Interior Design & Decor

There are many people who assume that all self storage facilities are created equally. It is easy for people to fall into the trap of believing that self storage facilities will all do everything in their power to protect their reputation and their clients belongings. While the majority of self storage facilities operate in this manner there are a few that do not. It is important to avoid using any self storage facility that does not offer proper security to all of their customers.

Many facilities, especially older self storage facilities, are built using only the basic security features available at the time of construction. These security features usually include tall fences and sometimes barred gates. Even though these features might stop casual criminals are bored teens they do little to repel serious criminals. To a serious thief a self storage facility can be the equivalent of hitting the lottery. Yes it is true that many of the items left in self storage are not extremely valuable, they are still worth enough to warrant paying a monthly fee for storage instead of throwing them away. A dedicated thief can easily make a fortune stealing your stored items and you would not even notice a theft had taken place until you had a chance to visit your storage facility.

Taking the time to choose a secure storage facility will help you avoid the pain and stress of discovering your items are missing and that there is little you can do about the theft. When choosing a safe self storage facility the first thing you should investigate is the companies reputation. Find out whether or not the company itself, not just your location, has a history of break-ins and if these break-ins were ever punished through any legal proceedings. More importantly, find out whether or not the company reimbursed the victims of the theft.

Next, find out what kind of insurance the company offers in the event of theft. Many self storage facilities offer renter insurance for a low monthly fee that will compensate you monetarily if a loss occurs. Most companies offer different amounts of compensation with the fees going up with the dollar amount the items are insured for. It is in your best interest to purchase a policy that will cover the minimum amount of money that you think your items are worth.

Secondly, ask the self storage facility what sorts of security measures are currently in place. Many modern secure self storage facilities use state of the art equipment to monitor units on their property. Ask them to show you how your items will be protected. In most cases video surveillance is used to keep track of the comings and goings of all individuals on the property. Gates are also blocked to restrict access to paying customers coming to park on the property of indoor facilities or going to the units on outdoor facilities.

Security goes beyond bars and guards. Find out whether or not the facility offers climate controlled storage units. Security begins with preserving your items and your items can be lost to you without the help of a thief if you are not careful. Documents such as paperwork, x-rays, and more can be completely ruined if left in damp weather for long periods of time. Climate controlled storage units cut down on the humidity of the unit preserving your documents.

Climate control can also help preserve your vehicles and furniture. Wood warps and cracks when exposed to heat, cold, and humidity. Thousands of people have been horrified to find out that their antique tables or expensive musical instruments have been ruined after a summer in storage. Investing in control can provide your items with additional security that many storage unit owners will overlook completely.

Lastly, make sure that your belongings are safe from fire. Many people take sprinkler systems for granted. In this day and age it is easy to assume that storage facilities have state of the art fire fighting systems especially if they have security. Even though most modern facilities do have advanced fire fighting and notification systems many older ones do not. Inquire with the manager of your storage facility to make sure they have new sprinklers and a fire alarm system. Also find out whether or not they have a plan of action in fires to attempt to isolate fires to avoid them spreading to all units. Make sure you also find out what sort of policies are in place to prevent fires from starting in the first place. Ask whether or not smoking is allowed on the property and find out what is the punishment for storing flammable chemicals on the property.