Guide to Pricing and Costs of Self-Storage Companies

Evaluate the pricing and costs of self-storage companies to make an informed decision

By Angela Roe, Freelance Writer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look at the pricing options for small storage rentals

Recognize that small storage units are often compared to the size of an average hall closet. The price you can expect to pay for small units varies from region to region but averages about $50 per month.

I recommend: U Store It offers small self storage units for less than $55 per month. The sizes you can expect for this price range include 4-by-6 and 4-by-8 units either climate controlled or not, and nonclimate controlled 6-by-10 units. Storage Deluxe specializes in small storage units with prices that begin at $1 per day for a 5-by-5 unit.

Find out the fees for medium-sized business storage

Medium-sized storage units will store the belongings from an average two- to three-bedroom home. You can expect to pay between $100 and $200 per month for this size storage unit.

I recommend: EZ Storage provides storage space in 5-by-10 to 10-by-12 sizes for between $100 and $200 per month. Security Public Storage has units that are 5-by-10 to 10-by-10 for between $50 and $100 per month.

Calculate the fees associated with large self-storage units

Larger storage units are comparable to a three- to five-bedroom home and can run from $100 to $500 a month. The difference in price is largely due to the region of the country and the number of larger spaced units available for rent. Most companies find it more profitable to rent several small or medium-sized units rather than renting a lower number of larger units for more money.

I recommend: A-1 Self Storage provides large storage units that range in price from $300 to $550 for units that are 10-by-30 and 11-by-44. Storage Kings has large storage units in the price range of $150 to $200 for 10-by-20 and 10-by-30 units.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you'll be moving things in and out of your commercial storage space, consider looking for indoor self storage space that allows you to pull your vehicle inside for protected loading and unloading. Take into account the extra price of such access to determine if it's worth the cost.

Guide to Self-Storage Companies

Consider using self-storage space to clear out your home or office

By Michael Berman

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a reliable self-storage company near you

With the prevalence of self-storage facilities, how do you know which one is right for you? There are a few tools on the Internet you can use to help choose the right one for your business storage.

I recommend: Search for self-storage companies in your area by going to websites such as SelfStorage.com or consider members of The Self-Storage Association.

Consider using one of the national storage rental companies

The larger, national self-storage companies rely on their reputations to survive.

I recommend: Use a national self-storage company such as Westy, Public Storage or ExtraSpace Storage. All of these facilities offer safe, secure commercial storage units of various sizes with adequate access for trucks.

Look for deals in storage rentals

Some self-storage companies can offer you a free month's rent or other benefits if you use them.

I recommend: Among self-storage facilities offering extra benefits, such as a free month of storage and individually alarmed storage space, are SafeGuard and ExtraSpace Storage.

Use self-storage facilities offered by your truck rental company

It may be more convenient for you to use the company that's renting you a truck to haul your belongings to storage.

I recommend: U-Haul is a national company offering self-storage facilities. Others regional companies include Leap Frog in Georgia, Access Self Storage in Texas and Eastern Self-Storage in Florida.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Read the contract. Look for hidden fees, insurance caveats and other inconsistencies that may end up costing you more money when you're ready to move your goods to another location.
• •  Check to see if the self-storage facility has adequate access for the vehicle you're using to haul your items.
• •  Estimate the replacement value of every item you're storing, and make sure they're adequately insured in case they're damaged.
• •  Check to see if the facility offers free use of machinery, such as hand carts or dollies, to move your items.

Guide to Making the Most of Self-Storage Companies

Evaluate self-storage companies to determine if self-storage is an option for your business

By Angela Roe, Freelance Writer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Save money and time with a self storage business that has pickup options

Calculate the savings you'll see by using self storage companies that offer pickup services. Look for companies that bring storage containers to your place of business and await your call to transport that container to your individual storage unit.

I recommend: Public Storage offers pickup service so you can pack up your excess inventory, and the company stores it in your self storage unit for you. Units delivers storage containers to your location for you to fill. Once full, give them a call and they pick it up and store it for you in your unit.

Consider self-storage facilities with 24-hour access

In reality you may never need to access a specific stored file in the wee hours of the morning, but there may be times when you need to replace a specific piece of equipment in your office or warehouse after regular working hours. Knowing you can access the items you store when it's convenient to you rather than convenient to the facility operators could be a determining factor in your choice of commercial storage companies.

I recommend: Climate Control Self Storage offers you 24-hour access to your storage unit so you can get to your inventory whenever you need to. Best Buy Self Storage allows you 24-hour access to your unit through keypad technology.

Evaluate climate-controlled self-storage facilities

Take a look at the items you'll be storing, and recognize that specific things like archived files need to be stored in climate-controlled environments. Discuss your idea of climate control with the storage facility, and make sure you agree on what that means before you make a final decision.

I recommend: ABC Storage offers storage units that are entirely enclosed. Moving trucks can be pulled inside to allow loading and unloading in comfort regardless of exterior weather conditions. ClimaStor provides indoor storage units suitable for storing files, papers and equipment that require climate control.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider the convenience of the location of your unit when you're considering commercial storage options for your excess inventory. While you may not need to access your belongings frequently, being able to have that access when it's critical may be a determining factor as to which self storage space company you choose to do business with.
• •  Prepare to avoid the loss of items stored in commercial storage units by recognizing that unpaid bills lead to items being auctioned off. Create a chain of command to ensure rental bills are paid in full and on time to avoid this situation.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Climate controlled storage

Certain items, such as documents, furs and antiques should be stored in a climate controlled storage facility. This means that the company monitors the temperature in the storage area so that it is never too hot or too cold.

I recommend: Extra Space Storage describes why you may need a climate controlled storage space.

Vertical storage

Self storage areas are typically one large, empty space. Installing vertical storage shelves in your unit can help you to store more items in a more organized fashion.

I recommend: Learn about vertical storage from Diamond Phoenix.

5 X 10

The size of the storage unit is represented in feet and is shown as 5 X 10. This means that the storage area is five feet by ten feet. Other sizes may be larger, such as 20 X 40.

I recommend: Discover the different sizes of storage units at U Store It.

Drive up access

If you have large, bulky items, you probably want a storage container that has drive up access. This means that you'll be able to pull your truck directly up to the storage space to make for easier loading and unloading.

I recommend: See a picture of storage units with drive up access at Tyler Self Storage.

Portable storage

If a company offers portable storage, it means that they will deliver a container to your office. Once you've filled it with your items, the company will come back to pick it up. Later, you can have it delivered to the same location or a different location.

I recommend: Units describes their portable storage units.

Storage insurance

You shouldn't assume that your items are covered by the storage facility's insurance. Many times, they are not. If the items you are storing are valuable, you should consider purchasing storage insurance to protect against any damage.

I recommend: The Guide to Self Storage discusses storage insurance.