Knowing What Lies in Store: 5 Factors to Consider When Seeking a Self-storage Facility

On top of the countless stresses that come with everyday life, trying to find the storage facility that best suits your needs can be an additional and unnecessary headache. All too often, people mistakenly believe that all storage companies provide the same quality of service, resulting in dissatisfaction with their facility. In more drastic cases, signing on to a storage facility without first learning about the business itself can end in stolen or damaged property, every storage renter’s worst nightmare.
Choosing to rent from a self-storage facility, when done with an informed decision, should make storing your property more convenient, not more of a hassle. Before committing to a storage company, consider these key factors to find the facility that will best suit your needs.

1. Size and Sensitivity of Property Being Stored If you are searching the market for a self-storage facility, you should first examine your storage needs and the items that you want to store. Are you storing personal items like clothing or home decor? Outdoor equipment like a boat or RV? Do you require an indoor, climate-controlled unit or an outdoor space? Not all facilities provide the same types of storage. While some facilities specialize in holding more delicate property, others only offer outdoor options or units without climate control. Therefore, when searching for a storage unit, you should first consider what you need stored and the conditions needed to keep it in top-shape.
2. Cost While cost might seem like an obvious factor, many storage facility renters neglect to consider the long-term costs of a storage unit rental, rather than merely weighing the monthly fee. The monthly rental fees, of course, are important. However, you should also take into account the worth of the property in storage and the amount of time that your property will ultimately need to be stored. For example, if you plan to store $500 worth of property in a unit with a monthly fee of $200, the cost of the rental will quickly outweigh the worth of the items in storage. While this scenario does not account for items’ personal or sentimental value, you should consider whether or not the cost of your unit outweighs the value of your storage items.

3. Facility Security When seeking a self-storage facility, competent security is a must. Self-storage security options can differ as much as the facilities themselves. Whereas some facilities offer state-of-the-art security features, like surveillance cameras and unit alarm systems, other facilities provide no more than a simple lock. Other common features of an adequately secure storage facility include:
  • Perimeter fencing
  • High security locks
  • Lighting surrounding all units
  • Coded entry
  • Limited access hours
Before committing to a storage facility, be sure to ask your potential storage company what security measures that they provide and ask if your storage fee includes theft insurance.

4. Access Hours and Assistance Every storage facility approaches access hours differently. While some storage units provide 24-hour access 365 days of the year, others set limited hours and require supervised entry. Both methods have their benefits. While unlimited unit entry gives you the freedom to visit your unit at any time, it also means that thieves or vandals have greater accessibility to your unit, as well, although the latter should not be an issue at a truly secure facility.

5. Proximity You should also consider the location of your prospective storage facility and how frequently you plan to access the space. When considering the cost of a unit, be sure to remember the price of gas if you have to drive to your unit and the amount of time spent commuting to the facility. While proximity does not matter as much for items that you do not need to access in storage, a distant storage facility can be an inconvenience when you need to reach your property more regularly. If you have a boat that only needs to be stored in the winter, for example, it might matter less how closely that you store your boat to your home, since you likely will not need to access it often. On the other hand, if you need to make several trips to store all of your property in your unit, it is essential to choose a storage unit closer to home. Ultimately, your facility’s proximity should be an aid, not an extra hassle.

Most importantly, find a self-storage facility that will work with you! Like other businesses, every storage facility brings a little something different to the table. At Grant Creek, we strive to bring you an affordable, quality storage experience that keeps your property secure and grants you peace of mind. Our easily accessible drive-up units come fully equipped with excellent security features, such as bright lighting, 24-hour video surveillance cameras, coded gate entry and perimeter fencing. We provide indoor storage units, in addition to outdoor parking for boats, RV’s, campers and a range of other outdoor equipment and vehicles. Best of all, Grant Creek is conveniently located just off of Highway 90 at 2405 Michael Road in Missoula, Montana, a quick drive from downtown Missoula or the surrounding neighborhoods and recreational spaces.

Think Grant Creek Self-Storage is the storage facility for you?

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