Guide to Self Storage Facilities: Choosing the Right One – Part 1

Self storage provides the ideal solution when you lack space in your home, or need a secure facility to store your possessions – whether that’s for a short term period while your home is renovated, or for a longer duration due to work, university, or even a long trip abroad.

Whatever the reason you decide to use self storage, finding the right facilities for your requirements is important to ensure you select the most convenient option for your budget. At our self storage facilities over at 4 Secure Self Storage, our experienced team are on hand to ensure your needs are met when it comes to our storage facilities, so we’ve compiled a guide to the key things to consider when choosing the right facility for you.

Storage requirements

Before selecting your self storage facility, make sure that you have a clear idea what will be suitable for your requirements. For example, if you are looking to store your belongings for an extended period of time, it is useful to check that the company can accommodate this, and likewise for short term storage.

What’s more, visiting the site before signing up is a good opportunity to make sure the container will be the right size for your belongings, and that the facility has no restrictions that could limit what you are able to store inside.

Location

When choosing your self storage facility, considering it’s location can be an important factor when making your decision. If you will need to access the storage facility regularly, choosing one that is located close to you should be a priority. However, if you will not need to access the facility regularly after putting your items into storage, selecting one further away but for a cheaper price could be a good option for you.

Access options

As with the location of the storage facility, choosing one with suitable access options for your requirements is essential. If you will want access to your belongings at all times, it is useful to enquire whether this is possible with your chosen self storage facility – are they open 24/7, are there any limits to the hours you can access your container on weekdays or weekends? You should also ask whether you will need to contact the facility before accessing your container, or whether you are able to arrive unannounced to be sure that the facility meets your requirements.

Security

One of the most essential checks you should carry out when selecting your self storage facility is to make sure the site’s security is up to standard and able to keep your belongings secure at all times. A storage facility with good security should have CCTV, lockable access to the site, and manned patrols in order to ensure the safety of the premises.

It is also useful to enquire about the company’s fire protection and insurance policies as well, in order to ensure your belongings are covered should anything happen to them while in the facility.

Size

To ensure you are not spending more money than you need to, make sure you know what size storage container you will need first. This will depend on the amount of possessions you need to store and their size (for example, large wooden furniture as opposed to a few boxes).

To help guide your decision, a smaller 25 sq ft container can typically store the contents of the average garden shed, a 100 sq ft container will provide enough space for the average 2 bedroom house, and an even larger 250 sq ft container could hold the contents of a 4 or 5 bedroom house. However, visiting the site to assess the containers will be the best way of determining your individual requirements.

At our self-storage service facilities, 4 Secure Self Storage, we pride ourselves on offering a secure self storage facility for items of all types and sizes, with no minimum sign up term for you to access your storage unit. Our fully alarmed units are CCTV monitored to ensure your belongings are secure at all times, and our site is open 24/7 for your full convenience.

For more information, feel free to get in touch with our friendly team today via our contact form or by calling us on 01842 739 806 – we’ll be happy to assist you in whatever way we can.