Self-storage units are rented, secure spaces in a facility where individuals/businesses can store their belongings on a flexible month-to-month basis.
These spaces are ideal for people who’re decluttering their homes and want a temporary place to store various items. Similarly, businesses that want to keep stock on hand at all times also use these spaces to store extra materials.
Today, we’ll be sharing how these storage units work and the different types available.
Let’s get started.
How Self Storage Units Work
In most cases, you can get storage units with short-term commitments, such as month-to-month leases. You also provide your own padlock and keep the sole key or digital passcode.
As for the facility’s security, most locations feature perimeter fencing, gated keypad entry, and 24/7 video surveillance. Before choosing a unit, you can thoroughly assess whether it offers all these amenities to ensure extraordinary peace of mind.
Types of Self Storage Units
Self storage units are divided by where they’re located and the function they serve.
We first have indoor units. These are located inside a secure building with access to a hallway. They shield the stored items from outside weather. Next, the drive-up units are ground-level outdoor spaces where you can park a vehicle directly in front of the door for easy loading and unloading.
Then, the climate-controlled units are regulated to maintain temperature and humidity levels to protect sensitive items such as wooden furniture and paper records. Vehicle and RV storage units are basically enclosed parking where you can park cars or recreational vehicles for several days.
What Size of Storage You Actually Need
The units come in different sizes to cater to varying needs. A 5×5 unit can be considered a walk-in closet. It’s perfect for business files or extra boxes in your office.
A 5×10 unit is a large walk-in closet and can give you enough space to store a motorcycle. Now, jump to a 10×10 unit, and you’ll have a small bedroom’s worth of space. You can store almost everything that a bedroom can accommodate.
A 10×20 can accommodate three-bedroom items, whereas a 10×30 can store multiple vehicles. If you’re still not sure which size you need, you can first ask a storage facility consultant for an informed recommendation.
Tips for Organization and Packing
You need to organize everything in advance to ensure the storage process goes smoothly. First, keep a written list of what you’ve stored and which items you’ve skipped. It will help you remember what is there. It will also support insurance claims as well.
Also, pack everything in sturdy boxes. Using poor-quality packing materials or old grocery boxes can cause everything to collapse during the move. And never forget to mark the boxes on both sides so you can easily identify what’s inside, no matter how the boxes are stacked.
You should also keep the things you may need near the unit’s entrance. Burying them in the back will make access to them highly challenging.