Local Expert Blog: Not All Storage Is Created Equal!

Long gone are the days of remote storage facilities that are little more than a smelly locker. With 65 to 85 per cent of self-storage tenants being residential users, the need for storage units in central locations is more important than ever. Better yet, facilities that meet all your needs while being user friendly can be hard to come by.

Needs, you say? Yup, needs. If you are new to the self-storage world or simply need to upgrade from that remote, smelly locker, here are some things you should be looking for in a storage facility:

Ventilation

Ventilation is important in any storage unit as it allows air to circulate. Some places may cut corners by simply drilling holes in the wall of the unit or install a simple vent to the outside. Whatever the solution, if it isn’t proper ventilation, it doesn’t cut it.

Dehumidification

Having a storage unit that is heated, air conditioned, and dehumidified allows your space and your possessions to be free of the pervasive humidity common to our region. After all, if you are going to invest in a space to store your things, you want them to be protected from damaging temperatures. Using a space heater or air conditioning unit won’t be enough.

Security

Locks and keys are good and all, but a security system designed with layers of protection including cameras, alarm systems, gated access, and a private loading dock sure makes things sound more secure. Remember, these are items you have chosen to invest in by renting a self-storage unit. If they weren’t important to you, you wouldn’t bother keeping them. So, keep your possessions secure.

Access

Typically, when someone rents a storage unit it is because they need the extra space. What they don’t want, we are sure, is being unable to easily access their possessions. While renting a unit that is alarmed 24/7 is great, maintaining accessibility is better, especially while maintaining security measures like:

1. private loading docks
2. possessing the only key to your unit
3. alarm systems that are triggered when a door is held open for more than 15 minutes
4. cameras and lights
5. gated access

If there is one thing that rings true in today’s world, it is that space has become sparse and very valuable. Looking for space to keep your prized possessions that are outside of your home deserves to be the best.

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