Six things to look for in Storage Units and Facilities

Storage units hold an important place in our daily lives. They are of high importance for people, businessmen and retailers alike.  Everyone needs to store something or the other.  Right from personal storage units to commercial storage units to warehouses, these provide the right ambiance for people with storage needs.

So what are the facilities that storage units offer? What should one look for while hunting for a storage unit? Let’s find out.

1) Security: Perhaps, the most important facility for any storage unit, security is of utmost importance.  All the units should ideally provide you with latest in security systems, CCTV surveillance, magnetic access cards, infra-red camera systems and even updated written customer logs. In short, security should be the first priority for any storage unit.

2) Safety / maintenance: Another important feature, the safety and maintenance of a unit should also be taken into account.  The floors and walls should be extremely clean and dry. There should be no cracks or breakage of any form which can allow rodents, insects, etc to enter and create havoc. They can end up damaging many of your belongings especially if there are any perishable items. A fire extinguisher and other equipment related to fire prevention should also be present in the units.

3) Air-conditioned facilities:  Air-conditioned facilities are climate controlled which help in keeping moisture out from the units which keeps documents and other things like perishable items, seasonal objects, etc. safe and fresh. Thus making it possible for round the year availability of them.

 

4) Packaging materials and professionals:  Many units provide packaging materials like boxes, tape, bubble bags, etc. for packaging of materials and belongings. They also provide professional people who can pack and transport your belongings from your residence/office to the units without damaging them.

5) Value added services: Like packaging materials and professionals, value added services like trolleys, cranes, ladders, etc. are also provided for better access within the units for loading and unloading of belongings.

6) Third party insurance: Customer satisfaction and safety of goods is the prime concern and objective of these units.  Therefore third party insurance is of utmost importance. Many units provide a third party insurance coverage for goods.  This facility shows how much the unit manager is concerned for the welfare of his/her customers.

These are some of the facilities that a storage unit ideally provides. Make sure you check for them before moving in any of your belongings. Remember, you are going to invest your hard-earned money and store things that are valuable to you.  Make sure you don’t compromise on anything.  Happy storing!

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It’s All about Public Self Storages

An industry, in which storage space is leased on a monthly basis to individuals as well as businesses, is called a self storage. This could be in the form of big rooms, lockers, boxes, canisters, etc. Thus, public self-storages are ideal for home as well as business needs. It helps people and companies alike to store whatever they do not have room for, don’t need direct access to, or they have so much stuff taking over their homes, a storage unit becomes essential to help de-clutter their lives and their homes. Besides, these places are not just places to stock up your belongings, but provide you a high degree of security as well. The type of unit you choose will be based solely as per your needs and requirements.

 You will have a range to pick from depending upon the size and price you are comfortable with. Simply put, the bigger your unit, the more you pay for your rent. There are some storage basics that one needs to follow to get the perfect storage. Read on.

As mentioned earlier, size does matter. There are different spaces that are rented on a monthly to a yearly basis. The most common size is 10’ x 5’ and it can go up to 10’ x 30’ or even more depending upon the individual or businesses need. Public storage services give you extra locks for added security. Moreover, there are surveillance cameras and digital lock codes that need to be passed before entering the unit. Other factors that may perhaps affect the price are if the unit is temperature controlled. Then there is an open storage unit and an enclosed one.

For instance, if you decide to store large items, such as your car, RV, etc. Would you want to rent extra open space or do you want to keep it bounded? However, you cannot stock up perishable items, toxic substances or any form of harmful materials in the units. Also, you are not allowed to sleep or live in the units.

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How Do I Maximize My Storage Space?

The real estate prices have been on the rise and the space available at home is becoming smaller. People, with time have started to invest in storage units, which were once solely used for commercial purposes. Household storages provide you with storage boxes, shelves, packing materials etc. You can avail their facilities for a number of reasons depending upon your needs and requirements. You could be moving out from the city and would want to store your belongings for a temporary period, or your belongings are sensitive to humidity and you’d want to keep them safe and secure in a climate- controlled unit, etc. Below is a list that will help you understand how to make the best use of storage space:-


You could start with placing the largest or heaviest box at the bottom and then accordingly go up by placing the lightest box on the top. However, make sure the boxes that will be needed more often are kept separately for easy access. It is also ideal to allow a few inches of space between the walls of the unit and your storage boxes. This in return helps in good ventilation, thus protecting the items from moisture and clamminess.

If you are renovating and want to store, you would obviously want your precious items like furniture, equipment and tools to be in perfect condition. So, before you transfer your furniture dismantle it. This will help to optimize the space available. You may even want to store the nuts, screws and bolts in a bag to keep them aside to fix them up later.

When storing your vehicle or tools ensure it has been oiled properly; it will prevent it from rusting. On the contrary, do not leave any gasoline in the automobiles.



In any case, store only those things that are functional and handy for you. You don’t want to end up accumulating stuff that is as good as junk and pay for it too, do you? Hence, it is advisable to accommodate stuff that is valuable; or maybe huge and bulky and is occupying a lot of space. The additional stuff can always be sold or donated!

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Handy Tips for those Evaluating Self Storage Solutions in Lebanon

Storage in Lebanon has matured from those early days into a solutions driven industry. Given that there are many options in the market, here are some handy tips to help decide upon the best one for your needs:


How much space do you want?
Deciding how much space is required is one of the first steps one must undertake when choosing a storage provider. Storage units come in multiple sizes and not all storage providers may have the storage you need. While some believe in renting the smallest possible place they need, one must remember that they would need some room to maneuver. Some of the better operators out there do offer handy storage calculators to help guide potential customers in their decisions.

Accessibility to the storage unit:
While most storage operators do offer personal fork-lifts, it does get rather convenient and saves you a lot of trouble if you choose an operator that offers you drive-up access to your unit.

Climate Control:Many people believe that climate control is simply a gimmick that’s designed to fleece more money out of them. They couldn’t be further from the truth. Climate controlled storage units are a life-savior when it comes to storing those precious memories and delicate belongings.

Stop Hoarding:Once they rent a storage unit, many tend to simply throw in all the unnecessary or unwanted stuff that they wanted to discard, but didn’t have the heart to throw them away. A storage unit is not a place to hoard stuff (though, you could do that as well), it is simply an expensive habit of the really lazy people. So do sift through your items before they go into storage. You’ll be amazed at the amount of clutter that you manage to reduce through such an exercise.

Sorting Through:Dumping stuff in a haphazard manner in a storage unit is only bound to create chaos later. Being aware of what’s going into storage comes handy when you have to retrieve it later. Sorting all your belongings out and marking them out on a rough map-of-sorts is a great way to get over such an obstacle.



Hidden Charges:While the general majority of storage operators are an honest lot, there are still some who could be out there to swindle you out of your money. Read the fine print carefully while evaluating operators. It’s your money, so do take your time and don’t forget to ask for your queries to be resolved to your satisfaction. Take extra care and keep an eagle’s eye out for any hidden charges that may be levied.

Checking back:Once you’ve chosen your storage unit, signed the contract and move your stuff in, it is not a sign for you to disappear into the unknown. Quality storage operators do take ample security measures to protect your belongings, but it doesn’t take too much time or efforts to check in on your stuff from time-to-time.

The choice for self storage solutions in Lebanon is tremendous, so use the above tips and choose wisely!

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