When you make the decision to clear space in your home by moving some of your possessions into a self-storage unit, you do so with the trust that the facility you’ve chosen is secure and can make sure that your belongings are safe from damage and theft. While most storage facilities do their absolute best to keep your prized possessions safe, there are also some steps that you can take to protect your unit. Some of the steps you can take involve making sure you’re making the right choice when it comes to the self-storage facility you use, and some of them are more direct actions, but all of them will help you to have peace of mind that your items in storage are as secure as they can possibly be.
Choose a Self-Storage Rental in the Right Place
The first and most major consideration that you should keep in mind is the storage facility itself. Not all self-storage services are created equal, and you should look into just what kind of security features the facility you’re going to work with has in place. Does the facility have fencing around the entire perimeter? How do they control access? PIN codes at the gate are an increasingly popular option—PIN pads can be programmed to accept hundreds of codes, so each individual storage customer can have their own code. If you do use a code to access the facility or even your unit, make sure that you don’t share it with anyone. It’s also a good idea to choose a location that has video surveillance; while this may not always stop theft from happening, it will help police to catch a thief and potentially get your treasured possessions back. It is also true that those facilities that have cameras are simply less likely to be targeted than those that do not.
Precautions You Can Take for Your Self-Storage Rental on Your Own
Once you know that you have a secure, safe facility, there are some additional steps you can take on your own that will increase the safety of your possessions. Security professionals recommend that, for example, if you have a few expensive or particularly treasured items among your stored belongings, it’s a good idea to keep those towards the back of your unit; most thieves raiding storage units want to “crash and grab”—that is, get in and out as quickly and easily as possible, taking whatever they can reach. Another option is to add your own lock to the unit’s door. If you decide to go this route, make sure it isn’t against the storage facility’s rules, and make sure that you buy a lock that is hefty and strong enough to hold up against bolt cutters. Disc locks and cylinder locks are particularly effective against theft. Other precautions include verifying your insurance coverage; if your home owner’s insurance doesn’t cover property stored at a separate location, it is a good idea to get specific coverage. With a little bit of preparation and a little bit of security know-how, you can make sure that your possessions are just as safe in your self storage rental as they are at home—and they may actually be a little bit safer.
