Category: Self Storage

Self storage is commonly used for short term storage. That’s because it’s the ideal solution for people who need to store something for a short period of time. The contracts are typically month-to-month with no long term commitment required, and no penalties or charges for removing items early. The convenience of self storage lends itself to short term storage, because you can go anytime the facility is open to add items or remove them.

For people in the process of moving, self storage is perfect because it can be so flexible, cost-efficient and short term. But there are many good reasons to consider self storage for your long term storage needs, too. Traditional storage might require a long term contract and therefore seem like a good long term storage solution. But if you use self storage instead, you get the flexibility of being able to come and go when you please and add and remove things when you want, while knowing your items are secure behind your own lock and can’t be accessed or moved as they can with traditional storage. Self storage can make it much more convenient to store items that you need to access regularly or just from time to time. Items which are perishable require climate controlled storage. There are a number of situations where long-term self storage might be a good idea.

Business documents. Businesses that need to keep boxes and boxes of paperwork for legal and tax reasons can benefit from long term self storage. As the number of boxes decreases or increases, it’s easy and hassle free to rent a smaller or larger storage unit. And when access to the paperwork is needed, it’s convenient to go anytime the facility is open. The amount of document (and now even disk and digital) storage businesses are required to keep can be astounding. These boxes can take up valuable office space or storage space within a company. With long term self storage, they can be conveniently stored off site where they’re still accessible.

Boat storage. If you live in an area where you can only use your boat from spring to fall, you’ll have to store your boat for the winter. This might be in your backyard or your garage, but self storage is great for long term boat storage, too. Some areas might require that boats not be visible from the street or be present in a yard, so if you don’t have a garage or a storage building, you’ll have to rent storage for your boat. And you may opt to store your boat off-site even if you have a garage or storage shed. Why use up all that space with something that can only sit there for at least a few months? Self storage is the perfect solution.

RV storage. Most people use their recreational vehicles only on certain occasions throughout the year. It doesn’t have to take up valuable garage space when you’re not traveling across the country in it. Self storage will let you store your RV safely and securely when you’re not in a traveling frame of mind.

Vehicle storage. You might have many reasons to store a vehicle. Some people prefer not to drive in the wintertime and take other transportation. And some cars and other vehicles like classics and show cars are best stored during the winter season for their own protection. Vehicle storage is an ideal use for long term self storage.

Seasonal wardrobes. Closet space is almost always at a premium in today’s homes. We might all dream of huge walk in closets, but few of us have that luxury. When the seasons change, we either leave last season’s clothes and heavy coats in the closet with this season’s clothes, which take up tons of space and make it harder to get to what we need. Or we pack those clothes away in boxes, bags and bins and try to cram them in the backs of closets, under beds, in our backyard storage shed or in the attic, and these places are usually already full of other stored items.

Mini storage would be a good choice for a person’s seasonal wardrobe. A closet-sized storage unit can hold winter clothes to make room in your closet for the clothes you need during the current weather, and because self storage is so convenient, when you want to change you simply trade the clothes in your storage unit with those in your closet. Long term storage for clothes is ideal for those with large wardrobes, with a minimum of closet space, or both.

Top Storage Solution Options by Industry

Have a specific industry you need to find the best self storage options for? Take a look at our detailed information on these industries.

• Agriculture
• Automotive
• Building & Construction
• Disaster Relief
• Events
• Home Renovations
• Hotels
• Manufacturing
• Moving
• Packaging
• Pallets
• Hay & Straw
• Racing
• Retail
• Schools
• Warehouse
• Waste Management

Learn more about the best self storage options, shipping container and self storage trailer rentals near you.

When people need storage its usually because one of three things has happened; lack of space, seasonal needs, or more adequate storage needs have occurred. The solution to this problem is self storage units. Over recent decades self storage has taken on many forms and has adapted to different needs. This type of storage now covers five distinct groups of consumers who use storage for a multitude of needs.

The Basics of Self Storage

There are some common issues which are a part of any type of self storage. These issues must be looked into when using this type of storage.

The contract – Contracts are different from one facility to another and from one storage type to another.

The Hours – While some facilities are only open during business hours, others are 24/7 operations.

