Choose the best storage before you sign a storage rental agreement
Just like you want to hire the best moving company for packing services, renting a reliable storage facility is a process. First of all, ask yourself if the people around you used storage services lately. Ask them if they were satisfied with the unit they were storing their items in. Recommendations are the best way to be on the safe side when it comes to renting these units. If you have the time, go online and search the web. Truthfully, reviews and ratings are the second best thing after recommendations from people you know. Just watch out for the fake online reviews which can be easily spotted as they are praising the company a bit too much. And finally, compare the conditions that storage facilities are offering, narrow the choice down to 3 and then pay a visit to them.
Find the perfect storage unit size
Decide what type of storage unit you need
Prohibited items
- Pets and plants – Or any life organisms
- Flammable items – Hair sprays, aerosols, fireworks, guns, etc.
- Medicine
Visit the storage before renting it
In order to prevent any fraud or suspicious behavior, before you sign anything is important to check out the storage unit before renting it. When you arrive, ask the staff to show you the unit. And then, make sure that you will be storing your belongings in the same storage unit that you saw. Sometimes, they just show you a storage unit that is clean, and has no damage whatsoever, but store your items in another, not that good-looking unit. If you want to prevent it, specify that you want this exact unit to be yours. Then it will be easy for you to properly pack your things for storage and remain carefree.
Read the storage rental agreement carefully
Once you choose the right storage unit, focus on the rental agreement. You should demand to have everything that was promised to you on paper. Go through every section of the agreement carefully, and if you do not understand some point, ask for clarification. Especially focus on the payment section. See if there are some additional fees that you should pay. If you have insurance provided by the renting company, read every statement connected to it. If they do not offer the insurance policy, do not forget to buy it, as it will make your moving a lot less stressful. Getting the right insurance coverage is something that is really worth every penny. Finally, storage rental agreement should contain absolutely everything that you discussed with the staff.
What should your storage rental agreement contain
As we already mentioned, your storage rental agreement should have everything that you discussed about in writing. But if some of these things are missing it can be a sign for alert.
- Dates and contact information – These are essential, as they should specify the exact dates for your rent as well as the contact information in case of emergency.
- Price – If there are any discounts, include them. The same goes for additional fees.
- Visiting hours – It should specify when can you visit your storage units, as well as the working hours, meaning when the staff will be there.
- What happens if you do not pay – They have the right to sell your items at an auction if you do not pay on time, so make sure to find out what is the procedure.
Signing a storage rental agreement is very important and also very useful. Keep the agreement among your other important documents, and refer to it in case of any doubt. Good luck!
