Self Storage: Your Questions Answered
Whether you’re looking for self/storage to free up space for an office or family, or simply attempting to declutter, you are going to have some questions. And the answers we give you may surprise you.
Self-storage is where storage space is rented out to ‘tenants’, usually on a monthly basis. These spaces are often known as storage units.
These units are used by people to store business and personal goods on a temporary or long-term basis.
Traditional self-storage spaces offer you the shell of a space which you manage yourself.
You will be given keys, probably a trolley or two to help you on your way, and other than abiding by the rules, it’s down to you. You are responsible for packing and delivering the goods to the unit, managing the space, and collecting your own goods.
Mobile storage is a newer type of self/storage, already popular in the US, where a lot of the legwork is taken away for the user. The supplier collects, stores and returns your belongings. This, incidentally, is the easyStorage (our) model.
This shouldn’t be confused with self-store units that are delivered to your home or office and left there to give you extra space. These units make great temporary holding spaces.
There are also informal storage spaces available, where someone’s garage or spare room are rented out. These are generally small scale, private arrangements. Considerations include damp, security and insurance.
If you need constant access to a site, for example for a small business constantly sending things out to customers, needing daily access, traditional self-storage is probably going to suit you better.
If you only need occasional access or are an organised enough person to arrange access just a few times a month, you may well find that mobile storage will save you time, money and effort.
How do I get my goods into storage?
For traditional self-storage you will need to sort this out for yourself. For small amounts of goods a car may be sufficient, but most storers will start with van hire. This is easy enough to find in an online search. (If you choose this route, things to look out for include insurance and excesses, mileage extras, hidden deposits and limits on what can be transported.)
There are as many different storage unit sizes as there are storage units! Generally the physical space and your ability to pack determines what you can store.
easyStorage however, provides a choice of easyPods which are a consistent size: 35, 70 and 105 square feet.
For lots of people (me included!) this will mean little, and be hard to visualise, so we have a handy online space guide: https://www.easystorage.com/space-guide.
easyStorage brings these pods to you to fill. They can even help you pack!
Self-storage units can free up space, whether to declutter or create space for a specific purpose such as extra family members, extra demands on space such as homeworking, kids home from college….
It allows you to keep things you don’t want to get rid of, for future use or for sentimental reasons.
Sadly, sometimes the reasons for self-storage are known within the industry as the ‘D’s: death, divorce, disaster, downsizing. (Our teams know that there are often emotional reasons behind storing, and are a great, empathetic, bunch.)
But often the reasons are happier – wanting to stay in your own home rather than buy something bigger, moving in together, etc.
And of course, for marketing departments with conference equipment, businesses with seasonal goods etc, good quality storage is a fabulous option.
What you pay will depend on your supplier, their location and their facilities.
We believe at easyStorage that we charge around half of what traditional storage will cost you.
You can get a free, no obligation quote here: or call our fantastic team for help with any queries. (Tel 0880 061 4091.)
With professional organisations, some self-storage insurance is usually automatically included.
Ask your supplier about options, and consider both the value of what you’re storing and what the risks are in order to decide what’s right for you.
Your storage unit will be able to advise you on access rules and hours.
Again, check with your storage unit.
Rules will vary with the type of storage. For example, if you are renting a friend’s garage, it’s not unreasonable to store a car in parts. Other types of storage may not allow mechanical parts.
However, some things are simply not suitable for self-storage. You should always check with your storage provider, but generally you should not store:
• Anything flammable or explosive (eg fireworks);
• Drugs and illegal substances;
• Food (No-one wants rotted food or the vermin that food may attract);
• Vehicles and used tyres;
• Livestock (animals);
• Chemicals;
• Liquids;
• Rubbish/garbage;
• Hazardous materials (for example anything containing gas, firearms, radioactive, biological or toxic materials);
• Anything containing asbestos;
• Items that give off smells/fumes.
Each supplier has different rules. We ask for a minimum of four weeks. Make sure you understand this at the outset as some suppliers (not us, of course) have hidden clauses and penalties if you cut short a storage term.
If you have any other queries, we are, of course, always here to help.
Book your storage online in a few clicks. We've made that easy too! (10% discount)
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Our storage packages have the added benefit of free removal of your items, saving you up to £1,000. All you need to do is pack your items (or we can pack for you, supplying boxes and packing material) and we’ll pick-up your items and store them in our safe and secure easyStorage facility. Then when you are ready, we’ll deliver them wherever you need us to. You just need to give us two working days’ notice. Perfect if you are moving house, running out of space, or just need somewhere to store your stuff.
Our storage plans provide you with a cost-effective alternative to renting your own lock-up storage space as we’ll only charge you for the storage space you need, making it cheaper for you.
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