5 Features to Look for in a Good Storage Facility

What are you looking for in a storage facility? Aren’t they all basically the same? Not quite. Starting your journey into self-storage doesn’t have to be a lengthy process. And at the end of the day, you just want to store your things and forget about them. Life is unpredictable. You can plan and organize all you want, but you still have to be flexible. And life comes with inevitable events that are unexpected and difficult to navigate. It’s well-known that the biggest life events include birth, death, and believe it or not, moving. Moving, downsizing, remodeling, and reorganizing can be stressful and seemingly overwhelming events. It all comes down to your belongings and what you will do with them and how you will move them from one place to another. And while it’s good to have a plan such as “packing day,” or “move-in day,” it won’t be nearly as neat as when you put the plan together in your head. Make the transition easier by renting a space to store your belongings. Don’t worry about how to begin because this post will give you a brief guide and a handy starting point about what you should be looking for in a good storage facility.

Security Features

A standard facility should offer more than the bare minimum to protect your belongings. Some companies provide locks with the purchase of a rental. You can also invest in your own lock if that is something you want to upgrade. Look for companies that offer features such as video surveillance and electronic gates that are only accessible by a unique, personal code. Many establishments will offer extra protection such as insurance for your belongings in case of extreme circumstances and inclement weather. Look for facilities offering professional pest control as an option. Some facilities will provide this at no charge, but not all facilities are run the same way, so check with the local business you’ve been eyeing to see if they offer this to their tenants.

Accessibility

Having access to your items is a crucial factor when considering whether the facility of your choosing is a decent investment. Facilities differ in their policies of when office hours are available or how often you can get through the gate. A good facility doesn’t just mean 24/7 access to your belongings–although that is a convenient feature. You should have enough of a window that accessing your things accommodates your schedule. When factoring in accessibility, it’s also important to consider features like are the buildings available ground-level or are they on the second floor also. Do they have both stairs and elevators to access those spaces that aren’t ground-level? How easy is it to access the units? Are you able to drive up directly and unload? Consider the physicality of your storage requirements, and choose a facility that aligns best with your needs.

Variety of Storage Units

The type and size you will need depend heavily on what exactly you plan to store. Different companies have different types of standards. Most facilities offer standard storage units, but a lot also offer amenities such as air-conditioned and climate-controlled spaces. There are also several sizes from storage lockers and mini storage to parking spaces to store larger vehicles. Check with your local facility to see what they have to offer.

Payment Processes

A good facility will have a streamlined payment system that you can use online and on your mobile device. Most of the time, rentals can be paid for on a month-to-month basis, and deposits are dependent on that specific facility’s policies. This means that you don’t have to sign a long-term agreement or lease, giving you flexibility. Your local facility should have an option to set up an automatic payment online to make payments easy and secure.

Customer Service and Online Reviews

When you look at a facility’s website or social media, what are people saying about it in their reviews? There don’t have to be thousands, especially if the facility is small, and all of the reviews don’t necessarily have to be glowing. However, a good facility has the option for potential customers to determine for themselves if that company is the right one for them. If there are any negative reviews, how does the storage facility handle them? Professional handling of unsatisfied customers is a glimpse of the facility’s policies regarding customer service. There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding which property is the best for your needs. However, a good facility is rare. With a little sleuthing, finding decent options is a simple process and one you won’t regret later. We know what it takes when it comes to the best self-storage solutions. Here at ClickandStor®, the first and only online rental suite, we make the self-storage rental experience easy. Browse through our website to rent storage, sign an agreement, pay your bill and move in on the same day. Do more with ClickandStor®.