So many possessions, so little room.
Whether you’re moving to smaller quarters, you’ve inherited some enormous antiques, or you’re tired of illegally parking your Harley on the sidewalk, you may be in the market for some place to store your things.
If you’re looking for a place to stash just a few seldom-used articles like folding chairs, party supplies and the rollaway, or seasonal items (such as skis, bicycle, fishing equipment, kayak and paddles and/or the Christmas tree and decorations), you may want to begin your search with your building manager or landlord.
Most larger buildings and complexes have storage lockers, which are either assigned with your lease or are available for an additional fee. They can hold a surprising amount, if you pack efficiently, and you can often rent more than one, if you need extra space. Usually, you will be expected to provide your own lock and key.
But, the only additional security for these spaces will most often be the conventional building and grounds security. Your landlord or management firm will not be responsible for any losses, so you won’t want to store anything of great value there.
In smaller buildings, you can sometimes persuade your landlord to let you stack your surplus possessions in an unused corner of the basement. However, you will have even less security because such space won’t be contained and whatever you place there will be open to anybody who happens to have access to the basement.
For whole rooms of furniture and household goods, for valuable items and for pieces that require special climatic conditions for storage, a professional storage facility is probably the answer.
If you’re going to be storing all your furnishings for a short period (until your new home is ready for occupancy, for instance), check with your moving company. Many major companies will store your goods for up to a month. They just off-load all of your things, still packed or wrapped in protective padding, into one of their warehouse spaces and then reload and deliver them when you’re ready for them.
A number of truck rental companies offer similar temporary storage, except you do most of the work. These companies will also store your things for longer periods on a lease (or monthly rate) basis.
If you aren’t using a moving company or a rental truck or, if you need more extended storage for some, or all, of your possessions, you’ll need to check out some of the other storage facilities in the area. There are a lot of them listed in the Yellow Pages, some with large display ads highlighting their services. After selecting two or three that are conveniently located and offer the type of storage you require, you’ll need to make an on-site inspection and talk with the facility manager to get the best possible deal and make sure everything is satisfactory before making a commitment.
There are several types of public storage available, ranging from basic warehouse or garage-type structures divided into various sized interior spaces, which may or may not be climate-controlled, to “conversions,” older multi-storied buildings that have been converted into storage spaces to meet a variety of specific requirements. For big, weather-resistant items such as boats and RVs, you may choose a simple outdoor, parking lot storage slot.
Storage Management Inc. owns the Downtown Lock Box in the South Loop. It is a converted building featuring freight elevators and indoor loading docks.
The first thing people should check when they are investigating a storage facility, says general manager James Brill, is the security. Is it fully alarmed and monitored at all times? Is there a manager or attendant on premises to keep an eye on things, answer questions and provide assistance when it’s open? Is the building fire-resistant? Is it equipped with a sprinkler system?
You should also make sure that the heat, humidity and air conditioning are appropriate for the items you’re storing, particularly if you’re storing art objects or antiques.
According to Brill, it isn’t a good idea to store even ordinary furniture in a facility without climate control. He says the best temperature range for furniture is 40 to 60 degrees.
“Excessive heat will dry out furniture,” he says, “and excessive humidity will cause warping and laminated pieces may separate.
“You especially wouldn’t want to store your grandmother’s antique bedroom set in an uncontrolled environment.”
Brill suggests you check storage facilities for cleanliness and inquire about what sort of pest control they have.
While security and environmental conditions are certainly of primary importance when selecting off-site storage space, most of us will be equally concerned about the cost. Brill says his company charges by the cubic foot, rather than the square foot, because the ceiling height varies considerably with the unit.
He says a 20-by-24-foot space will store five to six rooms of furniture, depending on the way it is packed, and would rent for around $120 a month.
He points out that, if the customer doesn’t need periodic access (as with seasonal items such as sports equipment or Christmas decorations), he or she can pack more tightly and so get more items into the allotted space.
“Our biggest seller is the 400-cubic-foot space, (5 by 10 with 8-foot ceiling), which rents for $61 per month,” he says. “The majority of our customers rent by the month but an annual lease is ideal for any facility, so the customer who is willing to sign for a year will usually get a gratifying discount.”
Storage USA rents space throughout the U.S., but the format varies from facility to facility. Their storage center near the Brickyard Mall on Chicago’s Northwest Side is located on a four-acre lot. A warehouse-style building, containing spaces of various sizes, sits in the center, surrounded by outdoor storage slots for cars, boats and RVs. The property is fenced and customers gain access through an electronically controlled gate by punching in special code numbers. Individual interior spaces are further secured by private locks.
While the majority of the boats, RVs and cars at Storage USA are assigned to outdoor spaces, some customers prefer indoor storage, says John Butt, who manages the facility and lives on the premises.
“If your boat, RV or car has leather seats or appointments, you might want to store it in a climate-controlled space,” he says. “Climate control is also important if your vehicle has a CD or tape player, especially if you’re storing CDs or cassettes with it. Hot sun or cold weather can be very damaging to those items.”
Most facilities are self-service but many of them have people to assist if you need help. A few will do all the unloading, packing and storing for you. Some will accept deliveries for you. Some loading docks are indoors or under cover and protected from the weather; some aren’t.
Some places are open 24 hours a day throughout the year but most have specific hours. In some instances, you may find that you’ll be charged an in-and-out fee each time you add or remove an item. Some companies, like Storage Management, offer additional storage-related services as well, such as lock boxes, postal boxes, messenger service, packing and shipping and even voice mail.
You may be concerned about insurance. Most companies will provide a special policy (or direct you to a company that will). However, Butt says extra insurance may not be necessary because your homeowner’s or renter’s policy often covers your belongings without it. Better check to be sure, though.
