Decide on the Type of Storage Unit You Need
Take a look at the things you plan to put into storage. You
may already have an idea of the size of storage unit you want to rent, but keep
in mind that you don't want to just rent a storage unit that will fit all of
your items, you want a unit where you can fit yourself inside with a little
room to work. If you ever want to be able to get your items out, you don't want
to pack your storage space wall to wall, floor to ceiling. Many people get the
smallest possible unit they can get in order to save money, and then wind up
having to empty half of it to get to a box that's in the back. Don't be that
guy, unless you know you'll never need anything you're putting inside.
Do Your Homework
Now we're going to focus on how you can find storage
buildings as opposed to at-home storage boxes sealed boxes that you can't
access when you want to go get your Christmas lights. First, don't get stuck on
the storage facility closest to your home. Here are some things to do before
you even pick up the phone.
·
Don't get stuck on location. There's no faster
way to find yourself storing your precious memories in a facility that sucks
than to get stuck working with the one that just happens to be closest to you
or cheapest in your community. Cast your net wide enough so you have a good
handful of options that you can investigate.
·
Check the reviews. Look up the storage facility
on Google. You obviously want to take reviews with a grain of salt, but if
they're all bad or there's a recurring theme, you may want to steer clear. The
reviews can also give you some insight into what you may want to keep an eye
out for if you go visit the storage facility.
·
Compare the gate and office hours. A number of
storage units only post their gate hours, to make the location sound like its
open later than it really is. Remember there's a difference. The gate hours are
usually the hours in which you can access your storage unit, but the office
hours are almost always shorter. If you have a problem or need to speak to someone,
you'll only be able to address your issues during office hours. Similarly, make
sure the gate and access hours are convenient for you. If your storage unit
closes at 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays, it's probably not very convenient, and
there may be a reason why.
Go Visit and Ask Questions
Now that you know what you're looking for and you have a few
options, it's time to go take a look at the storage locations you're
considering. Once you walk through the door, don't be pressured to sign on the
dotted line right away, even if the property management tries to tell you that
units are limited. Most companies will let you at least hold a unit overnight
so you can think it over. Make the most of your visit by looking around and
asking questions instead.
·
Ask the property management if you can see the
unit you would actually get. This, or at least a unit on the same floor or in
the same area. Some storage facilities will show you a clean, 3rd floor unit
but actually rent you a dirty, bug-infested basement one, so be assertive if
you have to so you can see a unit representative of the one you'll actually
sign for.
·
Ask if there are any rental specials or
discounts available. Most storage companies will offer you the first month free
or for $1, which makes the transition from an old storage unit to a new one
really easy (especially if you've already paid for the last month in the old
unit) or if you want to make moving into the new unit a little less painful on
the wallet. If they don't offer a special, don't worry, the next one you visit
probably will.
·
Find out what happens if you miss or are late on
a payment. In many places, storage units aren't treated like apartments. On the
first day of the month, your rent is automatically late. Grace periods vary by
the company or even by the state, and in some cases even being a few days late
with your payment means your unit's contents can be auctioned off to the
highest bidder at a wholesale auction. The last storage unit I rented gave me
that scare tactic, and reminded me that I should always be timely or else the
unit would be scheduled for auction and I would incur daily late fees. Make
sure you know what your storage unit's policy is before you're stuck trying to
do a wire transfer or pay online because you left town without dropping off a
check.
Once you've seen the unit you would actually get and you
have a good understanding of what you'd be getting into, ask the property
manager if you can put the unit on hold if you like what you see. They may or
may not be able to, but don't fall for high-pressure tactics. Even if you can't
hold the unit, get a business card so you get back in touch with the person you
met.
Hopefully, this helps you to find the perfect storage unit possible and
hopefully that storage unit is ours!