Don’t Always Overestimate Self Storage Facility Standards

Erik Braunitzer of Douglas Elliman Real Estate Company, agents for New York City Real Estate, offers interesting insights into self storage security in the USA, home of the world’s most developed self storage industry.

For those of us transitioning or simply looking to keep some larger items in storage, it’s not always practical to ask a friend or perhaps substitute a spare room. That’s why many people entertain commercial storage, or self storage facilities.

Yet, there are a few things you should know prior to keeping your stuff locked away on somebody else’s property.

Burglary and theft

For starters, commercial facilities are not always burglarproof. Being aware of this can help you take a few preventative measures of your own in securing your goods.

For instance, not all facilities hand out locks that are strong enough to withstand bolt cutters, or perhaps a substantial blow. This is why you should invest in a strong locking mechanism that you know will work better.

Likewise, in case somebody finds a way to break into your unit, you should keep all your valuables boxed up and hidden from plain view.

Of course, you can’t always count on a theft alarm, but in most cases of robbery, the thief won’t hang around long enough to sift through everything.

If you are still worried about security, consider connecting your goods together, so as to create one massive clump of belongings. This can be done using a strong rope or chain. Doing this will make it much more difficult for anybody to remove individual items.

Heat and cold

Not all storage units are temperature controlled, and the ones that claim they are still aren’t always up to par. If you’re living in the Northern Hemisphere and it’s anytime between September and March, it would be wise to keep all your electronic devices in a separate and warm location. The last thing you want is your 47 inch plasma TV breaking. Similarly, always count on liquids freezing.

In the summer, things can get a bit steamy. Usually, electronic equipment isn’t affected by heat, but when it’s 115+ degrees F, there’s a chance that some things could be affected, particularly if you’re storing liquids or food.

Pests and dust

Next up on the list is sanitization. Most people learn the hard way when they come back to find their couches eaten up or torn to shreds, but a lot of facilities often have rodent problems. And this is simply because many of these units lay dormant for extended periods of time, aside from the fact that they may not take preventative measures themselves.

The smartest thing to do in this case is to lay mousetraps, glue traps and mothballs – these are all great deterrent methods. Leaving a few air fresheners might not hurt either. Of course, your unit will get dusty; air dusters are a quick and easy method of removing dust from household items.

Tremors and accidents

Last but certainly not least, heavy containers housing large amounts home goods certainly don’t have the tendency to shake or vibrate. If you’re items are stacked, it would be wise to put the heavy and larger items at the bottom, and gradually build your way up. Although it’s very unlikely, there have been instances where earthquakes, human fault and neighboring unit accidents have caused other people’s items to fall, shatter and break.

Rest assured

Don’t let any of this put you off! Being cautious is certainly not wrong or irrational, and following a few of the above suggestions will ensure the survival of your self-stored goods next time you transition from one place into another. Self storage is certainly one of the best options for anybody that doesn’t have the room to do so themselves.

2 Responses to “Don’t Always Overestimate Self Storage Facility Standards”

1. Paul Richardson says:

   December 28, 2011 at 9:30 pm

   At Walton Self Store we do not have any of these problems. All Walton Self Stores units are indoor containers, inside industrial buildings. In Winter it is dry and warm and light, in Summer it never gets too hot, perfect for storing all your belongings.

2. Aaron Pearson says:

   March 7, 2013 at 10:50 am

   No matter the service, there are always pros and cons and people who are just out to make a quick buck. More than anything it’s about using common sense that protects you from those unethcial sorts.