As you make your way through the world and move around, you may find yourself in need of a storage unit. Fortunately, self-storage units are an affordable, viable option for any storage need. As long as you’re not planning to live there (which is illegal and dangerous in most places), getting a storage unit for your valuables is a practical move in general. When you’re hunting for the right storage facility, you’ll need to do some research and base your decision on several important factors. Here are five things to consider when renting a self-storage unit in California to help you organize your life today.

What You’re Storing

Choosing a storage unit largely depends on what you’re actually planning to keep in the storage unit. Are you planning to store a lot of big items such as furniture? What about storing appliances? Or Lamps? Storing a vehicle? Are you just leaving some boxes of various items in the unit for some time until you have a new place for them at home? The type of items that you’re storing are largely going to influence the size of the unit you get, whether it’s climate-controlled, and the cost of the unit itself. There are a few tips to keep in mind when you’re storing anything and making a decision about what type of self-storage to get.

Organization

Understanding and knowing how you’re going to store your possessions is also of incredible importance when it comes to selecting self-storage. Try to outline your plan for storage and how you’re going to stack your boxes/label boxes to maximize your organization. Also, keep in mind what you should and should not keep in a self-storage unit. It’s probably not a great idea to store anything that’s extremely valuable or sentimental just in case an unexpected accident or event causes damage to your unit. Ditto with extremely fragile, rare, or perishable items. To that end, you can also purchase insurance to cover those times but it isn’t strictly necessary (sometimes your homeowners' insurance may contain provisions for self-storage use, but it depends on a variety of factors). Self Storage is quite safe, but there’s nothing wrong with being a bit proactive when it comes to your possessions.

Size

One of the most critical things to know before investing in self-storage is the size you need. Units are usually available in myriad sizes from approximately closet-sized ( 5′ x 5′) to larger spaces with at least eight-foot ceilings (10′ x 25′) to vehicle storage units (20′ or more, although self-storage might be able to accommodate smaller vehicles in 17′ or larger units). When you’re uncertain, you can always measure things and use a handy storage size calculator online to help you figure out the best size for your storage unit.

Cost & Location

When it comes to storing your stuff, it’s better to have the unit located in a convenient location near you. If you’re residing in California and seeking self-storage, there are plenty of options available. But you may not know where to start. Depending on your city and zip code, an online storage finding search engine can help. For San Diego and its surrounding areas, for instance, you will probably find plenty of options from which to choose. To make the decision easier, you can check out reviews, ratings, costs, and other essential information to help you make your decision. Ultimately, finding reputable self-storage in San Diego is as easy as researching potential storage facilities in your area and seeing what they have to offer for your self storage needs.

Climate Control

Climate control is one of the nicer amenities available with self-storage these days. In a climate-controlled unit, the entire space stays between 55 – 88 degrees. At these temperatures, temperature-sensitive items can be kept in good condition. Items usually stored this way include:

  • Documents
  • Vinyl records
  • TV
  • Stereo
  • Consumer electronics
  • Wooden furniture
  • Musical instruments (like guitars)
  • Artwork

At the end of the day, protecting your possessions while in storage is a pretty big deal, so consider climate control when using self-storage to protect your things now and well into the future.