Let’s be honest. Searching for the right answer could overwhelm you. Either you have a big move to contend with, a business expanding beyond your means, or it’s just all about getting your garage back. Any which way you put it, self-storage units might be what you are looking for. Where does one even begin when weighing the many sizes and rules of units?
And this is where this guide comes in. We are going to walk through all your self-storage options from the basic types of units to packing tips, security details, and choosing the right size for your unit amongst other things. By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to land on a storage solution that fits your needs, budget, and all that stuff you need to store.
Part 1: Why do you Need a Storage Unit? Identifying Your Use Case
Before we dig into all the options, let’s look into why storage is needed in the first place. Once you’re clear on the “why”, making up the “what” becomes a lot easier.
Residential Storage Needs
The majority of people seeking out storage rental units do so for personal or household reasons, most often because life just happened.
Moving: Storage units are lifesavers during a move; they give homeowners time to sort thorough their stuff before showing their homes, allow them to store stuff between closing dates or casual about moving into the new place. This will help make the entire thing of residential moving so much smoother.
Downsizing: If you are moving into a smaller house, condo, or apartment, a storage unit can allow you to hold on to that antique dresser from grandma, your oversized couch that you love, and all the memories that just will not fit in your new place.
Renovating: No one wants their nice furniture being marred with sawdust and paint splatter. By moving your belongings off-site, you ensure that they are well protected whilst leaving room for your contractors to work their magic.
Decluttering & Reclaiming Space: Does this sound familiar-a garage you cannot park in, closets that explode with things when you open the door, basement that is practically a maze? A storage unit can help you reclaim your home. It is just right for Christmas decorations, patio furniture that you’re making use of for only three months a year, golf clubs, and all those craft supplies you swear you’ll use someday.
Big Life Events: Life throws punches your way. Maybe you’re turning that home office into a nursery (congratulations!), merging two households into one, or going through a loved one’s estate. Storage gives you the flexibility to digest whatever splats in front of you.
Business & Commercial Storage Needs
Here goes something cool: businesses of all sizes are catching on that, self-storage beats expensive warehouses, hands down!
Inventory & E-commerce: If you are running a small business or doing some online selling, store all your products without the expensive need for retail or warehouse space.
Equipment & Tools: Contractors, landscapers, and anyone in the trades can lock up their tools, equipment, and materials on a need-to-access basis.
Archived Documents: Want to get rid of boxes and boxes of old files and records that you legally have to keep yet rarely ever glance at? Send them to storage and get them out of your office.
Office Furniture & Supplies: During office moves, renovations, or situations where there is just far too much clutter, those extra desks, chairs, and office supplies just have a way of becoming storage gold for storage facilities. This would be highly commonplace in commercial moving projects in this manner.
Part 2: Core Self-Storage Options – Deep Dive into Unit Types
Now after knowing the “why” – this is the time to know what there is. How to decide on the type of unit? This is where the rubber meets the road.
Standard Drive-Up Storage Units
Just picture your garage away from home. These units will have those traditional rollers doors facing outside so that you can drive right up to the door with your car, van, or even the truck. Doesn’t require a hassle.
Best For: Large furniture, large, fragile appliances (dryers and washers), large collection of boxes, business inventory, tools, and equipment, etc., or anything you may have to move regularly.
Pros: Simple operation and less time for loading and unloading, usually pocket-friendly.
Cons: They’re at the mercy of Mother Nature-a doorway is known to cause your things to have to withstand even the coldest/max heat/humidity/rain. Might skip using this unit for your delicate stuff.
Interior Hallway Units
In a larger-sized building-either one or multiple floors-would be built. So you will enter from a front entrance and enter the unit through a hallway; it is much like being at an inn.
Best For: Common household “stuff,” furniture, boxes of assorted sizes, or business paperwork that doesn’t require lush climate control, but can be protected from driving rain, snow, and hot sunlight.
Pros: More protection from the elements than drive-up units and less exposure, as you will need a little access to the rest of the building.
Cons: Moving anything huge like the couch in and out might get tough with those hallways, stairs, or elevators.
