What Should You Ask A Storage Facility Before Renting?

You are moving and need to store all or some of your belongings – perhaps you are moving or downsizing from a large house to a flat. You have completed the preliminary research and decided on a couple of storage facilities. Before moving, if you can visit these Storage Plus Units, then it is better to meet them and ask for an overall tour. If you can’t have an in-person visit, then you should have in-depth interviews through the phone.

Depending on how long and what you want to store, it is necessary to make a decision on the kind of storage. After that, you need to ask many related questions and have some observations before signing the rental contract.

With that in mind, here are a few questions to ask:

  • Which type of security system does the facility have?
    If you are storing most of your items, you might need to ensure that the storage unit is equipped with a strong security system.
  • Is there any ground patrolled? If yes, how often?
    Perhaps this is less important than an advanced monitoring system. However, this can tell you that the storage unit is seriously concerned about ensuring the safety of your stuff.
  • Is the storage unit equipped with smoke alarms?
    This is quite standard in most storage units, but it is always better to confirm it before renting.
  • Is there any sprinkler system to prevent a fire?
    You will need to ensure that the storage unit is equipped with proper safety systems in place, especially a sprinkler system which can work to prevent fires.
  • Is there any limit to my access?
    This is an important question which often has a correlation with security. In most cases, you want a place with tight security, but allow you to access anytime. In addition, you will figure out how difficult or easy it is for other people to get into the unit.
  • What is the number of storage units and the vacancy rate in the facility?
    This question could reveal the popularity of the facility and if there is a waiting list at the time being.
  • Could I rent the storage unit on a monthly basis?
    If the firm can, it is necessary to make sure that you check how much notice they need to vacate their storage facility. Just like renting a flat, you should understand the flexibility of this agreement before signing the contract.
  • Could you show me some photos of your storage units, including the empty ones?
    In most cases, the company should show these photos on their site. This is necessary if you cannot visit personally to have an overall idea of the setup and size for better planning.
  • Have you experienced any break-ins? How and when did it happen?
    First, do your research through some review sites to find out whether there is any customer complaint. Also, it is necessary to ask the facility directly whether there have been any problems in the past.

Top Qualities of Good Self-Storage Facility

If you are looking for the best storage solution, then understanding some of the qualities associated with a great self-storage facility will help. The fact that there are many self-storage facilities will always make it a bit challenging for anyone to choose the best option for them. However, if you opt to make use of the internet to do your homework, you can always be sure to find the best services that you are looking for. The following are the qualities associated with great self-storage facilities.

Good Customer Care Services

If the people talking to you are not sensitive to the issues that you are raising, then that is an indication that the facility you are looking at might not be the best option for you. A good self-storage facility has professional workers who have the capacity to handle any issue that you will bring to the table. They understand that if they will not maturely address your issues, the chances are that you are not going to do business with them.

Clean Space

As they say, cleanliness is next to godliness and you, therefore, need to make sure that the facility is keen to maintain high levels of hygiene. The best way to find out whether a storage facility is keen as far as cleanliness is concerned is to take a walk into the facility and see how organized they are. If you see that there are dust and any other kind of dirt, the best thing is to keep searching because they are simply not the right people for you.

Security

Security should always come first because one of the reasons why you want them to keep the staffs for you is that you want security. Unfortunately, not all facilities have a proper security mechanism in place that will help them to protect your products for you. Once you realize that there are no security cameras and even security guards, then the best thing to do is to walk away and find a better facility.

Perfect Location

You also need to find a storage unit that would not make it hard for you to access your staffs when you need them. This means that the facility should be located in a place where security is guaranteed so that you do not fear to visit them anytime that you want. In addition to that, the roads to the facility should be in perfect shape.