21st December 2022
If you are starting to feel cramped in your home or feel that the rooms are cluttered and your garage, shed or loft is full to the brim – you may have been considering self storage for your belongings. Like some of our new customers, you may be wondering if self storage facilities are safe and if a self storage unit is a safe place to store your belongings.
This is what we look at in this blog post. We also look at how you can make the belongings in your self storage unit more secure too. So, grab a cuppa, sit back and relax while we answer the question; are self storage facilities safe.
Many homeowners will use our self storage facilities for the safe and secure storage of their belongings for a short or longer period of time. This could be to help declutter the home, keep items safe while home improvements are completed, to clear the home for sale or when moving house. These are just some of the more common reasons that people use our self storage facilities.
What Are The Risks Of A Self Storage Facility For Your Belongings?
Before you sign the contract to a self storage unit, it’s worth looking at and understanding the risks involved. Below we share the most common risks that your belongings may be open to in self storage. We also look at how to protect your belongings in self storage and how to find the right self storage facility to best protect your belongings and keep them safe.
- Rain Damage
If the structural integrity of the storage unit is damaged or compromised, it could be possible for water to gain access into the storage unit. This water could then cause damage to the belongings that you place in storage. Rising ground water could also bring water into your storage unit from below. It is essential that you visit a self storage facility before choosing where to place your belongings for safe storage. This way you can see the quality of the storage units and the risk of rain damage. For example, our self storage facilities in Darlington and Peterborough are at minimal risk of rain damage as our facilities are of good quality, modern design and well-maintained.
- Mould Or Mildew
Even without heavy rainfall or flooding, the presence of moisture can lead to the growth of mould or mildew. This can be very harmful to your health and can damage your belongings in storage too. This is commonly found with outdoor storage units, and less commonly seem with inside storage facilities. Here at Quick Self Storage, we also have climate-controlled storage facilities in Peterborough and Darlington. This means that the risk of damp, mould or mildew in our secure storage units is extremely unlikely.
- Negligence
If you choose a self storage facility with a facility manager that doesn’t care, then you could have a whole host of risks and problems for your items in storage. For example, if pests such as rodents or insects aren’t dealt with effectively, they could cause damage to your belongings. As discussed earlier in this blog post, make sure you visit the storage facilities and meet the staff members. You’ll be able to see if the facility manager cares or not by the condition of the facility and the individual storage units.
- Theft
If the self storage facility and individual storage units have a lack of security, then theft or burglary can be a risk too. This is especially the case for storage containers or garage storage where security measures are low. Here at Quick Self Storage our self storage facilities in Peterborough and Darlington are well secured. We have intruder alarms, access control, CCTV surveillance and on-site staff members.
How To Ensure The Self Storage Facilities Are Safe For Your Belongings?
As we have already touched on, the best way to ensure that the belongings you place in self storage are safe is to visit the self storage facility yourself. This way you can see the condition of the storage facility, how it looks and how safe it feels. However, below we have shared some things to look out for or to check to ensure that the self storage facilities you choose are safe.
- Choose A Storage Facility That Is Well-Lit
Take the time to find a storage facility that is well-lit. This should especially be the case if you will be visiting late at night or on dark evenings to collect or place things in storage. Motion-activated lighting and lighting inside and outside of the facility will make you feel safer when visiting the to storage unit, and it will be safer for you too. A well-lit self storage facility will reduce the risk of slips and falls, while offer more security too.
- Choose A Storage Facility That Has Security Surveillance
Make sure you ask the self storage company if they have security measures in place and find out what they are. High-quality surveillance is a great way of ensuring your items in storage are safe, secure and protected. CCTV surveillance cameras will not only deter potential criminals, but they will also get the proof that is needed if a break in was to take place, which would be very unlikely with the security measures we have in place here at Quick Self Storage.
- Chose A Storage Facility with Climate Controlled Units
If you live in an area where there is heavy rain, it gets very cold, very hot or it gets humid then you will want to opt for a storage facility with climate-controlled units. This will help keep your belongings in perfect condition, protected from mould, mildew and damp. The climate-controlled units are normally centrally controlled to ensure that your belongings are kept safe, secure and protected from the elements.
How Can You Keep Your Belongings Safe In Storage?
All of these security and safety measures in place with self storage facilities will help keep your belongings safe. However, this is more than you can do. Below we share some extra steps that you can take as a self storage unit to further ensure the safety of your belongings that you place in self storage units.
Firstly, you need to choose an indoor storage as these are generally safer and more secure than an outdoor storage unit. It’s a good idea to have your own lock too, just to add an additional level of security to keep your belongings safe. When you are given your key or code for the storage unit, do not share it with anyone.
Make sure you purchase self storage insurance. This will protect you in the unlikely case that there was a break-in or damage weas caused to your belongings. It’s a good idea to keep an inventory of all your items so you know what you have in storage. Taking a photo of your items in and out of their boxes is a great idea too. It will help you remember where things are so you can get to them easily.
Want to visit our self storage facilities in Darlington or Peterborough to see how safe they are? Call our team of self storage specialists now.
