Self storage units, also known as self-service storage units have become an important staple in the lives of many busy people. These storage facilities lease space to small businesses or individuals and the space leased can be used for a variety of purposes. Even though people have grown familiar with the idea of self storage few know the history behind the storage unit. Most people believe that self-storage units are a recent invention when they have been in existence for a several decades.

The first self storage companies were established in the mid 1970s. These companies began leasing units of various sizes to individuals and businesses in need of additional storage space. The initial rules put in place by self-storage companies prohibited individuals from sleeping or otherwise living in their storage unit. They also prohibited the resale or subleasing of the storage units. Overtime more rules were put into place to prevent individuals and businesses from storing potential hazardous materials.

Throughout the years the self storage industry has continued to grow rapidly. As more people all over the world move on a regular basis the need for private storage facilities has grown rapidly. Individuals moving for personal and professional reasons have started using self storage facilities to store furniture and other items between moves. Even after moving many people have chosen to use self storage units as a convenient way to store seasonal items and other belongings that are inconvenient to have around at all times but are too valuable to throw away.

Many of the first self storage units were located in urban areas and were part of larger buildings. Quite a few businesses and even public schools leased out storage space to the general public. In some areas huge self storage facilities existed that had elevators and other features to help customers get to and from their storage units. Overtime self storage facilities were opened that catered to individuals storing large items such as cars, boats, and RVs.

Self storage units come in a wide variety of sizes designed to fit the needs of individuals with a few items or people needing to store enough furniture to fill a house. Storage units start out at units that are no bigger than the average walk in closet and go up to the size of a two car garage. Most self storage units can be accessed by using a metal door that rolls up in a way that is similar to the average garage. Initially self storage units were built using concrete and metal with the renter being asked to provide their own lock. Over the years construction has become more secure as features are added to interest new customers.

Self storage units now come in climate controlled and cold storage units. Climate controlled units are well constructed and insulated in such a way that the temperature of the unit remains constant. These storage units remain dry and comfortable which helps prevent molding and other forms of damage that sometimes occurs when items are in storage. Cold storage self storage units are also offered to provide small businesses and others a way to safely store food items and even wine for long periods of time.

Regardless of whether a person needs traditional storage, climate controlled storage, or cold storage they are charged a monthly rental fee. These fees are usually determined by the type of facility being used and the size of the storage unit. Over recent years self storage facilities have developed a contract that has be signed by all individuals leasing self storage units.

These contracts usually state the individual renting the storage unit will not store hazardous material in their unit, will not attempt to live in their unit, will pay their rent on time each month, and also promises that the individuals property will never be touched or disturbed by the staff or management of the facility. If the renter does fail to pay their rent a lien is placed on their storage unit and the contents of the storage unit can eventually be auctioned off. In recent years storage facility auctions have become a popular way for collectors and resellers to gain access to second hand items cheaply.

Self storage facilities have also changed their security methods over the past few decades. As outdoor storage facilities became popular storage facility owners began seeking new ways to protect their customer’s property. This has been done with the help of advanced technology such as keypads and codes used for gaining access to the storage facility, video surveillance used to monitor the property, and even gates and fences designed to deter criminals.

The advancement of self storage facilities seen to date are only the first of many. As millions of individual’s world wide lease self storage units for personal and professional use the self storage industry will continue to change and grow.

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Storage needs for city dwellers may be different than the needs of a typical suburban family. In a city, you are often going to find mini storage facilities when you look for a self storage location.

These mini storage facilities are largely the same as other storage facilities, but they focus on the smaller storage units and have few larger storage spaces.

Storage rental in a city may be higher than it would be in a smaller town, but space is also at a premium. The typical resident of a large city, such as New York or San Francisco, will likely have fewer personal belongings (on average) than a typical suburban dweller.

The need for storage in a large city is often the result of changing apartments or needing to move apartments, but not being able to coordinate the move-in and move-out days perfectly. Additionally, city dwellers are often very limited in the space they have available to them in their apartments, and a storage unit comes in handy to give them extra space to store out of season clothing, sporting equipment, or recreational equipment that takes up too much space in their apartments.

