What is Self Storage?

Self-Storage is exactly what it is called, a storage facility which is managed by you. The owner or manager of the self-storage facility does not control any aspects of how the storage unit is utilised with regard to packing or who you allow access.

A self-storage unit differs from a warehouse in that employees of the self storage facility do not have free access to the contents of your unit. Delivery to, and removal of items from the self storage unit is your responsibility.

We took the time to ask ourselves a few questions and recommend that you do the same. We asked ourselves why we needed the self storage unit and what we from both the unit and the facility.

Selecting a storage facility

We found that self storage would be a great solution for us as private individuals but there are definitely some advantages for someone with commercial requirements. Whatever your needs we think you will agree that there are four main requirements to look for when deciding on a self storage facility.

Space

• Families expand and more room is needed or your paperwork has gotten too much and can't be thrown away to make room for more. What you need is space. Renting a self storage unit offers you a way to increase space in your office or at home.

Security (What kind of security does the self storage facility offer? )

• Is controlled access evident, and to what degree is it controlled? It should not be possible for anyone to just walk in off the street.
  
• How are the storage units placed? Are they outdoors with an external easily reached door or are the units in a warehouse like structure?
  
• Is the facility properly maintained? The doors and roof should not be rusted at all, this creates weak points and diminishes the security of the storage unit.
  
• Are the units or the facility fenced?
  
• Are there any guards patrolling?

Accessibility

Accessibility is twofold:

1. You may need regular access to your property once you have stored it, so the proximity of the self storage facility is definitely a factor.
2. You might not be a regular visitor to your storage unit but when you need access to your belongings, you do not want to have to indulge in endless logistics, but rather arrive when you need to and not have to wait for someone to allow you access to what is yours.

Price

As with anything today, price is always a factor:

• The price you are charged for the self storage unit will chiefly be determined by the cost per square meter,
  
• followed by location and
  
• the degree of security on offer.
  
• If you need to store items of a lower value because you can not get rid of them for a period of time security will not be too much of a factor, possibly lowering the cost of the unit.
  
• However if you are looking to store family heirlooms you may want to reconsider your options.

And then there was the growth of self-storage on the East Rand