Looking for a self-storage unit near you?
These days, more and more people need extra space. Whether your closet is bursting at the seams, or your basement and garage contain valuable items that you need, extra space will help you take a deep breath and enjoy more room. You will need extra storage room for seasonal items that you will need again next season. Others are moving out and need a temporary spot for their stuff before they can measure their new residence and fit everything in.
Extra storage space comes in handy for natural disasters such as when a flood hits and things in your basement need a temporary new home. Damaged attics or home renovations will also require extra space. No matter what the reasons are, flexible solutions that offer more convenience than a self-storage rental is what you need.
First off, What is Self-Storage?
If you’ve never heard the term self-storage and have always wondered what to do with all your extra stuff, this is the solution for you. Exactly what is self-storage? Self storage is a month-to month third party storage location. Also known as mini-storage or public storage, the new term is “self-storage.” These are dedicated storage facilities of any size that you can access through a garage-like, rolling door. You can rent this on a per-month basis and secure it with a built-in mechanism for locking or separate locks. A dedicated staff manages the property and your stored items are kept safely inside.
When Might You Find Yourself In Need Of Self-Storage?
Depending on your circumstances, there are times in which self-storage is the only choice there is. In fact, if you really think about it, there are so many benefits to self-storage, particularly in the fast-paced lifestyle everyone seems to be living these days. It is great for travelers, persons who inherited furniture, home renovations, frequent movers and the like. Indeed, the benefits you get from owning a self-storage unit cannot be emphasized enough.
When You Move To College
When you move to your college dormitory, what do you do with the rest of your stuff? You can’t leave everything at home. The solution is to leave some stuff in self-storage near the University campus. This way, you can take the stress away from having to make quick decisions about where all the junk you need to sort out goes. In the meantime, you can focus completely on finishing the course curriculum with zero stress.
When You Joined The Minimalist Movement And Are Testing The Waters
Famous Japanese Minimalist Marie Kondo and the Netflix series Tiny House are minimalism trends everyone seems to be joining these days. If you are not sure you want to hop on the minimalist wagon just yet, you can test the waters by downsizing and moving all your stuff in temporary self-storage to check and see what you can and can’t live without. Also, if you are downsizing your home for one reason or another, you don’t have to stress too much about where on earth all your stuff goes. The answer is self-storage, your stress-free, minimalism solution.
When You Are Doing Home Renovations
When you refurbish, restore or upgrade the look of your home, or even just a room, your quality of life improves. However, while the process is ongoing it can be a huge headache. When you go about room or home renovations, you will be forced to look for extra space for your stuff while they pull out your entire kitchen cabinetry to replace with something new. You won’t have any other option than self-storage.
When You Are Moving To A New Place
The logistics of moving to a new apartment or home is simply tedious. Self-storage is your safe, stable solution to what causes extreme stress in other people. No matter how far or near your new home is, you can park your stuff into a temporary self-storage unit while you get settled. What a quick, efficient solution to what could otherwise be a huge problem.
When There Are Natural Disasters
Depending on where you live, natural disasters sometime throw you a curve ball. If you live in a state with hurricane season, tsunami warnings or even risks of flooding, frequent typhoons, tornadoes and the like, having a self-storage unit keeps your stuff safe. When your life gets disrupted by a natural disaster, particularly if this is not uncommon in the place you live in at the moment, save your furniture and other property by securing them safely in your very own self-storage unit. It is the smartest solution to these kinds of emergencies.
When You Are A Frequent Traveler
If you are almost never home, you might as well ask the company you work for to sponsor a self-storage facility for all your items. This frees you up from having to rent a home you are never in, anyway. In fact, frequent travelers feel safer and more secure knowing that there is a staff overseeing all their belongings instead of constantly worrying about their home security. If you are in town and live in your own home for just a couple of weeks each year, it makes more sense to rent temporary fully-furnished lodging and keep all your personal belongings in a storage facility.
When A New Baby Arrives
Folks starting a family may have to use the spare bedroom in the house and transform this to a nursery. The home office furniture may have no place to go other than a self-storage facility. The good news is that all you need to do is to start packing up all the office supplies and furniture in your home office, call the moving company and have them move everything to your self-storage unit. This makes the addition of a brand new member of the family quick and easy. You can then focus without worrying on creating the perfect nursery just in time for the arrival of the baby.
How to choose the right size storage unit
There are various types and sizes of self-storage. These can have roll up doors, regular doors, see-through grills or are completely sealed off. Knowing what self-storage facility types are near you will help you understand how your stuff is going to be safely protected. What most people are concerned about is the size. The fact is, many people are not sure about what size to get, when it comes to self-storage. Do a rough estimate in your head and ask the advise of the self-storage overseeing staff. Here is a guide for you to conveniently select the size you need.