Security Issues – Most outdoor storage uses a simple fence and passkey system with individual locks for units, while indoor storage makes use of cameras and sometimes personal security measures.

Appropriate Uses – All storage facilities have clauses against storage of perishable food, pets, or combustible materials.

Rates – Rental fees for storage can be paid weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly.

Shed Storage

This is one of the two main types of self storage units available today. Usually these are made of metal and concrete. Most facilities allow you to drive right up to your unit. These units are good for such items as: Household furnishings Appliances Properly boxed clothing and books

Warehouse Storage

These units are constructed within the walls of a larger single building, are usually climate controlled and have sprinkler systems in place. Warehouse self storage is mainly used for the following: Document storage, storage of valuables or paintings Light or climate sensitive material like frozen items

Trailer Storage

This type of self storage is mainly used for quick storage of bulk or boxed items. Storage trailers are often used for vending route storage, tires or other non corrosive auto parts, Pallets, Multiple boxed or bagged items but also usable for residential storage or moving. Learn more about the benefits of renting storage trailers on our mobile storage benefits.

Rented Garage

The rented garage is the most common type seen in the newspaper where a vehicle is involved. Sometimes garages space is rented out for someone looking to park one of the following for a season or a year: RV or camper, Antique cars, Motorcycles, & Boat Storage.

This type of self storage is used mainly for items which are too large to fit into an enclosed space or on a residential property. A variation of lot storage is a Marina or Boat Slip. Uses for lot storage are listed below: Large mobile homes Airplanes Boats Tractor trailers These are the five most common uses of self storage. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the requirements needed; while all provide one common service which is a place for people to put their stuff until needed later.

Save money today by comparing rates from Self Storage locations to moving companies. Compare the convenience of storing seasonal items, special event materials and even documents in either Portable Storage Container Units for all your residential, business and corporate moves and needs.

Top Storage Solution Options by Industry

Have a specific industry you need to find the best self storage options for? Take a look at our detailed information on these industries.

• Agriculture
• Automotive
• Building & Construction
• Disaster Relief
• Events
• Home Renovations
• Hotels
• Manufacturing
• Moving
• Packaging
• Pallets
• Hay & Straw
• Racing
• Retail
• Schools
• Warehouse
• Waste Management

When is it better to choose self storage over your own warehouse?

What are the formers advantages over the latter? Or is it actually wiser to have your own warehouse rather than entrust your precious belongings to some self storage company? First and the most important of all is the sense of security that self storage provides as opposed to your own warehouse. With self storage, you are assured that you are keeping all of your items somewhere safe and secure, thus you are given peace of mind. How does self storage ensure security? For one, they require you to provide your own padlocks and keys to your storage units, so that only you will have an access to it.

Apart from this, the storage facility also boasts of additional measures to ensure security, and that is by means of 24/7 surveillance cameras and security guards, pin numbers to access the electronic facility gates, flood-lighting at night, as well as high-technology burglar alarm systems. Contrast these state-of-the-art security systems versus the security afforded by mere padlocks in your own warehouse and you get a stark difference in favor of self storage. Next is the assurance of your items safety. In your own warehouse, you might not be able to do regular physical inspection because there is just so much to do at work, so you will never find out if your items are already being damaged by water, pests and rodents. In self storage, however, there are usually pest control programs which are being done regularly, as well as measures to prevent water damage or other natural calamities, if possible. Some storage facilities are even raised to higher levels just so damage can be avoided in cases of floods or typhoons.

Another benefit afforded by self storage over your own warehouse is the availability of climate controlled units. You will not have to worry anymore about the temperature-sensitive items that you possess because you can set the temperature in some of the better self storage facilities, thereby avoiding damage to your precious items. True, you have to pay for certain fees, and transportation costs as well every time you access your storage unit, while when you store your goods in your warehouse, you do not have to pay for anything. What will make you decide for self storage, however, is the assurance of safety and security that it affords.

You can have that in your own warehouse, but you will need to spend thousands upon thousands to provide a similar level of security, versus paying a certain tolerable amount of fees on self storage monthly. Self storage is, indeed, the way to go.

