With space being a luxury feature in modern homes, self-storage is rapidly becoming a booming industry across the US, with a high demand for facilities among both consumers and investors. You probably saw them popping up in your town and thought that wrapping your belongings in a bundle and putting them in a storage unit until you’re ready to use them is a brilliant idea. Whether you’re moving, downsizing, or you’re simply in need of a substantial decluttering session, a self-storage unit can save the day. But, before you embrace the modern-day minimalistic approach, take into consideration the following five questions that you need to ponder on before renting the ideal self-storage unit:
1. What Items Do I Want to Store?
The first and most important question you need to ask yourself is what items, precisely, you want to store. You know you want to store your ‘stuff’, but what does that mean? Depending on the items, you will choose the length of your storage, the money you are willing to invest and the size of the unit you need. Start by making an inventory of what you’re going to be packing away and figure out whether you want to store wood, leather, antiques, electronics, artwork or all of the above. This will help you not only to be more organized, but also to figure out what amenities you need.
2. How Long Will I Be Storing For?
The average self-storage rental agreement is a month-to-month lease. While keeping in mind the items you will be storing, consider how long you’ll be renting the facility for. If you opt for a short-term rental, you may not need fancy extra features, such as valet services. However, if you plan on storing long-term, you must take into consideration additional things such as pest and climate control, visiting hours and much more. Safety and security also have a heightened importance if you want to keep your belongings in a unit for a longer period of time.
3. How Much Do I Want to Spend?
The cost of a storage unit generally depends on a multitude of factors, such as the size, the location and the amenities it includes. Before you start searching, you should figure out how much money you are willing to pay on a monthly basis. If you start your search without sticking to a specific budget, you might find a storage unit that works for you but is more expensive than you can afford. Furthermore, when you determine your budget, you might take into consideration only the price of the unit itself, but there is more. You should also factor in the extra costs, such as insurance, because storage facilities do not automatically take responsibility for the damages to your possessions and you need to have some coverage from fire, wind, theft, leaking water and so on. Besides, you will also have to pay an administration fee, which is a nonrefundable fee charged when a lease is signed. Prices may vary and it is very important to find a place that will meet all of your storage needs with ease and convenience.
4. What Size Do I Need the Unit to Be?
Once you’ve decided upon the items you need to store, you should think about what size you want your unit to be. You don’t want to rent a small one and figure out halfway through that there’s not enough space for all your stuff, or, alternatively, to rent one that is too big and end up with half of the space empty. The ideal solution is to make an inventory and approximate how much space you need. For example, if you want to store just a couple of boxes or some small pieces of furniture, you should opt for a 5×5 or a 5×10. When you need enough space for bigger furniture or even bikes or motorcycles, go for a 10×10 or 10×15, which can normally hold the contents of a two-bedroom apartment. The biggest options available, namely 10×20 or 10×30 are used for storing cars or the contents of large houses. However, if you don’t inherently understand what a 5×5 or 10×10 storage unit actually looks like in real life, you can watch size guide videos, or, even better, take some time to visit the units and see for yourself how much you can fit inside.
5. What Are the Most Important Factors to Me?
After going through the previously mentioned steps, you need to ask yourself what other factors are important so that you can ensure the wellbeing of your belongings while they are in storage. Take into consideration the security and safety of the facility as well as pest control, because you don’t want your belongings to become infested in any way. Then think about how often you want to visit if you rent for a lengthy period of time, and whether you will have 24/7 access or if there are special visiting hours. Last, but not least, consider the payment methods, the most convenient of them being autopay.
All in all, there are many things you have to think carefully about before renting a self-storage unit, which is why you should take into consideration these five tips in order to make a smart decision. If you’re not sure where to get started, browse through our available listings on STORAGECafé and find your ideal storing unit.
How to Move a TV: The Right Way to Pack, Transport and Store Any Television
TVs rank among the most stressful items to move. They’re large, awkward to carry and one wrong move can leave you with a cracked screen or dead pixels. Modern LED, OLED, and QLED panels are significantly more fragile than the heavy TVs of the past. Their screens are thin, their internal components are delicate, and they’re designed to sit still on a stand, not ride in the back of a moving truck.
How to Store Bedding the Right Way (Without Smells or Flattened Fills)
If you’ve ever pulled a comforter out of storage and immediately caught a whiff of something musty, you know how frustrating it can be. Good quality bedding can be quite expensive, so you definitely want to keep what you own in pristine conditions.
Where to Get Moving Boxes in NYC: Your Complete Guide
Moving across New York City comes with all sorts of logistical puzzles. You’re working around narrow staircases, building freight elevators with limited hours, alternate-side parking windows, and doormen who’d rather you weren’t blocking the lobby with a dolly. The last thing you want to be scrambling for on top of all that is moving boxes.
How to Keep Personal Belongings Organized When Living Together
You dreamed of the Friends apartment. Or maybe just a tidy place where you and your roommate had your own corners of the world. For couples, living together was supposed to feel like home. For multigenerational living, it was supposed to bring everyone closer. What nobody warns you about is that living together introduces a whole new layer of organization in shared spaces. Your stuff, their stuff and everyone’s habits are competing for the same square footage.
Where to Donate Furniture in San Francisco: 6 Organizations That Make It Easy
San Francisco has no shortage of places to donate furniture, which is good news in a place where moving trucks seem to be a permanent part of the streetscape. Anyone who’s ever watched three friends pivot a couch around the tight corner of a San Francisco Victorian knows moving day here can turn into a spectator sport. Apartments change, roommates come and go and sometimes the couch that fit in one place might not make the trip to the next.
How to Store Ties: Closet, Drawer and Travel Scenarios
The best way to keep your ties wrinkle-free is to just learn how to properly store them. You can start by knowing to never store ties knotted, in tight rolls, or exposed to direct sunlight or heat (which causes discoloration). But there are a few extra steps you can take to ensure your ties stay in top form. Let’s go through all the places and ways you can store your ties, and you may never have to worry about a crumpled necktie again in your life.
How to Store Belts (Without any Hassle)
If you want to make sure you’re storing your belts properly, we get it. A belt might be a small part of an outfit, but small details can make a big difference. Belts have been part of clothing for thousands of years — dating back to the Bronze Age — and while their purpose has evolved, they remain both functional and personal. If you have a favorite leather belt, an expensive piece, or simply a few belts you want to keep looking their best, it’s worth knowing how to store them properly. The right method can help prevent creases, cracks, scratches and unnecessary wear.
Where to Donate Books in Chicago
As much as we don’t like giving up books, sometimes we just have to in order to create the mental and bookshelf space for new literary adventures. But we all want to make sure our books aren’t wasted and get a second life. Chicago has a generous network of organizations that will put your books back into the hands of readers who’ll treasure them. Here’s where to donate books in Chicago, based on our research.
How Snowbirds Handle Traveling South: Car Shipping and Storage at Your Winter Home
Every fall, millions of Americans are confronted with the same logistical puzzle: pack up one home, land in another, and somehow keep both places functional for months at a time. If you’re a snowbird, you know the challenge isn’t just the packing. It’s also figuring out what travels with you, what you leave behind, and what to do about the car.