You might not think it. But, renting a storage unit isn’t as daunting a prospect as you may have first thought! When you go through the process, renting a storage unit is quite an easy thing to do.
If you’ve never rented a storage unit before, you’ll likely have many questions. Plus, you will doubtless need some help deciding which option is best for you. The good news is you can learn all about renting your first storage unit here on this page! Here is what you need to know:
Know how much space you need
Before you approach any self storage facility, you need to find out how much space you need. That’s because the units available for rent will all vary in price, and it’s all dependent on the size you want.
As you might expect, smaller storage units will cost less to rent than bigger ones. But, with a larger storage unit, you can store a lot more items in it. One thing you should bear in mind is that the storage units are quite tall. So, a small unit might be suitable if all you’re doing is stacking boxes in it. However, if you’re storing furniture like sofas and beds, you’ll need a larger unit because of the width.
Look for storage units close to where you live
Let’s face it: the last thing you want to do is spend ages driving to your storage unit. It makes more sense if you can find facilities that are close to your home location. So, if you lived in south-east London, for example, self storage in Southwark might be a better bet than a facility in Paddington!
The UK is abundant with self storage facilities, so you are unlikely to have trouble finding one close to home. Tip: use Google Maps to find your nearest ones!
Ask if there are any discounts for long-term rental
The advantage of renting a storage unit is that you have complete flexibility when it comes to the duration. You can rent a unit for as little as one week in most cases, with no maximum length. It’s worth asking for discounts, especially if a facility has lots of available units.
A quiet period in a facility can easily work in your favour when negotiating on the price. After all; they would prefer you to pay less but over a longer term than full price for say one week!
Make sure your belongings are packed and protected well
Storage units are indeed clean, dry, and secure for all tenants. But, what happens if the building develops a leaking roof from storm damage, for example? It’s worth packaging your belongings in boxes or shrink-wrap for extra protection.
Another reason for doing so is that you also don’t want the contents of your items spilling out. Or damaging any other items in your storage unit!
Be sure to have the right documents for renting a unit
Last, but not least, most storage facilities will want to see two forms of ID from you. Make sure you check with the facility you want to use. Otherwise, there could be delays before you can move your belongings in the unit.