Families with children may simply give away or discard clothing and furniture or equipment as the children move from infant to toddler and then to child, but some want to save these items for future children, nieces or nephews or for charity, and they will rent a mini storage unit for that purpose.

Advantages to Storage Units

In a city, there is a high likelihood that a mini storage will be completely enclosed in a building, meaning that all the units will be in a climate control situation. This is a real advantage, particularly in the bitter winters of the northeast and Midwest, where many of the country’s largest cities are located.

Extreme temperature changes and humidity variations can be very hard on many kinds of materials. Fine wood furniture or leather furniture, photographs and books, furs and other delicate clothing, electronics and computers, and important business papers are all susceptible to problems caused by climate variations.

The gentle, indirect heating and cooling in a climate controlled storage unit prevents humidity buildup, infestations of insects and rodents, keeps mold and mildew at bay, and limits warping, cracking and splitting in furniture and other possessions.

Another advantage of mini storage in the city is that the storage areas are monitored constantly. The possessions in the storage may be safer than those in your apartment. Sometimes the companies that run the storage business may also run rental offices or provide WiFi and phone access in their spaces, giving you other benefits on top of rental space.

Services

Self storage in a city may offer a variety of different services not found at other storage businesses. For example, many offer a free concierge service with expert movers who can come to an apartment and make a quick and accurate estimate about how much ’stuff’ you have and how much space you’ll need to store it.

They can make recommendations for long-term storage if you are going out of the country or need to store your things without accessing them for more than a few weeks.

A concierge often also provides packing and transporting services for those who want to pay extra for that benefit, while few suburban self storage units provide that option. Some companies also provide boxes and packing supplies, sometimes at a reduced charge.

A feature that is similar to any other self storage business is that many city-based mini storage companies provide a vehicle to move items to storage. In the city, however, the vehicle is likely to be a minivan rather than a 18′ truck.

City mini storage may charge to move in, but there are many businesses that waive the move-in charge. The units in a city are generally indoors, with a standard size door and standard locks and keys. This is different from suburban self storage, where units often have garage-style doors large enough to accommodate a moving truck, and padlocks rather than door locks.

A city self storage may offer wine storage – as well as portable storage and drive up storage – along with their indoor, climate control storage units.

Vehicle Storage

Those who own large vehicles in a city will certainly need a place to put them. RV storage and boat storage comes at a premium in the city, and those who need vehicle storage may have to bid at a parking garage or other parking facility, since very few self storage businesses in cities are able to offer the space for vehicle storage.

If you are an individual who stores his or her 4x wheel drive in a self storage during the summer months, you may wish to consider possibly using a vehicle storage rental. This will help to keep your home and garage free of a large vehicle, but help you to make sure that when fall and the winter months are looming ahead you have it when you need it. In addition, if you enjoy using an RV during the summer months but not having it in your way where you will need to dig the snow out in the winter months

New Hampshire has gentle summer and strong winters, with snow plows and shoveling being a must during the winter months. Due to this, it is really best store all of your vehicles in some kind of storage rental location. Long term storage is available for any individual who wishes to use self storage to store his or her vehicle. Each storage unit ranges in size from mini storage to high tech climate control storage if you worry about your vehicle.

If you do not have a suitable location on your property for your vehicle, it is a good idea to store it at a vehicle storage unit. Although it does cost money to rent a storage unit, there are many advantages that make up for the costs involved. In addition, you may be able to use your storage rental on your taxes and receive tax back.

Something some individuals never plan for is having a fire happen at their homes. When this occurs, many individuals lose a place to put their vehicles until things are rebuilt. When this happens, you can store your vehicle at a self storage location which will keep a hold of your vehicle until you are ready to claim it. For individuals who worry about the security of their vehicles once they no longer have a garage this may be an excellent option. In addition, compared to the costs involved at replacing a vehicle this is by far a less expensive option to pursue.

If you have currently been selected by your employer to travel to another location in the country or elsewhere, you might want to place your vehicle in self storage to keep it safe from harm and to have a location to keep it at. Many individuals do not plan for a sudden promotion but if it does occur, you will be closing down your apartment rental and will need a place to store your vehicle. If you do not have a friend you can leave it at, your best option will be a vehicle rental.