Learn more about the best storage solution options with our Top 5 Self Storage Solution list

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_storage#Self_storage_today

At year-end 2009, a total of some 50,000 self storage facilities, owned by 30,235 companies, have been developed in the United States on industrial and commercial land parcels. There is more than 2.35 billion square feet of self storage in the U.S., or a land area equivalent to three times Manhattan Island under roof. The five large publicly traded storage operators (four REITs and U-Haul) own or operate approximately 9% of self storage facilities. More recently, in many metropolitan cities where competition among storage companies is fierce, better parcels of land near residential and commercial areas are being converted into self-storage once approved by zoning panels.

Self storage businesses lease a variety of unit sizes to residential and business customer/tenants. Popular unit sizes include 10×5 (10 feet wide by 5 feet (1.5 m) deep) which is about the size of a large walk-in closet, 10×10 (the size of a child’s bedroom), 10×20 (one-car garage), 15×20 and 20×20 (two-car garage). The storage units are typically windowless, walled with corrugated metal, and lockable by the renter. Chain-link fencing or wire mesh may function as a more secure ceiling than a suspended ceiling. Each unit is usually accessed by opening a roll-up metal door, which is usually about the same size as a one-car garage door. A controlled access facility may employ security guards, surveillance cameras, individual unit door alarms and some means of electronic gate access such as a keypad or prox card. A few facilities even use biometric thumbprint or hand scanners to ensure that access is granted only to those that rent.

In rural and suburban areas most facilities contain multiple single-story buildings with mostly drive-up units having natural ventilation, but which are not climate-controlled. These buildings are referred to as “traditional”. Climate-controlled interior units are becoming more popular in suburban areas. In urban areas many facilities have multi-story buildings using elevators or freight lifts to move the goods to the upper floors. These facilities are often climate-controlled since they have mostly, if not all, interior units. Warehouses or grocery stores are sometimes converted into self storage facilities. Loading docks are sometimes provided on the ground floor. Also, complimentary rolling carts or moving dollies are sometimes provided to help the customers carry items to their units. Urban self storage facilities might contain only a few floors in a much larger building; there are successful self storage businesses cohabitating with light manufacturing, office tenants and even a public school.[citation needed]

According to the “Self Storage Demand Study – 2007” (published by the SSA) one in ten U.S. households now rent a self storage unit. The growing demand for self storage in the U.S. is created by people moving (some 40 million Americans move each year according to U.S. Census data), and by various lifestyle transitions, such as marriage, divorce, retirement, a death in the family, etc.

Customers are generally allowed to store any non-hazardous, non-toxic, non-perishable material in the facility: personal items, furniture, motorcycles, overstocked retail wares, etc. Customers are prohibited from sleeping or otherwise living in the room. If the customer fails to pay the rent, a lien is placed on the customer’s goods and they are sold at auction based on the provisions of that state’s lien law. The storage facility lien rights are codified in most states. The customer is still responsible for any rent and fees due if the auction does not clear their balance. (i.e. California Self-Service Storage Facility Act, Business & Professions code Sec 21700 et seq

The national Self Storage Association (SSA) was founded in 1975. The SSA represents some 6,000 companies in the United States that own, operate or manage some 22,000 facilities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_storage

The term “self storage” is short for “self-service storage”, and is also known as “mini storage” or “mini warehouse” (archaic)1. . Self storage facilities lease space to individuals, usually storing household goods, or to small businesses, usually storing excess inventory or archived records. The rented spaces, known as “units”,”rooms” or “lockers” are secured by the tenant’s own lock and key. Facility operators do not have casual access to the contents of the space, unlike a professional warehouseman. A self storage operator never takes possession, care, custody or control of the contents of the storage rental space unless a lien is imposed for non-payment of rent. Self storage facility operators frequently provide controlled access to rental space areas, individual door alarms, interior units lights, and security cameras. Goods or items stored are either not insured by the self storage operator, or insured only to a minimal degree; possessions stored are at the tenant’s “own risk” or can be protected by tenant-purchased homeowner’s insurance or buy purchasing self storage tenant insurance.

