Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Answers to Self-Storage Questions You’re Dying to Ask



If you live in the Santa Monica area, you know that moving can be a difficult task. The general hustle and bustle of the city makes even the simplest tasks twice as onerous. If you find yourself completely swamped while trying to get into a new home, consider renting out a storage unit to give you some slack. While there has been a lot of trepidation regarding self-storage units in Santa Monica, we’re here to answer the questions you may have been too afraid to ask.

Storage Facilities are guarded, so do I Need a personal lock?
The short answer is “Absolutely”. While the facility may be protected, there is no such thing as a perfect deterrent for thieves. If a criminal wants to get into the facility badly enough, he might succeed. Before he is caught, he will have the opportunity to steal from the easiest units to open. If yours isn’t locked, it might be the primary target. As always, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Can I put my Vehicle in Self-Storage?
That depends; can it fit inside your unit? While different facilities may have different rules regarding what can or cannot be stored inside their units, most locations are fine with anything that fits comfortably inside your allotted area. If the door can close, the answer is most likely yes. Do be sure to call first, just to double check – you may need to provide paperwork to prove the vehicle is yours.

Can Storage Prices be negotiated?
This is another instance where the location heavily determines the answer. While we typically expect goods and services to cost a fixed rate, there’s no reason why you couldn’t try to strike up a deal with the business owner. Sometimes your situation might be a unique case, or you might not fall into the exact specifications of the company’s scheduled sales plans. Whatever the case, there’s no reason you couldn’t try – just remember that the owner isn’t required to bend to your whim

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Debunking Rumors Regarding Self Storage

Are you preparing to move out of an old West Los Angeles home and need somewhere safe to place your possessions until you're ready to bring them into the new location? If so, you may want to rent a storage unit during the interim of moving. If you haven't done so yet because of hearing negative stories, this is not uncommon. For better or worse, however, these stories are more often exaggerations or completely false. Below are a selection of common storage facility rumors and the reasons why they don't hold water.

Storage Facilities are too Expensive
The most direct answer is that storage facilities have different rates that depend on what you're storing. For example, some storage facilities charge as low as $10 a month for small, unadorned spaces. If all you need to store are some clothes or files, this is a perfect deal. As you can probably assume, as you increase the amount of space, the price goes up. You can find locations that offer enough space to hold cars, for example, but the price will be noticeably higher.



Self Storage Facilities aren't Safe Enough
You'll find that nearly every facility in Los Angeles utilizes surveillance cameras, alarm systems, gates, and locking mechanisms at the very least. In addition, MiniCo Insurance Agency LLC—an insurance agency specializing in items held in storage facilities—recently published a study in the Self-Storage Almanac that showed security is making significant improvements every year. In 2012, the reported theft rate was 10.2%, but by 2013, the rate had fallen to 7%.

Storage Units are Unclean
As one of the most notorious “facts” lobbied against them, self storage business owners know that the public idea of their industry is one of a dirty, garage-like hole in the wall where you place your most prized items. One of the important things to remember is that West Los Angeles self storage companies want your business. This means they will employ frequent cleaning schedules, the best dehumidifying methods, and defend against pest infestation to ensure that they are cleanly. To see if your chosen facility is maintaining cleanliness, simply ask to tour the grounds and observe for yourself.