to Look For at the Facility
Now that you have your initial prerequisites like size and timeframe decided, it is time to start your search. After narrowing the search down through internet searches or advice from friends, there are some important things to ask or look for while touring the facility.
- How clean are the self-storage units? – When looking at the units, check to make sure that the floor is clean, as well as the walls, and ceilings of the units. Ask about their cleaning procedures after someone moves out as well.
- Are there signs of pests? – Make sure to check for any signs of bugs, mice, or other pests that may cause damage to your items. Ask about the history of pests as well.
- Is there security? – While pests are a problem at self-storage facilities, so is theft. Make sure that there is a screening process for tenants, security cameras, and other security measures. You should make sure that the main gate has access controls, and that there are latches on the self-storage units so that you can buy a lock of your choice.
- Does the facility have climate control? – A quality self-storage facility will have ventilation, air-conditioning, and other climate control functions. This is especially important if you plan on storing wood, photographs, or important documents.
- What is the price? – After the facility has passed all of the previous requirements and meets your standards, it is time to start looking at pricing. Create a list of the facilities that passed your tour, and then find which one has the best offer for the size of unit you need.
Visit www.stor-mate.com.au for your storage needs.