Many individuals and families hoping to save money, are
downsizing to smaller homes. Additionally, they may be temporarily
living in an apartment or rental home, until their new new home is
finished being built. Either way, circumstances arise where storage
is the most logical option to safely house extra belongings.
Self storage: Security and safety
If you need a temporary place for storing personal items, it is
hard to have trust in the safety of a relative's garage or spare
bedroom. This becomes especially important if you're storing
furniture that is valuable and expensive.
For starters, you will need to keep all belongings protected
from theft or vandalism. Additionally, if you're storing furniture
and boxes in a garage, it's difficult to control the temperature
level of the space.
In this case, temperature and humidity are likely to cause
serious damage to valuable pieces of furniture, resulting in mould,
mildew, and warped wood.
For this reason, a storage facility can be a smart choice. You
will be able to store furniture and personal belongings in a
temperature controlled environment that is fully equipped with
locks and security cameras.
You will be "killing two birds with one stone" by protecting
your items from theft and ensuring that they are in a controlled
environment to prevent long-term damage.
Three reasons to consider self storage
In addition to security and safety, there are several reasons
why storage may be the best option during your relocation:
- Cut down on clutter. Even if you're
moving to a home of the same size, you may have a difficult time
moving in appliances, boxes, furniture, toys, and
memorabilia.
A storage unit is the ideal place to keep items that you no longer
use yet don't want to throw away, like boxes of photos and
yearbooks or antique furniture.
- House large items. You simply may not
have the space to house larger items like a canoe, vintage car, or
Jet Ski in your garage or driveway.
For larger items that need security and protection from the
weather, storing them in a storage rental unit will be the best
choice.
- Insured protection. A storage rental
unit will offer the option or may even require insurance on your
valuables in case they are damaged or stolen.
Many times, you may find that this insurance is actually cheaper
than renter's or homeowner's insurance to protect your
goods.
When looking for a storage rental unit, think about location
first of all. It is best if the storage space is located close to
your home if you need to access it often.
Make sure to ask storage facility representatives, how often you
are able to access your unit. Most facilities now provide 24-hour a
day access at no cost, yet some rental facilities may have time
restrictions or charge extra for after-hours access.
Top moving tip
To save money, measure all belongings and boxes that need to be
stored before booking a storage rental unit. Renting a unit that is
too large will waste both space and money since you will be paying
rental charges on a periodical basis.