For many, renting a form of self-storage is a necessity at some point. Whether this is for college or because you have too much stuff, self-storage can seem a little bit intimidating for many first-timers. Many will miss a few critical items that they should have considered before moving into the location, especially with the overwhelming amount of information available online.
Keep reading to learn a few tips that you can apply to your self-storage experience as a new renter. These should help make the adventure a little bit easier. With any luck, you will be moved in and satisfied in no time at all.
Look for Good Deals First
The first tip to remember when looking into self-storage is to scour the internet for good deals before making any final decisions. Self-storage can be a huge rip-off, but there are many affordable options out there if you take the time to look for them.
When looking, you should seek out a self-storage option that offers:
- Flexible lease terms
- Good sizing for the price
- Location that is convenient and practical to you
All of these contribute to whether or not a company is providing you with a good deal.
The best lockers will have a flexible lease and allow you access to them anytime you need them. The cost should correlate with the size that you are getting. It might do you well to compare and contrast a similar locker at multiple places.
Pick a Perfect Size
The perfect size is vital to invest in to save money. Many first-time users assume that they will need a much larger space than they do. This overestimation leads to an unnecessarily high price that could have been avoided by making the right sizing choices.
You might select your ideal locker by visiting the storage unit ahead of time or measuring it out in space at your home. This precaution will permit you to see if all of your stuff can fit within the area. If it can’t, size up. Remember that storage lockers have walls to lean on, so you won’t need to create perfectly stacked piles of stuff inside the unit. View our size estimator to discover which storage size works best for you.
Check for Climate-Controlled Storage Units
Climate control is always the best option when using self-storage. This item is typically available with indoor storage. The temperature will remain the same, keeping your stuff from decaying or falling apart in extreme weather.
A climate-controlled unit is best if you are storing:
- Books and paper-based items
- Boats and other vehicles
- Furniture, particularly pieces made from damageable materials
- Clothes that made of easily destructible items
All of these items will benefit from climate control in a storage unit. If you have any items made from destructible material, climate control should be your first choice for a storage unit.
If this goes beyond your budget, ensure that you don’t place any valuable items inside the locker. They could suffer permanent damage due to the temperature. Avoid this nightmare by selecting climate control or keeping your critical things at home, safe in the air-conditioning, and coolness of your personal space.
Ensure the Storage Unit Has Insurance
Self-storage units deal with insurance in two different ways. Some have an insurance policy on their containers, while others require that renters buy their own for the locker they are using. The first is the best one of all, as it doesn’t require extra confusion or spending.
Double-check with the employees at the unit beforehand. If they require you to invest in expensive insurance, you should avoid keeping your stuff in the place. They are not worth your time if they cannot protect your things from harm.
Organize Your Storage Unit for Easy Access
Many do not think about accessing their stuff when putting it into a storage unit. This item is a critical tip. Nobody likes to open up a messy locker, so you should ensure that you can move around the space before you lock it for the very first time.
You can organize by:
- Ensuring that there is a path in the middle of all the stuff
- Placing more vital items on the top, rather than the bottom
- Getting containers that can easily be organized and moved around
All of these organizational tips will allow easy access to the stuff in your space.
Organizing is critical. Avoid the urge to toss everything in and walk away, as this will not serve you well in the long run. Tidy will always dominate over messy and disgusting. You don’t want to come back to a messy locker, as this can be overwhelming and frustrating.
Store Your Stuff Correctly
Many people do not realize that there are particular ways items should be stored inside a locker. Organizing it is one thing but protecting it from the elements and time is a whole new ballgame. There are a few things you should do to make sure that your stuff is stored correctly.
Some of these include:
- Using pallets to prevent the growth of mold or mildew
- Utilizing plastic containers that will defend the items inside
- Wrapping fragile items with packing materials to keep them safe if any movement occurs
All of these items should be implemented in the storage process to keep everything protected.
Preventative storage will help to keep all of your items safe. When putting things inside the locker, you should always be thinking with this kind of mindset. Paying for a place is meaningless if the items you keep inside suffer any damage from the act.
Conclusion
Many first-time users need a few tips for self-storage. After all, it can be a bit of an intimidating process for those who have no idea what they are doing. Self-storage is supposed to be helpful, but all too often, it becomes detrimental to those who see it.
You can keep this from happening to you by applying these tips to your experience with self-storage. These should make the whole thing easier, saving you money and helping you decide on the ideal locker for whatever your situation is.
Bend Storage in Bend, Oregon provides high quality storage units. Contact us today!