4 Storage Unit Safety Tips
When it comes to saving and storing your stuff, naturally you’ll want to protect your valuables as best as you can. Among the many options for doing so, using a storage unit is a good one. Particularly if you have a lot of possessions and not much room in which to store them in your home, placing them in a storage unit will free up a lot of valuable space while ensuring that your things are secure.
To get the most out of your storage unit practices and to make sure your stuff is as safe as it possibly can be, check out some of the following safety tips.
1. Do your research on the security of the storage facility
If you’re trusting your possessions in someone else’s hands, make sure the facility itself is secure and reliable. According to lifestorage.com, you want a facility with multiple levels of protection, starting with the most basic: physical barriers such as a fence or gate, or electronic key codes.
Checking to make sure there is video surveillance as well is a good thing because it can be useful in identifying potential intruders on the facility grounds. Additionally, if there is a security guard keeping watch at the facility, that can allow you to have some peace of mind.
2. Get a sturdy and reliable lock
In addition to the security provided by the storage facility, you may want to bring along your own lock as an extra, personal touch. Purchase a lock that won’t be easily broken or clipped by potential swindlers — which means you’ll need a high quality (probably not cheap) lock, but the purchase will be worthwhile if it means keeping your things safe. For example, sparefoot.com suggests buying a disc lock or a cylinder lock because they are both sturdy enough to withstand bolt cutters.
And, of course, don’t forget the combination to your lock. Write it down somewhere safe and make sure no one else, besides a trusted friend or relative, has access to it.
3. Keep track of everything you put in the storage unit
Lifestorage.com suggests keeping records of your possessions, not just to stay organized but also for insurance purposes. Write a list of all the items you are storing away and their monetary values. That way, if by any chance something of yours goes missing, you will be able to take inventory of everything you have and calmly assess what steps you should take from there.
Also, to make your life easier when you have to find certain items (so as not to go helplessly digging through the storage unit), draw up a simple map of where you’re putting everything. Keeping things organized and knowing exactly where everything is will make finding certain things that much more convenient.
4. Make sure your stuff is protected from the elements
While a primary concern for most people may be the possibility of getting things stolen, it’s also important to remember that nature can be a threatening factor. Take precautions to ensure your storage units are sealed properly, so that natural weather conditions such as rain, snow, and wind, or exposure to conditions such as fire or rust, don’t damage your possessions. With that being said, you may want to store delicate items in protective material such as by wrapping them, sealing them in bags, or putting them in boxes.