Des Moines, Iowa
The Basics There are 65 storage facilities in Des Moines, almost all of which are in our network . If you haven’t been in Des Moines long, or you’re in the process of moving there, it’s easy to underrate the midwestern city. But we kind of think you shouldn’t. Forget Brooklyn, Portland and Austin. The prairie paradise of Des Moines is a hipster wonderland that’s growing in population, and let’s face it; people need space for all their stuff. That’s where we come in. Des Moines has a metro area of 611,549 people, but the population is up by 7.4% since 2010 and it’s still on the rise. So is there enough space for everyone? With just an estimated 35,750 individual units in the city, competition for storage can be tight. Des Moines has a relatively low cost of living (expect to pay around $800 a month for a one bedroom apartment) and a good job market, which means that there are more people in town who can actually afford extra space. It stands to reason that these same people who can afford to rent a storage unit can also afford a slightly bigger apartment, so expect to find a wider availability in storage units if you’re looking for a larger size. StorageMart has a ton of facilities across Des Moines and they offer desirable features like climate control and online bill pay. They’re also one of many storage facilities that offers new customer specials like one month of free storage, so if you’re new in town and you’ve never rented a storage unit before, you can save money by taking advantage of this. You Can Bike to Your Storage Unit Obviously we don’t suggest trying this if you’re carrying a couch or something, but we do want to point out that unlike in larger cities (Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Washington DC...we could go on and on), it’s very easy to get around Des Moines which means it’s very easy to access your storage unit. The city has a 19.2 minute average commute time, and most residents boast that they can make it from their suburban homes to their downtown offices in 15 minutes flat. That’s thanks in large part to the recent widening of I-235 and also a user-friendly bus system . Des Moines is ranked 28th in the nation for bike friendliness, so getting to your storage unit on two wheels is possible if you want to do it, plus it’s eco-friendly. Another thing to think about when taking into account the commuter-friendly nature of Des Moines is whether or not you need 24 hour access to your unit. This isn’t an easy feature to find in Des Moines, but if you need it, you can rent a storage unit at M W Mini Storage . Fortunately, unless your schedule is totally crazy or you’re some kind of midwestern vampire who can’t go out in the sun, you can probably live without 24 hour access. Does Des Moines Make You Think About Insurance? We don’t know about you, but all of these big insurance companies in Des Moines (ING, Nationwide, Principal Financial Group, Allied Insurance and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield) have got us thinking about the super fun topic of insurance. It’s easy to assume that your storage facility lease includes some kind of automatic built in insurance. Unfortunately, this is pretty much never, ever the case. Even if your facility does offer coverage, it’ll probably be pretty basic and won’t necessarily cover what you want it to. If you’re storing something like a car, RV or boat that’s already insured, you should be all set. But what about a 10x10 storage unit full of furniture? What about your book collection which contains a few valuable first editions? You can always take the additional step of renting a climate-controlled storage unit to protect against weather damage, but if you’re storing something that’s important, expensive or totally irreplaceable, it’s worth considering insurance on the storage unit. Make sure to read your policy carefully. In Des Moines, you’re going to want insurance that covers natural disasters, which brings us to our next point: When it Rains, It Pours Des Moines gets 36 inches of rain a year. In fact, The Great Flood of 1993 left citizens without running water and forced Anheuser-Busch to start passing out cans of water in a relief effort (though we’re pretty sure passing out cans of Bud-Lite would have been pretty much the same thing). You can imagine the effect that a flood can have on your home, but not everyone thinks about the effect that it can have on your storage unit. Besides considering insurance, you should also ask your facility manager about how floods (and all other types of weather related scenarios) have affected the property in the past. Your storage facility manager will contact you if something like this occurs and damages your storage unit, but isn’t it great to be a few steps ahead and do everything you can to protect the items in your unit as much as you can before the worst case scenario happens? We recommend indoor storage to prevent water from seeping under the door of your unit. We also recommend avoiding the use of cardboard boxes, which can absorb moisture. Don’t place items like books, artwork, photographs or cushioned furniture directly on the bottom of your storage unit either, even if you are storing inside. Yes, these extra steps might require you to purchase a few extra items (like plastic totes and pallets) and they may require a little more of your time, but they’re totally worth it.
