There are plenty of reasons behind needing long-term storage for your belongings. Some people may need to put all household items in one storage unit as they prepare for relocating abroad, while others need a place to house seasonal items (e.g. winter clothing and equipment) for year-round storage. There are some who may choose to put larger items like boats, cars, and RVs in third-party storage because they don’t have enough room at home.
Regardless of your reason, whether it is for your travel needs in case you go to a land tour via https://www.parkinsoncoach.com/ or be it known that you have several options for storage. It’s likely you have a number of storage facilities near your property. If you need more information about choosing a storage unit, here are the top considerations to make when looking for a storage facility based on your long-term storage needs.
1. Operating hours and storage access
Know the opening and closing hours of the facility. Do they operate during the hours that’s most convenient for your schedule? When looking for storage facilities, it’s vital that the facility allows access to the storage at times that work best for you. For instance, if you work from from Mondays to Fridays but the facility doesn’t operate on weekends, retrieving the storage might cause inconvenience on your part.
The facility may turn down your request and you may need to leave the office early. That’s why we recommend a storage facility that permits 24-hour access to your storage items.
2. Location and proximity
While considering the operating hours and storage access, also consider the location and the proximity of the facility to your home. Location shouldn’t be a great concern if you’re storing your belongings for the short term, but it should factor in your decision if you’re thinking about storage that may run for years. This is also true if you’re planning to travel often from the storage facility and your home to gather items several times each year.
3. Pricing and payment terms
Does the storage unit offer a month of free storage? Does it charge by the week or month? Do they allow cancellation of the contract whenever you please? Is it too expensive for its location and size? These are vital questions you need to ask before choosing a long-term storage unit. Make sure the price and payment terms of the facility match your needs and budget.
4. Safety and security
Of course, the protection of your belongings inside the storage unit should be at the top of your list when considering self-storage. The good thing is that most storage facilities have safety features to ensure maximum security for your items. But safety measures can vary among different storage facilities.
Some may only offer customers a lock and key, while others may provide digital surveillance, well-lit surroundings, and 24-hour monitoring period. Double-check the safety features prior to sealing the deal with a storage facility.
5. Amenities and environment
If you live in a location with extreme temperatures it would be best to choose a climate-controlled storage unit. This type of storage unit offers total protection against heat and humidity as well as frigid temperatures. Items like furniture and electronics are especially prone to damage associated with weather changes. When they are stored under climate-controlled units that manage humidity and temperature levels, these items remain in mint condition.
Other essential amenities to consider are the material of the storage unit (i.e. weather-resistant wood or steel) and if the unit is located indoors or outdoors. If you’re looking at long-term storage, an indoor unit made of weather-proof steel is advisable.
6. Storage items
What items are you looking to store? Does the facility provide different unit sizes that can accommodate your items? When choosing a long-term storage unit, make sure to choose a facility that can provide you with the right unit size and storage features for your belongings. For example, if you’re planning to keep huge items like a car, motorcycle, or boat, you’re going to need a super-sized storage unit. But if you’re only storing a couple of boxes, a facility that has smaller, less expensive units should be fine. Self-storage facilities in North York, Ontario like centron storage centre have a wide selection of room sizes for small and huge items.
If you’re moving too much or just need a temporary storage solution near you, we highly recommend checking the top 1 public storage listed by Local SEO Search.
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