Questions to Ask a Storage Facility

So, you're moving your office or family to a new location and you need to store some or all of your personal or business belongings for a while until you get settled into your residence. Don't just stumble through it without a plan, there are certain things you should be prepared to ask a prospective storage facility.
Visiting the facility is ideal, since you can inspect how well kept it is and get an idea of what kind of people manage the business. That’s not always possible in a move, so you may need to get your questions answered by phone.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of questions, so feel free to expand upon it with any concerns you may come up with on your own:

• Can I rent month-to-month? If so, how much notice do you require?

• What kind of security system do you have? Also, what do people need to get access to the storage units? (Not so much paying customers, but anyone who walks up to the facility.)

• Are the grounds patrolled by staff? If they so, how often?

• Are there smoke alarms? Is there a sprinkler system?

• What limitations, if any, do I have on access?

• Can you provide references (customer or professional)?

• What is your vacancy rate? (This might give an indication of how satisfied their customers are.)

• Have there been any break-ins? If so, ask for details? (This helps determine how secure the facility is.)

If you are able to inspect the facility in person before you make a final decision, here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Is the staff courteous and attentive to details?

• Are the grounds and inside the facility well taken care of?

• Are both the grounds and inside the facility well lit? (This is important for personal security if you visit at night and the security of your property.)

When it's all said and done, you want to feel confident that leaving your property in their trust and care of the storage facility is as safe and reliable as possible. If you come away satisfied by how these questions are answered, you should be good to go.