People often use self storage because they are either moving or they need more storage space for an additional period of time.
Others may be downsizing their homes but don't know when the perfect new place will come along, which is why they rent a unit out for an extended period of time.
Many units are also used for storing items and furniture that are part of a home's estate (i.e., sale, foreclosure, etc.) while the house is under contract or between buyers. Self storage facilities also come in handy to hold office materials rather than renting extra office space.There are a range of benefits with self storage, listed below.
The majority of self storage facilities offer surveillance cameras, security fences, exterior lighting, and gated entry to your unit. At least some entry into the facility will require a code or key card, so finding unauthorised visitors can be difficult, if not impossible. Many facilities also offer free and unlimited use of moving carts and dollies, so loading and unloading may be easier if you don't have to pay for them or worry about returning them.
If you are downsizing your home, moving out of town, or shifting items, etc., the last thing you need is another errand. Self-storage facilities can be used as a central location to store items before they are moved to wherever they are going next. As a resident of a major city, you may not have enough room for all your belongings. Self storage units are an ideal solution.
Storage units come in a variety of sizes, so you can store as much or as little as needed. "In-climate" units are available for storing items that may need to be protected from extreme heat or cold. Indoor units with controlled access offer more protection from the elements and intruders than outdoor units.
Renting out a storage facility is affordable in several ways. Those moving homes or offices over long distances can incur high transport costs. Utilizing the services of storage facilities can make the shift affordable. If you have a constrained office space, it is affordable to hire self storage units for storing business inventory, important documents or to store equipment with temporary use instead of hiring extra space or moving to a bigger office.
There are a whole range of storage unit sizes ad types available, a few of which are listed below.
These are great if you have a lot of heavy items plus a large vehicle that can fit into one of these parking spaces because it allows easier access into your unit. You will be able to drive right up to your door, load and unload as needed, and then leave straight away.
These are climate controlled, so they offer additional protection from the elements. They also often have added security features such as cameras or keyless entry so only authorised people can enter. Some indoor units may even have interior height options to store items such as tall furniture, trampolines, or smaller units like bicycles, televisions, etc.
If you don't need your belongings protected from extreme hot or cold temperatures, then an outdoor unit is a good option for keeping them safe. They do not have any added features such as security or climate control, but they are generally less expensive.
People use self storage services for a variety of reasons.
People often rent a unit to store their belongings and other appliances while they move into a new property, home, or apartment, or after they have moved out and are in-between homes.
If you're downsizing your living space (i.e., moving to a smaller house) but don't want to give up the items you've had for years (or even decades), renting a unit is an easy, safe way to store those items, reduce clutter until your new house is ready.
For people downsizing their homes but don't want to give up all of their extra furniture, home decor, etc., using self-storage units may offer the perfect place to store those items until they can be sold.
ome homeowners or business people use storage units as temporary holding points for construction debris and materials during existing home renovations or office setting remodelling. If you're going to have a home renovation, addition, or remodel done, renting a unit before the project starts might make it easier to keep your property safe from damage during the process.
Changes in a personal relationship such as divorce can mean exiting the common residence and relocating personal belongings. Renting a storage facility is a secure and economical option in the transition period. The same applies to a new relationship. Couples investing together in new homes implies they may require temporary space for their stuff.
You may need to store large valuable items or assets used seasonally like ski equipment, gardening tools, camping gear, a quad bike or maybe a boat. The use of self storage facilities is a sensible option to keep such belongings safe when out of use.
The dimensions of the units vary by location, but here are some guidelines for determining the right size unit you might need.
Unit size | Estimated storage capacity |
|---|---|
1.5m x 1.5m x 2.9m (H) | Holds 10 to 20 cartons |
1.5m x 2.0m x 2.9m (H) | Contents of a living room, sofa, and perhaps two or three boxes. |
3.0m x 2.0m x 2.9m (H) | Would fit the belongings of a normal one-bedroom flat |
3.0m x 3.0m x 2.9m (H) | Will hold the contents of a two-bedroom apartment, including dining table, white goods, beds, furniture and boxes. |
5.0m x 3.0m x 2.9m (H) | Around the size of a small single-vehicle garage. It can contain the contents of 3 bedrooms or a modest 4-bedroom house, as well as storing jet skis and boats, small cars, and trailers. |
Calculating how much storage space you need can be tricky, but here are a few steps to help make it easier. Take inventory of all the items you wish to store. This includes boxes, furniture, decorations, etc., as well as how many of each item there will be. If you're not sure what a box or a piece of furniture would fit inside, take some measurements and use that instead. When doing your calculations, round up any numbers that end in .5 or .9 (for example: if you have 10 boxes and they measure 2m x 1.1m x 0.6m then your calculation would come out to 3.7 for this particular item). You always want to err on the side of caution.
When storing items such as antiques or family heirlooms, you should consider using a climate-controlled self-storage unit to protect them from damage due to extreme temperature changes. Climate controlled units also come in handy if you have items that are extremely sensitive to humidity, such as books, journals, or documents. If you're storing valuables that are susceptible to mould or mildew damage, you should definitely choose a climate-controlled unit to protect them.
What happens if you forget to collect your stuff in storage? The NSW Department of Fair Trading has a handy guide to uncollected goods but check if it applies to your area.