If you are thinking of renting a storage unit in London, then you are not alone. There are thousand of storage units across the country. Some used for long term and some just used for the short term. You want to know that your belongings are safe, though, right? And it is a good idea to make sure that you are getting the best price that you possibly can. So here are some things to consider, before you rent a storage unit.
What needs to go into storage? This needs to be one of the first questions that you ask yourself. How many things do you need to store? How large and bulk are the items? When you know the answers to these things, you can start your search for a storage unit on a much better foot. If you don’t know what size you are looking for, it can waste a lot of time.
Are there any deals for first-time customers? If you haven’t rented before, it is worth asking if there is a discount available. It might not be anything huge, but something like the first month free is an incentive to go with that storage company.
Is there an offer if you pay for a few months up front? It is also worth asking if there is money off if you pay up front. At the end of the day, a storage company like Space Maker is there to provide a service. They want to know that they will be able to be paid for that service. So offering money upfront can be a good step.
What size storage unit do you need? There are varying sizes out there. But as you can imagine, the larger the storage unit, the more you will pay. It is worth working out if it might be cheaper to get some shelving so that you can get a smaller unit. If it still works out cheaper, then that is a great option to maximise a smaller space.
How does the facility monitor the units? You are paying for your belongings to be kept safe. So you wouldn’t be happy if they weren’t kept safe. Check what their security policy is. Do they just have CCTV in place? Who has access to spare keys or is it all lock codes that only the unit owner has? All good things to know and ask.
What will be insured? Will the items be covered by your home or contents insurance? Does the facility have some form of insurance that you might need to pay extra for? You need to make sure that you are happy with their lost or damaged items policies. What if there was a fire, for example?
How is the temperature controlled in the units? This will depend on the location that you are in. But extreme temperatures can affect your belongings. High-tech TVs and things like tablets won’t do well in extreme cold. Other things like leather sofas, could get slightly damaged in extreme warmth. So if it is relevant, ask about what the facility does about the temperature control.
How easily can you move your items in and out? Will your unit be on a third or fourth floor? If you have a lot of large, bulky items, this could be such a nightmare to manoeuvre. If you have smaller boxes, it would be easier. Are the units accessed from inside a building or from the outside? The outside is easier to load up, but it is easier for things to be stolen from. So look at what you need to put into storage and see what will work best for you.
When you are ready to get your items into storage, you need to think about what to do with it all. One of the biggest pieces of advice is to label everything. It is all your possessions, so you will know roughly what is in there. If you are using storage as you have a placement abroad for a year, though, you might not remember all that was in there. You might to just dip in and out of the things in storage, and it will be a nightmare if you have to search through everything. Labeling everything will make things much easier and quicker.
The final thing that you need to consider before using a storage unit, is the layout of the unit. It might be a good idea to hone your skills at Tetris. To fit all of your things in, you will need to have a specific layout. It might sound silly, but it could be worth measuring things and drawing up a layout plan, before you get to your unit. It will be easier than having to move around furniture and boxes, in a confined space.
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