Nancy Mattia, CTW Features
There are plenty of reasons you might rent a storage unit: You’re relocating and need a place to keep your stuff until moving day; you’re doing a major renovation of your home and have to clear out some rooms; your closets are full and you need to move some clothes out before you go shopping next week. If the third reason hits home, take some time to go through your things and weed out anything that’s broken, dated or ugly. Take a look at what’s left: Have you used each of them in the last two years? If the answer is no, chances are you won’t use them in the future either, so donate them to a local charity. You may be able to rent a smaller unit (or none at all). Read on to find out other pertinent things about putting your belongings in storage:
1 There’s more than one size storage unit
A storage unit can be as small as 4×5 feet or as large as 300 square feet. Many storage units are part of a group of units lined up side-by-side in an indoor or outdoor facility.
2 A climate-control unit is worth the extra fee
Temperature plays a big role in the life of your stored belongings. Some may need a controlled environment. If you have important paper files, photos or vintage record albums, you need to rent in a facility where the units are maintained to stay within a certain temperature range to protect these sensitive items from unwanted heat, cold and moisture. Other items that do well in a regulated climate include videotapes, fine art, wine, leather chairs and anything made of wood—totally worth the money to ensure the safety of your belongings.
3 It’s against the rules to store living things
Most facilities have a long list of what’s permitted in a unit and what’s not, explains Move.org, which reviews local and national moving companies. Living things is one of the biggest categories and includes everything from plants to puppies.
4 A storage company can sell your stuff
This isn’t your parents’ basement. If you’ve been storing things in a unit but fail to make the monthly payments, the facility can auction off the contents of your unit. Some things like musical instruments, sports equipment and lamps have a strong resale value so if you don’t want your trombone sold off, pay the rent on time.
5 Your location will affect the cost
Many factors account for the price of a rental—size, temperature (climate-controlled or not) and unit availability, according to Life Storage, a company that manages self-storage units across the country. Rates also are based on your address—if you live in a metro area, it will cost more than in a less-populated city.
6 You snooze, you lose
In case you were considering taking a nap inside your unit, don’t—sleeping inside a unit is grounds for eviction. (You fall under the category of Living Thing!)
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