Twenty-Five Square Feet (5×5)
These are about the size of a small closet and can fit the same amount of stuff. A couple pieces of furniture and a few boxes are perfect, especially if you are going off to college.
Fifty Square Feet (5×10)
This size of storage unit is perfect for people who live in studio apartments. Typically, it can handle a bed, couch and all the contents of a small area for living.
One Hundred Square Feet (10×10)
These units are considered medium and size and are quite popular. Many people book this size of storage as it is the size of a larger bedroom and can handle what a 2-bedroom would be able to contain. The cost depends on whether you are getting a non-climate or a climate-control unit.
One Hundred Fifty Square Feet (10×15)
Boat and car storage can be put into this self-storage size. Of course, you need to speak to the facility for any special requirements when you are storing vehicles. This size can handle the contents of an average one-bedroom house. This is the minimum size for those that need heavy-duty storage. These come in either climate-control or non-climate control units depending on what you need.
Two Hundred Square Feet (10×20)
Families that need to store away their entire home can fit it into this size. These units can store stuff from a four-bedroom home. Larger vehicles such as trailers and rv’s can also be stored here.
Three Hundred Square Feet (10×30)
These self-storage units are the least common and can handle business storage or larger home storage. Those in the mail-order business can use this size as a warehouse where stock is stored.
Here’s a hint. If your items fit in the back of a u-haul truck or a pick-up truck, ask the truck company to give you an estimate of the size of the truck. This will tell you the size you need.
You can also do a last-minute consultation with the staff of your storage-unit and let them actually see your stuff and whether or not it is going to fit in the unit of your choice.
Do’s And Don’ts of renting a self storage unit
When it comes to self-storage there are a few do’s and don’ts to keep in mind so that the process of your hauling your stuff into storage stays smooth and stress-free.It doesn’t hurt to know all the do’s and don’ts before you start packing and hauling your stuff over to the storage company.
DO Use climate control for specific items. Some stuff need protection from extreme humidity or cold. A unit that has climate control will keep the temperature between sixty-five and eighty degrees.
Here is a list of items that require climate control:
Musical instruments
Medications
Medical equipment
Upholstery
Leather or wooden furniture or items
Old magazines or books
Photos
Electronic equipment like TV’s, stereos and laptops.
Collectibles
Art such as oil paintings and sculpture
DO write down each and every item you plan to store. A written record or photos of where each item is inside your unit will be to your advantage. It is hard to remember which box has what so labeling them, taking pictures and listing them down will all help in the long run.
DO Store and pack items correctly. Keep items in their own box or consider bubble wrap for appliances. For furniture, you might want to get giant rolls of plastic wrap to wrap them with. Table legs won’t get scratched with bubble wrap around each leg.
DO Choose self-storage facilities near your work, home or dorm. You are going to be checking, adding or taking away times from your unit. Find one near your dorm, workplace or home for easy access.
DO Use your unit immediately. It makes no sense to start paying rent on your storage unit only for you to use it months later. Instead, do an accurate estimate of when you will need your storage unit and pay for the first month of that date. Use your unit immediately so as to save time and money.
DO Maximize your available space. Store stuff upwards and stack them one on top of the other in a vertical fashion so that you can save space for more items you might add to your storage unit in the future.
DON’T store stuff that the company does not allow. Storage units have certain rules that need to be followed for good reasons. This means that you can’t store each and every item you own. Find the list of items you are not allowed to store and make sure that you follow the guidelines for the safety of your own unit and the entire building as well.
DON’T try to live in your newly acquired self storage unit. Many people have tried to do this and it is both illegal and ineffective at providing long term shelter for you.
Anything prohibited in a self-storage?
When it comes to self-storage units, you are not allowed to stare explosive, flammable or hazardous materials. If you have stuff that is dangerous if it spills, don’t store it. Any strong chemicals may have fumes that can infiltrate the entire unit as it seeps out of the bottle. Registered firearms may be kept in storage that allows this. However, some guidelines are strictly administered when it comes to storing guns. Remember that if your unit does allow it, to make sure it is not loaded.
Perishable food is not allowed in storage as this will rot and attract maggots. You can store canned goods that are within the expiration date, however. Bottled jams within their expiry date as well as boxed items can also be kept in storage.
Also, pets and plants, as well as yourself are not allowed for storage. It is both inhumane and illegal to keep living things stored. You won’t be able to hide this from the managers of the facility. Plants can only survive with sunlight and water. These attract insects and vermin. Thus, it is never a good idea to bring plants in. Even if you may be allowed to use the unit as a workshop or an office, facilities will not let you live out of your storage unit.
Self-storage is a great solution to where to store your furniture and extra stuff when there doesn’t seem to be any other options. When it comes to self-storage most companies seem to have thought of everything to give you peace of mind. Your stored stuff will be kept safe and secure so you don’t have to worry about what to do with all your extra stuff at this very moment. This gives you room to plan and move around without risking the safety and security of your stuff.