Questions to Ask Before Renting From a Storage Facility

What to Ask When Renting From a Storage Company

Are you considering renting a storage unit? If you have more possessions than space in your home, renting a storage unit can be the answer. With the storage business thriving, you should be able to find a storage facility near you that suits your purposes.

If you are not familiar with the area, you'll be renting a storage unit; you can use Google to help out. A search such as storage units near me should do the trick.

If you haven’t used a self-storage rental before or in a long time, there are some things you can ask to make sure you get the storage you need. Let's take a deep dive into some of the most vital questions to ask before renting from a storage facility.

These questions will put you on the right track for making the best decision possible.

Are the storage units climate controlled?

When looking at renting from a storage facility, you will likely find climate-controlled units available, and this will make sure your possessions are kept in their best condition. Climate controls prevent damage from extremes of temperature in the hottest or coldest months.

You can do a quick online search to learn what possessions will need climate-controlled storage.

How do they deal with pests?

You don’t want to find any pests or rodents among your possessions in the storage unit. A good indication of a reliable storage facility is one that takes the necessary steps to prevent a pest infestation. This could mean regular visits from pest control specialists and traps set.

Make sure you ask how the storage facility deals with rodents as they could destroy your valuable property.

How good is the security?

One of the most important factors in your decision should be security. Do they offer an on-site guard, security gates, surveillance systems, and good lighting? If you are storing things that can’t be easily replaced or valuable items, this will be very important.

When can you access the storage unit?

Most facilities will be open during normal business hours, but this may not be good enough for you. If it is more convenient outside of office hours, does the facility provide that? If you do need a 24-hour storage service, you can expect to pay more. When looking for a storage unit, make sure you ask this question upfront.

Are there any extra costs?

Aside from the rental rates for the unit, can you expect to pay for additional services? If the storage business offers very low rates, is this because they make much of their money through additional fees? There could be a security deposit or administration fees due; make sure to ask about this before making your storage choice.

Do they have any special offers available to you?

Their website or social media account might post special discounts that could save you money. Sometimes they have online-only deals that you will miss out on if you don’t check. There are frequent discounts for military personnel or students; ask about them before reserving a unit.

What are their payment options?

Online bill pay or autopay may be more convenient for you, but does the storage facility offer them? If they only allow you to pay by check, is that going to be too inconvenient?

Do you need to pay for insurance?

When renting a storage unit, you might be required to buy insurance, other times; it could be optional. They may try to sell you coverage for your unit, but you might not want it for the items you are storing.

Can you take a tour?

If the storage location manager lets you take a look around, you can learn a lot about how well it is operated. Are the areas of the facility clean and tidy, is the security as expected? You can also use this to look inside the size of the unit you were interested in renting, to see if it is as large as you imagined.

How is the storage facility better than the competition?

With lots of storage options around, locations have to compete to win customers. This means that they often have amenities to attract renters. You could discover that some facilities include extra services that you could really use. Things like a business center or specialty wine storage could be available to draw in customers.

Final Thoughts on Renting Self-Storage

Along with asking these questions, it is a good idea to check customer feedback online. This could provide more honest information than the storage facilities would ever tell you.

You should bear in mind that people who have experienced bad service are more likely to leave feedback, however. If there aren’t many comments, this can make things appear far worse than they really are.

When you are looking to get a self-storage rental, there are many choices available to you. Ask the questions and compare the options you are given to find the right storage unit for you.

One of the top RE/MAX Real Estate agents in Massachusetts for the last two decades. Owner of Maximum Real Estate Exposure.