Many people get overwhelmed when renting a storage unit. Here are some helpful tips on how to rent a storage unit.

Decide on the Type of Storage Unit You Need

Take a look at the things you plan to put into storage. You may already have an idea of the size of the storage unit you want to rent, but keep in mind that you don't want to just rent a storage unit that will fit all of your items, you want a unit where you can fit yourself inside with a little room to work. If you ever want to be able to get your items out, you don't want to pack your storage space wall to wall, floor to ceiling. Many people get the smallest possible unit they can get to save money, and then wind up having to empty half of it to get to a box that's in the back.

Do Your Homework

Now we're going to focus on how you can find storage buildings as opposed to at-home storage boxes sealed boxes that you can't access when you want to go get your Christmas lights. First, don't get stuck in the storage facility closest to your home. Here are some things to do before you even pick up the phone.

Don't get stuck on location.

There's no faster way to find yourself storing your precious memories in a facility that sucks than to get stuck working with the one that just happens to be closest to you or cheapest in your community. Cast your net wide enough so you have a good handful of options that you can investigate.

Check the reviews.

Look up the storage facility on Google or Facebook. You want to take reviews with a grain of salt, but if they're all bad or there's a recurring theme, you may want to steer clear. The reviews can also give you some insight into what you may want to keep an eye out for if you go visit the storage facility.  Also, don’t be afraid to ask for references from previous tenants from the Storage Management team.  They should be able to provide numerous references from past tenants to alleviate any concerns that you may have.

Go Visit and Ask Questions

Now that you know what you're looking for and you have a few options, it's time to take a look at the storage locations you're considering. Once you walk through the door, don't be pressured to sign on the dotted line right away, even if the property management tries to tell you that units are limited. Most companies will let you at least hold a unit overnight so you can think it over. Make the most of your visit by looking around and asking questions instead.

Ask the property management if you can see the unit you would actually get. This, or at least a unit on the same floor or in the same area. Some storage facilities will show you a clean, 3rd-floor unit but actually rent you a dirty, bug-infested basement one, so be assertive if you have to so you can see a unit representative of the one you'll actually sign for.

Find out what happens if you miss or are late on a payment. In many places, storage units aren't treated like apartments. On the first day of the month, your rent is automatically late. Grace periods vary by the company or even by the state, and in some cases even being a few days late with your payment means your unit's contents can be auctioned off to the highest bidder at a wholesale auction. The last storage unit I rented gave me that scare tactic and reminded me that I should always be timely or else the unit would be scheduled for auction and I would incur daily late fees. Make sure you know what your storage unit's policy is before you're stuck trying to do a wire transfer or pay online because you left town without dropping off a check.

Once you've seen the unit you would get and you have a good understanding of what you'd be getting into, ask the property manager if you can put the unit on hold if you like what you see. They may or may not be able to, but don't fall for high-pressure tactics. Even if you can't hold the unit, get a business card so you get back in touch with the person you met.

Most importantly, you want to give your business and your trusted possessions to someone who makes you feel important and gives you a sense of ease.

Hopefully, this helps you to find the perfect storage unit possible, and hopefully, that storage unit is ours at www.TSMRStorage.com.