While businesses utilize self storage facilities for document archives and secure equipment and inventory storage, the first place most people want to de-clutter and organize is their home. Whether it’s for ordinary household items or family heirlooms, a modern self storage facility presents many options for secure storage, letting homeowners and renters reclaim their homes, basements and garages!

Because modern self storage facilities provide a multitude of storage options–including various unit sizes and climate-controlled units–the possibilities for what you can store are abundant. Some of the more common personal uses for self storage units include:

- Transition space: As a mid-point space to store items when moving from one house to another.

- Secured environment: Many people use self storage facilities to keep special family items and/or valuable collections safe.

- Seasonal storage: Whether its holiday decorations, off-season clothing or bulky sports equipment like skis, snowboards and surfboards–seasonal items are ideal for out-of-home storage.

- College students: Rather than packing up and hauling a dorm room full of stuff home (especially out of state) many college students opt to store their items near campus.

- Downsizing options: For many people who downsize after retirement, there simply isn’t the necessary space to store all belongings in the home.

These are only some of the many personal reasons you may choose the secure, customizable solution provided by a self-storage facility. From more traditional uses, like storing home items while away, to parents storing Christmas gifts away from the prying hands and nosy eyes of little children, renting a self storage unit can ensure a safe, worry and hassle-free storage solution.

Self-storage units can also be a business asset, allowing secure archival of sensitive business documents. Look for self storage facilities that have fire and water proof construction, thereby ensuring that all your essential papers and files will be out of harm’s way. When a pipe bursts or an electrical wire sparks in a traditional office building, the results can be catastrophic, leaving business owners saying, “We lost everything.” Using a self storage facility to house your most confidential and important business documents ensures that your property will be safe should a flood, fire or accident occur. Beyond file and record storage, a self storage unit can also house overstocked office furniture, supplies and/or inventory. Self storage spaces come in many sizes, from storage for one file cabinet of documents to a room of desks, chairs and cubicle walls.

Popular reasons a business may choose to use a self storage unit include:

- To store old records and archived files.
- As a place for overstock and unused office furniture.
- During a move to a new office space.
- To keep important tax records, receipts and other vital documents.
- To store confidential or sensitive files that could be compromised if not secured.
- As an alternative to an expensive and inconvenient safe, or lock-box.
- To house seasonal and promotional items.
- And many more…

As you can see, both personal and business uses of a self-storage unit are limited only by your imagination. Self storage facilities have many units of varying sizes that can accommodate your customized requests for storage space. The facility’s employees can also find a space that resides within your budget. Self storage is perfect for those who don’t want a one-size-fits-all solution, and would prefer a personal and enjoyable experience as they store their belongings.

Storage units have become a very popular alternative in storing important items. It is critical to go for the best storage company which will secure your valuables.

A storage unit refers to the rented space provided to tenants by self storage companies. Companies that offer self storage facilities belong to real estate and personal property cargo transits. The storage facilities are divided in self storage spaces which are then leased to tenants mostly on a monthly basis. Self storage services are usually used by individuals or businesses to store inventories, equipments, collection of records and household goods.

Storage units come in assorted sizes for residential and business tenants. The most common size is the 10 feet by 5 feet with 1.5 meters depth. Some units are larger and the largest is measured at 20 feet by 20 feet similar with the dimension of two car garages. Storage units are built with corrugated metal and are without any window. They can only be accessed through the roll up metal door.

These storage units feature secured locks for protection. Only the tenant or lessee has the sole authority in accessing the contents. The facility operator does not have the right over the contents of the storage unit. Also, the operator does not take care, control, or have custody over the contents unless in cases where the lessee fails to pay the rentals imposed. Most of these facilities provide computer controlled access to the storage units, as well. Surveillance cameras are even installed for additional security. Some self storage companies present biometric scanners to ensure that only the tenant can have access on the units.

Tenants are not allowed to store hazardous, toxic, or perishable stuffs in the storage units. Also, they are not permitted to either sleep or reside in the units. In some modern facilities, a climate controlled system is set up in order to prevent mold and build up of moisture. The common temperature of these climate controlled facilities is from 50 to 80 degrees Celsius.

Based on records, there are around 58,000 of self storage facilities around the world. 52,000 of these self storage facilities are from the United States. Roughly, there’s 1.6 billion square feet rentable in this country, as well. The United States is generating around $20 billion revenue every year from self storage businesses alone. In Australia, there is 22 million for storage services while in the United Kingdom there is 20 million. For the past years, customers availing of self storage services have increased and continue to grow at an average of 10 to 15 percent. This is due to some social factors such as high rate of divorce, workforce mobility, and home improvements.

