A Beginners Guide To Self Storage

You can probably see from the increase in storage businesses around the UK that there is a rising demand for units. They can be a cost-effective and simple solution for business and personal use.

But before you jump into your first self-storage unit, what do you need to know? Here is our beginner’s guide to choosing the right facility.

What are you using the unit for?

It may seem obvious but consider what you need to store first. Are you planning on long-term storage of belongings you won’t need often? If you’re storing furniture you don’t have space for at home, or your household goods while you go travelling, take a look at facilities that are further out from the town centre as they may have lower fees. At Magenta, we have facilities in Acton, St Albans, Oxford, Banbury and Reading, so your self storage is never far away.

How much space will you need?

Working out what size unit you need can be quite complicated. But don’t worry—you can always ask one of our team for guidance or visit our units to help you visualize the dimensions.

If you are storing furniture for the long term, you may not need as big a unit as you first think. A well-packed unit includes height, as well as width. You can stack well-balanced boxes all the way to the ceiling.

When you plan to use your unit for more practical reasons, such as an extension of your garage, somewhere to keep bikes or tools, or as a business unit, you’ll need more space to allow for accessibility, making it easier to move about inside.

How flexible is your self-storage contract?

When you’re planning on running a business from self-storage, or moving home, you may not be sure how long you need the unit for or what size you’ll need to start with.

Always take a look at the contract terms to begin with and see how flexible they are. Some facilities offer simple terms that allow you to cancel your contract if you need to leave earlier than planned or to move into a larger unit if your business is expanding faster than you expected. You’ll also want to know whether there is a penalty if you do leave earlier. At Magenta, we offer short term and long term contracts to suit your needs.

Always look at the financials.

Make sure you understand how the payments are structured. Do you make regular monthly payments or, especially if you want a longer term rental, is there a minimum upfront payment? Although most storage units include utilities such as lighting in the rental fee, always ask first. And, if you want to run a business from your unit, check whether adding power, running a heater and easy access to WIFI will be an issue.

Location, access and security are important.

A storage facility inside a city centre may have higher rates, but if it’s closer to your client base or home, the extra cost may be worth it. For homeowners who need daily access, a unit right next to the train station or within walking distance may be a key factor.

Businesses who will be in and out through the day may choose something outside of town with a larger car park. However, you also need to find out how simple access is outside of working hours or at weekends, when your business may still be running.

Whichever you choose, make sure you look at the security options. Is the unit manned or have excellent CCTV? Some facilities allow 24 hour access with a key card or PIN code to the main doors. Modern facilities may also have PIN code access to your individual unit. If not, you’ll need to factor in supplying your own padlock.

The final details.

It’s always important that you read your Terms and Conditions before you enter into a contract, and clarify anything you’re not sure of.

Small details can cause big issues, so ask questions such as:

Will there be a trolley handy, or people available to help you carry your items in when you arrive?

What sort of thing can you store in your unit?

What can’t you store, such as food items?

What kind of business can you run? Are you allowed to run appliances such as fridge or freezer units?

What insurance will you need?

Finally, although these may be minimal or unavoidable, there are a few extra costs such as your padlock, robust storage boxes and racking in your unit if needed.

Although there is a lot to consider, planning ahead means you’ll find the best storage facility for your needs first time, and won’t have any issues once settled in. If you have any questions, please do just ask. We’re happy to answer all your queries and show you around.