What to Look for When Choosing a Storage Company
Posted on 12/11/2013
What to Look for When Choosing a Storage Company
Whether you’re moving house, office or plan to be away for long periods of time and don’t want to leave valuables in your home, self storage can be a useful option. There are lots of storage companies to choose from, so what should you look for when deciding? Below are a few useful steps you can take, allowing you to make an informed decision.
Prices and Location
The first thing to consider is how much you will be storing and for how long, but also where the nearest storage facility is relative to you. If you’re planning on storing goods when moving, a good option is to find a facility close to your new home. This will save you time and travel costs when picking everything up after your move. The larger storage companies usually have a number of facilities nationwide, which you can look up on their websites. In order to get the best deal, check the websites of a couple of companies that you are considering. It’s often useful to have a clear sense of how long you need to store your things for, so you can discuss options with the them too. Another useful tip is to take advantage of any special offers that might be running. Generally, if you plan to store items for a long period of time, you will get slightly discounted rates.
Do you really need to store it?
It’s worth double checking what really needs to go into storage and what you can sell/throw away (especially in the case of moving), as this can save you space, and in turn money. Another thing to consider is that most companies will require you to store items for a minimum time period, normally around 7 days, so if you need things stored for less time than the minimum, it may be cheaper to consider alternative arrangements.
Check the security arrangements
The last thing you want is for all your valuables to be damaged or stolen, so make sure to check what security measures a storage company has in place. Most companies have alarmed rooms/containers and are housed in secure, fenced buildings, but it’s always best to check. You can generally find these details on a storage companies website. Another reason to double check the security arrangements is insurance. While most companies will offer an inbuilt insurance with your pricing, it’s a good idea to double check what this covers, and whether you can use your own home insurance to cover things like fire damage, theft, etc. Something else to check is whether the security is the same at all hours. Sometimes companies will operate different policies at night time, so be sure to double check they are what you require before committing your goods.
Accessibility
There are many different options offered by storage companies when it comes to accessing your items. Make sure to check the hours they are available suits your needs, as opening hours can vary. Some companies operate 24 hour access, but most will have standard opening hours between 6am to 11pm. Should you desperately need to get access outside a company’s opening hours, most will open up for you given some notice beforehand. Hopefully though, this shouldn’t be an issue, as the majority of your stored goods will not be things that you need on an everyday basis.
