If you live just about anywhere in North America, there’s a good chance you drive by one or two storage facilities every day on your way to work. Their popularity has hit an all time high and that has a lot to do with how much stuff we collect over the years. The question we should be asking is do we really need all those things piled up in our storage locker or should we be renting a dumpster and ridding ourselves of that old junk once and for all?
We’re going to take a look at 5 good reasons you should stop paying for a storage locker rentals, but first we’re going to answer a couple of common questions people have when it comes to storage lockers.
While it may seem obvious, it’s still a good idea to understand just what a storage locker really is. It’s a small container for storing belongings you don’t have room for in your home. These storage lockers are 4 feet by 4 feet at the largest and sometimes a bit smaller such as 3 x 3’s. The ceilings can be quite high giving you room to stack a surprising amount of stuff on top of each other.
You can store a range of different things in a storage locker. Most people use them to store valuable items that they’re not willing to part with just yet or aren’t quite sure what to do with. This could be an old CD collection, small family heirlooms, old musical instruments or valuable jewelry to name a few possibilities.
Although, you should only consider putting valuable items in a storage locker rental if you know there’s strong security measures such as 24 hour video surveillance and on site security guards.
Because of their small size, utilizing storage with lockers means you won't really be able to store larger items such as living room or dining room furniture. You should also avoid using them for perishable food items or household plants. As we’ve touched on, many people do use them for storing valuable items, but you should avoid this if possible, even if they have great security and a good reputation.
Storage unit sizes are larger than a storage locker rental so you can fill them with more things. The smallest units are 5 x 5, but the largest ones can be as big as 20 x 20. They’re also more expensive to rent than a storage locker. A typical storage locker rental is around $40 to $50 a month, but for the largest storage lockers you could pay as much as $400 a month, depending on where you live. Storage units are also usually outside, whereas storage lockers are generally located in an indoor facility.
Now that we’ve cleared up some of the common questions people have about storage lockers and storage units it’s time to dive right into our top 5 list. Here are our top 5 reasons you should avoid renting a storage locker.
Storage lockers may seem relatively inexpensive at an average cost of between $40 and $75 a month, but why not keep that money in your own pocket? Prices can vary depending on whether the unit you rent is climate controlled or not, but $40 is, on average, the minimum monthly price you can expect to pay. Most of us could probably live without renting a storage unit on a monthly basis if we get a little creative. If it’s just a short term rental while you complete a move, it can be a good solution to a temporary problem.
Some people use storage lockers to store merchandise for a small business and while this can be a great solution instead of keeping your product in your overcrowded basement, it comes with inherent limitations. There aren’t too many storage lockers that allow you access 24/7 — that may not be a problem for most people, but it can be a headache for some. It's better to opt for storage solutions at home, like an organized garage or linen closet.
Most storage units are relatively secure. Good ones have video cameras in every aisle and facing in every direction. They also have onsite security guards 24/7. That doesn’t make them fully secure. For example, according to Simply Storing, in the Memphis area alone, there are an average of 34 break ins a month at storage facilities. The easiest way to make sure you don’t become a victim yourself is to not rent a storage locker.
While we may not want to admit it, most of the time we no longer need the things we’re putting in our storage lockers. They’re great for temporary use during an estate closure, when you’re in the middle of moving or when your business is growing faster than anticipated and you need some temporary extra space.
They shouldn’t be used for things we don’t need, but are too stubborn to admit to ourselves that it’s time to say goodbye. Decluttering can save you the expense of a storage locker rental and you won’t have to worry about their security.
Storing things we no longer need may feel comforting for a time, but these old items and family heirlooms can often be put to better use. Instead of storing those items you’re not using, why not consider gifting them to a family member that can use them or a charitable organization.
Another option is to seek out collectors and make some valuable cash for items you’ll never use again. You may not have a record player any more, but that valuable record collection could be a treasure trove for a vinyl collector. You won’t have any storage unit costs and you’ll end up with some cash in your pocket.
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