Getting a great deal on any acquisition always feels good. With self storage, getting the right size at the right location and right price are signs of having obtained a great deal. The question is: how does one actually get a great deal? Are there procedures that should be done to ensure great deals on self storage? The first thing to look for when choosing a self storage is always the location. Thus, getting a great deal means that you should have knowledge of all your possible self storage options in your area of preference, and you just select the best among them depending on the other variables for your choice, such as the price and the facility itself. There are many different ways by which you can find out about all the self storage facilities around the area. You can search for a self storage directory for your particular zip code over the internet or you can also try the yellow pages. Because self storage is one competitive business, there are, for certain, great deals that can work to your advantage. Great deals include bargains and sales on the self storage fees, which definitely help save money for other important needs. It would also be particularly helpful if you specify your preferred size and features of a self storage unit when inquiring, so you immediately learn from the self storage companies if they have those specifications available for you. Be very clear as to whether you want a small or a large, indoor or outdoor unit, and if there are any special amenities you want, such as climate control. The web is still the better option to learn about these things because of the details included in the websites, as opposed to paid advertisements in the yellow pages, flyers, newspapers and magazines. You do not have to call each of the self storage companies anymore after you have picked them out of the phonebook because all you need to know is stated already in their respective web pages. In some cases, they may even provide special discounts online, like a minimal or free of charge first month. Remember as well that there actually might be some self storage companies who pay you for each referral that you successfully make for the storage facility. This payment may be in the form of a big chunk cut out of your monthly rate in storage, or even some free months for storage. After selecting one self storage facility, it would be wise to ask if you can get any more discounts if you pay right then and there, or if you sign up with a long term lease. Many companies can actually reduce their monthly rates still, if you try to ask for one. In these companies, terms are often negotiable, so take advantage of it.

About the Author
Drew Mers is an advertising consultant to City Closet Self Storage, which rents inexpensive self storage throughout New York and New Jersey.

If you are wishing to tidy up the clutter in their homes, utilizing a self storage unit is a cost effective way to accomplish this goal. Offering many benefits over storing items in your garage, the advantages of a domestic self-storage unit are many. While there are several options, some of the top choices are companies that offer various sizes of units as well as both domestic and business storage solutions.

As the holidays tick ever closer, the time to get rid of the clutter in your home has arrived. One of the most straightforward and effective ways to accomplish this is through the use of a self storage unit. With modern amenities like advanced security and climate controlled spaces, there are few better ways to safely store seasonal goods. When you consider the collective value of the goods being stored, both in terms of financial value and sentimental value, these items deserve to be better protected. When the garage becomes a storage location for everything except the family car, alternate options should be considered and pursued.

When using a high quality self storage facility, there are many advantages available that can create additional incentive to getting organized. Many organizations will provide their customer with competitively priced packing materials, trolleys, and forklift services. Furthermore, for those who need help transporting their possessions to and from the facility, many of these companies offer van services to compliment the storage solutions they provide. Overall, the amenities offered by self storage companies are comprehensive and offer customers a significant advantage over the garage option.

Self storage can provide a nice solution to storage needs across a wide range of time periods as well. If you are in the midst of a move it might be a good idea to store the bulk of your furniture. That way your home can be staged for quicker and more efficient showings. Self storage provides an excellent solution. By allowing the homeowner to get rid of clutter in the living space, the shorter market-time and potential for higher sale price should more than offset the expense.

A storage facility is a great short term option to store seasonal materials that are only needed intermittently throughout the course of the year. From household decorations to winter and summer clothes a self storage unit can significantly increase available living space for a relatively moderate price. For families, in particular, this option may be of special interest.

Most individuals collect important documents, keepsakes, and memories over a course of years, but do not need to access these on a regular basis. For those who wish to safeguard these items, rather than part with them or risk their damage on a regular basis, self storage is an excellent solution. When the modern and advanced services these companies now offer are considered, regardless of the specific time frame needed, the use of self storage can have a positive impact.

About the Author
Nick Messe is president of Lead Frog LLC. Space Station provides all the storage facilities you would expect of a leading provider of domestic self storage. Self storage facilities include Slough self storage, and other locations in and around Windsor.