Although most self storage will not offer possibilities for maintaining your vehicle, some self storage centers which specialize solely in vehicle storage will offer options for mechanics. Even though this is rare that this is offered, it is a good idea to consult the manager of the center in order to find out what is offered. You may be able to find out information on who is a good mechanic in your area who is cheaper and more efficient than others you have found.

If you have a sports car that is very important to you, the winters in New Hampshire can be very damaging due to the snow and the products put on the roads to keep ice down. For these owners, a vehicle self storage is the only way to protect their vehicles properly until the spring and summer months return when they can continue to enjoy their vehicles. Expensive investments like higher end cars should not be risked due to snow drifts which can quickly damage a vehicle. If you feel protecting your vehicle is worth the costs involved in storing it at a self storage unit, be sure to look for one in your area.

Storage rental units are also now offering locations where they can provide pro-green centers. These centers rely on earth safe alternatives to the normal used in years, and will often be far better in insulation than traditional methods. If you require a bit of extra protection plus you would like to do your part for the world, look into one of these centers near you. In addition, many of these centers are offering special discounts and lower prices to encourage new renters. This will help to protect your vehicle and your wallet while also doing your part for the environment.

No matter what type of vehicle you own, when you need storage for that vehicle, you need some choices when it comes to storing it. Whether it is a classic car or one you tinker with under the hood it deserves to be protected. Many living scenarios don’t afford a place to store your vehicle or have partial storage such as an overhead shelter that does not completely protect your vehicle from the elements. When this is the case, you need some options for where to store your vehicle either for an entire season, a few weeks or whatever length of time you determine.

Warehouses are also great places for vehicle storage of your classic car. Many warehouses provide a safe place that is climate-controlled, secured by keyed or gated access only and large enough to ensure that your classic car is not bumped, damaged or disturbed by other people who also have storage space there. Some warehouses even have special options they offer to people who are planning to store cars of all types for an entire season such as all winter or summer or even the whole year. These features include winterizing such as oil changes or periodic vehicle starts to keep engines from remaining idle too long.

Another way to keep your car safe with vehicle storage is to store it in an underground parking facility. Underground parking is an excellent place to store your car when you are not driving it and want it to be safe from the elements. One of the main advantages of underground storage is that your car is not on the street but safely parked in a designed space underground. Underground parking facilities are comparable in cost to enclosed parking structures but sometimes are not manned by 24-hour security. Underground security can also be a risk for flooding damage if applicable.

Storage sheds are another way to store your vehicle. Unlike your garage, a storage shed can be constructed exclusively for your vehicle or if you are renting storage shed space, your car may be the only car in the shed. The nice thing about storage sheds is they can be designated just for your car and not other items that might damage your classic car like paint, tools or other objects.

Keeping your car safe with vehicle storage is the best way to take care of your car when you do not have space in your garage and you need to protect your car from the elements such as rain and snow. Vehicle storage comes in a variety of options but one of the most popular vehicle storage options is to store your vehicle in an enclosed parking structure.

Enclosing parking structures that offer vehicle storage for your car can be expensive for the length of time that you use them but they are a worthwhile investment for many reasons. First, enclosed parking structures are usually maintained by 24-hour security or completed secured by gate with access available only to those who pay to store their vehicles in the structure. Enclosed parking structures keep your car safe from the weather, theft and accidental damage that can result from being parked on the street or even in your garage.

States like Michigan offer vehicle storage for your traditional or classic vehicle to be kept safe throughout the winter season. This is very important if you want your car to be protected from the winter conditions that are prevalent in Michigan from around Thanksgiving to Easter, sometimes longer. Remember, no matter how you choose to keep your car safe, some form of vehicle storage is the best thing you can do for your car when it isn’t in use. Keeping your car safe maintains a longer life.

