The Pros and Cons of Self Storage - Is it the Best Option for You?

Posted on 19/08/2016

Moving can be a very stressful time, especially if you will be without a residence for a while. Not having anywhere to store your belongings whilst you sort out your transition to a new place can add unnecessary strain to an already stressful period. Self storage can be the best option if you ever find yourself in a situation of having too many belongings and not enough storage. However, this might not be the most cost effective option for everyone. Knowing the pros and cons of self storage is vital when deciding to keep your belongings here.

The Pros

1. Security 

When storing your belongings it’s important to look into how safe your items are going to be. If an option for you is to keep your boxes at various family or friends’ houses, damage can be a big concern. Knowing that your valuables will be locked up in a secure and safe room is essential when being away from your belongings. Self storage gives you that extra peace of mind that your things are safe. Usually each individual room is alarmed with 24 hour external CCTV. This leads to Pro Number 2.

2. Insurance

Most self storage companies offer insurance when you take out a contract with them. This is really just to give you as a customer peace of mind that if any damage is caused to your belongings, they are all covered and you won’t be left with having to replace anything. The self storage companies use it as an understanding that whilst they won’t damage your things, you’ll never need to claim back for any damage. It’s a two-way system that just makes the transaction more comfortable and smooth.

3. Special Offers

Many companies provide special offers when you take out a contract with them. For example, you can take out a room for up to 8 weeks and get 50% off the price. On average, a 50 sq ft room will cost £41.10 per week but with the discount the cost would work out to be £20.54. Savings and promotional discounts are always a bonus when storing your belongings, especially if you’re in the transition of moving house.

4. Choose the storage time that suits you

If you have an understanding of how long you will need to have your items stored for, storage companies tend to give a bracket of time of a few weeks. Some companies allow you to give 7 days notice if you need to end your rental before the time you specified.

The Cons

1. Access Hours

Most storage companies do not allow you to have 24-hour access to your room. The times you are able to access your belongings might be very inconvenient for people who work the conventional weekly working hours. One popular allows you to access your rented room from 8-6 on a weekday, which could be difficult if you work during these hours or have other commitments that permit you from accessing your container at this time.

2. Paying for the full storage time upfront 

When you take out a self storage room, you will be asked how long you will need the room for, and subsequently will need to pay the full rental of the room upfront. This may be an issue for some people who are using the storage whilst getting the deposit together for a new place of residency.

3. Costly, depending of the amount needing to be stored 

A 50 sq ft room is usually recommended for people wanting to store the contents of a 1 bedroom flat. However, if you are looking to house the contents of a much larger property the cost of the rental will be a lot greater per week. An example cost would be £210.90 per week for a 400 sq ft room; however, if you only want the rental for up to 8 weeks this is 50% off. So depending on the amount needing to be stored, self storage could be a very costly option.