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7
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
BEFORE
RENTING A STORAGE
UNIT
Whether you’re moving or
just need to free up
some valuable space
around your home or
office, here are few
very important tips that
will help ensure that
your storage experience
is a pleasant one:
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TIP # 1
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UNDERSTAND THAT ALL
STORAGE FACILITIES ARE
NOT THE SAME
Remember that no two
storage facilities are
alike, even within the
same company. There are
vast differences between
facilities in security
measures, cleanliness,
temperature control,
customer service, and
availability of moving
trucks and packing
materials. Keeping these
issues in the forefront
of your mind will
greatly help you choose
the right storage
facility. |
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TIP # 2 |
REMEMBER THAT SECURITY
GATES AND PADLOCKS DON’T
NECESSARILY STOP
BURGLARIES FROM
HAPPENING
Studies show that most
self-storage burglaries
are the result of an
“inside job” by
criminals masquerading
as customers.
Traditionally, burglars
rent a storage unit just
like you’re about to do,
then wait for an
opportune time to go to
work. Once inside, they
will usually cut a
number of padlocks with
bolt cutters, take what
they want from
unsuspecting customers
under the nose of an
unsuspecting manager,
then replace the locks
they cut with their own
so they can access the
burglarized units again
at a later date, if
needed. And the burglar
is able to enter the
property through the
security gate with his
confidential gate code,
just like any other
customer can do.
So what can you do to
avoid a nightmare like
this? First, ask each
storage facility you
talk to if they allow
their customers to use
padlocks, or if they are
using the newer
generation “cylinder
locks” which have no
exposed hasp to be cut
by bolt cutters.
Also, check to see if
the facility you are
talking to has installed
alarms on each and every
door in their facility,
so they can know the
exact time of day that
every storage unit is
accessed. To de-activate
the alarm on a unit, the
customer keys in their
personal passcode. If an
unauthorized entry
occurs, the alarm will
sound, immediately
identifying which unit
has been entered.
Most facilities these
days have at least a few
video cameras on the
site. Make sure that the
facility you rent from
has more than just a few
(at least 12), and that
their cameras are
covering as much of the
property as possible.
Finally, make sure that
they are digitally
recording the video 24
hours a day.
Asking questions
regarding these matters
will tell you a lot
about each facility’s
commitment to your peace
of mind . If your
questions are not
answered sufficiently,
you may be better off
looking elsewhere.
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TIP # 3
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BEWARE OF THE “MOVE-IN
DISCOUNT”
Some facilities make it
a practice to move you
in at a low rate only to
raise the rent a couple
of months later. Before
you decide to rent, ask
the manager how often
they raise their rates,
and for how long they
will guarantee your rent
not to change. If the
answer sounds good to
you, ask them to put it
in writing. If they are
not willing to do this,
you might be better off
looking elsewhere.
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TIP # 4
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“CLIMATE CONTROLLED”
STORAGE PROTECTS YOUR
GOODS FROM EXTREME TEXAS
WEATHER
You know what they say,
“If you don’t like the
weather in Texas, wait
15 minutes.” The
constant changes in
temperature and humidity
are the main culprits
when it comes to
damaging wooden
furniture, fabrics, and
other items. It is not
unusual to find wood
that has warped or
fabric that has mildewed
after having been stored
outside in a standard
storage unit. To protect
your items from the
extreme temperature
changes that are
prevalent in Texas,
consider using “Climate
Controlled” storage.
“Climate Controlled”
storage utilizes air
conditioning and heating
units that keep a more
consistent climate in
the building than what
you will find outdoors.
The goods you are
storing will be inside,
making them less likely
to be damaged by the
elements.
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TIP # 5
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CAREFUL PLANNING WILL
SAVE YOU MONEY, SPACE,
AND HEARTACHE
Many people rent more
space than is really
necessary. Since storage
units come in a variety
of sizes, you should do
all you possibly can to
pay for only the space
you need, especially if
you do not need frequent
access to the space.
Use the chart on the
following page to help
determine the size of
the space you will need.
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TIP # 6 |
LOOK FOR DISCOUNTS ON
MOVING TRUCKS
If you do not have
access to a moving
truck, you will probably
have to rent one. Some
facilities offer rental
trucks to their
customers. Since it is
they who are renting you
the vehicle, it never
hurts to ask for a
discount on the rental
of the truck. If they
want your business badly
enough, they might even
consider giving you a
credit for free miles,
or at best, have a free
truck rental program.
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TIP # 7
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INSURANCE IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
CUSTOMER
Storage facilities are
generally not
responsible for the
contents of your unit.
It is always a good idea
to insure the goods you
are intending to store.
Storage insurance is
almost always available
to you at the time you
rent your unit .
Sometimes the facility
collects the premium
from you directly. When
they do this, they
usually have a financial
interest in doing so.
Before you buy insurance
from the manager, check
with your own agent,
because sometimes your
homeowner’s or renter’s
policy will cover you
for no extra cost.
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Here are some more
valuable space-saving
tips:
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Tables, beds,
lawnmowers, and other
large items should be
disassembled, if
possible.
Leave a center aisle for
easy access to your
goods. |
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Store frequently used
items at the front of
your unit so you can get
to them easily. |
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Stand sofas and
mattresses on end on a
pallet or a plastic
sheet, and use
protective covers.
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Stack boxes on dressers
and use dresser drawers
for folded clothing and
smaller delicate items.
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Store chairs inverted
seat-to-seat.
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Fill containers to
capacity or fill extra
pockets of space with
packing material.
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The better prepared you
are for your move into a
storage unit, the better
the chance you have of
preventing items from
being broken or damaged.
Here are a few packing
tips to help you avoid
breaking fragile items
and damaging other
valuables:
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Wrap glasses and dishes
individually and use
special dish pack boxes.
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Utilize bubble wrap, foam
sheets, packing peanuts
and paper when packing
any other glass items
such as mirrors, lamps,
figurines, etc.
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Pack heavy items such as
books in smaller boxes
because of their weight.
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Make sure heavier boxes
are at the bottom of any
stacking you do.
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Remember to keep
refrigerator doors
slightly ajar, with an
open box of baking soda
inside. |
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Keep greasy items such
as tools, lawnmowers,
etc. away from furniture
to avoid oil staining.
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Do not use newsprint to
pack anything that could
be stained by the ink.
Stack lighter boxes on
top of bigger, heavier
ones. |
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Monday - Saturday
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