Creating Moving Miracles

There are over 48,500 storage facilities in the United States, which is more than the total number of Wendy's and McDonald's restaurants combined. Because there are so many different facilities to choose from, it can be hard to select the perfect storage unit. Here are three things that you should look for in a facility, so that you can have an excellent storage experience.

1: Large Variety Of Sizes

If you are a first-time storage renter, it can be difficult to choose the right size of unit. Many storage spaces tend to the look the same, and it can be hard to imagine packing your things into the area.

Unfortunately, renting the wrong size can be a huge hassle. Oftentimes, storage facilities will require you to complete extra paperwork to transfer to another size, and sometimes deposits and rental fees are non-refundable. Sometimes people decide to try and cram everything into their small unit instead of going up a size, which can actually damage their belongings.

The fact of the matter is that not every storage facility has a wide variety of units. Some smaller businesses only offer a few basic sizes, which might mean that you have to search for a completely different facility if your stuff doesn't fit.

The best thing to do when you look for a storage unit is to find a facility that offers a range of different sizes. This will enable you to move up or down a size, so you have the right amount of space. Make sure to ask employees on the phone what the process is like to switch to a different size, just in case you have problems.

2: On-Site Staff

A lot of people don't realize this, but not every storage facility has on-site staff. Some storage businesses are simply a building in the middle of a field or parking lot that is checked on occasionally by the owners. Although these types of storage facilities are good for industrial purposes, they might not suit your moving needs.

As a first-time storage customer, you might have questions about moving storage into and out of your unit, trouble dealing with pesky roll-up doors, and concerns about damage liability. If there aren't any employees around to help, you might have to handle the hassles of self-storage all by yourself.

When you shop for a storage facility, look for a place that employs on-site staff. They will be able to answer questions quickly for you, address your maintenance concerns, and offer you advice on keeping your belongings damage free.

3: Proper Security Measures

Unfortunately, even the best storage facilities are occasionally subject to crime. Burglars can snap locks off with bolt cutters in a few seconds when nobody is looking, and gain access to your precious belongings. A report conducted by ABC news in 2013 showed a video of robbers stealing from a unit in broad daylight, and detailed reports of duped storage customers. Although only 8.9% of storage facilities reported instances of theft in 2012, it is still important to select a facility with proper security in place. Here are a few security features that you should look for.

• Presence Of A Front Gate: Simply put, front gates keep non-tenants out of the facility. Instead of just anyone being able to drive around the park and take a gander at the units, only tenants with approved access codes will be able to enter the facility. This feature acts as a huge theft deterrent, because thieves won't be able to enter or exit the facility easily.
• High-Tech Security Systems: Some facilities have high-tech storage doors that only open with an individualized code. Because the tenant is also required to enter a code at the front gate, the system will check to see if the right storage door has been opened in the facility. If the system senses problems, an alarm will sound and automatically close the front gate.

Always ask storage managers which security features their facility uses. By working with a business that takes security seriously, you might have a better chance of keeping your things safe.

Choosing the right storage facility can help you to avoid storage-related hassles, and to simplify your move.