Secure Self Storage

When placing valuable items in storage, you want to know that they’ll be safe from theft and burglary. Since this is a common concern among storage users, many storage facilities offer security features to decrease the chance of crime on their premises.

Unlike your home, your storage unit isn’t under your watchful eye at all times. Because of this, you want to store your belongings at a storage facility that has your best interests in mind and is willing to monitor the safety of your valuables.

Basic Security Features

There are many great security features offered by storage facilities that you can take advantage of. With varying levels of security, you’ll need to compare storage facilities in order to find which has the security that’s right for you. Most storage facilities offer basics security, including:

• Gated Access – An increasing amount of storage facilities have installed electronic-entry gates with unique pass codes or security cards to ensure they know exactly who’s entering the facility at all times.
• Lighting – If you plan on accessing your storage unit while it’s dark outside, you’ll want the facility to be well-lit. Light can also be a deterrent for thieves, as they can be easily spotted.

Advanced Security Features

If you’re really serious about self storage security, some facilities offer more advanced methods of protection. If you plan on storing valuable items, you may want to find a facility with these types of security features:

• Alarmed Units – The most effective way to protect a storage unit from theft is to find a unit that is alarmed. This prevents anyone from breaking in to your unit, as an alarm will sound if they do.
• Video Surveillance – While video surveillance is mostly used to review what went wrong after a burglary, the mere existence of surveillance cameras has the ability to deter some thieves.
• Resident Management – Some facilities have management that lives on site, allowing the property to be supervised 24/7.

The Value of Peace of Mind

Facilities that offer more advanced security features will often have slightly more expensive rental rates than others, but the investment may be worth it. What you really gain when you choose better security is peace of mind. Replacing everything after theft or property damage would be very expensive, so spending more upfront on security will save you that cost down the road.

Storage Unit Insurance

There’s only so much a storage facility can do in terms of security—the rest may simply be up to fate. You have the ability, however, to protect yourself and your belongings in the case that someone breaks in to your storage unit by purchasing insurance.

Most storage facilities will require some type of insurance in order to rent there. Sometimes, a homeowner’s policy will cover the contents of the storage unit. If not, almost all facilities will have insurance that can be purchased. Most insurance policies begin at around $10 per month—on top of rent—and increase based on the amount of coverage desired.