Well I am about to rent a storage unit for the first time, just wondering if anybody has had experiences good or bad renting them and any advice to give?

Not sure if it's necessary, but I'm leaning toward paying extra for a climate controlled unit as I will have some electronics, clothes, papers and photos that I wouldn't want damaged by heat, humidity or sub-freezing temperatures.

Is it really necessary to keep everything off the ground by using pallets or something?

How safe are these units? I'm getting a disc lock which I've been told is harder to open with bolt cutters.

I know these rental places are notorious for raising the monthly rates after you've moved stuff in, but the places I've called said they won't raise the rates for at least 5 months.

I would say ask yourself: is this stuff really woth it? how long have you had it without using it? And how long will it be in storage? Add up the cost and think about it

Not worth the headache and the cost.

I'm not sure where you live, but there were two problems I faced when I've gotten storage units. The first is dust. Be prepared by having everything wrapped and in boxes. Otherwise, just "dust blowing around in the wind outside" seems to seep through the doors and walls of these places. The other problem I had was with mice! They had eaten into the underside of my couch and made nests in there. The couch had to be thrown out, of course, because they had chewed up the cushions and deficated in the underside. My advice, if possible for you to do so, would be to seek an "indoor" storage facility. Where I live now, they have indoor units that look similar to highrise apartments. You use elevators to go to your floor, they open up into a hall corridor, and your unit is one that is inside, temperature controlled, and free of many elements that can wreck havoc on things if stored in the outdoor/garage types. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice everyone. I need to get a storage unit because I'm moving, but not sure where I'll be settling. Will probably take 3-6 months before I get settled and can get my stuff out of storage. Most of it is metal or will be in plastic bins, but I was thinking of storing my mattress/box spring too. I hadn't thought about mice and insects, that might make me change my mind about the bed set.

Leaning toward a climate controlled first floor indoor unit.

It depends on how much you value the stuff and if you will be disciplined enough to keep up the payments. I rented a storage unit to store some old furniture that I intended to have refinished later. Long story short, I missed a few monthly payments and ended up being locked out of the facility and had to pay even more money to get back in. I ended up losing the stuff because I decided it just wasn't worth keeping it and paying $100 a month to store it. Do you ever watch any of those TV shows like Storage Wars? There are folks who make a living buying abandoned storage units and the contents, and sometimes they hit pay dirt. So unless you're willing to be quite diligent in upkeep, I wouldn't advise it. Just keep your stuff in your basement or somewhere where you have complete control. But if you do decide to store it, use those plastic storage containers instead of cardboard boxes to keep out dust and varmits. And if you have expensive electronics and such, opt for the climate controlled facility.

Pokeno4Money said:

Thanks for the advice everyone. I need to get a storage unit because I'm moving, but not sure where I'll be settling. Will probably take 3-6 months before I get settled and can get my stuff out of storage. Most of it is metal or will be in plastic bins, but I was thinking of storing my mattress/box spring too. I hadn't thought about mice and insects, that might make me change my mind about the bed set.

Leaning toward a climate controlled first floor indoor unit.

When someone is moving and has valuables that would cost too much to replace or that have a personal value (photos, etc.) that can't be replaced, that is the only reason to rent a storage unit IMO.

Shyra said:

It depends on how much you value the stuff and if you will be disciplined enough to keep up the payments. I rented a storage unit to store some old furniture that I intended to have refinished later. Long story short, I missed a few monthly payments and ended up being locked out of the facility and had to pay even more money to get back in. I ended up losing the stuff because I decided it just wasn't worth keeping it and paying $100 a month to store it. Do you ever watch any of those TV shows like Storage Wars? There are folks who make a living buying abandoned storage units and the contents, and sometimes they hit pay dirt. So unless you're willing to be quite diligent in upkeep, I wouldn't advise it. Just keep your stuff in your basement or somewhere where you have complete control. But if you do decide to store it, use those plastic storage containers instead of cardboard boxes to keep out dust and varmits. And if you have expensive electronics and such, opt for the climate controlled facility.

Yes I have seen those "storage wars" shows, they are a trip! Most of the stuff I'm storing will be in those plastic containers. It doesn't have much material value, but lots of sentimental value.

purplethunder3121 said:

Pokeno4Money said:

Thanks for the advice everyone. I need to get a storage unit because I'm moving, but not sure where I'll be settling. Will probably take 3-6 months before I get settled and can get my stuff out of storage. Most of it is metal or will be in plastic bins, but I was thinking of storing my mattress/box spring too. I hadn't thought about mice and insects, that might make me change my mind about the bed set.

Leaning toward a climate controlled first floor indoor unit.

When someone is moving and has valuables that would cost too much to replace or that have a personal value (photos, etc.) that can't be replaced, that is the only reason to rent a storage unit IMO.

I agree. I've sold most of my furniture and thrown out a lot of stuff because the cost of storing and then moving it would be just as expensive as replacing it.

