One thing that is always constant in life is change. Whether it is relocating to another street, state or country, divorce, death, marriage etc.  One of the factors that ties all these together is the headache of where to briefly store your household stuff. This is where self storage comes in and this article will tell you all about it, read on!

What is self storage?

Another name for self storage is storage unit. Self storage is a service that offers up “space” for rent so you can briefly ( or however long) store your personal or business belongings. You can store just about anything (that is legal) by renting the space. Some of the things that you can store at a self storage are but not limited to:

• Documents
• Wine
• Furniture
• Vehicles (that are in good condition, don't store scraps!)
• Office inventories

They offer space of different sizes ranging from the size of a school locker, the size of a closet to the size of a room and even an outdoor space. So, don’t worry if you have huge personal or office belongings to store, they do have space for that. 

Why do I need a self storage service?

In case you are wondering why you may need self storage. There are varieties of reasons why you need one, some of them are:

• If you are decluttering. 
• If you are moving across the country and you need a place to store your vehicle or other stuff pending when you’re back or before it is transferred to your new home.
• If you’re a college student who is travelling home for the holidays, going for a mission overseas etc
• If you’re doing some renovation at home or you are moving to a new house.
• If you are a business that needs extra space to store office documents and other paraphernalia 
• If you have a career that involves a lot of travelling or changing location for example military families or missionaries.   

Different types of storage space available for rent

There are different storage spaces available but there may be slight variation depending on the self storage companies you choose from. They are:

• Storage lockers (2 x 2; 4 x 5)
• 5 x 5 storage space. 
• 5 x 10 storage space. 
• 10 x 10 storage space. 
• 10 x 15 storage space. 
• 10 x 20 storage space. 
• Vehicle storage
• Warehouse

If you’re unsure about the size of storage space and how to estimate the storage space or unit you will need, quickly go to their website and check out the resources provided there. Also, email or call them through the details provided. You can also walk up to their store and sort it out with their custom care representative.

What to look for when choosing the right storage service

• Access hours. Normally, self storage companies operate between 8am - 6pm, some even operate till 10pm. Some others offer 24/7 access to their facilities. 
• Packing or storage supplies. Some service companies provide packing or storage supplies (paid or free at their facilities) saving you the stress of going to a store.
• Moving trucks or vehicles. Check whether the self storage providers provide trucks that can help move your belongings to the facility
• Climate controlled option. If you’re storing fragile or temperature sensitive items like artwork etc. you should be looking at self storage companies that provide storage space that are climate controlled.
• Security. Keeping your items safe is paramount, so check out companies that have security measures like alarms, electronic gate access, cctv etc
• Location. Choose self storage companies with centers close to your home/business or where you are moving into. 
• Price. Compare prices and choose a self storage company with good price range and quality services.

Top 5 best self storage services

• Life storage. 
• Extra space storage. They won the overall 
• U-haul
• Cubesmart 
• Public storage

Conclusion 

Self storage is a place where you can store your stuff if you are moving out, decluttering or just need an extra space to store things. Choose a self storage company that has what you’re looking for in terms of price, security, location. Keep in mind that some self storage offers an insurance option