If you’re moving house, de-cluttering or running a business, having access to decent storage facilities is vital. However, what should you consider when you’re selecting the right storage facility for you? Take a look at these top five things to consider and ensure you secure the best storage facility for your needs…
- What kind of storage do you need?
Choosing the right storage facility means finding somewhere that can meet all of your needs. If you’re a commercial client, for example, you’ll need to ensure that your chosen facility caters for corporations and companies, as opposed to just private individuals.
- How much storage do you need?
Estimating the size of the unit you’ll need can be tricky, but it’s important to get it right. If you’re unsure, don’t simply guess which unit will be best suited to your needs. Before you sign anything, ask the staff if you can take a look at the storage units available. Whilst you can always access unit information and dimensions online, such as those at https://www.henfieldstorage.co.uk/site/horsham, being able to look at a storage unit may give you an idea of how much space you’ll really need. Taking out a larger unit tends to be more expensive, and having too little space means you won’t be able to store things appropriately, so finding the right unit size is essential.
- Is your unit insured?
Some facilities offer a certain level of insurance cover included in the lease price, but others leave your insurance arrangements up to you. It’s important to find out whether any type of insurance is included in your lease agreement and, if so, exactly what the coverage is for. Insurance policies for individual storage units can be obtained relatively cheaply, and it’s certainly worth having in case accidents occur.
- When can you access the unit?
Different storage facilities have varying rules regarding accessibility, so you’ll want to verify this before you commit to taking a unit. Some storage firms are open 24/7, for example, so you can gain access to your unit at any time of the day or night. In contrast, some may only be open during business hours, whilst others may have limited opening hours over weekends and bank holidays.
If you know you’re going to need to access your unit outside of business hours, make sure you’re choosing a self storage facility which offers a round-the-clock service. In addition to this, you may want to confirm whether staff are present at the facility at all times, or if you can access your unit using automated systems without staff being present.
- How secure is the site?
Find out exactly what security is in place before you decide which storage facility to use. Facilities which have perimeter fencing, security guards present 24/7 and alarm systems may be more secure than facilities without these features, for example. Using a storage unit should give you peace of mind that your belongings are safe, so checking the site’s security protocols is vital.
