FAILING TO INSURE YOUR BELONGINGS – The most common mistake tenants make with regards to self-storage is thinking that the storage facility is liable for damages that are caused while their items are in storage. No storage facility will ever insure your items for any reason. Tenants should always check with their insurance company to see what, if any, coverage they have. Also, many facilities, like Storage Authority, do offer insurance for a small monthly fee that gets added onto their monthly rental fee. Make sure to inquire about this option when signing up.
UNDERESTIMATING THE AMOUNT OF SPACE NEEDED – It’s always better to have more space than you might at first anticipate. You do not want to have half of your items moved into a unit only to find out the unit isn’t big enough. Make sure to plan ahead carefully. Also, you don’t want to have to pay for a unit that is too large. Spending the extra money for something you do not need is just as bad as not having enough space.
NOT USING THE PROPER MATERIALS FOR PACKING – Many people think that purchasing the proper packing and moving items is not necessary. They think that whatever they have around the house will be just fine. However, this could have potentially big problems. For example: many people use just common newspaper to wrap breakable items. Few people actually know that the ink on newspapers can smudge and bleed causing damage to the items it’s supposed to protect. Mattress covers are also an important packing and moving product. Simply using blankets will not always protect the mattress like you’d think.
STORING FOOD ITEMS – You should NEVER store any food items in your storage unit. Not only will the food spoil under certain climate conditions but food will attract unwanted vermin. Storage facilities go to great lengths to avoid mice and rodents and having food stored in a unit will negate all efforts made by the facility. It’s simple: FOOD WILL ATTRACT PETS.
NOT LABELING BOXES – I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all had moments where we needed to get something but just didn’t know where we put it last. Labeling boxes in storage is an essential way to avoid meaningless searching for a particular item. Make sure to also put any items we’ll need more frequently at the front of the unit so that you do not have to remove everything just to get to an item stored in the back.
WAITING TILL THE LAST MINUTE – Always remember that moving can be a very stressful and time consuming process. You do not want to wait until the last minute to realize you need a storage unit. Also, depending on the time of year, storage facilities can, and often do, run out of units for rent. Do not be surprised if you call and they cannot accommodate you. Storage has become a big business and often times facilities find it difficult to keep units open. Many facilities are always on a first come first serve basis. It is not uncommon for a facility to be unwilling to hold a unit for more than a couple days. So always think ahead.
Always remember to try and avoid these common mistakes that many tenants make. Using a storage facility should not be stressful. It should be the easiest part of your move. Just remember to “ALWAYS BE PREPARED.”