Your desire to clean up and clear out has led you to the inevitable conclusion that you need an off-site storage solution. You have settled on renting a self-storage unit rather than asking friends and relatives to take your stuff. Now what?
The first thing to know is that you should not run right out and rent the first storage unit you find. Not all self-storage solutions are equally suitable for your needs. Take the time to look around, ask questions, and even visit a few sites if necessary. There are enough options in the greater New York area to meet just about any need.
Take a Good Look at Security
Self-storage units are easy targets for thieves if they are not kept secure by ownership. Be wary of renting a self-storage unit that is not protected in some way, shape, or form. Fortunately, most self-storage owners secure their properties with a combination of gates and alarms. The best of the best also monitor their properties with video cameras.
Another thing to consider is that self-storage property crimes are often perpetrated by criminals who rent units themselves in order to gain access to the property. Then they use bolt cutters to remove padlocks from other units. You might want to consider a self-storage property that uses cylinder locks instead of padlocks. You might also want to ask if individual units are alarmed.
Consider Climate-Controlled Space
Climate-controlled self-storage features insulated units with both heating and air-conditioning. This may not be important to you if you are not planning to store anything sensitive to temperature extremes. On the other hand, insist on climate control storage if hot and cold extremes could be a problem.
Move-In Discounts Are Not Always Good
It is easy to be tempted by a move-in discount that reduces your rent somewhat. But be careful. Some of these discounts are really just bait-and-switch schemes designed to get people in the door before raising rental rates a few months down the road. Bear in mind that self-storage is usually based on a month-to-month arrangement. In other words, you are not signing a lease that guarantees your rent for a specific amount of time.
If you are signing a yearly lease, more information is provided in the next section. Otherwise, ask property owners how frequently they raise their rents. Ask them if they offer any kind of guarantee that keeps your rent stable for a set amount of time. If you are at all concerned that your rental rates will increase, either find a different self-storage facility or ask for something in writing.
Pay Attention to Lease Details (if applicable)
Self-storage facilities that do offer leases are required to spell out rental details precisely. This is your opportunity to get a full understanding of what a particular property is offering. Remember the old saying that says ‘the devil is in the details’. It applies here. Read and make sure you understand a lease before you sign it. Any lease that makes you uncomfortable is a warning sign to get up and walk away.
Consider Size Carefully
Finally, self-storage units are rented based on size. The smaller the unit, the lower the rent. So carefully consider exactly what you will be storing before you choose your unit. You may have furniture pieces that can be disassembled, for example. There is no need to rent the largest possible unit if you can condense your possessions into something smaller.
Self-storage is a great tool for getting clutter out of your home. We invite you to contact us if you need help cleaning out the clutter and getting things into storage. Decluttering is one of our specialties.