15 Self-Storage Mistakes That Cost People Money
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Our team of experts have compiled 15 of the biggest self-storage mistakes that cost people money so you know what to look out for.
With so many self-storage options around, it can be hard to know how to save money. Luckily, we’ve got you covered.
At The Box Co., we’re all about flexible, affordable storage for our clients. That’s why we’ve put together the key mistakes that cost people money when seeking self-storage solutions.
Top Self-Storage Mistakes That Cost People Money
There are lots of costly mistakes that people can make when looking for self-storage. Here are our top 15 and how to avoid them!
1. Choosing The Wrong Size Unit
It’s easy to do, but choosing the wrong size unit can be a very expensive mistake when looking for self-storage. If you choose a size that’s too big, you end up paying for a load of wasted space.
However, picking a storage unit that’s too small could mean that you have to change facilities or rent an additional storage unit for an extra cost.
Picking a storage unit that’s too small for your items could also lead to breaking or damaging your belongings or cramming them in too tightly in a way that gives rise to poor ventilation or mould. In the end, you could end up paying even more to replace your items.
If you’re unsure what’s the right size storage unit for your belongings, talk to our team today! We’re always happy to help people find the perfect fit for their storage needs.
2. Failing To Maximise Vertical Space
When you look for a storage unit, you’ll always take into account width and depth (e.g. 10x15, 15x15) but don’t forget to consider the height.
Standard storage units have a height of around 8 feet, all of which is extra space that you can use. If you have a storage unit, make sure you’re making the most of the vertical space by stacking items or using shelving.
3. Ignoring By The Box Solutions
Storage by-the-box is the most affordable, flexible and convenient option when it comes to self-storage. Automatically choosing a storage unit over a storage by-the-box solution can be an expensive mistake - you may end up overpaying for wasted space or getting locked in an inflexible contract.
Instead, check out storage by-the-box solutions first to see if it can accommodate your storage needs.
At The Box Co. our storage by the box services are priced from £3.56 per box per month, so it's both flexible and affordable.
4. Using Low Quality Packing Materials
It can be tempting to choose the cheapest packing materials available but remember that these materials have to store your items and keep them safe during storage. When you use weak boxes, low-quality tape or skip things like additional bubble wrap, you are putting your items at risk.
Items that are poorly packed could easily get broken during storage.
To keep your items safe during storage, choose high quality packaging materials. There are even some storage companies that pack for you with the professional products.
5. Forgetting About Insurance
Sometimes, storage items are covered by home insurance; however, this is not always the case. If you falsely assume that your items are covered, you could get a nasty surprise later down the line.
You must always check whether your home insurance covers items stored outside of the house before signing a storage contract. If it isn’t covered, you will need to pay for additional insurance or choose a self-storage facility that has insurance already included.
6. Not Prioritising Accessibility
Many storage facilities set their prices for storage units based on location which can lead some people to choose a facility that’s further away but more affordable.
This is wise until the point when you need to access your stuff and have a long journey ahead of you. You may end up paying more in petrol and time than you would have done choosing a closer storage unit.
Incurring the cost and choosing a more accessible storage unit could be a good idea if you’re looking for greater convenience - especially if you need to access your items regularly.
Alternatively, you could opt for maximum convenience with a storage by-the-box solution - the company will pick your boxes up straight from your home and deliver them back to you whenever you need them so you don’t ever have to leave the house!
7. Not Reading The Small Print
As with any contract, failing to read the small print can lead to unpleasant surprises later down the line.
Before you sign a contract with a self-storage facility, make sure you’ve read the contract and understand the terms and conditions. This is a good place to look out for any hidden fees that might catch you out later.
8. Lack Of Organisation
Before putting your items in self-storage, you must get organised. That involves putting together a full inventory of everything you’re storing to remember what you have, save you money by not buying items you already have and lets you crosscheck that you have all of your items at the end of storage.
It’s also wise to label all of your boxes so that you know the contents of each box. This will save you a great deal of time whenever you get your boxes back - especially if you’re storing between rentals and unpacking your belongings.
9. Not Shopping Around
There are plenty of self-storage options available so don’t necessarily go with the first one you find. Remember to be savvy, looking at different storage facilities, their prices and what their quotes include.
10. Opting For A Big Corporation
Opting for a big self-storage corporation is not always a mistake but they can sometimes catch people out with promotional offers before increasing their price to something far more expensive.
Big corporations also tend to increase prices every 6 months or after the first month which is something to bear in mind. They are also more likely to have stricter policies such as fixed contracts and a cancellation fee if you need to end the contract earlier.
At The Box Co. we pride ourselves on being fully flexible and affordable, so you can increase and decrease storage in a way that suits you!
11. Storing Prohibited Items
Certain items are not permitted in self-storage. This varies depending on the facility but tends to include things like perishable items (e.g. food), certain liquids or anything hazardous. Ignoring these rules can get you in financial trouble later down the line as it’s a breach of the contract.
Always be aware of what you can and cannot store in your specific self-storage before you start.
12. Ignoring Climate Control
Ignoring the option of climate controlled storage could result in damaging your items - be it from mould, warping or cracks.
When there’s no climate control, items could be damaged from fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels. Choosing climate controlled storage is wise, especially if you are storing anything like furniture, electronics or important documents.
13. Forgetting About The Cancellation Fee
Some storage facilities have a cancellation fee if you leave your contract before the specified date. This varies between companies and will be stated in the initial contract. Usually, if you’ve signed a contract for a fixed amount of time, there will be a cancellation fee if you decide to end the contract before the final date.
You can avoid this by choosing a flexible storage solution that lets you rent storage only for as long as you need it.
At The Box Co. we have no cancellation fees, you can stay as flexible as you want!
14. Abandoning Your Storage Unit
Abandoning your storage unit can cost you money. Not only could you lose your items but you can get yourself into debt and negatively impact your credit score.
If you want to leave the storage unit, read your contract to see the proper way to do so and save yourself from costly ramifications.
15. Not Making Security A Priority
Looking for cheap self-storage doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice good security. When storing your items, security should always be a priority so that your items are kept safe and secure.
For peace of mind, make sure you choose a self-storage service that has CCTV surveillance and secure access controls.
At The Box Co. we pride ourselves on being secure and affordable!
Cost-Effective Self-Storage With The Box Co.
At The Box Co., we always help our clients find the most affordable storage solution to suit their needs.
We don’t lock you into tricky contracts with hidden fees or inflexibility; instead, we keep things simple with cost-effective self-storage. And with prices from £3.56 per box per month, we challenge you to find a more affordable option elsewhere!
Contact us today to get a quote!
