Top 10 Questions To Ask Before Renting A Storage Unit
If you’re thinking about renting a storage unit, we encourage you to ask these questions before you decide where to store your valuable possessions. This can help you avoid expensive and painful losses, not to mention misleading pricing. We also think that you will probably end up choosing us!
Customer Service
1. When you call, do you reach a professional manager physically at the facility, or a call center in another state? And is it actually a person at all? Many storage companies have replaced human staff with kiosks and AI agents – even during normal business hours. Before you store anything of value, make sure you’re talking to a real, accountable person who works at that location every day.
2. Does the company get strong reviews, and do those reviews mention long-term experience, not just move-in day? Most storage reviews are written in the first week. The problems show up later.
Security
3. Is the facility equipped with state-of-the-art security technology, including individual unit alarms, HD video monitors, and abundant cameras and lighting? And equally important, is a qualified manager present and actively monitoring the facility? Many storage companies are cutting on-site manager hours or shifting to remote management and kiosks to reduce costs. A camera that nobody is watching, an alarm that nobody responds to, and a gate that nobody monitors are of no benefit to you. They exist to reduce the company’s labor costs, not to protect your belongings. Security technology is only as good as the people behind it.
4. Is a manager physically present and monitoring the security system and cameras, and what is their protocol when a unit alarm or suspicious activity is reported?
5. Has the facility had any break-ins or theft in the past 12 months, and how were customers notified and supported? You can also check this with your local police department, and you might be surprised at what you find.
Maintenance
6. What does the facility do to prevent pests, not just treat them after the fact? Routine pest control servicing should be the bare minimum (though many storage companies don’t even offer that). The real question is whether the manager actively keeps food out of units, because no exterminator can compete with a food source. Ask whether the manager screens what customers are storing, enforces a no-food policy, and checks in during move-in.
7. How does the facility detect and prevent leaks and moisture before they damage stored belongings? Do they do regular roof inspections? Do they have maintenance on staff to quickly address any concerns? Water damage can come from the roof, from the ground, or from cracks in the walls and foundation, and a facility without an attentive on-site manager may not catch it until it’s too late.
Honest Pricing
8. Is the quoted rate the true all-in price, with no deposits, admin fees, or move-in charges added at signing? Is insurance included or a separate add-on fee? And does the company charge long-term customers more than new ones? Many large storage companies raise rates on existing customers while offering low introductory rates to new ones. The longer you stay, the more you pay. Ask directly: will my rate ever exceed what a new customer pays for the same unit?
9. Many large storage companies raise rates on existing customers every 2-3 months—often by as much as 40%-50% each time. What is the facility’s track record on rate increases, how often do they occur, by how much, and is there a limit? Ask for the average rate increase applied to existing customers over the past 12 months. A company confident in its pricing will answer this directly. One that isn’t, won’t.
10. If a move-in special is offered, does it cover a full 30 days, and what is the standard rate when it expires? Get both numbers before you sign.