People are always “decluttering” or “downsizing” for a variety of reasons – and often that has meant disposing of items that, at some stage, many regret, but felt they simply did not have the space at home or work to keep! There is a solution though proving increasingly popular – affordable rates and a growth of accessible storage facilities has seen people considering personal self-storage units as an ideal solution to their space issues – here are some aspects of self storage to consider:
Type And Size
There are many options for renting personal self-storage units in both the type of unit that may be required, and the size. Most storage facilities will offer self-storage units in a variety of sizes and capacities – you can rent a small unit to store personal items, perhaps of value either monetary or personally, or larger units capable of keeping every furniture item from your home.
If you are redecorating your home, then a small unit to store some household items for a short period is ideal – redecorating your home is a lot easier if you remove all the items in a room first. Likewise, renting a personal storage unit if you are moving home altogether, is a great idea!
That would allow you to gradually move your items to a storage unit over a longer period which can help you to ‘stagger’ your move – instead of having to pack your entire belongings into a truck and move it to your new house all in one day, spending some time prior to the move storing your belongings makes it easier to decide which items you really want to include in your new home and also offers the luxury of moving your items into your new place at a more ‘leisurely’ pace, making it easier to properly organise your new house space.
Alternatively, you may require a larger personal storage unit – many people now work, or run small businesses from their home, so a self-storage container is a great solution to create space in your home for an office, or to keep stock and goods for any business you have started. The array of different sizes of container storage units allows you to choose the best size and volume option for the ideal amount of time you need!
Rental Flexibility
Flexible rental period times allow you to choose exactly for how long you want the storage unit – many facilities offer rental periods from as little as a couple of weeks to months or years! You don’t want to be paying for storage that you no longer want, so consider beforehand how long you will need the facility. It is worth noting that, if you are looking for personal storage for a longer period, then you can often negotiate cheaper rental prices.
Security
One of the most important aspects of personal self-storage – also a big advantage – is the ideal environment they provide for your valuable items. Personal self-storage units are dry, clean, and secure – many of these facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art security systems, offering 24-hour CCTV surveillance, modern alarm systems and security staff, ensuring your goods are fully protected, whilst also allowing you access to your items whenever you require.
Insurance
As mentioned earlier, personal storage units offer safe and secure, controlled environments to keep your important items, but it is also worth considering some extra insurance – just in case! Most personal self-storage facilities will offer storage insurance, often included in the rental price of the storage unit itself – check with the storage company as to whether this is the case and, if so, at what level does their insurance cover.
Accessibility
Most self-storage container facilities offer 24-hour access to your unit – personalised passcodes and keys offer both the security and flexibility of access to your items that you need. This permanent access allows the freedom to visit your unit as and when is convenient for yourself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Packing A Storage Unit
If you are going to pay for storage space, you will want to maximise that space to get the most efficient usage possible. Ensure that you have packed away your belongings in the most effective and productive manner. Use quality packing materials and sturdy packing boxes or crates that can be safely stacked in storage.
It is important to clearly label your storage boxes – this makes for easy identification and access whilst in storage, and makes unpacking much easier when relevant. Dismantle any large furniture items to make them easier to store, and you should avoid stacking or leaning larger furniture items against walls to allow for better all-round ventilation. Cover your furniture items with dustsheets to help maintain their condition.
Many self-storage units are readily fitted with shelving of all kinds that will allow you to properly organise your goods whilst in storage – ideal if you are storing stock for a business as you can easily store and access the items quickly and effectively if dispatching goods to customers. A well-organised storage space will allow you to have a more effective and professional operation.
Inventory
If you are storing many items or several boxes, it is advisable to keep a full list of the contents of each box or container – if you record the contents and position of each box in storage it will make accessing the items far easier, and will also act as a checklist for when you are removing the items at the end of your storage rental period.
Cost Effective
The cost of personal self-storage will depend on the size of unit, and the rental period you require it – but self-storage containers and units need not be expensive to rent. The flexibility of the different-sized units and rental periods mean you should only ever have to pay for the space you need for the time you want – there should be no unnecessary overheads involved!
Benefits Of A Personal Self Storage Unit
Amongst the many benefits of personal self storage is the guaranteed security for 24 hours-a-day with state-of-the-art surveillance, affordable self-storage prices, flexible access to your storage unit and, of course, the peace of mind that your important items are safe.
