Over the course of their lives, people accumulate a lot of things. From home furniture pieces and kid’s toys to business supplies and vehicles, all of these can make any home, office, or garage feel and look very cluttered. The best way to free up additional space is to rent a storage unit.
In general, a storage unit is a space in a storage facility where you can keep your things temporarily or for longer periods of time. They provide plenty of benefits including decluttering your personal space at home or in the office, cost-efficiency, increased security, and flexibility. Common reasons why you may use them are for storing personal belongings when you are moving, downsizing, renovating your home, or storing your vehicles.
Depending on your needs, storage facilities offer a wide range of unit sizes and services. That’s why it is important that you first learn about the different types of storage units available so you can choose the one that best suits you. Read our guide to get started on the matter.
Self-storage vs full-storage units
When determining what type of storage you need, there are two main types of storage solutions you can consider, and these are self-storage and full-service storage.
In general, self-storage is a type of storage unit which puts customers in charge of moving, documenting, and storing their personal belongings in a rental unit. It is the most commonly used method for storing seasonal items, vehicles, furniture pieces, and office supplies as it is affordable and very convenient.
On the other hand, full-service storage offers valet-style services to customers, meaning the facility takes care of all the logistics and picks up your belongings on your behalf, and delivers them to the storage unit.
The type of storage unit you choose will mainly depend on your needs and personal situation. For example, if you are moving to a new house in Toronto and you are staging your old home for sale, you should search for facilities that offer self storage in Toronto where you can store your possessions until you are ready to move into your new place, and pay only for the time used.
If you don’t have the means or resources to move your belongings yourself, you can make use of full-service storage to do it for you for an extra cost.
Other types of storage units
In addition to self-storage and full-service storage, there are also other types of storage units you can consider and these are outdoor, indoor, climate-controlled, and vehicle storage units.
Outdoor storage units
Outdoor storage units are located within a warehouse facility, but offer direct access from outside. Instead of entering the facility to access your unit, you can simply drive up to the door and drop off your belongings there. They are a very convenient option when you are moving a lot of stuff or paying movers by the hour.
Indoor storage units
Indoor storage units are located within a warehouse facility without direct access from outside. Although you can’t really drive up to your unit to drop off your belongings, the facility usually offers equipment and wide-access elevators to help you transport your things in and out of the unit safely.
Climate-controlled storage units
Climate-controlled storage units are mainly reserved for storing temperature-sensitive items such as electronics, instruments, antiques, or clothing. The temperature at these units is typically above freezing levels and below 90 degrees, protecting your things from various harmful elements such as dust and mildew. These units may cost more but the extra investment is worth it, especially if you are planning to store your belongings for a long while.
Vehicle storage units
If you have a car you don’t use anymore or another type of vehicle such as an RV, truck, trailer, boat, motorcycle, or jet ski, you can make use of a vehicle storage unit to store your rides safely. Depending on the storage facility’s services, these units can be a simple parking lot, lift storage, or a large warehouse that provides weather protection and increased security.
Final thoughts
If you are looking for a place where you can store your belongings safely, then you should consider renting a storage unit. Depending on your needs, there are several types of storage units you can choose from, each offering different services to accommodate everyone’s personal situation.
For more information, refer to our post and learn about the most common types of storage units available.