A First-Timer’s Guide to Renting a Storage Unit

By: STORAGECafe

Renting a self storage unit is the most convenient way to keep your belongings safe during a moving process, if you’re downsizing or if you simply don’t have enough space at home. Whether you’re thinking about a short-term or a long-term rental, there are some aspects that require thorough understanding, especially if you’re a first-time renter. To make the whole process easier, we’ve compiled a concise guide to help you make an informed decision:

What is self storage and how does it work?

The self storage industry is booming across the US and Canada, with a high demand for facilities among both customers and investors. It is a service that offers you storage space, often on a month-to-month basis, in which you can temporarily store your personal items. Unlike warehouses, the rented units are secured by the tenant’s own lock and key, and so the facility employees don’t have casual access to the items.  

Self storage units come in different sizes, at different prices and with various amenities, all of which are explained below. Once you decide upon the unit that suits your needs, you sign an agreement with the storage facility and pay a fee in exchange for this service, be it a short-term or a longer-term contract. 

How much does it cost?

Renting a self storage unit adds to your monthly expenses, so you have to make sure that the cost is justified and affordable. While street rates greatly depend on location and unit size, the average price for a standard 10×10 storage unit in the US reached $114 at the end of 2019, according to data provided by Yardi Matrix. Among the 30 largest self storage markets in the US, Houston is the cheapest when it comes to rent prices, with an average of $84 per month, while Los Angeles shows the highest rates, with an average of $183 a month for the same size.

What items will you store? 

The most important question you need to ask yourself before searching for a storage unit is what items you need storage for. You should start by making an inventory of what you’re packing away and figure out whether you want to store antiques, furniture, artwork, clothes or all of the above. However, wrapping your extra belongings in a bundle and putting them in a storage unit until you’re ready to use them again is not the smartest option. First, take some time to go through your stuff, keep only what you need, and donate, sell or recycle the rest. This will not only help you be more organized, but also to figure out what unit size you need and what amenities are most important to you.  

How to choose the right size?

Once you’ve decided upon the things you want to put in storage, you can think about what size you want your unit to be. You certainly don’t want to rent one that is too big and end up with half of the space empty, or, alternatively, to choose a small one and realize halfway that there’s not enough space for all your stuff. The ideal solution is to approximate how much space you need by making an inventory. 

If you need to store some small boxes, you can easily opt for a 5×5 or a 5×10 unit. When you need to store some furniture or even bikes or motorcycles, choose a 10×10 or a 10×15, which would hold the content of an average two-bedroom apartment. The 10×20, 15×20 and 20×20 storage units are the biggest options available, and they’re normally used for cars or the contents of larger houses. If you want to get a better understanding of what these sizes look like in real life, watch some size guide videos or take some time to visit the units and see precisely how much you can fit inside them. 

What amenities do storage facilities offer?

Self storage units come with many possible advantages, such as 24/7 security and access, a climate-controlled environment, concierge services, delivery or pickup. 

After considering the previously mentioned steps, figure out what factors are most important to you so that your belongings stay safe and sound while they’re in storage. Before anything else, you should take into consideration the safety of the facility as well as climate control, because whatever items you put in there, you definitely don’t want them to be damaged in any way. Moreover, you should decide how often you want to visit your unit, especially if you rent for a lengthy period of time, since some facilities have special visiting hours and not non-stop access. Last but not least, think about what payment method you prefer, the most convenient for most renters being autopay. 

All things considered, there are many things you need to think carefully about before committing to a storage facility, but if go through the steps above you can definitely make a smart decision and find your ideal unit.