Steps to Find Affordable Self-Storage
Finding affordable self-storage services can be a difficult task. Whether you need to move, renovate your home or organize your belongings, it’s important you shop around for a storage unit that meets your needs.
These days there seems to be a storage unit on every corner. So how do you choose the right one for you? Also important is, how do you find the best price?
These are questions that we’ve answered below. We have taken the time to do the research. Below you find all our steps to find cheap storage options.
1. Know the Cost of Each Location
As you can imagine, storage rentals will be more expensive in more convenient and high population areas (such as Santa Barbara). This is normal since there will also be more demand for storage facilities in that area. It’s important to take this into account.
A secluded storage unit in Camarillo, Ventura County will be a lot cheaper most of the time. If you are moving from a city like Los Angeles to a small rural town, always choose the storage unit closer to your new home. Besides being closer, it will also be a lot more affordable.
Storage prices can also vary within the same storage facility. Yes, this is true! A small storage unit on the 4rd floor all the way back may be cheaper than the same size unit on the 1st floor right by the door. If pricing is your primary concern, definitely take these things into account.
2. Try To Avoid Rate Increases
So you just rented the perfect storage unit for a mere $40 per month? That’s a great price! But do you know that rental rates can change?
Oh yes, most storage facilities can (and often will) increase the rental rate at some point.
This can vary according to the storage provider, so it’s important to ask about changing rental rates before you rent one. This should be mentioned in the storage unit contract as well, so always read the contract. This way you won’t end up with unpleasant surprises.
Of course, these increased will be rather small. But, if you are renting storage space for a long period of time, these increases can quickly add up.
3. Choose the Correct Size
Storage units come in many different size. From small 5′ x 5′ rental space to larger 10′ x 30′ spaces, and a lot of variations in between.
Choose the correct size wisely, because monthly rent is primarily based on the storage unit’s size.
It happens quite a lot a customer rents a storage unit that is considerably larger than he needs. The customer wants to play it safe and rents a storage unit that is too big. It’s important to pack and organize your belongings more efficiently so you can save some money here too.
This way you’ll be able to save a significant amount of money each month (instead of wasting it on unused space).
4. Try to Find the Right Insurance
Self-storage facilities require you to have insurance during your rental period. A lot of customers aren’t aware of that before they sign the paperwork. Don’t forget the insurance costs!
Of course, most storage facilities will sell their own coverage to you right on the spot. Most of the time this will end up being the better deal. The coverage isn’t that much usually, but an extra $10 per month can add up quite fast over time.
You can also shop around for this type of insurance if you believe you can get a better deal elsewhere. It’s not required to take the coverage of the same place where you rent the storage unit.
5. More Benefits, Less Unnecessary Features
This one is important to. Get a storage facility that has the features you need. Don’t pay extra for features you know you won’t be using anyway. Some storage providers also have money saving benefits, so that could be a perfect way to keep your costs lower.
For example, do you need a climate controlled facility? If the answer is no, don’t pay extra for a feature like that. In the end, that’s just wasting money. There are other unnecessary features that can contribute to a higher rental price such as indoor vs outdoor space, 24-hour security and gated access.
But what about the benefits? The more benefits you get, the better! Even if they are unnecessary. The most common benefit storage facilities offer is the free use of a rental truck for your moving. This service can still save you between $40-$80, so it’s a great benefit to have.
Ever storage company will have its own benefits, so check their website to see what benefits they offer. Even if they have no benefits, they might be just cheap to use. And that’s what we are looking for anyway.
Hopefully, these 5 tips to find affordable storage units was helpful. Definitely send our team at Honor Storage an email if you have any more questions.
