Sometimes you need to find a storage unit to store your valuable or sentimental belongings but it might be hard to find a good one that’s going to keep your things safe.
Doing your research on storage container facilities now can save you the financial burden and the potential headache that not doing so could cause in the future.
If you’re not sure what kind of research you should be doing when looking for the perfect storage container, here are 5 tips to keep in mind when choosing a storage container company that can help you along the way.
5 TIPS WHEN RENTING FROM A CONTAINER STORAGE COMPANY
1. Do Your Research Before Renting
Take advantage of the internet and be sure to look into the fine print of the storage units you’re looking into. Sometimes Storage Facilities will have really enticing offers, deals, or percentages off on their units, but they’re there just to lock you into a lengthy contract. Some other reasons a storage unit could have low pricing to watch out for could be smaller unit dimensions, or the different between being climate or non-climate storing.
At The Storage Advantage, we have various locations so you’re bound to find a unit to fit your needs, and we don’t tie our customers into lengthy contracts.
2. Find Out Access Times and Charges for Access
Be sure that there aren’t any unnecessary, miscellaneous fees associated to renting a storage unit or for accessing your items from the storage facility you’re looking into. Even small charges can add up to tens of wasted dollars over the period of your rental.
Make sure that the access times are convenient for you. Many storage units aren’t open 24 hours a day. Keep in mind that the office hours might be different than the access hours as well, so if you have to contact someone about your unit, be sure those hours align with your schedule, too.
All of our The Storage Advantage locations are open everyday, 365 days a year, from at least 6am to 9pm.
3. Inspect the Site for Security and Safety
The security of the storage facility should be one of your top priorities when searching for a future unit. Research the types of locks a facility uses and whether or not you can bring your own. Fences are incredibility important to avoid theft, including having a gates with a gate codes. Make sure that the location has good lighting in and around the facility as well as working CCTV cameras.
This part of the research is probably best to do in person so you can get a better feel for the location and see what they offer for yourself.
At our facilities you get your own personal gate code in order to access your belongings, have security cameras, and keep our grounds well-lit and clean.
4. Consider the Ease of Access
Ease of access can mean many things and isn’t always just about getting to and from your unit. Some of those things are what the process of getting to your storage unit are, or what kind of convenience you’re looking for. Drive up units can make loading and unloading easy to store and grab things, while air conditioned units can make it easier to load and unload without breaking a sweat (or freezing, depending on the weather.)
5. Consider the Location of Your Facility
Consider how far away the storage facility is from your home or business, especially if you plan on accessing the items regularly. This is especially important if you’re storing things for your business, over old heirlooms, for example.
Many of our locations are located off of major highways. Come check if any of them are convenient for you. If you have any more questions, be sure to check out our FAQ page or our Storage tips page.
Should you need advice on self-storage with container storage rentals, don’t hesitate to contact us.