Storage facilities grant clients a secure and less expensive way of keeping their other belongings. These also free up their homes with some valuable space. This service is also especially beneficial when you are having home or office renovations or restorations. The most reputable storage companies offer their customers with added assistance such as free packaging, boxes and bubble wraps. Trucks or vans are also supplied as free service when you need to transport your things from your house to the storage facilities.

When selecting a self storage company for your requirement, it is essential to know some details before deciding to avail of their service. You must know of the unit sizes available, rental cost, safety features, distance from your house and other vital details important for your composure. When you have already chosen a particular self storage company, it is now time to pack your things and ready it for transport. Here are some basic tips in packing your things:

Create some labels for each of the boxes so you can easily identify which boxes to open when looking for a particular item.

Never stack boxes too high for it would be very difficult to get an item which is beneath the stack of boxes.

Ensure that you have properly locked your storage unit.

Read and understand the terms and conditions set in your contract.

Understand whether they charge for the access of the storage unit or not so you can schedule your visit.

Get the contact numbers of the storage manager. You will need it in case any problems arise.

Avoid sharing your keys, access cards, or passwords with anyone.

One often overlooked aspect of personal financial planning is security. Think of it this way: Working to build up more assets will be wasted effort if you cant hold on to what you already have. This means that people need to protect their homes, their businesses, their credit cards and identities everything they value. For people who rent self-storage facilities, this means making sure their storage locker is secure, as well. Here are some keys to choosing a secure self-storage facility.

One of the tried and true rules for buying real estate applies to selecting a secure facility, although it is not the primary criterion. Location, location, location is the mantra for homebuyers, and it does make sense, assuming all other key criteria are also good, to have a facility close at hand. This makes it easier to access, of course, as well as easier to keep tabs on.

Geography and size

It also makes sense to avoid storage facilities that are close to freeway onramps, since thieves scout locations with that characteristic in mind. A facility in a downtown area, on a cul-de-sac or in an industrial park with few entrances would be a wiser choice, if possible.

The size of the facility may have an impact on the security provided. A sprawling compound with a dozen buildings that is managed by just a few employees is not going to be the most secure. Consider the ratio of employees to acreage. You should also find out how the security is managed, and a combination of foot patrols, video surveillance, access control and well-lit aisles is a good balance.

Secure by design

The most important considerations have to do with the facility itself, and the individual storage area you rent there. Never rent a space at a facility that does not control and, better yet, record the cars and the people entering the property. Storage facilities that have modern, secure entrances with video surveillance are your best bet. An added benefit is having the office and the onsite managers living quarters adjacent to the entrance, for additional real time views of the people entering and exiting the facility.

Another design element of a good, secure facility is the placement of video cameras on each aisle of units. The more surveillance there is, the better for you. You should also determine how long the tapes (they are taping, right?) go back, as sometimes months can go by between storage locker visits. The entry/exit records generated by the entrances PIN-pad or card-activated terminal should also be saved for a reasonable amount of time.

Your contribution

You can also improve your storage lockers security by getting the best, hardened steel lock you can afford. These are not the kind of locks you will find at the drugstore, either. Go to a locksmith and ask for a lock with a round key (harder to pick) with a round or rounded body (harder to leverage) and thick, hardened steel loop (harder to cut). Do not skimp on the lock, as it is your final line of defense if thieves get that far. And remember this: Many storage facility rip-offs are inside jobs, perpetrated by other renters, or by thieves who rent a storage locker to gain access to a facility.

You also need to cover all your bases insurance-wise. Add the storage locker to your homeowner or renter policy, and always keep an accurate, updated inventory of your stored belongings. Anyone with access to your locker, from family to employees, should be listed on the access form kept by the facility, and ID should always be required of first-time visitors. Check on this, and other procedures, with the storage facility managers. Get to know the facility personnel, and make sure all persons to whom you give access do the same thing.

Bottom line? Use your head, consider all the elements, visit the facilities you are considering and compare them one against the other. The right combination of features may make several of them good candidates, so be sure to assign a weighted importance to the security considerations most important to you. As a final check, investigate any complaints against the facilities you are considering. You can do this easily on the Internet (Better Business Bureau, Complaints.com, etc.). With just a little homework, and another bit of footwork, you should be able to locate a facility that gives you, personally, a solid sense of security!

When planning to relocate to a new place, you might need the help of a storage facility for storing your household items for a while. Self storages are units which can be rented on a monthly basis for storage. These facilities are available in different sizes and can be hired according to your needs.

There are certain things to be considered when choosing a storage facility. The first thing is to find a facility which matches your budget. These days many facilities are available at an affordable rate because of tough competition and growing demand. Every facility requires an amount as deposit. So when choosing a facility, you need to enquire about the deposit and the terms of refunding it after moving out. The second thing is to check out how close these facilities are to your home or workplace. The next thing is the infrastructure of the facility and the amenities provided by them. Lastly, it is important to know their policies on late payment.

