How to Choose Between Different Types of Storage Units

Storage facilities are justly popular for their practicality and safety. Its convenience doesn’t just stop at storing household goods, as there are specialized storage solutions as well. Add to that different types of storage units and a plethora of amenities, and suddenly, choosing the right one becomes a challenge, especially if you’re a first-timer. That’s why it’s of immense importance to explore your options and know exactly what you’re looking for and why. Not only will this approach save you from bad decisions, but it can also save you money as well. Read on to get the maximum out of your unit!

Traditional storage dilemma: Indoor or outdoor?

Before we delve deeper into the many differences of numerous types of storage units, let’s look at the most basic distinction. When choosing between indoor and outdoor storage units, you need to consider the pros and cons of each option.
The first thing to determine is just how much drive-up access is going to be important to you. This convenience means easy access to your storage in terms of loading and unloading. Let’s say you want to renovate your home, which means you might want to move your furniture out of the way for a month or two. In this case, outdoors storage with drive-up access presents an ideal solution.

However, what if your renovation includes new furniture as well, yet you want to keep the old pieces too? Then we’re talking about the long-term storage of valuable items that require special conditions, such as antique furniture. In this case, indoor storage units are a much more sensible choice. First off, they are usually equipped with different amenities, such as temperature control or video surveillance. Secondly, you won’t have to worry about the weather, as most indoor storage units are located inside the building, usually on multiple floors. This makes them weatherproof - a much better long-term option, especially for sensitive and valuable items. Choose wisely!

Non-traditional storage units

If traditional storage simply doesn’t cut it for you, don’t despair. With space being such a commodity, there are many alternative options nowadays. Not only that, but they might end up to be more cost-effective than the traditional outdoor garage-like units. Without further ado, let’s have a look at the ever-increasing competition of different types of storage units.

Mobile storage

Why go to your storage unit when your storage unit can come to you? As the very name suggests, there are companies that will bring the storage containers to your location for easy loading. They are available in different sizes and you can even rent more than one unit if necessary. Once you’ve organized your unit, the renting company will take it to your new location or their facility. This is by far the most convenient option among units you can rent for short periods in terms of flexibility as well. Companies usually give you three days to load your items, making the loading a much less stressful activity.

On-site storage

If you’re left with the impression that mobile storage is the highest commodity there is, then you have yet to learn about on-site storage. Yes, having a few days to load your storage unit is a great move, but how about having it with you... all the time? Think about it – why pay for the transfer of your items to and from the facility if you’ll be done renovating in two weeks? This makes it easier to store items on your timetable as well as control the security by yourself. Plus, they usually have more container options than off-site storage. If you’ve got enough space in your backyard, what are you waiting for?

Specialty storage options

Storage units don’t have to be just about furniture and other household items. In fact, units can go as high as 200 square feet, depending on what you’re going to keep in them. There are specialized boat storages, for water sport vehicles and other aquatic equipment. For the road trip junkies, RV storage might be a great solution when you’re not traveling. Car storages are extremely useful as well – say you’re moving to Calgary for a seasonal job. You don’t want to bring your car with you, so why not keep it safe in a specialized unit? The bottom line is – whatever your situation, there’s the right storage unit for it!

What about amenities?

In order to get the most out of your space, don’t forget to consider the amenities. Depending on the value or sensitivity of your items, you’ll need different features to ensure their safety. To help you, we’ve listed some of them below:
• Climate control – Maintaining the right temperature inside your unit is very important for many items. What happens is you wish to transform your home through paintings, but still want to keep the old art collection? Exactly – store it in such a way as to protect the material from humidity. Temperature-controlled storage units continuously circulate the air, which is important for electronics and documents as well.
• Security – Automatic gates, surveillance cameras, special locks – whatever puts your mind at ease. Indoor storages are even safer and offer less visibility from the outside.
• Pest control – Reputable storage facilities offer pest management services in all types of storage units. This is especially important for outdoor units, as insects can find gaps in the construction and sneak through them.

Types of storage units and different sizes

When looking for various types of storage units, don’t forget to determine the right size. This detail is especially important, and you’ll need to plan ahead just how much stuff you’re going to store. This prevents you from making the mistake of crowding your unit or leaving it half empty. Most sites nowadays have an online visual guide to help you determine which size to pick. If you just want your seasonal items out of the way, a simple 5’x5’ unit should be enough. Units 5’x15’ or 10’x10’ should be enough for storing items of a smaller apartment. Larger units starting from 10’x15’ are for two-bedroom houses and above.