If you are looking for quality vehicle storage in Michigan, remember that vehicle storage facilities may fill up quicker as the winter months approach and it would be a good idea to get your vehicle storage unit selected and pay at least a deposit and a month or two of the rent to ensure that you will have a place to put your vehicle before the snow and other in climate weather comes.

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So a move is in store? Congratulations! There are so many items that you need to consider when you are getting ready to move that it is difficult to keep track of everything. It’s a great idea to purchase a small planner or move-planning sheet that will help you organize all the tasks that are ahead of you.

For many of those tasks, a self storage unit will be an invaluable asset.

Sometimes called mini storage – particularly at businesses that offer only smaller storage units – a self storage unit is extra storage space, away from your home or business, that offers you a space to store any items you need to pack away for a period of time.

This kind of storage unit is perfect for short or long term storage, since they are typically monitored 24/7 and provide you with extra security, such as computer-controlled entry, electric gates, and personal locks of whatever strength you wish to utilize.

Preparing for a Home Sale

When you prepare to sell a home, one of the first things a real estate agent will do is walk you through your own home and help you see the home as it will be viewed by potential buyers.

The agent will point out not only dated carpets and curtains, but also the clutter and mess that accumulates through normal life and fails to appeal to potential buyers. The agent will likely suggest that you remove any clutter.

Many times, removing clutter means eliminating extra furniture from living space, cleaning closets and thinning out the clothing and shoes in the closets, and winnowing out children’s toys. If you have an extra car in the garage or an RV or boat in the driveway, the agent will likely recommend removing these vehicles to increase the curb appeal of the home.

You’ll be told to remove any storage boxes business records, tax records, receipts, old magazines or books, college papers, the kids’ artwork from grade school; it should all be removed from the home to add to the visual appeal and roominess.

Some people transfer these items to the garage and fill it so much that the cars can’t fit into it. This defeats the purpose of de-cluttering the home, makes it look like the garage is very small, and creates the feel that the home isn’t large enough to handle all of a person’s belongings.

After a sale, there are many situations that may demand self storage. If the buyer needs to move in before you can transfer to your new home, you’ll need somewhere to stash your belongings. If you are moving to a new location but do not yet have a home, this also presents a difficulty.

The answer to these dilemmas is a storage rental.

What to Rent
First look at how much you need to store. The easiest way to look at this is by boxes or by pickup loads. For example, a 5′ x 5′ storage unit will hold about 1 pickup load of material or about 50 standard file boxes. A 5′ x 5′ unit is 25 square feet (relatively small), so you can figure the larger units based on this standard.

A 10′ x 10′ unit, then, is 100 square feet, or four times as large as the 5′ x 5′, therefore it can hold 4 pickup loads or 200 boxes.

Climate Control Storage
Decide if you need climate control storage. Storage units with climate control are in a self-contained building with heating and cooling units to maintain a steady temperature and humidity.

If your items are valuable, sensitive to temperature changes, or irreplaceable, then you may want to consider climate control. You may have a small unit featuring climate controlled storage for photographs, electronic equipment and important tax records, and a larger, less expensive unit for the clothing, books, and toys.

Long Term Storage
If the market is bad or you’re not sure how long it will be before you find a new home, you may want to make arrangements for long-term storage in a unit. This generally means you have limited access to your items, but often at a lower price.

This is an option many people use after they arrive in a new area and still need to find, close, or build a home in the new area.

Your garage presents you with enough space to store items which you cannot place anywhere else in the house. The first step will be to sort through your belongings and discard stuff that you do not need anymore. Then you can start organizing your garage space accordingly, to make room for everything you want to store in that place.

- Categorize every item, make separate storage spaces for your electrical equipments, your lawn maintenance and other garden tools and any sports gear that you might need to store. Designating specific places for the items will help you to locate them easily as and when you need them. Anything that you will need to use everyday should be kept at such a place where you can reach them easily.

- Store different seasonal items separately. For instance, if winter is approaching, group together items like snow shovels, ice scrapers, skis, snow boots and the like and keep them at an easily accessible place. These should not be mixed with items that you need at summer like sun umbrellas and barbeque grills. You may want to have a tall cabinet built to place all these articles at the same place.

