Top Self-Storage Tips For First Time Users
Are you looking at renting out a storage unit? If so, you may want to look into self-storage. Renting out a self-storage unit can be a good option for many reasons.
It could be that you are downsizing. It could be that you just need space over the short term. It could be that you need long-term storage. Maybe you are heading out to university and you need a place to put your stuff. Maybe you are going on a long trip and you don't want to dump everything you own.
Regardless of the reason, self-storage can be your ticket for a stress-free trip or move. When you are searching for a self-storage option, you're going to want to do your due diligence to ensure that you keep your property safe and secure. Follow these crucial storage tips to do just that.
Top Self-Storage Tips:
1. Always Look For The Best Deal
One of the most important things you need to be doing is to look for the best deal possible for your situation. This doesn't necessarily mean the least expensive offer. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. Whenever you are shopping for storage quotes, you want to check for the company that is giving you the best deal for your needs.
While it's always tempting to opt for the quote that is the lowest, it's not always in your best interest. When you go for the lowest-priced service, you could potentially be setting yourself up for the lowest quality of service. You want to choose a storage facility that meets your respective needs and one that you can confidently use knowing your stuff is both safe and secure. Figure out what you want to prioritise with the storage unit. Do you want something that has excellent security? Do you want something with a climate-controlled interior? These are things you need to consider.
2. Look At Their Security
You need to be doing a thorough audit of their security. You want to ensure that you are choosing a facility that has all of the security requirements you have. Ideally, you want something that has a lot of security features which enhance the security of the entire facility.
Not certain what to look for? You may want to check for these security features:
- CCTV
- Fire alarm
- Fire sprinklers
- Security guards
- Incoming and outgoing log
Also, if you are going to be storing a lot of stuff that requires a temperature-controlled environment, you will want to ensure that it has it. Certain things like electronics or even sensitive documents will need this feature to keep everything safe.
3. Safe Storage
You will find that a lot of facilities have their own rules when it comes to what you can and can't store in the units. You want to ensure you know the rules regarding what can be stored and what can't before signing on the dotted line. You need to ensure that whatever you are storing isn't on their restricted list.
In general, some of the items you will find that are prohibited include weapons, anything flammable, and other things that could pose a risk to those at the facility. You want to look at the facility's rules because these can differ based on location and even on the features they offer.
4. Know The Replacement Value Of Your Stuff
Whenever you are looking to store something, you'll want to ensure that you know how much everything costs. Getting insurance is mandatory for the majority of facilities out there. Because of this, you will want to get it before storing anything in a facility.
When you get this type of insurance, everything in the unit is going to be covered as per their values. If something happens, the insurance will cover the value of the item whether they are damaged, stolen, or lost. This includes items damaged caused by:
- A natural disaster
- Leaks
- Vandalism
- Falling trees
To get more specifics about what is covered and what isn't, you can check out more details here about the storage insurance we offer.
5. Pack Everything Safely
One of the best things you can do to keep your belongings safe and secure when you are storing them is to pay careful attention to your placement of the items. You want to ensure that you are packing everything properly. This can do wonders for helping you avoid any unwanted damage while they are in storage.
You want to pay close attention to the types of boxes you are using especially if you are storing paperwork. You also want to use protective wrapping if you are storing anything fragile. You want to cover up any furniture that you are keeping in storage.
Not only do you want to factor in accidents, drops, and things like that - but you also want to consider accessibility when placing things in your unit. You may want to place certain things accessible if you are going to be taking them in and out frequently. Any larger items that won't be used often should be kept in the back and out of the way as much as possible.
6. Take Inventory
You always want to have an accurate inventory of what's in the unit at all times. This is a good idea to have because it's going to allow you to easily calculate the value of the items in your unit and it can help you figure out where everything is when you need it.
One of the best things you can do to effectively organise your storage unit is by labeling the boxes. This is highly recommended because it will allow you to locate them when you do need to grab things out of the unit for whatever reason. If you want to take advantage of self-storage, https://www.fsmithandson.co.uk/storage/ you can contact F Smith & Son in the Croydon area.
