There was a time when keeping valuables safe meant storing them under your mattress, putting them in a safety deposit box at a bank, or maybe burying them in a box out in a field. Then one day in the late 1950’s, a group in Texas decided to try renting out what were, essentially, miniature garages to those who, like so many Americans, simply had too much stuff that they were unwilling to get rid of.
But why did the idea catch on so well? Consider the alternatives: the aforementioned mattress and safety deposit box solutions worked fine for small items, assuming that your house wasn’t burglarized and your bank was secure. And as fun as the idea of buried treasure might be, the reality is usually soggy, dirty valuables and ruined documents, and that’s only if you could find your buried treasures. Storing things in your house became a problem as people began to over accumulate. Granted, storage units do not stop this latter issue, but they do keep the things you don’t need every day from lining the walls and cupboards of your home.
Storage units, then, were something of an ideal solution: a place to keep your Christmas dishes and your wedding dress and your big, fancy chop saw safe, but out of the way. Using them reduces clutter in the home without forcing people to throw out items that they are still emotionally attached to, or only need occasionally.
How Do I Know My Storage Unit Is Safe?
In any place where valuables are collected, thieves are going to come nosing around; it’s an unfortunate reality of human society. However, this is also a reality that self-storage business owners are aware of and defend against. There are, naturally, many storage protection options and features at Simply Self Storage facilities. How do you know what’s best for you?
To begin with, you want the most basic of storage security measures: if the location you’re checking out doesn’t have gated access and a strong security fence, good lighting, and someone on duty during business hours to keep an eye on the place, it’s probably not worth storing anything valuable there. A close follow-up to this list of basic security is storage surveillance; while video monitoring is mostly used to catch thieves after they’ve struck, it can also serve as a deterrent.
After you’ve covered the basics, consider what you want out of your storage unit. Are the things you’ll be storing in need of climate-controlled self storage specific to your unit, or will a central temperature control system fit your needs? Are the things you’re storing valuable enough to invest in a storage facility that has alarms wired to the units? There are even self-storage centers that have managers living on-site to keep a 24-hour watch on the area. That may be worth your consideration as well.
What About Insurance?
As long the public knows where valuables are stored, sooner or later, someone may try to take them. That’s where self storage insurance takes a role. Your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance for your living space may cover off-site (as in, storage unit) items; ask your insurance provider about it. Many storage unit facilities also offer their own insurance plans. Before you choose how to insure your goods, think carefully about the kinds of things that could happen, and what you need to be protected against. Weigh the cost of insurance against the potential loss, and decide what is right for you.
One Last Thing To Check On
Finally, after you have researched theft deterrents and insurance policies, you should make sure that the storage unit you choose is well-maintained. A storage facility overrun with rodents is not likely to protect your belongings, unless you like mouse droppings and chewed-up boxes. Choose a place with regular pest control, consistent cleaning, and protection against water damage from above or below.
Above all, do your research. Consider carefully the factors that matter to you, and don’t be afraid to ask questions!
The post Are Storage Units a Safe Alternative For My Belongings? appeared first on Self Storage Blog - DIY Storage Tips, Ideas & Other Stuff.
