5 CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING A SELF-STORAGE FACILITY

Not every business or individual has the space on their premises for a storage container. Whilst slightly less convenient than a unit on your doorstep, self-storage facilities are there to provide an effective storage solution off site. But as you’re going to be storing potentially high value goods in a hold that you can’t monitor or control in the same way as on site, you need to be confident that the self-storage facility you choose is the right fit for your needs. Here are the most important considerations when choosing a domestic or business self-storage facility. 1. THE LEVEL OF SECURITY Your primary consideration should be how secure is the site? Before choosing a self-storage facility it’s worth paying a visit to the site and asking plenty of questions about the level of security provided. Look for CCTV on site, the quality of the padlocks on your unit and most importantly, the ease of access to the compounds. Whilst it’s important that your contents are well protected, one of the major benefits of self-storage is that you have easy access to your unit as and when required – emphasis on self! Key fob controlled gates are ideal for this and provide convenience for you and guard against unwelcome visitors. 2. THE QUALITY OF THE UNITS Why use self-storage? To protect your contents against the elements. If they could be stored outside then you wouldn’t be investing in a storage unit. Therefore, it’s vital to inspect the quality of the units offered – the structural integrity, waterproofing, moisture control and fireproofing should all be considered. Again, go along to the site before you commit and ask to be shown inside your unit – look for signs of damp internally and rust and other deficiencies externally. 3. EASE OF LOADING AND UNLOADING We briefly touched on access above, and as well as having easy access to your unit you also need to be sure how easy it is to load and unload your contents. Not all self-storage facilities will provide direct access, some will offer loading bays with trolleys so you can load from a distance. This isn’t convenient when you’re storing a high volume of contents, and a particular consideration for business self-storage where ease of access could be critical during a short-term project or seasonal stock hold. Make sure you are shown how easily you can access the unit with a vehicle before signing. 4. THE COST OF STORAGE Self-storage container prices don’t always stay consistent. One of the tricks of the industry is for storage companies to offer a lower introductory rate to entice customers and then hike the price up when they have moved in, banking on customers not wanting to move their contents back out again. It’s important that you get a detailed overview of your self-storage costs based on the length of time you will need the unit. Choose a self-storage facility where the pricing is detailed up front. 5. IS VEHICLE HIRE OFFERED? The downside of off-site storage is that you need to transport your goods from A to B. If you don’t have access to a van, this is an additional self-storage cost that you may have to consider. The best self-storage facilities will offer van hire as part of the package, making it easier for you to make use of their site – always worth asking if this is a service offered. FOR SECURE AND EFFECTIVE SELF-STORAGE, CHOOSE S JONES We hope this blog has given you a steer on what to look for in a self-storage facility. The best way to ensure you reap the full benefits of self-storage is to work with a brand you can trust. Our u-can-store-it self-storage sites in Aldridge and West Bromwich offer secure quality units, ease of access, up front fixed costs and van hire for commercial and private customers throughout the Midlands. Contact us today to find out more.

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