Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Self Storage – Air Conditioned Unit or Non-Air Conditioned Unit

If you are like me then you undoubtedly have amore than a few things cluttering up your home and it may be time for you to consider renting a self-storage unit. Once you have sized up just how much stuff you need to store and you have figured out the perfect size unit for that stuff you still have one more very important decision to make.

That decision is one that will be asked as soon as you go to the self-storage facility of your choice, ‘Do you want an outside unit or a temperature control unit?’ So what’s the difference? In layman’s terms an outside unit has no air conditioning and a temperature control unit does. Oh, and the unit with air conditioning is going to cost you more money. Why? The storage unit facility will be paying more to cool off you stuff and you can bet that they will pass that on to you.

Which unit you need is really a personal preference but it usually is dictated by what you are storing. For example, if you were storing antique furniture that you don’t want getting exposed to major summer heat, then you would obviously not want a unit that is not temperature controlled. On the flip side, you probably don’t want to pay the extra money for a temperature controlled unit if all you are storing is lawn equipment such as a lawn mower and weed whacker that would normally be stored in a garage or shed anyway.

A good rule of thumb is asking yourself where the items that are going to storage were kept before. If they were stored inside your house, then you may want to go with a temperature controlled storage unit, but if the items were stored I the garage, attic, or shed, then a hotter outside unit will probably suffice. Again, it is a personal preference, but knowing what to consider may assist you in making your choice.

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Monday, July 13, 2009

Self Storage – Insuring Your Stuff

A common mistake made when storing your stuff in a storage unit is assuming that your belongings are insured by the facility. Wrong! The storage facility is simply providing you with a place to stow your belongings and usually makes it clear, though sometimes in small print, that they are in no way, shape, or form responsible for your belongings. So what can you do?

If you own your home, check with your insurance company. Your homeowner’s policy may cover your items that are being stored, but then again, it may not. Never assume you are covered because the time may come when something happens to your stuff in storage and you find that you aren’t insured and something valuable will be lost forever. If you are a renter and have renters insurance, the same applies. Call your insurance company and ask if your items that are being stored are covered I your policy. What if the answer is no?

If you are not covered by your existing policy you can always ask them if they do offer protection for self-stored items and how much it will cost. Then you can ask the manager of the storage unit facility if they recommend any insurance agency to handle insuring your things. Believe it or not, there are actually insurance companies that specialize in insuring self stored items. Once you have all the information in front of you look at things like coverage and cost and make your decision accordingly.

Just remember, your self storage unit facility does not insure your stuff, you have to do it. But don’t feel overwhelmed, as finding cost effective insurance for your possessions is nothing more than a few phone calls away.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

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They deliver an 8×12 or 8×16 all steel, weatherproof, lockable PACK-RAT container. Take your time and pack it at your own pace. When you’re ready, they come and pick up a full unit and transport it to your next location or to their climate controlled secure warehouse.

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Thursday, July 2, 2009

Top Self Storage Companies

People seek out self storage for a number of reasons these days. Many times it may be a move that requires some personal items to be stored during the transition. Perhaps it is a case of too much stuff, or even an office that needs to store old documentation. Whatever the reason you need self storage, you of course want to know the top self storage companies in the industry.

In the recent years, there are a great number of self storage companies that have cropped up. Some are great and some are not worth a darn. That being said, there are three companies that have been around for a great number of years and have a wonderful reputation and service record to go along with their names. These three champions of self storage are:

Public Storage: Public Storage has been around since 1972 and now has over 2100 company run sites both here in the United States and in Europe. Public Storage offers a number of different sized storage units both air conditioned and non-air conditioned. On their website they have an interactive guide to help you decide what size will accommodate your needs. Still need help? They also offer a toll free number for you to call should run into a snag. A great feature with Public Storage is that they require no credit card or long term commitment for renting.

U-Haul: That’s right; they aren’t just for moving trucks anymore. U-Haul has actually been offering self storage for a great number of years, but many are unaware that the company that they trust most when it comes to a moving truck will also give them access to a wide variety of storage units. Like Public storage, U-Haul has a toll free number that can be called if you need advice on what size storage unit you need. Some of the nice features with using U-Haul as your storage facility include, online bill pay, 24/7 security, and access to your unit even on weekends and holidays.

U STORE IT: Of the three companies listed, U STORE IT is the baby of them all, but is rapidly catching up. U STORE IT has over 400 locations nationwide and is growing every year. U STORE IT offers online deals and even has a price match guarantee. Like its bigger counterparts, U STORE IT also offer a toll free number which can be called for advice and tips.

No matter where you are in the country you are bound to be close to one of these powerhouses in the self storage industry. If you need more assistance in finding a location near you, you can either use the location finder found on each company’s website, where you simply type in your zip code and have the closest location listed for you, or call the toll free number and simply ask where a close location is.
Storing your personal effects can be somewhat worrisome; they are after all your personal effects. Going with one of the best storage companies that are available makes you decision not only a little easier on your time, but on your mind as well.

Get rate quotes from the top self storage units in your area.

Self Storage Rates - How Much Should You Pay for Self Storage?

When determining self storage rates, there are several factors that should be considered. Of course every self storage company will offer different rates and many will offer different deals as well. Knowing what to look for and what to expect can save you time and more importantly money.

There are several factors to consider before you can accurately find self storage rates, these include:

Size of Storage Unit: It stands to reason that the bigger something is, the more money you will pay for it. This is also true when it comes to self storage units and self storage rates. If you rent a self storage unit that is five feet by five feet it will obviously be cheaper than a store unit that is 25 feet by 25 feet. In a nut shell, the more stuff you have to store, the more you can expect to pay.

Air conditioned or non-air conditioned: When taking two equally sized storage units, the one that is air conditioned will cost you more than the one that is not. Why? Generally if you have personal effects that could be ruined by heat, then you will have to rent an air conditioned storage unit. These units are typically located inside as opposed to outside. The storage facility will be running huge air conditioning units to keep all of the indie units cool. This will cost the facility more in electricity and maintenance and you will pay a higher bill as a result, so you need to know whether the items you are going to store will be alright without air conditioning or they need constant cool.

Length of stay: When it comes to determining self storage rates you can often be helped or hurt by the time you stay. Some storage facilitates will have a higher per month rate than the rate that would be charged for the commitment of six months or more. Most are month to month these days, but even those types of storage facilities will often give you a better rate if you commit to a longer stay. If you know for sure you will be storing your items for six months or more, see what type of deals is available for you. If you are not sure, then just go with a month to month as more times than not, along with a better rate, comes a contract to sign.

Once you know the size unit you need, whether it needs to be air conditioned or not, and how long your things will be stored you are ready to determine the actual rate of the self storage unit. This is the time to call multiple storage facilities and do what is known as ‘price shopping’ in order to get the best deal available.

Many storage facilities will offer better rates when you rent online or pay your bill online so be sure to ask all the companies you call. Also be sure to look for companies that offer a price match/beat guarantee as this can be another way for you to save on self storage rates.

Lastly, make sure you are going with a self storage unit you are comfortable with. At times you may pay a touch more for as bigger and more reputable facility, but when it comes to your personal effects, a little price difference sometimes isn’t a big deal.