Pokeno4Money said:

purplethunder3121 said:

When someone is moving and has valuables that would cost too much to replace or that have a personal value (photos, etc.) that can't be replaced, that is the only reason to rent a storage unit IMO.

I agree. I've sold most of my furniture and thrown out a lot of stuff because the cost of storing and then moving it would be just as expensive as replacing it.

I just moved to a smaller apartment a year ago and my sister asked me if I had stuff in storage that she had seen in my bigger apartment. I said, "Are you kidding?! I got rid of a bunch of stuff. Too expensive. This is it!"

Yup to all the advice so far.

Pokeno4Money said:

Thanks for the advice everyone. I need to get a storage unit because I'm moving, but not sure where I'll be settling. Will probably take 3-6 months before I get settled and can get my stuff out of storage. Most of it is metal or will be in plastic bins, but I was thinking of storing my mattress/box spring too. I hadn't thought about mice and insects, that might make me change my mind about the bed set.

Leaning toward a climate controlled first floor indoor unit.

i had the experience of renting a storage unit. i had over a thousand vinyl records. i wrapped them all in heavy plastic.

the best type of plastic for storage is plastic paint tarps (some call them drop cloths).

anyway i cut them into appropiate size and wrapped the vinyls in groups of 30count.

as far as your matresses, i'd use the same type of plastic and good tape to wrap them. because the dust and dust mites will infiltrate.

12 pack Plastic Drop Cloths (comman: 9ft x 12ft)

(not an advertisement - image used for a point of focus) you can get them at places like home depot, lowes, orchard supply ( or even Walmart - not sure how large walmart sizes)

the best type of tape IMO is a good clear packing tape.

be sure to double tape.

i know it sounds tidious but you will appreciate the time you take to make sure your items are protected from dust, mites and weather. (most of the storage units seem well protected from weather eliments. but IMO it's better to be safe that sorry)

(i'm a person who will wrap anything i feel i will be damaged or contaminted during storage)

hope this info is of help to you.

free2bfreeda said:

Pokeno4Money said:

Thanks for the advice everyone. I need to get a storage unit because I'm moving, but not sure where I'll be settling. Will probably take 3-6 months before I get settled and can get my stuff out of storage. Most of it is metal or will be in plastic bins, but I was thinking of storing my mattress/box spring too. I hadn't thought about mice and insects, that might make me change my mind about the bed set.

Leaning toward a climate controlled first floor indoor unit.

i had the experience of renting a storage unit. i had over a thousand vinyl records. i wrapped them all in heavy plastic.

the best type of plastic for storage is plastic paint tarps (some call them drop cloths).

anyway i cut them into appropiate size and wrapped the vinyls in groups of 30count.

as far as your matresses, i'd use the same type of plastic and good tape to wrap them. because the dust and dust mites will infiltrate.

12 pack Plastic Drop Cloths (comman: 9ft x 12ft)

(not an advertisement - image used for a point of focus) you can get them at places like home depot, lowes, orchard supply ( or even Walmart - not sure how large walmart sizes)

the best type of tape IMO is a good clear packing tape.

be sure to double tape.

i know it sounds tidious but you will appreciate the time you take to make sure your items are protected from dust, mites and weather. (most of the storage units seem well protected from weather eliments. but IMO it's better to be safe that sorry)

(i'm a person who will wrap anything i feel i will be damaged or contaminted during storage)

hope this info is of help to you.

It's definitely helpful, thank you.

I am astounded as to the THOUSANDS of storage facilities that popped up on Long Island seemingly overnight.

Where did people store their crap beforehand?

PurpleJedi said:

I am astounded as to the THOUSANDS of storage facilities that popped up on Long Island seemingly overnight.

Where did people store their crap beforehand?

Unless, you are moving temporally and need to store it. Why do it? Seems if you are storing it and not using it, why keep it? I am currently storing some furniture in my house for my Mom, while she attempts to sale it. (So, she won't have to pay for storage.)

Dalia11 said:

At least he learned a lesson. To be cautious, keep records, copies of payments and so on. [Edited 2/3/15 18:26pm]

Yeah that's good advice, I plan to list everything that I store in the unit and take lots of pictures.

Well my first experience with a storage unit place hasn't been great. I found out they don't supply electricity, even though there's a light in the ceiling with a bulb screwed in. So how do I see what the hell I'm looking at? Flashlights, they said. Well this place was by far the least expensive so I guess I'll deal with it.

And oh yeah, my 10 x 10 unit I had selected looked small to me ... so I came back with a tape measure ... yup, 10 x 8 1/2 ... advertised sizes are "estimated" they said ... so I changed to a 10 x 20 which cost a little less because it's not climate control. It's an indoor unit surrounded by dozens of other units, so I'm not worried about climate. Hopefully in 4 months I'll be outta there.