Populations are growing and cities are expanding, but most importantly, the amount of possessions and items attributable to each household is on the rise.
More and more space is needed per person than ever, so it should come as no surprise that city-dwellers are opting for self storage units to house their possessions, as opposed to upscaling in an often pricey housing market. Self storage makes a good deal of sense in a city environment, because customers can experience the roomy benefits of a larger home, without any in-sight clutter.
Similarly, self storage boasts an appeal to inner-city businesses, because the price of developed land is more expensive than ever, meaning that storing stock is driving margins down and prices up. With the offer of purpose-built, clean and secure spaces, the demand for self storage is soaring.
When shopping around for inner-city self storage, don’t be deterred by a broad search range; a 10-20 minute walk or drive for the right storage facility could halve your costs against the more prime locations. Do also bear in mind that, whilst a 5 minute walk to your storage site may seem convenient now, dealing with the effects of a damp or unclean unit on your belongings could be more of an unnecessary headache later on, so don’t be afraid to search around for the right storage facility for you, and an owner you like and trust.
If you anticipate needing to access your storage unit regularly, you are going to need to pack effectively. This could mean investing in suitable shelving units to order your belongings according to regularity of access (bottom to top), as well as safeguarding your things against any damp that may form on the ground or walls of the unit. Similarly, shelving helps to maximise the space available to you by ensuring that you fully utilise the height of the unit before filling floor space. This is especially important in a city environment, because the likelihood is that the cost per square foot will be higher than in a more rural area where land is cheaper to acquire.
Similarly, adequate security is likely to be more important in a city for storing your possessions, because of the closer proximity to built-up areas. As a result, it is going to be important that you consult with your storage facility’s owner on what security precautions they can offer you. Most owners will offer CCTV recording as well as on-site staff during the daytime, but if they do not offer an alarm system, check to see if you can install your own.
Similarly, if you are storing items from your home like electrical appliances, furniture or paperwork, make sure your storage unit offers appropriate climate control. Most units are likely to offer a basic temperature regulation system, averaging between 12°C and 30°C which will protect your belongings from the outside extremes, but it’s always best to confirm with the owner before going ahead with a rental agreement.
Lastly, if you envisage needing more space later on down the line, but can’t currently justify spending the extra on a larger unit size, don’t worry. Start small and look for a facility with other units free nearby, this means that if it comes to needing more space, you will be able to keep all your belongings in one place without the hassle of multiple rental agreements and different payment dates, which can prove costly if missed. Indeed, most owners will charge a premium for late rental payment on storage facilities, while other may even auction off your unit (and its contents) at their discretion, so again, please do consult your unit’s owner on standard protocol in these circumstances prior to signing the rental agreement when looking to transition to inner-city self storage.