What’s the Process? How to ‘Do’ Self Storage

Decluttering; moving; business storage; seasonal storage – we don’t need to tell you that renting a storage unit is an absolutely cracking way to keep your belongings safe, sound and neatly out of the way to give you more space and less clutter at home.

But how do you actually go about it? What do you need to consider? Who do you contact? And how do you know your choice of self storage facility is the right one for you?

Don’t worry – if you’re a first timer, or you’re making a switch after a long time, here’s everything you need to think about as you embrace the wonder that is self storage!

What Do You Need to Store?

First things first, what do you need a unit for? Is it large items like furniture or smaller items like documents? 

How long do you think you’ll need to rent a unit? Is it a short term option to hold items while you move house or redecorate? Or is it a longer term storage solution where you want somewhere to store items that you don’t want taking up space at home? 

Are your storage needs seasonal? 

Do you require storage for work?

What do you need to store – is temperature controlled storage a consideration because your items are sensitive to temperature or humidity like electronics, fabrics or antiques?

Make a list of everything that you need before you begin your storage unit search so that you know exactly what your requirements are.

What Size Unit Will You Need?

Small, Medium or Large? A good Storage Facility will have a really broad range of unit sizes to suit everyone’s requirements. At Storage World, for example, our units range from 0.9 metres squared (a good sized broom cupboard or about 10 archive boxes), to 23 metres squared (about 600 medium boxes or the contents of a 5+ bedroomed house) with plenty of other sizes in between. 

We’ve got a really handy size estimator on our website so once you’ve figured out what you’re planning to store, just get clicking and see what’s the right size for you. 

What’s Your Ideal Facility?

It’s a match made in heaven once you’ve found a storage provider that’s right for you and that’s no exaggeration! Self storage is meant to make your life easier, right? So choosing the right facility means positive vibes all the way. 

Location – Find one that’s near to your home or workplace – wherever’s handiest for you to visit, especially if those visits will be frequent ones, like if you’re picking up or storing stock for your business. 

Accessibility – Check out the opening hours to make sure that they’re convenient for you. Is the facility 24/7 or, if not, do the hours suit your schedule? No point in choosing one that closes at 5pm each day when you don’t finish work until 5.30! 

Security – This is a big one. What sort of security measures does the facility have in place? Twenty four hour CCTV? Security and Fire Alarms? Smart Entry? (We don’t mean to brag, but at Storage World we tick all of those security boxes – in fact, our highest priority is security for you and your belongings).

Cleanliness – You want to be assured that your belongings will come out of the storage facility in the same condition as they went in so it’s a good idea to visit your chosen facility and check out if everything is as spick and span as you  need it to be.

Reputation – Not just a great Taylor Swift album, it’s key to choosing a great Self Storage facility. Check reviews or seek out recommendations. 

Those little extras – What’s the access like for loading and unloading? Does the facility offer temperature controlled options? Does it feel like a pleasant, safe place to be? Does it offer discounts? Or packaging? 

Little things mean a lot, so check it all out before you make your choice. 

What’s It Going To Cost Me?

Cost is, as with anything, a hugely influential factor in choosing a facility. With self storage, costs can vary depending on size, location, additional features etc. Keep an eye out for additional costs – administration fees, cancellation fees, late payment penalties, insurance charges – that sort of thing.

And don’t forget to check out discounts too – many facilities offer great discounts which means you’re getting an excellent storage solution AND ka-ching! Cash that stays in your pocket! 

So How Do I Book My Unit?

You call, you go online or you pop down in person – whatever suits you best! Contact your chosen storage unit with any questions at all and they’ll be only too delighted to help and advise, making sure you’ve made the best choice for your needs and budget. 

What’s in the Small Print?

Once you’ve made your choice and the decision to rent a unit, you’ll be signing a rental agreement. 

It goes without saying that you should read this very carefully before putting your autograph on the end of it – double check things like your rental terms, length of lease, terms for renewing and terms for ending the contract. And familiarise  yourself with payment terms – make sure you keep note of when payments are due and what happens if you don’t make them. Confirm the practicalities – access codes and methods and also make sure to get to know what you can’t store in your unit to make sure everyone’s singing off the same hymn sheet. 

Happy with everything? Excellent – sign on the dotted line and let the storage commence!

How Do I End My Contract?

Nothing lasts forever, unfortunately, and, even if your storage experience has been utterly brilliant, the day may come when you and your unit need to part ways just because you don’t need self storage anymore. No problem! 

If and when this happens, just make sure to follow the correct steps:

Give notice – the terms for this will be in your agreement.

Empty and Clean the Unit.

Return keys or codes 

Clear your final bill – make sure to check for any additional charges you might have incurred.

Easy As Pie!

Self Storage couldn’t be easier once you do a little research and make sure that you know what you want before you make the commitment. And once you do? Well, that’s all the sweet sweet storage solutions you could possibly dream of. Congratulate yourself – you’ve made a great choice!

Unlock the freedom of extra space. Get in touch with Storage World today or get a quote online.