Moving Out: Finding a Storage Solution

When you find that your garage can no longer fit your car or your closets cannot always close without some creative rearrangement of its contents and you know that you want to keep your stuff, it is time to consider the use of a self-storage facility. Since you already know to find a facility that is near your home, with good prices and convenient hours, it is time to be sure that you similarly understand everything that you are agreeing to when you sign that contract.

#1-What Can You Use The Unit For?

It is important to note that although everyone knows you cannot live or reside in the unit, other terms of your stay may be limited as well. For instance, it is not unusual to plan to use a storage the unit to showcase or sell certain items, like old furniture or new art. Your ability to do so may be less than what you hope as some states could consider that to be running a business out of a facility that has not been rated as such. 

The same is also true if the new unit, with its wide open doors and open spaces, looks like a great place for a temporary art studio. You may be prohibited from making a mess and the fumes from man y of the more common paints could disturb other customers, so that could easily be prohibited as well.

#2-What Must You Do To Keep The Unit Safe?

Just as your self-storage must be kept clean for future users, its safety is also paramount. If an emergency happens to a nearby room, the manager may need to enter the premises and make repairs. As a result, you should verify if you are allowed to completely fill the room, from one wall to another and floor to ceiling, or if you must allow clearance.

Laws change from one area to another, so make sure that your plans for the space within the room and the way that the contents are placed are equally appropriate if you move.

#3-What About Insurance?

The chances are that if you like your stuff enough to move it from your home, put it into a rented unit and return to it from time to time, you will also want it back later on. Although there may be insurance on the contents, provided by the facility, it is usually not a large amount and is not required in every state.

As a result, it may be worth your time to consider obtaining extra insurance from the self-storage facility. As part of that, be sure to keep track of receipts for any valuable items and list them all clearly, so if the worst happens, you can replace your big screen television or amazing speakers.

In conclusion, it is a good idea to consider the legal ramifications of any contract before you sign it, even one that seems as simple as storage facility agreement. In addition, since laws can vary from tremendously from one area to another, it is also important to be sure that you are familiar with any differing laws in your new area the first time you rent a storage unit there.