Self Storage Explained

According to a survey conducted in the past two years, one in 12 American households has used, or is planning to use, a self storage facility. The survey further concluded that 44 percent of the people are using self storage because they have plans to move into a new home or apartment in the near future. This fact doesn’t surprise many; the fact that nearly 34 percent of storage unit owners are using self storage because they do not have enough space in their house is what shocks quite a few people. Many people in the United States do not realize that a large percentage of homeowners quickly outgrow their homes. While these people might want to move into a bigger home that is not always an option.

Self storage has become an affordable option to moving for families and even business. Nearly 15 percent of the clients using self storage facilities are business owners. These business owners have outgrown their office space and rather than switch locations they have chosen to rent storage facilities to house all of their excess equipment and documents. Whatever the reason might be, self storage facility industry has become important affecting the lives of thousands of Americans nationwide.

However, before you decide to run off and rent your own self storage unit there are a few things that you should keep in mind.

Requirement of space:

A very vital question that should come to your mind is how much space will you and your family require? Self storage facilities have different sized storage units to meet your needs and requirement like five by ten feet space and ten by ten feet. Garage sized storage units are also available for storing cars and other bigger items. Hence, a proper evaluation of your requirement should be done before ever setting foot in a storage facility rental office. If you are someone that wants to keep the entire contents of your one bedroom apartment in storage then five by ten feet of storage space should suffice. There is no reason for you to pay more for a larger storage unit that will cost you more while gaining you little.

Time period

The duration of time you are planning to store your amenities also has a very important part to play in your final decision. If you are intending to store your stuffs for few months, then you should look closely to the contract terms and the rates offered by short term storage facilities. On the other hand, if you intend to go for a long-term storage then the facilities offered by any storage house should be given number one priority.

Features

When you seek the services of a self storage facility, it is very logical to know what special features you can do without and what you must have. Knowing these things help you a lot in choosing facilities that best suits your needs and your budget. For instance, someone who works late at night definitely looks for a storage which does not shut down very early in the evening. Those individuals that can only visit their storage facility on the weekend will be looking for facilities with extended weekend hours. If you are able to visit your storage facility during working hours then you should not worry about paying more for extended access that you will never need to use.

Deposit and terms

Almost every self storage facility requires a deposit. When comparing prices of different units make sure you enquire about the deposit and the terms of getting it after you move out from the facility. Do not just give your hard earned money away without asking a few questions.

Hidden clauses

While the contract papers, do ask them if they have any other hidden clauses or anything they might ask of you in future. Be fully prepared from your side and do not let them trick you. If possible even try to take the contract home so that you can spend an evening going over it. Any facility that will not let you take the contract home and will try to intimidate you into signing is not a facility that you want to do business with.

Final tip

The perfect way to choose any self storage facility is to think about each and every option very carefully and then go ahead with one that best defines your requirements. Do not fall into the trap laid by efficient sales teams. Many of the self storage facilities currently available offer enticing move in specials and discounts with extended lease options. No matter how tempting these deals might seem always remember that the sales staff is not working in your best interest. They are not there to help you; they are there to help the company profit. Keep your own needs in mind and do not let them be overshadowed by a clever sales pitch.

The above said points should be kept in mind very seriously; otherwise you could end up in loosing your hard earned money, which logically and practically is not at all worth loosing.