Self-storage services have become extremely popular these days. Customers often prefer them, including when moving to a smaller house or when they need more solid protection for numerous valuable and delicate items.
If you have recently received a recommendation to use a storage facility, but you have no idea how it works and what exactly it is, don’t worry. You are actually not alone in this.
British customers still get to know this type of convenient service, but once they meet it, they count on it for many purposes. Let us explain in detail how to access self-storage and why it’s so great.
What is Self Storage?
Self-storage is a paid professional service you might find provided independently or alongside removal and cleaning services.
In both cases, it’s a way to rent a space where you can keep your personal belongings. You get 24/7 surveillance of your items at a concrete fee, which means way better protection than keeping them in your garage.
The self-storage use is flexible and comfy. Rather than having your items locked somewhere permanently, you get the right to check them out during a certain period of the day.
Note that most companies guarantee 7-day self-storage access, which is great if you’ve often used belongings in the unit.
Self-Storage Size Guide
One of the most significant duties you’ve got when it comes to choosing a storage unit is considering how big it should be.
This service price usually depends on the duration of the rent, as well as the volume of the module. It’s totally unnecessary to extra pay for a space you don’t need.
Meanwhile, it would be very disappointing to get your thing to the storage unit and not have enough room for all of them.
To avoid such unpleasant consequences, have a look at our self-storage size guide below:
- Have all the items in one place to know what you are dealing with.
- Find a decent storage rental company to rely on and make sure it offers different modules depending on their size.
- Don’t hesitate to require for a storage space estimator. This digital tool allows you to quickly calculate the module size you need without showing or using your poor mathematic skills.
- Visit and see with your own eyes the available storage units to ensure you’ve come up with the correct size.
- Take benefit of your local storage company’s expertise and ask for a consultation. Sometimes it’s free of charge and can save you lots of upcoming issues, including such related to the right size.
What to Expect from a Self-Storage Facility?
Your first visit to a storage company might be frustrating if you don’t know what to ask and what to expect. Having no clue what this service includes might deprive you of getting all of its benefits.
Here are the basics you should insist on when renting a storage unit:
- Legality. The reputable and reliable storage company is the licensed company. Since it offers so specific and legally approved services, it should be regulated. In the UK, the Self Storage Association (SSA) deals with all these regulations. When a company is a member of this organisation, you can be sure of its top-notched offers.
- Reputation. How good is the company you have selected? Are you sure the one you’ve just neglected isn’t a more reliable one? You can review the customer testimonials for each storage firm you meet on your research day to find the answers. Speaking of which, making a comparison between the different available companies in your town is the best way to figure out what suits you most.
- Equipment. The more modern the storage company is, its services are more reliable. Contemporary equipment for climate-controlled storage, such as air conditioning and HVAC system, are just a few of the innovations to search for. During the consultation, ask for the materials and the stability of the modules, too. Some items might be too delicate or expensive to be stored in ordinary plastic boxes.
- Flexible access. The best companies in this industry guarantee 24/7 CCTV surveillance for the stored belongings. Meanwhile, they don’t lock your items forever, with no chance for you to check, take or add more of them when you want to. The more flexible the visits are, the more tranquil you will feel about your belongings.
Different Self-Storage Use
Self-storage providers don’t care why you will use their services. They will delicately preserve them in top condition and provide you with free access at concrete fixed dates and working times.
However, as a customer, you should know you can use a storage unit for numerous purposes. Here are some suggestions for you if you still think that you don’t need such an extra expense to pay:
- Before a removal. If there’s a gap between the moving-out and the moving-in dates, you need somewhere to store your items safely. Storage units are the best options for this purpose; honestly, people usually use them in this particular case.
- Because of the safety issue. You might have some items that require more protection to be kept in top condition. For instance, if you have some artwork and toddlers at home, you might need to keep your valuable items somewhere safe until your kids stop touching, damaging, and eating everything they see.
- Student’s life. Just moved to London to get your master’s degree? You might feel very frustrated with how expensive the rents are these days. Why don’t you cut off your costs by not paying the rent while you are on vacation and have your personal belongings securely stored in a professional unit?
- Renovations at home. If you are in home repairs or just trying to make some small yet risky home improvements, take precautious measures in advance. Free the space from upholstery and other heavy things by keeping them in a storage unit until you are done with your DIY project at home.
- Temporarily needed items. Things like seasonal clothing, winter or summer sports equipment, replacement automobile parts, and you name it, shouldn’t be at your disposal 24/7. However, if you have them stored in your garage, you will never have that free space for your hobby or to keep your kid’s all toys. Rent a storage facility and get your ski accessories only when winter’s coming.
Self Storage Insurance
One of the biggest pros of using storage units is that they are observed 24/7 and protected from different risks.
However, in these companies, people work. And it’s humane for a person to make a mistake. Even the most innovative high-tech pieces of machinery can cause damage. Machines do make mistakes, too, sometimes, you know.
Don’t take the risk of not having any damage covered. You should require self-storage insurance included in your contract.
The good news is that most companies these days always provide full insurance coverage for the stored items.
What Does Self Storage Facility Include?
Storage facilities are either personal or business. Though both of them usually include the same pack of features and functions. In brief, a storage facility is a module, a whole room, or a set of several spaces linked together to meet different needs and items.
Some of the storage spaces are climate-controlled, which means that they are equipped with special devices for the preservation of the most optimal temperature and humidity level.
Conclusion
Now that you know what a storage unit is, you can make up your mind and select the most suitable one for you.
We should warn you that the storage industry has expanded a lot in the last decade.
In all cases, you will receive many offers, and our hot recommendation is to analyse them carefully and avoid compromising their service quality.
