How Does Self Storage Work? A Guide for Newbies

How does one define ‘self storage’? In a nutshell, it’s a space you rent to store excess stuff that can’t be kept in your home for whatever reason. It’s like having a mini-garage or a secret lair just for your belongings. Think of it as a hotel room for your belongings without room service. A storage facility is like an expansive maze filled with rows and rows of storage units. It’s like a giant museum, but instead of fossils and artefacts, it’s people’s personal things and business’ items — more private, but with just as many stories to tell.

Let’s explore why people rent  self storage units, the different types of units (there are more than you think), and how you can get one that perfectly fits your needs.

Reasons People Use Self Storage

Too Much Stuff

Due to any number of reasons in life, we may find ourselves with an excess of fashionable and functional belongings. Whether you’re downsizing your home, clearing out the attic, or simply decluttering, renting a storage unit allows you to hold onto sentimental items and valuable possessions without overcrowding your living space.

Smoothening the Moving Process

Have you ever moved homes before? It’s a logistical nightmare. Using a storage unit as a temporary holding space for your furniture, appliances, and personal items reduces the stress of coordinating timelines and keeps your belongings safely stored until you’re ready to settle into your new space.

Storing Your Fun Items

Our passions can sometimes demand more room than we have available. Whether it’s your collection of vintage vinyl records, camping gear, or art supplies, a self storage unit will give you space to store and access your recreational items and equipment. This shelter for your passion projects will be a game changer!

Boosting Businesses

Entrepreneurs and small business owners often have to find space to store inventory, equipment, and essential documents. Renting a storage unit offers a cost-effective solution; you can expand your business without acquiring extra office space, which can be far more costly and admin-intensive.

Safeguarding Seasonal Stuff

Do you find yourself doing the shuffle dance with your seasonal items throughout the year? From winter speciality clothes to holiday-specific ornaments, a storage unit provides the much needed space for these items, thereby freeing up your closet space and keeping them in pristine condition year round.

Flexible Contracts and Clauses

One of the most underrated advantages of renting a storage unit is its flexibility. You have the freedom to choose the size of the unit based on your needs, and you can easily upgrade or reduce it as your needs evolve over time.

The Different Types of Self Storage

We know it seems like there should be just one “type” of self storage, albeit in differing sizes. But the uses for each unit can vary widely, so each type is designed with a different purpose in mind and fitted with the suitable amenities

Personal

Homeowners and residential citizens usually choose this kind of storage. It’s the most well-known type of storage, used to prevent clutter and provide space for excess belongings in your home.

Your standard day-to-day household items go here, including:

• Sentimental keepsakes and historic family items
• Bulky furniture
• Extra household appliances that are only occasionally needed
• Seasonal clothing and sports gear
• Speciality or hobby items that take up living space
• Extra vehicles your home doesn’t have space for

Business

For most businesses, space is a necessary commodity, and for others, it can be the vital lifeblood keeping it going. Some companies might only use self storage to keep the work area clear, while others might need it in their daily operations to properly manage their inventory

A self storage facility can offer businesses:

• Document storage and archiving of important documents (records, receipts, ledgers, contracts, etc.)
• Pallet storage for large amounts of inventory, preventing overflow and allowing your business to manage its wares efficiently
• Safe storage for tools, equipment and specialised gear that needs to be stored properly to prevent any damage
• Handling of your distribution requirements if you run an e-commerce business
• Storage for excessive office furniture or event-specific items not needed throughout the year

The Steps Needed To Book Your Self Storage Unit

If you’ve read this far and you’re convinced that a self storage unit is indeed the answer to your needs (personal or business) then the next few steps are very simple:

1) Choose your location:

View our website and choose your destination (Belfast or Lisburn). Each has different options and pricing.

2) Choose the size of your self storage unit

Your options include small (16–40 sq ft), medium (50–100 sq ft) and large (125–500 sq ft). If you’re unsure of how much space you’ll need, feel free to give a call to one of our self storage experts, who will happily offer expert advice:

Lisburn: 028 9266 4444

Belfast: 028 9083 7647

3) Input your details

Provide all your details in our form, and let us know when you’d like to move in your items and for how long you’d like to use our services (this is easily adjustable depending on your future needs).

4) Move in

After all the paperwork has been signed and you’re happy with your storage unit, you can move in your items on the agreed-upon date. If you need help with moving, packing supplies, or correctly storing items in your unit, our staff members are on hand to help however they can.

The Self Storage Centre has affordable and convenient self storage solutions for all your personal and business space needs. We offer the best in value, premium moving and packaging services, and the friendliest staff in the Belfast and Lisburn regions!