As the old adage goes “You get what you pay for”, is relevant when choosing a storage facility. Some places are a little more expensive than others and you need to weigh the pros and cons of each facility and how it meets your needs.
How important is the location for you?
Prime locations are known for close proximity, easy access and convenience in a desirable neighborhood. Storage facilities in a prime location, will more often than not, cost a little more money for the unit because it is in a high demand area.
Is a clean, bug and pest control facility important to you?
Some storage facilities have a regular maintenance person who maintains the property and buildings. They also may have a regular schedule for pest and bug control prevention. This is usually on a monthly basis. Some facilities do not have a maintenance person on a regular basis and some do not do routine bug and pest control.
Is Security and Accessibility important to you?
Some facilities have gated access, coded building access and 24/7 video monitoring. Some facilities do not.
Is the cost to begin renting a unit important to you?
All facilities have their own lease requirements and rules and regulations. You should read through the lease carefully before signing. Some facilities require a deposit, along with the first month’s rent, and others do not have any deposit. Some facilities make you prepay for the following month while others do not and some facilities have the billing on the first of every month and some facilities bill by the monthly anniversary.
Are strict lock and insurance requirements important to you?
Some facilities have lock requirements and insurance requirements.
Most facilities will let you bring in your own locks, but some require that you buy their locks and others may give you a lock to use.
Storage facilities also have different rules and regulations regarding insurance. They do not insure your belongings and some will let you use your home owners insurance, others will require you to buy their insurance, and some will let you rent at your own risk.
Write down what is important to you. Call around to different facilities in your area and ask your important questions. Once you find out what facilities in your area offer what fits your needs, go take a look at the facility and meet the management. In the end, it all comes down to what is most important to you.