The Basics
There are 65 storage facilities in Des Moines, almost all of which are in our network. If you haven’t been in Des Moines long, or you’re in the process of moving there, it’s easy to underrate the midwestern city. But we kind of think you shouldn’t. Forget Brooklyn, Portland and Austin. The prairie paradise of Des Moines is a hipster wonderland that’s growing in population, and let’s face it; people need space for all their stuff. That’s where we come in. Des Moines has a metro area of 611,549 people, but the population is up by 7.4% since 2010 and it’s still on the rise. So is there enough space for everyone? With just an estimated 35,750 individual units in the city, competition for storage can be tight. Des Moines has a relatively low cost of living (expect to pay around $800 a month for a one bedroom apartment) and a good job market, which means that there are more people in town who can actually afford extra space. It stands to reason that these same people who can afford to rent a storage unit can also afford a slightly bigger apartment, so expect to find a wider availability in storage units if you’re looking for a larger size. StorageMart has a ton of facilities across Des Moines and they offer desirable features like climate control and online bill pay. They’re also one of many storage facilities that offers new customer specials like one month of free storage, so if you’re new in town and you’ve never rented a storage unit before, you can save money by taking advantage of this.You Can Bike to Your Storage Unit
Obviously we don’t suggest trying this if you’re carrying a couch or something, but we do want to point out that unlike in larger cities (Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Washington DC...we could go on and on), it’s very easy to get around Des Moines which means it’s very easy to access your storage unit. The city has a 19.2 minute average commute time, and most residents boast that they can make it from their suburban homes to their downtown offices in 15 minutes flat. That’s thanks in large part to the recent widening of I-235 and also a user-friendly bus system. Des Moines is ranked 28th in the nation for bike friendliness, so getting to your storage unit on two wheels is possible if you want to do it, plus it’s eco-friendly. Another thing to think about when taking into account the commuter-friendly nature of Des Moines is whether or not you need 24 hour access to your unit. This isn’t an easy feature to find in Des Moines, but if you need it, you can rent a storage unit at M&W Mini Storage. Fortunately, unless your schedule is totally crazy or you’re some kind of midwestern vampire who can’t go out in the sun, you can probably live without 24 hour access.Does Des Moines Make You Think About Insurance?
We don’t know about you, but all of these big insurance companies in Des Moines (ING, Nationwide, Principal Financial Group, Allied Insurance and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield) have got us thinking about the super fun topic of insurance. It’s easy to assume that your storage facility lease includes some kind of automatic built in insurance. Unfortunately, this is pretty much never, ever the case. Even if your facility does offer coverage, it’ll probably be pretty basic and won’t necessarily cover what you want it to. If you’re storing something like a car, RV or boat that’s already insured, you should be all set. But what about a 10x10 storage unit full of furniture? What about your book collection which contains a few valuable first editions? You can always take the additional step of renting a climate-controlled storage unit to protect against weather damage, but if you’re storing something that’s important, expensive or totally irreplaceable, it’s worth considering insurance on the storage unit. Make sure to read your policy carefully. In Des Moines, you’re going to want insurance that covers natural disasters, which brings us to our next point:When it Rains, It Pours
Des Moines gets 36 inches of rain a year. In fact, The Great Flood of 1993 left citizens without running water and forced Anheuser-Busch to start passing out cans of water in a relief effort (though we’re pretty sure passing out cans of Bud-Lite would have been pretty much the same thing). You can imagine the effect that a flood can have on your home, but not everyone thinks about the effect that it can have on your storage unit. Besides considering insurance, you should also ask your facility manager about how floods (and all other types of weather related scenarios) have affected the property in the past. Your storage facility manager will contact you if something like this occurs and damages your storage unit, but isn’t it great to be a few steps ahead and do everything you can to protect the items in your unit as much as you can before the worst case scenario happens? We recommend indoor storage to prevent water from seeping under the door of your unit. We also recommend avoiding the use of cardboard boxes, which can absorb moisture. Don’t place items like books, artwork, photographs or cushioned furniture directly on the bottom of your storage unit either, even if you are storing inside. Yes, these extra steps might require you to purchase a few extra items (like plastic totes and pallets) and they may require a little more of your time, but they’re totally worth it.Storage FAQ's
In Des Moines, there are 23 storage facilities, with a total of 30 storage units. Storage unit sizes generally range from 5' X 5' to 10' X 30'. Call one of your local facilities to have a representative find what size unit is best for you.
