Paying top dollar for a second-rate self storage unit is just a waste of money.
Searching the web or flicking through the Yellow Pages will turn up dozens of storage centres within a few miles of your home or business and most will offer the same space at a similar price.
Watch out for the cheapest. In the end you get what you pay for and if one storage facility is offering the same space at a massive discount on everyone else, there has to be a reason why.
Comparing what you get for your money across several self storage centres is difficult without spending hours visiting and checking out each one.
After all, they are going to have decent testimonials on their web sites and their staff would say they are the best, wouldn’t they?
Priorities for self storage vary from person to person, but generally, the lists are pretty much the same but in a different order:
Cost: Calculate this as a cost per cubic foot by multiplying the floor area by the height and then taking the figure and dividing the total rental cost.
For example, the unit measures 10 feet deep x 6 feet wide and 8 feet high, which gives a total of 480 cubic feet.
Now take the rental cost per week and add the insurance cost per week and any other charges (If there are any!).
Let’s say the cost is £22 a week. Divide £22 by 480 = 0.046 per cubic foot per week.
Security: Staff on the premises for long opening hours, a good security fence and CCTV for out-of-hours monitoring are the basics to expect.
Storage conditions: Climate controlled storage is a must because this stops condensation and damp damaging documents, photographs, fabrics and furniture. The storage centre should be brightly lit, clean and tidy throughout. If the staff have no respect for their own premises, they are unlikely to have any respect for your belongings.
Extras: Nice to have but not necessary are a courtesy van that’s clean, friendly staff who are keen to help, plenty of trolleys for moving your boxes and an in-store shop for packaging materials at discount rates.
If you have a choice of local self storage centres and the closest don’t come up to scratch, it’s worth travelling the extra few miles and paying a few extra pounds for good service, safe and secure storage and peace of mind.
Anything else can be a false economy.
Lockaway Self Storage, based just off the Finchley Road in London NW8, is a leading, professional self storage centre that offers value for money plus everything you would expect a leading firm in the sector to deliver.
To find out more, phone 020 3283 8794 and chat to one of our storage experts who will talk you through renting the right space for your needs at the right price.
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Tags: Self storage, storage unit