What Type of Unit is Right for You?

The desire for a self storage unit might be on your mind if you are, moving, downsizing, renovating, or just having acquired too much stuff over the years. How do you know what type of self storage you need? The process of choosing the best self storage unit for your needs does not have to be difficult. Horizon Mini Storage is here to help guide you through the steps involved in ensuring that you obtain the perfect self storage unit for your needs.

There are three types of self storage units: climate control, non-climate control, and drive-up self storage units.

Climate controlled self storage units are temperature regulated and ideal for items that are sensitive to extreme temperatures such as electronics, wooden furniture, and important documents.

Non-climate controlled units are not temperature regulated and are typically less expensive than climate controlled units. These units are best suited for items that can withstand wide temperature fluctuations like holiday decorations, some clothing, and outdoor recreational items.

Drive-up units have drive up access to the unit so you can pull your vehicle right up to. This type of unit is non-climate controlled and is similar to storing your items in an outdoor garage or shed.

Indoor units are located inside of the main storage building and require you to carry your belongings through the hallways and elevators to your unit.

Climate-controlled units are temperature regulated so that your belongings do not get too hot or too cold. These units typically cost more than regular units but can be well worth it depending on what you are storing.

When you store items such as records, or antiques you should most definitely be using a climate controlled unit. Many people assume that your items need to be stored in a climate controlled environment. This is not always true, most items can be stored in a standard storage unit. A great way to determine if your belongings need to be in a temperature controlled environment is to ask yourself if you would keep them in a garage for an extended period of time. A standard self storage unit is easily comparable to a garage.

You may also want to consider ease of access to your intended storage unit. Most non-temperature-controlled self storage units offer drive-up access. A drive-up self storage unit make loading and unloading your belongings simple! Like the name suggests, you have the ability to drive right up to your unit as if it was your personal garage, without the need for carts, or elevators.

Picking a Self Storage Unit Size

“I’ll take the cheapest unit!” or “The bigger the better!’ are common phrases we hear from our customers. Typically this is not the way to go when choosing the correct size for your self storage unit. Some helpful questions to consider when thinking of the size storage unit you may need are as follows.

What items do you need to store in your unit?

How often will you be accessing your storage unit?

Do the items you are storing allow you to stack higher in the unit?

Do you need shelving in your storage unit?

Will you need access to all of the items in the unit? Knowing this will allow you to pack your unit correctly.

Should you rent two smaller units rather than a large storage unit?

Horizon Mini Storage has a unit size calculator to assist in making your decision. Or call today and talk to one of our storage experts to choose the perfect self storage unit.

Access Hours

24 hour access may sound like a convenient feature but think back to the last time you needed to access your storage shed at 2:00 AM. If that is not a common occurrence for you, 24 hour access may not be all that imperative to your self storage needs. The majority of customers access their units during the day and have little need to access the facility after hours.

Security is a large factor in selecting the correct storage facility. When a self storage facility limits access hours it can make monitoring the ground easier and lower the potential for suspicious activity possibly making it a more secure location. Horizon Mini Storage offers access hours from 6 AM – 9 PM.

Have Insurance, Just in Case

You have found the right facility and storage unit, now we need to discuss the added layer of protection – insurance. You can rely on your homeowners insurance to cover your items while in storage but usually this creates a higher deductible.

Insurance for your self storage unit is something you should always purchase when you are renting a unit. We do not expect our belongings to be stolen or damaged but in the event they do you will know you have protection of insurance. Most self storage facilities offer plans starting around $10 per month and carry thousands of dollars in coverage. Ask the facility you plan to rent from what their policies cost and what they cover.

Horizon Mini Storage knows that searching for a self storage unit can be a daunting task. We hope that providing this list of tips is helpful in making your decision. For more assistance on choosing the perfect storage unit for you, call us today. We cannot wait to help put your mind at ease and provide a simple storage solution!