- Hooks and shelves are the key to solving your garage organization problem. A wide range of hooks and hangers are available in the market and help you get virtually everything off the floor. Do no go strictly by the name. Ladder hooks can be used to hang up much more than just ladders. Rafter hooks can be used to hold extension cords rather than being fastened into rafter. Look at the size and shape of the hooks and try to visualize what articles it can hold.

- Articles that cannot be hung from hooks need to be shelved. Installation of shelves, particularly the standard-and-bracket system shelves is simple. You may hire a professional carpenter to help you with this job.

- Do not pile up your garage too much, leave room for your car as well, and enough free space to be able to maneuver it while driving in and out of the garage. Make sure that your garage organization work does not encroach upon the space needed by the passengers to enter and exit the car comfortably.

Organizing or even reflecting on organizing the garage is often an exasperating chore for almost all homeowners. However, the sooner you get it organized, the better use you can make out of that place.

Most people think of climate control storage as something that food service companies need to keep food refrigerated or frozen. For the average user, they think of self storage as a large building made of rooms that are about the size of a one-car garage or smaller, with a garage type door and no special features at all. And some self storage units are just that a medium-sized concrete room with a garage type door that allow large items to be put into the storage unit easily. The temperature inside the unit varies with the season; they’re boiling hot in the summer and frigid in the winter. These types of storage units are ideal for items that aren’t affected by changes in climate or for short term storage.

Some self storage facilities offer covered outdoor storage for certain items, and some offer indoor storage designed for specific purposes, so your choices don’t just range from mini storage to units that are large enough to house every piece of your furniture. You can get specialized self storage for your other storage needs, too.

Climate control storage is offered at many facilities and can be used for a variety of purposes. Some companies will have climate controlled self storage units just for storing wine, for instance. They’ll be able to tell you how many cases will fit into each unit, and should offer the temperature they keep the unit at 24 hours per day and 7 days per week-for wine, it should be right around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

This type of special self storage will cost more than a standard storage unit of the same size that doesn’t have climate control. It will probably also cost a little more if it’s designated for a specific purpose – like wine self storage p than if it’s merely advertised as air conditioned and heated to maintain a certain temperature and therefore keep items from melting or freezing.

For the wine aficionado, wine self storage offers the benefits of keeping fine wines at the ideal temperature year round. Many people who enjoy wines don’t have the optimal storage space in their homes for the bottles. A wine cellar is ideal because of the built-in coolness of rooms that are underground, but if you don’t have a wine cellar, having one built can be expensive. Self storage is a good, cost effective solution for storing wine properly.

Storing wine isn’t the only good application of climate control storage. If you need to store wooden furniture, for instance, you could store it in a regular self storage unit that has a temperature that can vary widely according to the season. Or you could pay just a little more and store it in climate control storage, which will much better protect your furniture investment.

Wood furniture might not be affected much by the heat or cold of the air, but climate control storage doesn’t just control temperature. These units control the amount of dust in the air by their very nature. Because heating or cooling is used, air filters are also used, which can keep your storage unitcleaner and better protect the surfaces of your furniture or other items.

When you rent a regular storage unit, the changes in temperature can cause condensation and “sweating” on some surfaces. This moisture can cause damage like mold, mildew, water stains, discoloration and even warping, in some more extreme cases.

With climate control units, which are typically kept at a temperature between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, this condensation is prevented, protecting the items from moisture damage. Climate control units are also, by their nature, humidity controlled. So the dryer air also protects your items from the damage that can be caused by being in a moist environment.

Many items like artwork or antique items can be preserved longer and better in a climate control storage unit. Think of the museums and archaeological societies when they uncover a treasure-it’s immediately put into a climate controlled environment to minimize any further decay and damage. Your valuable items deserve no less attention.

Even items like clothing and paperwork can be damaged by humidity and moisture caused by rapidly changing temperatures and extreme temperatures. Your clothes and papers could come out of storage with a musty smell, or even show signs of mildew if not in climate control storage.

A final benefit to climate control storage is that, along with the units, the hallways in the building are likely climate controlled too, so that you’re more comfortable when accessing your items.

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