Before deciding on a storage facility, it is always better to compare the rates and services of the different facilities. It is advisable to choose a professionally run facility as they provide many benefits. Some of the services offered are a secured and clean environment for storage, climate-controlled environment, security systems, extended accessible time, onsite management, own padlocks, surveillance cameras, high fences, gates and guards at the facility and so on. Also, a professional one offers mobile storage where the customers can request for a pick-up and delivery of their containers. This is very convenient and is suitable for customers who have no time to drive to and from these facilities.

There are different types of storage facility available to suit your needs. They are self storage units, mini storage units, portable storage and vault storage. Self storage units are suitable when you want to retrieve your items regularly while they are in storage. Mini storage units can be used when you dont have many items for storage. Portable storage is great when you want to store your items temporarily. Vault storage is ideal when you dont want to retrieve your items frequently from storage. There are also other types of storage units available like storage sheds, storage warehouses, storage trailers, garage rental storage and slip or lot storage. The storage units come in various sizes. The 5×10 size can hold contents of a studio apartment; 10×10 size can hold items of a small one-bedroom apartment; 10×15 size can store contents from a two-bedroom apartment; 10×20 size is similar to a small garage and can hold contents of a two-bedroom apartment while 10×30 size can store items of a three-bedroom apartment.

Before choosing a storage facility, it is better to make a list of things according to your preferences. Then, search for information on these facilities before taking a final decision. The Internet is the best place to look out for detailed information on companies providing these facilities. Online directories and classifieds can also be checked as they also provide details of the companies providing these facilities. Thus only a reputed and reliable self storage facility helps to provide effective storage solution and deliver complete customer satisfaction.

There are many people who assume that all self storage facilities are created equally. It is easy for people to fall into the trap of believing that self storage facilities will all do everything in their power to protect their reputation and their clients belongings. While the majority of self storage facilities operate in this manner there are a few that do not. It is important to avoid using any self storage facility that does not offer proper security to all of their customers.

Many facilities, especially older self storage facilities, are built using only the basic security features available at the time of construction. These security features usually include tall fences and sometimes barred gates. Even though these features might stop casual criminals are bored teens they do little to repel serious criminals. To a serious thief a self storage facility can be the equivalent of hitting the lottery. Yes it is true that many of the items left in self storage are not extremely valuable, they are still worth enough to warrant paying a monthly fee for storage instead of throwing them away. A dedicated thief can easily make a fortune stealing your stored items and you would not even notice a theft had taken place until you had a chance to visit your storage facility.

Taking the time to choose a secure storage facility will help you avoid the pain and stress of discovering your items are missing and that there is little you can do about the theft. When choosing a safe self storage facility the first thing you should investigate is the companies reputation. Find out whether or not the company itself, not just your location, has a history of break-ins and if these break-ins were ever punished through any legal proceedings. More importantly, find out whether or not the company reimbursed the victims of the theft.

Next, find out what kind of insurance the company offers in the event of theft. Many self storage facilities offer renter insurance for a low monthly fee that will compensate you monetarily if a loss occurs. Most companies offer different amounts of compensation with the fees going up with the dollar amount the items are insured for. It is in your best interest to purchase a policy that will cover the minimum amount of money that you think your items are worth.

Secondly, ask the self storage facility what sorts of security measures are currently in place. Many modern secure self storage facilities use state of the art equipment to monitor units on their property. Ask them to show you how your items will be protected. In most cases video surveillance is used to keep track of the comings and goings of all individuals on the property. Gates are also blocked to restrict access to paying customers coming to park on the property of indoor facilities or going to the units on outdoor facilities.

Security goes beyond bars and guards. Find out whether or not the facility offers climate controlled storage units. Security begins with preserving your items and your items can be lost to you without the help of a thief if you are not careful. Documents such as paperwork, x-rays, and more can be completely ruined if left in damp weather for long periods of time. Climate controlled storage units cut down on the humidity of the unit preserving your documents.

Climate control can also help preserve your vehicles and furniture. Wood warps and cracks when exposed to heat, cold, and humidity. Thousands of people have been horrified to find out that their antique tables or expensive musical instruments have been ruined after a summer in storage. Investing in control can provide your items with additional security that many storage unit owners will overlook completely.

Lastly, make sure that your belongings are safe from fire. Many people take sprinkler systems for granted. In this day and age it is easy to assume that storage facilities have state of the art fire fighting systems especially if they have security. Even though most modern facilities do have advanced fire fighting and notification systems many older ones do not. Inquire with the manager of your storage facility to make sure they have new sprinklers and a fire alarm system. Also find out whether or not they have a plan of action in fires to attempt to isolate fires to avoid them spreading to all units. Make sure you also find out what sort of policies are in place to prevent fires from starting in the first place. Ask whether or not smoking is allowed on the property and find out what is the punishment for storing flammable chemicals on the property.