Store as much as you like for as long as you like
Store as much as you like for as long as you like
Self-storage is a fantastic and affordable way to get some extra space in your life. Over the last few years, the popularity of self-storage has grown hugely, causing more centres to pop up across the country. But now, with more options, people are more confused than ever about what the ideal self-storage facility should look like, and what they should be thinking about when they choose one. So today, we’re going to help you weigh up the pros and cons of self-storage, and arm you with the questions you need to ask when choosing the right self-storage facility for you.
The first thing you need to know is what kind of storage you need. Otherwise, you could end up with something that’s unsuitable for you, or not at all cost-effective. So before you go searching, make sure you have an accurate and realistic idea of what you’re looking for. Primarily, what size of unit do you need? If you don’t get this right first, you may well end up finding you can’t fit all of your belongings into the unit or that you have an echo inside your unit. The best way to do this is to make up a list of the things you will be storing (you don’t need to be too specific here – just ‘double bed’ or ‘30x folding crate boxes’ will be fine) and send it to a few local storage firms to get a quote. This will give you a good idea of the realistic, unobjective size you will need, but also creates a good benchmark for pricing discussions.
If you’re going to be needing access to your unit on a regular basis, then going for a facility that’s an hour’s drive away doesn’t really make sense. But again, this will depend on what you’re using the facility for. If you’re using it to store all of your belongings during a cross-country house move, then it may make sense to have them stored close to where you will be moving. But if it’s just for some extra space around the house, then you will want somewhere closer to home. When deciding the location of your facility it’s also worth remembering that if cost is a factor, shopping around outside your immediate area could be beneficial – you just need to be prepared for the drawback of distance.
For some, accessibility of the facility might not even factor into the decision. But for some, the times of day when you can access your unit can be a deal breaker. For example, if you are a band using a unit to store your equipment between gigs, you may need to get into your unit early in the morning or late at night, outside of conventional hours. If that’s the case, you will need to make sure your facility allows 24-hour independent access. For most people, normal weekday and weekend access will suffice, but there’s nothing worse then suddenly realising you urgently need something in your storage unit and not being able to get to it.
You are going to be leaving some potentially valuable items in an industrial unit, behind a padlocked metal door. So it’s understandable that you want to know how well protected they are. The safety and security of your items should be one of the core factors when it comes to deciding on a storage facility, and to be honest, you’d be hard-pressed to find a business without at least the basics in place. But when checking out units, make sure you ask about fire protection, access cameras, door entry codes and all of the other protections that might make one facility more secure than another.
Everyone loves a special offer – and self-storage shopping should be no different. Many facilities operate special offers and deals, ranging from a ‘buy six months get two free’ model all the way to a direct payment if you’re referred by a friend. Many will also offer discounts if you’re renting for long periods of time, so make sure you are clear about how long you will be staying up front. Each facility will be different, so it’s worth talking to a few and doing a bit of discount shopping.
At Blue Box Storage, we believe that there is a storage facility for everyone. We have 4 locations across the country that ensure you will always have easy access and full security when storing your belongings. Our staff are always on hand to ensure you can get the best deal for your space, along with expert moving advice, packaging and storage supplies and the best security you can find. If you’d like to know more, just get in touch with one of our centres today for your special offers.