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.

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.

Using a self storage unit may be a completely foreign concept to you. After all, for years, you’ve been busily shoving all of your stored items into closets, attics and garages. Why make a change now? Consider these 10 reasons to try self storage and begin reaping the benefits today!

Reason # 1: Your Attic
Have you ever heard of the concept of maximum capacity? Chances are that your attic reached this phase eons ago. And yet you continue to happily shove more items into this limited space. Do you even know what is in your attic these days? Using a self storage unit can help you to unload this space, take stock of what you actually own, and bring more organization into your life. How much of your stuff could you easily throw or give away? What is hiding in the attic that you need to use? Find out today!

Reason #2: Your Closets
Closets are for clothes…not for storage. And yet so many families use the various closets in their homes to store away unnecessary items. After awhile, the articles that should go in closets start not to fit, because so much else has accumulated. Uh-oh! Time to clean out your closets, and start storing items in your self storage unit.

Reason #3: Your Garage
Can you even fit your car into your garage any longer? Too many families give up their precious parking spaces for the millions of boxes that overtake garage space in their home. If you have piles and piles of boxes, you may not even know what all your garage is holding. End the mystery today and use a self storage unit to organize your gear while reclaiming your parking space.

Reason #4: Know What You Own
Self storage units are a great way to take stock of what you actually own. If something has been stored away in your house, you may have completely forgotten that you owned it. That forgetfulness may cause you to own doubles or even triples of some items.

Reason #5: Get Organized
When you store all of your boxes together in one space, and continuously add new boxes at random times, you can quickly forget what is where. In a storage space, you can arranged all of your items so that you know exactly what is where and can access it any time you need to.

Reason #6: Run a Home Business
If you run a home business where you sell items through online portals or home parties, you may not have enough storage space in your own home to stay organized and keep the inventory you need. Instead of trying to invent space where there is none, use a self storage unit to keep all of your items in order and readily accessible any time you need them.

Reason #7: Organize a Collection
Do you have a valuable collection that is just sitting around in a dark corner of your home? Perhaps you collect massive quantities of baseball cards, or you are an antiques fanatic and have quite a few more than you can display in your home. Use a self-storage unit to safely and securely organize your collection.

Reason #8: Protect Against the Weather
If you own a motorcycle or another warm weather only vehicle such as a jet ski, you may need a place to store for the winter. If your own garage is not large enough to accommodate, you can use a self storage unit to protect your items from the cold of winter and the weather that may be damaging.

Reason #9: Saving for Later
Many parents save special items for their children to use later in their lives when they’re living on their own. Whether it is pieces of furniture, boxes of dishes or pots and pans, or even baby clothes and necessities, it can take up a lot of room to keep these in your own home. Instead, use a self storage unit to organize and store these items so that they can be enjoyed years in the future.

Reason #10: Occasional Use Only
Do you have items in your home that you might need to use only once or twice per year? They may be large and bulky and hard to store in your attic or garage. Perhaps you organize an annual parade or large event and have items related to that. Your self storage unit is the perfect solution for safely and securely storing those items that you only need access to once or twice a year.