Self Storage

Self storage, also known as public storage, offers a cost-effective solution to both personal and business storage needs.
Whether you need storage for a few items, business paperwork, furniture, or recreation vehicles, renting self storage units offers a safe solution to store your items for days, weeks, months, and even years.

Rental rates for self storage units can be diffrent from facility to facility. Since the industry is growing rapidly and competition is high, the consumer stands to benefit from the number of choices. Easily accessible public storages offer their services. Many storage units are climate controlled, have 24 hours security and pest control programs that are the best in the industry, all in an effort to provide secure safe storage for your belongings.

Using Allvanlines.com self storage quote service, you can compare rates from multiple public storage companies in your area. Simply fill out the free self storage quote form, submit, and you’ll be contacted by public storage facilities in your area..

Storage Guide

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Contracts & Cost

Generally, but not always the more money you pay for a service the better the service you receive and this goes for storage facility to. Ask yourself whether the items you are planning to in storage are of monetary value or sentimental value.

The Contract or Agreement
Once you have a storage facility the operator must provide you with a contract or agreement. This contract or agreement is like any other contract is designed and expected to protect you the customer, your items and even of course the storage facility.

Here is a guide on what to expect in a contract or agreement:

• Name, address and telephone number of company
• Address of actual storage location (this may be different from the office location especially in larger companies)
• Minimum monthly storage charges
• Minimum applicable for storage preparation, padding or packing
• Any charges applied for transportation if this service is available and accepted
• Other charges the warehouse may apply

In the rare case where you may want the warehouse operator to accept your goods without physically inspected, first you will be asked to sign a statement waiving your right to a written estimate and you will be required to sign it also.

Within five days of receipt of your goods the warehouse operator must send you a statement based on the examination of your goods detailing the monthly charges and any packing and special storage conditions charges also statement should also include any limitations on liability for negligent loss or damage.

Inventory
Always do a complete inventory of the items you are putting in the storage. This protects both the storage facility and the customer in the event there is a dispute over damages as the condition going into storage is noticed upfront and thus be referred to in the event a dispute arises. Both the customer and the storage operator sign the inventory in agreement on the condition of the goods going into storage.

Included in the “Monthly Cost”
The cost of storage can vary depending on the options you decide to accept. The basic cost will cover items such as light, electricity, insurance, security, pest control and will also include costs for climate controlled storage. Check with your moving company, in most cases if you have a moving company move your household goods, they offer first month storage usage for no cost.

Deposit
When you use a storage facility you will be required to put down a deposit which is generally fully refundable conditions will be laid out in the contract however it is very important to read the fine print on the subject in the contract. In order for you to get your deposit back when you no longer need the storage space the storage operator may lay down conditions that are basically impossible to meet.

Remember if they are no upfront about the refundable deposit what else could they not be notifying you about…..

Billing

The contract must include such information as the monthly charges and how regularly you will be billed. The contract can have either an actual cost or an estimate cost. Remember the cost does not generally include the cost of packing up your goods and getting your goods to the storage facility.

How much insurance will I need?

The insurance offered however is the very minimum allowable and is approximately $0.30 per pound per item. For comprehensive insurance you will need to look at alternative options. Your homeowner’s insurance policy may cover your household goods while they are in storage so check with your insurance company before accepting any additional insurance offered by the storage warehouse operator. If your homeowners insurance policy will cover your goods while they are in storage it is very important to also check what you will need to do when you add or remove items from the storage space.

If you are fortunate enough to have coverage make sure you contact the insurance company and ask them to explain this coverage and what exactly is covered in the event you need to file a claim with the insurance and company you will have to prove that the loss or damage is due to the mover’s negligence on the part of the truck moving company.

No matter what insurance policy your goods are covered under it is very important to check upfront if it is okay with the insurance company to add additional items from the space and how this is handled from an insurance perspective. Warehouse operators offer extra insurance may require that you accept their preferred insurance coverage if you want to store your goods with them. The bottom line is that you absolutely need to have your goods insured.

What happens if I miss my payments?

The contract must include what actions will be taken in the event you do not pay for the service. If you forget payment or cannot not the storage company, they will most likely take action.

What is the action?

Make sure the answers to these two questions are list on your contract. The storage company most likely will not give you access to your property unless you pay the amount owed.

Your belongs will be auction by the storage company and you will be given notice as to the date, time and location of the auction. It states you have the legal right to try to stop the auction from taken place however this action must be well in advance of the auction date and this differs by stage. You will need to file for a court date the proceeding at least 10 days prior to the date auction is planning to happen.