Most facilities in Des Moines schedule professional pest control services every month, and twice a month during summer months.
No, no one in the storage facilities has access to your space unless you specifically ask them or give them the right to do so. For example, you may want them to have access to your unit for things you may want delivered directly to your unit.
Generally the prices of storage units in Des Moines vary based on the size of the storage unit and the location of the unit in the facility. Prices range between N/A and N/A, but representatives can better assist you once they have the details of your storage needs.
Yes, storage managers can provide you with tips and techniques on how to most efficiently utilize your storage space. Their hope is that you can have easy access to your items and that your storage space is worth every penny of your money.
Students and active military members are clients that have unique needs because of the nature of their schedules. Most storage facilities in Des Moines offer discounts to students, and discounts and different policies for active military members. Please call your local facility or see our <a href='/university-self-storage/'>students</a> and <a href='/military-self-storage/'>active military members</a> pages to get detailed and updated information.
Most storage facilities in Des Moines accept deliveries for their customers so that they don't have to go through the process of moving every time they need something to be placed in their storage units. They will keep your items in the office and will inform you when they arrive so that you can place them in your storage unit at your convenience.
Security is every storage operator's priority. Speak with the storage manager of a facility of your liking in Des Moines to find out what security measures they take to protect your belongings.
Some factors to keep in mind when choosing a storage facility in Des Moines are: weather, peak rush hour times, items that you will be storing, and location within Des Moines.
Storage managers would be happy to help you determine which size unit is best for you so that you're not paying for a 10' X 30' unit when you really need a 5' X 5' unit. Please reference our <a href='/size-guide/' class='size_guide_pop_over'>size guide</a> for more information.
We recommend that you get insurance for your belongings because the contents of the units are not insured through storage facilities.
You have 23 facilities to choose from in Des Moines. Access hours range from 8 to 24 hours a day. Please contact your local facility for more specific information about your unit.
Yes, most storage facilities sell boxes of various sizes, tape, bubble wrap, labels, and other items for your packing and moving needs.
Storage companies in Des Moines offer a month-to-month lease. If for some reason you would like to cancel your lease during a particular month, please contact one of the facility managers to assist you.
Once you move in and feel that you need to move into a smaller or bigger space, storage facilities are happy to accommodate your move. Before renting a space, it is recommended that you speak to a storage facility representative to help you find the best sized unit for your needs. If things change through the course of your lease, they will help make the transition to your next unit as efficient and simple as possible. We also have a <a href='/size-guide/' class='size_guide_pop_over'>size guide</a> that may answer some preliminary questions you may have.
Most storage companies in Des Moines only provide invoices upon request.
Drive-up storage units are typically more expensive and not as clean as interior units. Drive-up units are more exposed to the elements (water, dust, etc.) and are therefore not as clean as interior units. Interior units, on the other hand, have a much better climate. Essentially, the desire to rent a drive-up unit comes from clients thinking that they will be visiting their unit very frequently, which is surprisingly not the case. Most people don't come to their units as often as they think they will, so given the cost and cleanliness issues, it's better to rent an interior storage unit.
Yes, climate-controlled spaces are available in Des Moines due to the varying weather. Temperatures range from 41.0 to 51.8, which can dramatically affect things in your storage unit. For storing items such as wine, wooden items, electronics, metals, artwork, etc. storage facilities recommend that you rent a climate-controlled unit. For questions and more details, please contact a local facility.
No, storage facilities do not provide movers. However, managers and team members would be happy to provide you with a list of reliable and reasonably priced movers in Des Moines. See our <a href='#'>resource guide</a> for movers in Des Moines.
No, storage facility employees do not have copies of the keys used for the units. If you lose your key, check with the facility for lock cutting fees. They may also be able to sell another lock and key to you.
Most storage facilities accept cash, credit cards, or checks. Always ask about autopay, it's faster and much more convenient.
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