safe and secure - lockaway self storage london nw8

Any first time self storage customer needs to know the answers to a few questions before giving over their belongings to a firm they don’t know.

It’s not unusual for some back street storage and removal companies to have unsuitable damp and dirty premises with little or no security that can ruin fragile items.

So here are a few key pointers that will sort the self storage experts from the cowboys:

Climate control

It may seem stupid to ask if stored belongings are kept in air-conditioned rooms, but damp is the number one cause of damage to fragile items. Self storage rooms without climate control are subject to extremes of hot and cold, which causes condensation.

If the air is not circulating in a storage room and condensation forms, this causes damp in clothes, upholstery and documents. Damp also warps heavy furniture like wooden table tops.

Tight security

The customer is the only person who should have a key to a self storage room. Good self storage centres have state-of-the art alarm systems with PIN access and 24/7 CCTV. Most have sophisticated fire and smoke alarms as well.

Easy access

Squeezing too many units in to a self storage facility leads to accidents and poor access. Corridors should be well lit and wide. Corners should have room to turn a trolley. Drive up access for vehicles and plenty of parking if the loading bays are busy is a must.

Long opening hours and staff on site

Most busineses can arrange 24/7 access to external containers, but householders and students really need day time and early evening access every day, including weekends. Having staff available in case of problems is also helpful.

Insuring belongings

Cheap, comprehensive insurance is vital in case belongings get damaged in self storage. Most good self storage firms can arrange insurance or personal cover can be obtained from a broker.

Any self storage centre that ticks the ‘yes’ box for these pointers is showing the needs of customers are considered and the staff care about looking after the belongings left with them.

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One of the tips of the trade is making the best use of self storage.

Self storage is a cheap way of clearing out that tired old furniture and piles of prized belongings while showing off your home at it’s best to viewers.

Most of us can’t afford to dump all our carpets and furniture on a whim when we want to put our home up for sale – plus we just don’t know what we might need when we move in to our new place.

That’s where self storage comes in. You can have as much or as little space as you need for as long as you want it.

Storage units have plenty of space for sofas, tables and anything else you need to keep secure and dry.

While your furniture is in storage, many house ‘dressers’ rent newer and more trendy furnishings to make your home look bigger and brighter.

Self storage also makes moving easier, because you can sort and pack your belongings before locking them up safe and sound until you need them. Self storage offers flexible terms and open ended contract with short notice, so you don’t have to worry about moving your possessions by a certain date.

Costs depend on the size of the space you are renting and start at just a few pounds a month.

Storage units keep your belongings in tip-top condition because they are climate controlled to stop damp and condensation that can lead to warping and damp.

You can put more than furniture and household belongings in self storage – all that garden furniture that needs a coat of varnish or those toys and tools overflowing in the garage can also go in to your storage room, giving you more space to show off to viewers.

For more information about Lockaway Self Storage, call 020 3283 8794.

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As all classic car collectors realise, specialist cars have stringent insurance conditions and to make sure the car retains value, the right storage has to be provided.

Few classic car collectors are lucky enough to have the funds for one of just 36 170 mph Ferraris made in the early Sixties, and is widely regarded by many as the ultimate sports car.

Collecting and restoring classic cars has a huge following of enthusiasts.

Cars are lovingly restored to end-of-production-line condition and it’s a point of pride as well as sensible to maintain them like that, otherwise their value diminishes.

Self-storage is an ideal place to keep a classic car away from sticky fingers and the ravages of the elements.

Lots of classic cars are kept in draughty garages under tarpaulins, but serious enthusiasts realise the climate-controlled, damp-free and secure environment of a self-storage centre provides the best conditions for keeping their valuable asset at a reasonable price.

Lockaway Self-Storage has drive-up storage that is just right for classic cars.

The rooms are cool, dry and clean, that helps keep the car pristine and rust-free.

Damaging ultraviolet is banished, as self-storage is windowless so the sun can’t take the sheen and lustre away from delicate paintwork.

Secure storage facilities with 24/7 CCTV coverage also mean the car is safe.

All the owner has to do is check up on the car and arrange to move any settled dust – that’s the one thing Lockaway Self Storage cannot guarantee will creep in to your storage room.

The market for top-end classic cars is buoyant, with a UK collector recently selling a 1930s Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 sports car for £12 million. A Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold for about £8 million in May 2009 and holds the record for a car offered in a public auction.

If you fancy buying in to your motoring dream, 50 classic cars are due to go under the hammer at Oxford on March 6.

The lots include a 1956 Bentley S1 Continental sports saloon, valued at a more modest £150,000  - £180,000 in comparison to the Ferrari.

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