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Find Convenient Storage Facilities Near Your Apartment
You may be moving to an apartment with a smaller floor plan. Perhaps you are clearing out space for a new roommate, or maybe you have items that you don’t want under foot, but aren’t ready to part with yet. Whatever the reason, you may want to look into renting a storage facility.
Here are some tips for finding a convenient, affordable storage unit.
First, check with your landlord or community management. Odds are you’re not the first tenant to inquire about storage options, and your apartment community may have on-site storage facilities. If it does, you’ll want to ask your apartment community manager the same questions you would ask an off-site storage company:
● Will your items remain securely under lock and key? Who can access them?
● Can you access your items 24 hours a day or only at certain times?
● Will your items be stored alone or with other tenants’ belongings?
● Is there climate or pest control in the storage space?
● If the storage facility suffers damage, such as flooding, does the apartment community hold insurance coverage for the space?
You’ll also want to find out if on-site storage is an included amenity, or if you have to pay extra. If there’s a fee for using the storage facility, that information should be included in the lease or a separate rental agreement.
If on-site storage is not an option for you, then your next step is to look for local self-storage companies. Some of the biggest self-storage chains, such as Shurgard, Public Storage, or U-Store-It, have locations nationwide. Depending on the size of your town, you’ll probably also find independent storage operators. Your community management or landlord may have information on nearby off-site storage companies. You can also search through a Web site such as SelfStorage.com, which allows you to narrow your search by location or amenities, such as facilities offering 24-hour access or climate control.
Another convenient storage option is a mobile storage unit, such as those provided by PODS. The storage container can be delivered to your door, then picked up and carried to a storage center. (Your community might have on-site space for a mobile storage unit, but it’s less likely.) The disadvantage of mobile storage units, as opposed to spaces at self-storage facilities, is that it’s less convenient to access your items on a regular basis. But if you’re putting stuff away you know you won’t need for six months or more, a mobile storage unit has the advantage of appearing right when and where you need those possessions moved.
The right storage solution will be different for everyone. If you can figure out in advance how much storage space you’ll need, you’ll have a better sense of what you need from a storage facility. Fees generally increase with the size of the storage unit.
Finally, do check with your insurance company as to how items stored in an on- or off-site storage unit would be covered. Some storage firms offer insurance policies of their own, but you might not need it if your items are already covered by your renter’s insurance.
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Readers Poll
Do you plan to move yourself or hire a moving company to assist you?
- Move myself by renting a truck (63%, 15 Votes)
- Move myself without renting a truck (21%, 5 Votes)
- Hire a moving company to help (16%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 24
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