Self-Storage Units

Storage 101: Everything you need to know about renting a self-storage unit

There’s a lot to consider when renting a self-storage unit for the first time. What storage unit size would be best for you? Is climate control important? Fortunately, the self-storage experts are here to help you find the proper storage solution. We wrote this guide on the basics of self-storage. Please feel free to contact our friendly, expert team at any point for continued assistance and your self-storage journey.

What is self-storage?

Self-storage units provide space for individuals to rent and store their personal or business belongings. The storage space—also referred to as self-storage units—is rented on a month-to-month basis.

Unlike services like pod storage solutions, where the customer has limited access to their belongings and relies on the storage provider to store and manage their belongings, a self storage unit offers you, the customer, much more control. You can pack and arrange the self storage unit however you’d like, access your belongings at any point during the location’s open access hours, and store or take things out of storage whenever you’d like.

Common reasons for renting a storage unit

Moving

Storing your life possessions while moving to a new home, transitioning between leases, living in temporary housing, and relocating across the country are some of the most common reasons for renting self storage.

Life Transitions

Sometimes it’s divorce, downsizing for retirement, caring for a family member’s estate, or maybe even recovering from a natural disaster, a self storage unit can ease the burden when sudden life changes arise.

Decluttering

Does it feel like your house is shrinking around you? Or maybe it’s your office that somehow keeps getting smaller! Decluttering and moving some things out of your space will help you work better and live more peacefully! 

Apartment Living

Renting a self storage unit can make apartment living more accessible. Especially if you live in a studio or one-bedroom apartment that doesn’t have much extra space, renting a storage unit can help you regain space and live better!

Storing a Vehicle

Cars, motorcycles, RVs, boats, trailers, commercial vans, and more can be stored safely within a vehicle storage unit.

Home Renovations

Remodeling a home isn’t for the faint of heart? It could take weeks or months or sometimes more than a year. Optimizing your current space by moving things such as appliances or boxes into a self storage unit can help you keep your space tidy and functional throughout a challenging time.

Business Storage

Small to mid-size businesses and contractors often use commercial storage units for additional space for storing inventory, materials, files, equipment, or business vehicles.

College Storage

Freeing up space in a dorm room, heading home over the summer, or studying abroad for a few months is why college students rent storage close to their university campuses. Renting a self storage unit around the corner from your local college campus means you won’t have to worry about over stuff in your car and not having room to make it home. Your parents will appreciate their house not being overly cluttered. And it makes moving back into the dorms or apartment close to your college campus much easier!

Military Living

Active military and military families typically move every few years, making their way to different bases. As these changes can be drastic, military storage can be an incredible help when relocating.

What can & can’t be stored in your storage unit?

Someone can store almost everything inside of a self-storage unit! However, there are a few exceptions that we would like to disclose. The exceptions are basically anything dangerous or illegal. Of course, there are some items that fall into a gray area, so be sure to ask the facility manager before renting a unit to see what’s allowed on the property.

Items you CAN store include (but are not limited to): furniture, appliances, electronics, clothes, business inventory, sporting equipment.

Items you CANNOT store include (but are not limited to): food, drugs, vehicles not in working order, anything that’s flammable or combustible (i.e., gas, propane tanks, car batteries).

What can I store in a storage unit?

Clothes, furniture, and appliances are among the most common things kept in self storage units at our locations throughout the United States. However, storage units can also be used to safely store any number of items from your home or business including vehicles, medical supplies, construction tools.

Understanding Storage Unit Access Types

Outdoor or Drive-Up Access

Comparable to a garage space in your home, outdoor storage units with drive-up access are incredibly popular due to their convenient accessibility. Pull your vehicle (including moving trucks and even semi-trucks at most locations) right up to the storage unit to load and unload items.

Indoor Access

Indoor self storage units are located inside a building as The name suggests. This makes them more like a walk-in closet than a garage space. Not only does this provide protection from the elements, but it also means having access to self storage features like climate-controlled storage.