A self-storage unit can be extremely handy if you are changing addresses or just trying to get organized in your home. The good news is you can easily find the right self-storage unit for your needs, all you have to do is avoid some of the mistakes that are commonly made by those who are looking to store their belongings in a self-storage unit.
Piled up Luggage
Know the Difference Between Full-Service and Self-Storage
There are two types of storage that are offered by those who are looking for storage facilities for their home or office items; full-service storage and self-storage. A full-service storage facility will pick you your belongings and transport them to their new home at the facility’s storage unit. There are some full-service storage facilities that also deliver items that are in the storage unit to your address. While renting a full-service storage unit will help you save on the fuel and the time spent to transfer your belongings to the storage unit and then bringing your belongings back when needed, the downside to such a service is that they usually take photographs and document your belongings. This is not something that many people are comfortable with, especially if you have personal items in the storage unit.
Secondly, with the full-service storage facility, your belongings will be transported to and from the storage unit, some people may not like strangers touching their belongings. Of course, this service also comes with an unusually high price tag, which means you have to pay more for this service.
On the flip side, a self-storage unit can be yours at a fraction of the price of full-service storage. As the name implies, you will have to drive up to the self-storage unit with the items that need to be stored away. Since many people prefer to store their belongings in a self-storage facility that’s close to their home, that only adds to the convenience when it comes to retrieving the belongings from the storage unit.
Since you’ll be handling your belongings yourself, you will also have the peace of mind in knowing that the items you choose to store, furniture, antiques, art pieces, and other belongings that you’re concerned about, will be taken care of the way you want them to be. In this way, a self-storage unit offers both privacy, convenience, and peace of mind.
Not Insuring Your Belongings
While it is not mandatory or required when renting a self-storage unit, it may be your choice to have the items you put in your storage unit insured. This will put your mind at ease if any of the items get damaged or stolen.
Most storage facilities will require their customers to sign paperwork which specifies that they are not going to be held responsible if any of the items in the self-storage unit get misplaced or damaged. That being said, the good news is that self-storage facilities are very secure and added measures are taken by the facility to ensure that all your belongings are kept safe.
If you do not wish to have those items insured, you can always go through your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, since the coverage may apply to your belongings whether they are at home or in a storage facility. But, it’s important to meet with your insurance provider just in case.
Using Newspaper to Cover Items in Storage
While you might have the best intentions in mind to keep your belongings safe while in storage, using newspaper to wrap up the items is going to be a bad idea for more reasons than one. First of all, the ink that’s used to print the newspaper often smudges and can bleed onto fabric or other items you don’t want stained. If that happens to be clothing, then it’s going to be tough trying to get out those ink stains.
Apart from that, the newspaper does not give your belongings any real cushioning effect compared to items wrapped in bubble wrap. If you are storing away glass items then you should always use something that provides plenty of cushioning like bubble wrap or other commercially available solutions. You can, however, use wrapping paper, it’s probably a better choice to go with the ink-free variety. You can pick up supplies necessary for your packing needs during business hours in our office.
Not Using Labels
We get it, you’re in a rush to get all of your belongings to the self-storage unit, and you forgot to label the boxes. That can be a big mistake if you plan on using some of the items you are putting in storage later on. Not labeling the boxes means you’ll have to physically go through them if you want to find a particular item, which can not only be incredibly annoying but also time-consuming.
The whole idea of renting a storage unit is to get more organized. To save yourself from the extra work, don’t forget to make sure that each box that’s destined for the self-storage unit has been clearly marked so that you know exactly where to look when searching for the pots and pans, clothes, tools, etc.
A very simple solution can be to get a good marker and write on several sides, either what’s in the box or which room it came from or is going to.
Going with the Cheapest Price Tag
It can be tempting to choose the self-storage unit that is the cheapest, but remember that could also be a trap to lure you in. There are many self-storage facilities that offer incredibly low prices just to get customers. Going with those facilities often means compromising the safety of your belongings.
If the price of the self-storage unit seems too good to be true, then it probably is. When using the self-storage units by Save-n-Store Self-Storage in Culpeper, Va., you not only get safe and secure self-storage units, but also a customer-centric service that offers premium self-storage at affordable prices without skimping on quality.
Bottom Line
Choosing a self-storage unit is a no-brainer for people who want an affordable and easy to use place to store their items. If you want to move and care for your own things then you can load them in your car, truck, van, SUV or trailer and come and go at your own convenience 24 hours a day 7 days a week. A self-storage unit is just what you will need to keep your belongings safe and secure. For more details on your self-storage options in Culpeper, Va., or to get boxes, packing supplies, and locks you can contact Save-n-Store Self-Storage at 540-388-1020, email us at savenstore1@gmail.com, or stop by and see us at 16117 Braggs corner Rd, Culpeper, VA., 22701.
