Storage units offer a great way out for people struggling with a space shortage. If you are looking for a quick way to increase your storage space without breaking the bank, storage units like STORED are the perfect option for you.
Renting a storage unit is not as straightforward as it might seem. You have to put in a lot of thought and consideration while booking a storage unit. The time you spend searching and preparing will help you to achieve a pleasant storage experience.
Why Do People Rent Storage Units?
Renting a storage unit has become quite the norm nowadays, with 2,050 self-storage facilities scattered all over the UK. People see storage facilities as a cheap way of increasing storage space. Below are some of the reasons people opt for storage units.
Moving
This is one of the most common reasons people rent storage units. People move around all the time, whether it is for jobs, studies, or personal reasons. Storage units offer a safe place for all your domestic belongings till your new home gets complete.
Most people prefer safe and secure storage units while moving. The best part? They do not cost much; you can rent them for as long as you want.
Seasonal Storage
Since storage prices in the UK are very economical, almost every household has a storage unit to keep seasonal items. You can store all the seasonal items you use and require for only a particular time of the year.
Sports gear, seasonal decoration, seasonal clothes, garage, and lawn equipment; everything can be stashed away in a storage unit and fetched when needed.
Declutter And Downsize
People tend to accumulate a lot of stuff over time; stuff that they don’t use and won’t use ever. But since they have invested a significant amount in it, they cannot part ways with everything. All such things might increase the amount of clutter in your house, wardrobe, and your pantry.
The solution? Good old storage units. If you are going through a phase in your life where you have to downsize and move into a smaller house, you can store all your extra stuff in a storage unit. You can then take your time to sort out everything into categories of donations, selling, and storing.
Student Storage
The United Kingdom is a hot place for international students from around the globe. Due to its exemplary academic institutions and progressive courses, the UK has a massive influx of international students every year.
Students often look for a safe place to keep their personal belongings for a few months, mainly towards the end of the semester or on holidays when they are visiting back home. This is why almost every storage company offers exclusive discounts for student storage packages.
How To Select The Right Storage Unit Size?
Whether you are searching for a storage unit for a couple of months or want to store it long-term, we have some amazing tips to help you make an informed decision. Before going into details, keep in mind that there are two types of storage services in the UK,
- Self-Storage service
- Full-Service service
Both the storage services mentioned above are popular in the UK, and people use either of them depending on their requirements. Self-storage is the age-old traditional service in which you must haul all your stuff to the storage facility and store everything by yourself.
A full-service storage company takes up all the tasks on itself. They pack, transport, and store your belongings and bring everything back whenever you want.
Even though the prices of full-service storage are slightly higher, it is an excellent facility for people who do not have additional help or extra time.
Tips for Renting a Storage Unit
To make sure you make the best decision in choosing a storage unit, follow our amazing tips.
Choose Your Nearest Location
A storage facility that is situated out the town, even if cheap, will cost you a lot of fuel. You will have to dedicate a full day to traveling back and forth, even if you need to fetch a single box.
Always go for a storage facility near your house or daily commute. You can make the most of your storage unit if it’s near your residence, especially if you have a busy routine. Storage facilities in the city near residential areas often cost more but prove to be a good deal in the long term.
Go For The Safest Option
You can never be too safe when renting a storage unit. Ditch the traditional outdoor storage units and go for an indoor purpose-built storage facility, especially if you are storing valuable stuff.
You can also explore the high-security option for your storage with features like 24-hours CCTV surveillance, on-site security personnel, dual-protected storage units, and guarded entry and exit points.
Just to be safe, do not skip over getting your storage unit insurance.
Cheap Doesn’t Mean Reliable
If you come across a storage unit price that seems too good to be true, chances are it is. The storage market is densely saturated in the UK, there are almost 1,997 self-storage facilities, which is rising continually. To combat this tough competition, storage companies tend to reduce the prices, affecting the service level provided.
Do not go for the cheapest option; chances are you will get lagging customer service and a very basic storage unit. We urge you to go for a reliable storage company, even if it costs a couple of bucks extra.
Choose Your Storage Size Mindfully
You pay by size when you rent a storage unit; the bigger you choose, the more you have to pay. Choosing the right storage size might be tricky; we recommend consulting the storage company’s representative before making any decision.
Our advice? Put all the stuff you want to store in one place so you can gauge exactly how much space you will need. Going overboard will mean you have to pay for unused space, and going smaller than your requirements will result in a chaotic storage unit situation.
Do Not Store Trash
Since you are paying for the space, the more things you have to store, the larger the storage unit you will require. One way to weed out all the unnecessary stuff is to take out everything and divide it into piles.
Categorise and organise all the stuff you want to store and donate or sell the things you are certain you will not need in the future. Do not store any trash or discarded items, throw away all the clutter and store only the things that hold importance for you.
