If you find yourself with more goods than you can it into your new residence or you’re only moving temporarily so you don’t need your household and personal items with you, you may want to consider renting a storage unit. Self -storage rental unit companies can be found on the Internet for any location and are an increasingly popular intermediate storage solution.

Most storage rental companies charge by the month and the fees will depend on the size of the unit. In addition to monthly rental fees, find out if there are other fees for processing or late rental payments. On the other hand, there are bargains out there as well. Some storage rental companies will offer you a discount if you sign up for several months’ worth of rent.

Storage Rental Considerations

• You’ll want to make sure your goods are insured in case of damage or loss. Check to see if your homeowner’s insurance policy covers your goods while they are in storage. Otherwise find out if the storage company has insurance and it if covers property theft and damage.
• Consider the types of goods you have and if any have special storage needs because they are susceptible to heat, cold, moisture or dust. If you have valuables that could deteriorate over time – paintings for example – look for a storage unit with climate control.
• The location of the storage unit is important; you want be sure that it’s in a safe area for your own security as well as the protection of your goods. Select a storage rental that has the most safety features -- a guard on duty or closed circuit television.
• You may need to periodically switch out the goods in your storage unit. Find out if the storage unit is accessible 24 hours or if you need to let the company know in advance if you plan to retrieve some or all of your goods.