How to Get More When You Self-Store

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

When it comes to moving the accumulated possessions that you have amassed over a lifetime, sometimes it makes sense to store some items.  Self-storage is no longer the 1-sizes-fits-all industry it used to be.  Today there are a number of self-storage options that are available to consumers.  Just as you want to make sure you get the best deal on a moving company, making sure you get more when you self-store takes a bit of knowledge as well. 

I Can’t Fit All My Stuff into My New Home

Whether you have decided to downsize your residence due to retirement, being an empty-nester, or you have decided to move into a condo in the sky, trying to stuff a 4-bedroom house into a 2-bedroom residence is like trying to force a square peg into a round hole.  It just doesn’t fit.  If you fall into this category, then a self-storage facility could be just the ticket.  Most facilities offer units that rage from 5x5 feet to 10x20 feet in size.  The latter unity will enable you to store everything up to a 3-bedroom house under one roof. 

Portable On-Demand Storage

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Another option is to have the storage unit come to you.  Portable storage containers that can be parked on your driveway evolved from their larger cousins that have been used for decades to load cargo onto freighters.  Just like traditional storage units, the portable kind also comes in several sizes.  A 7-cubic-foot container is comparable to a 5x10-foot unit, a 12-cubic-foot container is comparable to a 10x10-foot unit and a 16-cubic-foot container is tantamount to a 10X20-foot unit.  Whether you want to keep your home from turning into a warehouse while you pack, or whether you are looking to load a container that will be moved in its entirety, portable storage could be a godsend.

Unlike traditional storage units, portable units are not meant for long-term storage.  Their virtue is that they can be used to temporarily store your stuff.  Then they can either be unloaded or moved.  While they come with locks and roll-down doors like traditional storage units, you need to remember that they are not secured behind a chain-link fence as is the case with traditional self-storage yards.  Nor is there any security patrolling the area.  This means all it would take to gain entry to the unit is a stout pair of bolt cutters. 

All Storage Units are NOT Create Equal

When it comes to self-storage facilities, no two are created equal.  Everything from price and security to access and accouterments is negotiable.  While most self-storage facilities are not climate-controlled, there are facilities that specialize in this very thing.  If you require 24/7 access, you need to find out how secure and well-lighted a facility is if you intend on going there in the dead of night.  In short, you need to determine if the facility is the right one for you before you sign on the dotted line.

First and foremost, comes convenience.  This means checking out the storage facilities that are located less than 10-miles from your home.  Since the reason most people opt for self-storage is to make moving convenient, how convenient is it if you have to drive a half hour to get to your unit?  Of course, if you are going to move to the other side of town and are intending to store some of the items you can no longer fit in your new home, find a storage unit that is conveniently located to your new location.

How Low Can You Go?

Image courtesy of flickr

Selecting the correct size is another conundrum many people have to wrestle with.  You’d be surprised at the amount of stuff you can stuff into a storage unit.  That’s because you can literally stack your unit from floor to ceiling, as long as you leave aisles wide enough to navigate through your self-made maze.  On the other hand, while you may not need the largest storage unit that a facility has to offer, the opposite can also hold true.  A 5x5 unit is only the size of a broom closet.  Don’t expect to pack the contents of a bedroom into it.  If you aren’t sure, by all means ask the rental manager’s opinion.  He or she has dealt with every kind of storage variable over the years and is ready, willing and able to help guide you to an appropriately sized unit.

In fact, you should make it a point to meet the manager and  take a tour of the storage facility before you rent any storage unit.  This will allow you to see how old the units are, how secure the facility is and how accommodating their management is going to be.  Eyeball the units to determine the level of occupancy.  A storage facility that has half their units available might be a red flag that there is something wrong.  That’s also another reason why the lowest price isn’t always the best reason to rent at a self-storage facility.

Find out which unit you are being offered should you decide to rent there and have the manager open it so you can perform an inspection.  On a well-maintained facility there should be no signs of rust, dust or vermin.  The door should have an intact waterproof seal to hold out the rain.  The latch and door should open and close securely.  Also make sure you take note of the position of such things as lights and security cameras, especially if you plan on making any late-night visits.

Storage Insurance is Your Friend

While some storage companies build the cost of insurance into the rent, make sure you read the fine print.  A number of policies require the owner to verify the unit’s contents on a regular basis.  Some provide inadequate coverage for the material you wish to store.  It is quite possible that your homeowner’s policy may already provide the coverage you need without having to accept the storage company’s coverage.

Just as selecting the right mover at the best price means doing a little homework, taking the time to check out your local storage options is the key to getting more when you self-store.

With over 4,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.