Storage Facilities – What to Look for
Storage facilities play a vital role because it is not always
possible to move into your new home with all your belongings or to
move out of your old neighborhood with all your belongings. Some
scenarios why it might not be possible to move into your new home
with your belongings are when the home is undergoing renovations, as
you await connection of utilities such as electricity, gas and
water, etc. Some scenarios why it might not be possible to leave
your old neighborhood with your belongings include when you move out
in a hurry for whichever reason and you do not have a new place,
when you do not have enough money for truck rental.
There are many storage companies to choose from, but some moving
companies also provide the service. The advantages of using
dedicated storage companies are that they have staff that is trained
on storage, they will give your belongings 100% care and you will
get more storage services. On the other hand, moving companies that
give a storage service are advantageous in that you can get other
services such as truck rental or auto-shipping under the same roof
and you are likely to get a discount because you pay for more
services.
One important thing to look for in a storage facility is the
security measures that have been put in place. Go for a storage
facility that has dogs and guards who regularly check the area and
the surrounds – they should be present 24 hours a day. The facility
should have CCTV cameras and other state-of-the-art security
features such as motion detectors. Your container/s should have
locks and you should have all the keys to the lock. If you do not
trust the company employees for one reason or the other, change the
lock as soon as you get a container.
One important thing to look for in a storage facility is the safety
of your belongings. Although most storage containers are kept
outside, the storage company should have a good drainage system to
prevent water damage of your belongings. The storage company should
have a good fire fighting system such as a smoke detector to protect
your belongings from fire damage. The storage company should have a
pest control system. For valuable belongings such as art, you should
consider getting a storage company that has climatically controlled
units to avoid damage from excessive humidity or temperatures.
An important thing to look for in a storage facility is space that
is adequate for all your belongings. If your belongings do not fit
into one container, the storage company should be in a position to
provide additional containers. You should go for storage companies
that have additional services such as self-service storage, truck
rental, and car storage facilities.
Storage facilities should come with an insurance cover against theft
and damage to your belongings. Go through the insurance policy
carefully with your accountant or lawyer.
If you are interested in storage facilities, you can get them from
storage companies or moving companies that offer storage services.