How to Select a Storage Unit

July 11, 2011

Many people don’t give a lot of thought to the storage unit they are about to rent out, which could be a bad thing in the long run. Most people will focus on the cost of the unit rather than thinking about the impact the storage unit could have on the cost of moving. If you take time to select the proper storage unit for your needs, it could save you money, time, and a lot of unneeded work.

The first thing you should consider when looking to rent a storage unit is how much space you will need to store your things. A small one bedroom apartment with no appliances will fit into a 5’x10’ storage unit, as a rough estimate. A typical small 2 bedroom apartment with no appliances will fit into a 10’x10’ storage unit, and a house that is 2000 square feet should fit into a 10’x20’ storage unit. These sizes of course need to be adjusted depending on the amount of things you wish to store.

The second thing you should keep in mind when looking for a storage unit is what type of storage unit you’ll need. Storage units usually come in two different variations, either temperature controlled units or garage style units. The temperature controlled units are usually a better environment for things of greater value, such as antique furniture or anything you’d have concerns with storing in a garage. They usually take a lot more effort to move things in and out of though, as they usually require you to bring your items inside a building first. If you are using a mover to move into the unit, this could require extra money. The garage style units generally open directly outside for easier access. They can get really hot inside though, especially in the summer sun. They will have less of a price tag on them though compared to the temperature controlled units.