0800 0852 954
The days of decluttering and downsizing are here. Say “goodbye” to hoarding and “hello” to a quick fix for keeping your things around long term without buying a bigger house or renting a warehouse for business. New storage solutions are in vogue as the easiest and most affordable solution to modern storage. Uses for self storage range from a place to store your personal items while you’re renovating to flexible office space for your business.
What Is Self Storage?
Essentially, self storage is a unit at a purpose-built facility where you can store your personal possessions or business goods on either a short or long-term basis.
Most service providers offer self storage rooms in a wide variety of sizes, so you only pay for the space that you need. During the period of the rental, that self storage room is yours exclusively and you have free access to it.
In addition to a unit being as easy as ‘lock-up-and-go’, storage facilities also include on-site staff and moving services to help you, as well as 24-hour security to keep your things safe.
Types of Self Storage
Nowadays, storage facilities like Storage King offer a range of solutions for your needs. Here are a few types of self storage units:
Personal Storage
This type of storage is for individuals and families who need extra space or to keep their possessions safe for a period of time. Here are some examples of when you might need personal self storage:
- You’re renovating your home and don’t want things to get damaged
- You’re planning to travel for an extended period of time
- You’re moving into a smaller home and don’t have space for all your things anymore
Business & Office Space
Being adaptable is a must these days in business. Change is inevitable and your business — whether a startup from home or a bigger, more established company — might need self storage for a number of reasons. You can use storage units as extra office space, a warehouse where you can do inventory, or a high-security storage space for important documents.
Student Storage
If you’re a student, there are a range of uses for self storage. For example, if you go home for the holidays and need to move out of your dorm room, you can store your things in a locker or small self storage unit. Maybe you brought too many things from home that don’t fit in your room — this is a perfect time to get yourself a unit.
Storage Rental Factors To Consider
1. Location
Ask yourself if location matters in terms of accessibility. If you need access to your things regularly, then you may want to find something close by. Keep in mind that the location will affect the price of your unit. The cost of a unit differs between cities and suburbs, with units in more popular urban areas costing more. If you don’t need your things often, you could choose a unit that’s in a more affordable area, further from the hustle and bustle.
2. Size & Type
Size and type of unit matters. Think about the square footage of the space as well as what extra features you require. Larger spaces will cost more than smaller ones, and extra features can add to the price too. Not sure how much space you need? Try out our size estimator and get a quote.
3. Rental Period
Many self storage facilities rent month to month, but some have discounts on long-term rentals, so consider how long you’ll need your unit for. Most facilities accept short-term rentals, but have a minimum rental period — this can be as little as two weeks.
4. Insurance
One thing you might not know is that insurance is a must for self storage. You’ll need to factor this into the cost of a unit and arrange insurance to cover any physical loss or damage to your property whilst it’s in storage.
5. Price
Self storage prices depend on the size of the unit; the features included; the length of the rental period; the facility’s location; and even the level that the unit is on.
Some storage providers have special offers for new customers, as well as discounts for long-term stays, so be sure to ask when signing up.
How To Pack Your Self Storage Unit
1. Check the Rules
Find out from your facility what is allowed and what is not. Often flammable, perishable, and hazardous items cannot be kept in self storage units.
2. Label Your Items
When packing for self storage make sure you label any boxes clearly, and don’t forget to add if they are fragile or not!
3. Pack Items Correctly
- If any furniture can be broken down, do so before packing them into the storage unit
- The largest items should always go in first, right at the back
- Heavier items can form a base for stacking other items
- Cover any furniture at the bottom to prevent damage
- Keep frequently used items at the front
- Leave access space so you can walk between the aisles of the uni
4. Keep an Inventory Map
If you have quite a bit to store, keep a full list of everything that's in your unit and where it is on the map so you can locate it easily.
Want a self storage quote? Call Storage King on 0800 0852 954 now!
