Moving to a new place requires making lots of decisions. You need to choose whether you're moving yourself or hiring a professional moving company, which business to choose for movers or moving truck rental, which items to pack which ones to let go, and many more. One of those choices is going to be which self storage or mini storage company to use if you need a place to store items that won't fit easily in your new home.
That means that you'll need to know what to look for in your storage unit facility. Here are some of the biggest factors to use in your self storage decision-making:
· Location: The old joke in real estate about the top 3 factors in selecting a home being "location, location and location" often holds true in storage unit facilities as well. You're going to look for a facility that is close to your new place and is easily accessible from major roads to make things convenient for you. The crime rate of the neighborhood should also be a major factor.
· Unit size: You want to have a storage unit that is large enough to hold all your surplus possessions, plus room to be able to get in around those possessions, plus possibly some room for "growth" in case you need to add more items after your move (a common occurrence). The reason for allowing these "pluses" is that you don't want to have to break your lease or rent a second unit with additional fees simply because you weren't planning ahead when you made your original choice. The smallest size units are usually 5' by 5', which will hold a small number of boxes or small bedroom furniture. The largest units are typically 10' by 40', which is large enough to hold most of the contents of a 4-bedroom house.
· Climate control: More and more storage facilities have begun offering climate control for their units, meaning they are typically inside a larger building. The primary advantages of climate control are that they preserve delicate items from heat, cold and humidity much better than non- climate controlled units, and are much more comfortable work in around in inclement weather. These units typically charge a significant premium.
· 24-hour direct access: This is typically a factor of pure convenience, and while nice to have, probably shouldn't be your primary criterion unless you envision needing to access your unit in off-hours or on holidays. Also, if you plan on keeping your items in storage for a longer period of time and not needing to access them often, you're less likely to need this feature.
· Monitored security cameras: This additional security feature is especially nice if some of the items you are storing are very valuable (as a general note, I don't recommend storing valuables in a storage unit). Please note that the cameras don't do nearly as much good if they aren't monitored, so verify that they are.
· Security guards on premise: Similar to the monitored security cameras mentioned above, it's an extra bonus to have security guards on premise if they actually spend their time patrolling the areas around all the units. However, if you pick the right facility, this will be hopefully unnecessary!
· Sprinkler system: A fire raging through a series of storage units is certainly a nightmare you want to avoid. Sprinkler systems are great if this unlikely occurrence does happen; however, you'll want to encase your belongings in case they go off. Water damage often causes as much if not more damage to property than fire.
· Insurance available: It's always a good idea to make certain that you have adequate insurance coverage for all your belongings, including those in your storage unit. And having insurance available from your storage facility is certainly very convenient. However, all insurance is not created equal, and you'll want to be sure you fully understand exactly what is covered, whether the coverage is for replacement value or another amount, and whether your existing homeowner's coverage applies to your storage unit items.
· Payment methods accepted: If you're going to have your storage unit for any length of time, you'll want to find out what types of payment are accepted for monthly billing, and whether those options meet your needs.
· Pricing: This is the most obvious consideration, but I left it as the last one on the list for a specific reason. The cheapest price may not be associated with your best storage facility. If you end up unable to sleep at night because of the poor quality of your storage facility, you haven't achieved much of a bargain, so please look carefully.
And there you have the top considerations for selecting the right storage facility.
For more free moving tips on movers, relocation, self storage, moving truck rental and more, please visit us at http://www.Movers-Edge.com. One of our most popular articles is our Address Change Guide, which offers a wise variety of tips and tricks on how to file your change of address.
Good luck with your move!