Climate-Controlled Storage: Your Extra-Fine-Feather Premium Option
For a truly heart-winning preservation environment, these are certainly cutting edge. A real climate control unit does more than keep out rain. It controls the temperature and humidity, ensuring those are monitorable and within a sweet range. Inside temperature is anywhere between 13°C and 29°C.
What’s the big deal? Air humidity is no joke-moisture comes with consequences like mold, warping wood furniture, and corrosion on metal. And on the other side of the coin, the entire opposite, which is dry air-similarly awful, watch your wood break and crack. By offering both controls, such a storeroom is in your interest.
Materials that would necessarily need climate control:
- Wooden Furniture and Upholstery: Keep mold, warping, cracking, splitting at bay.
- Antiques and Heirlooms: Your priceless pieces will remain as good as new.
- Electronics: Look after them from moisture and dust from wide temperature changes.
- Art, Photos, Books: Yellowing, fading, and disintegration will be history here.
- Musical Instruments: Good for instruments such as pianos and guitars, for whom environment interfering is a thing of calamity.
- Business Papers and Archives: No longer crisp anymore.
- Vinyl Records and Collectibles: Maintain your collection’s value and originality.
Pros: Superior safeguard for your valuables. You are guaranteed a good night’s sleep.
Cons: The climate control price tag is weightier compared to the standard system.
Vehicle Storage
Find a place to keep whatever wheeled toys you have.
Has that boat taken up all of your driveway? Or does your RV need a place during the winter? They specialize in vehicle storage.
Uncovered Parking: A simple concept and budget option. Designated parking in a secure, paved lot.
Covered Parking: If you are looking for a facility that provides protection against sunlight, rain, and hail, this option gives you that roof over your head.
Enclosed Unit: This would be like your private garage. A large drive-up fully enclosed unit that will secure your car, boat, or RV entirely.
Part 3: Decoding the Active Unit Sizes- Get It Just the Way You Intend
When it comes to storage units, picking the wrong size is extremely annoying. Too small? Time to play a game of Tetris with your goods. Too big? Well, money wasted. This breakdown will give you size by sizes with the most common dimensions and how to fit things in them.
5′ x 5′ (25 sq. ft.): Think of a large closet. A few small pieces of furniture can go in, maybe a dozen boxes, some holiday decorations, or everything from a dorm room.
5′ x 10′ (50 sq. ft.): A walk-in closet, maybe. Should carry the studio apartment or single bedroom stuff – say mattress set, dresser, and a few boxes.
10′ x 10′ (100 sq. ft.): Most people are happy around this size. It’s about half a one-car garage and fits a one-bedroom apartment fairly well; appliances, furniture, and about 40-50 boxes.
10′ x 15′ (150 sq. ft.): If you’re moving out of a two-bedroom apartment or small house, this is your size. Furniture from a few different rooms, appliances, and plenty of boxes all fit in.
10′ x 20′ (200 sq. ft.): Sort of a standard one-car garage. A favored choice by family movers out of 2-3 bedroom houses. Furniture, appliances, a patio set, and truckloads of boxes will fill it up nicely-whole lot perfect for full-service moving.
10′ x 30′ (300 sq. ft.): If you’re looking to store a 4-5 bedroom house, that’s it. And I’m talking sectionals, dining room sets, big appliances- the whole shebang.
Pro Tip: Can’t decide? Probably go bigger. Trust me, the extra room for creating an aisle and getting to the back of your stuff is worth every penny.
Part 4: Storing Soon- Success Tips
Listen, choosing the right size unit is only half the battle. Packing and organizing correctly is the other half, and that will tip the scale somewhere between smooth sailing and utter chaos.
Step 1: De-Clutter Before You Store
Let’s be real here-storage is not free. Why pay to store that broken lamp or pair of jeans from 2005? Call it what you may: junk, trash, or whatever you want; before packing anything, sort all your stuff into three piles: Keep, <a href=”https://declutter.diabetes.ca/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Donate</a>/Sell, and Junk. Just be harsh on yourself-it will save you money and headaches. The junk pile seems to be getting bigger? Bring in the pros. They’ll make sure to take everything into storage that is worth storing.
Step 2: Assemble Good Packing Supplies
- Strong, Uniform Boxes: With boxes of the same size, the stacking becomes much easier, and there are fewer chances of toppling over.
