Eight Things to Look For in a Storage Facility
Google the phrase “self storage near me”—go ahead; we’ll wait. The resulting page is covered in map points, right? These days, there are seemingly endless storage units available for rent right in your zip code. That’s great news in terms of affordability and convenience, but how do you choose the right storage facility when you have so many options?
Consider us your self storage guru, because we’ve got answers. Take a look at the following list and see which storage facility in your area measures up. While your mileage may vary when it comes to deciding which self storage features you want (not everyone cares about climate-controlled storage, for example), here are the eight things that we think make a storage facility top-notch:Curb Appeal
Flowers outside the self storage office are nice to look at, but they’re also a sign of something that’s way more significant than eye-candy. A storage facility that cares about curb appeal is demonstrating that they care about customer experience. It’s also likely that the property will be clean and organized.
Good Reviews
According to a study by SEO company BrightLocal, the average local business has 39 Google reviews. With that in mind, prioritize storage facilities that have a high volume of recent, positive reviews—and be wary of fake reviews!
Unique Features
The modern day storage facility offers more than just drive-up outdoor storage units. Look for specialized types of storage such as wine storage, business storage, RV storage and more. If you’re looking to rent one of these types of storage, ask about associated amenities. For example, RV storage with a vehicle wash bay or business storage at a facility that accepts commercial deliveries.
Automation
Did you know that you can open your storage unit with an app on your phone? This type of seamless technology is pretty awesome, but only if you rent at a storage facility that actually uses it. Look for storage facilities that offer automated options including kiosks and online rentals.
Access Hours That Work For You
If you need to access your storage unit early in the morning or late at night, look for storage facilities with extended hours. Some even offer 24-hour access, though this may be an amenity you will have to pay extra for. Consider your own schedule and what might be a convenient time for you to visit your storage unit and then find a storage facility that will accommodate this. Keep in mind that access hours and office hours may differ.
On-Site Retail
Moving can be frustrating, and nothing is more annoying than realizing you don’t have enough packing tape or the right size boxes. Save yourself a trip by renting a storage unit at a facility that sells moving supplies on-site.
Moving Truck Rentals
Another way to save yourself a trip during a move is to rent a moving truck and a storage unit from the same company. As an added bonus, many storage facilities offer free truck rentals to first-time customers.
P.S. Perks for first-time customers at storage facilities are no joke! In addition to free truck rental, you can find new customer discounts like one month of free rent.
Friendly Customer Service
The key word here is friendly. Good customer service isn’t just someone who hands you a pen so that you can fill out your self storage lease. Good customer service is friendly customer service. Call prospective storage facilities and see what kind of vibe they give off. If the person on the other end of the phone is cheerful and willing to answer your questions, this is a sign that they will go above and beyond for you as a customer. If you accidentally leave your storage unit unlocked, you want to rent at a storage facility that is actually going to call you and let you know.