- Packing Tape: Do not skimp on packing tape. Tape at the top and bottom of all boxes.
- Permanent Markers & Labels: Ensure that whatever is in a box is known on several sides of it, with the plus of the room it was from.
- Roll of Packing Materials: Bubble wrap and packing paper (newspaper is really messy due to ink), and don’t ignore the furniture covers.
- Mattress and Furniture Covers: Plastic covers work wonders against dust and moisture, so keep them close.
Step 3: Master the Art of Packing
Here’s the thing – packing for storage isn’t quite the same as packing for a move. Your stuff might be sitting there for months (maybe even years!), so you’ll want to get this right. Want the full scoop on packing strategies? Check out these essential packing tips.
Distribute Weight Evenly: Heavy stuff goes on the bottom, lighter items on top. Simple as that.
Leave a Walkway: Here’s a pro tip – when you’re loading up your unit, leave yourself a path down the middle. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later when you need that one box from the back.
Disassemble Furniture: Break down those bed frames, tables, and other bulky pieces to save tons of space. Pop all the screws and hardware in a labeled bag and tape it right to the furniture. Genius, right?
Clean Everything: Give everything a good wipe-down before storing, especially appliances. Those leftover crumbs? They’re basically a welcome mat for pests. And damp stuff? Hello, mildew city.
Store Valuables Securely: Tuck your valuable items toward the back where they’re out of sight.
Part 5: Safety First – What You Absolutely CANNOT Store
Look, every storage facility has strict rules, and they’re not just being picky. These rules keep your stuff safe, protect other people’s belongings, and prevent the whole place from going up in flames. Breaking these rules doesn’t just violate your lease – it can create seriously dangerous situations. Here’s what’s banned everywhere:
Hazardous, Flammable, or Combustible Materials: This one’s huge. If it can catch fire, explode, or eat through metal, it’s a hard no.
Examples: Gas, propane tanks, diesel, kerosene, oil, paint, paint thinner, turpentine, spray cans, fertilizer, chemicals, acid, cleaners, and fireworks.
Perishable Food & Scented Items: Any food that’ll go bad or smells strong is like sending out invitations to mice, rats, and bugs. Once pests get into one unit, they’ll spread through the whole facility faster than you can say “exterminator.”
Examples: Fresh or frozen food, produce, meat, dairy, pet food, and opened dry goods. (Sealed canned goods? Usually fine).
Living Things (Plants & Animals): This shouldn’t need saying, but… no animals. It’s cruel, it’s illegal, and it’s just wrong. Plants? They’ll die without light and water, then attract bugs as they rot. Not good.
Illegal Items & Stolen Goods: Storage units aren’t hiding spots for illegal drugs, unregistered guns, stolen stuff, or any other shady business. Facilities work hand-in-hand with law enforcement if something seems off.
Yourself: You can’t live or crash in a storage unit. It’s illegal, dangerous, and will get you kicked out immediately.
Scented or Wet Items: Even non-food stuff with strong smells can bring in pests. And wet items (think damp rugs or camping gear that’s not fully dry) are mold magnets.
Part 6: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to buy my own lock?
A: Yep, you’ll need to bring your own lock. This way, you’re the only one with the key or combo. Go for a solid disc lock – they’re tough to cut through.
Q: Is my stuff insured in a storage unit?
A: Nope, the facility doesn’t automatically cover your belongings. Check if your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance extends to storage units. If not, you can grab affordable storage insurance pretty easily.
Q: What kind of security should I look for?
A: You want layers of protection – think electronic gates with personal codes, cameras running 24/7, bright lighting, and staff on-site.
Ready to Choose Your Perfect Storage Option?
You’ve got all the insider knowledge now! From figuring out what you need to picking the right unit size, from packing like a champ to knowing the safety rules – you’re all set to make a smart choice that’ll give you real peace of mind.
At On The Move, we think storage should be easy, secure, and work with your life. Need a tiny unit for a few months? Got it. Looking for space to grow your business? We’ve got you covered.
Check out our secure and convenient storage solutions or give us a ring at [Your Phone Number] to chat with one of our friendly experts