When it comes to renting out a long-term storage unit, those who have not been through the process face quite a few questions. These include how much space do I need? How long can I rent out a storage unit? Is there a minimum rental period? How does it work?

Queries like these and many others will naturally come to your mind if you are renting a storage unit for the first time. In such a case, this guide is aimed at letting you know everything you need to know about storage units before you get one for yourself! 

Can you rent a storage unit for a month?

Although it depends on the self storage outlet as every company has its own minimum rental period, but usually, you can easily rent out a storage unit for as low as one week. So, if you are looking to rent a storage unit for a month, that should not be an issue. 

However, it is worth noticing that the rent prices becoming lower if you rent a long-term storage unit. 

Just to give you an example, if you are choosing a long-term storage unit from STORED, you can save 15% off the monthly rent price easily. 

Companies that charge weekly allow you to rent storage units on a short-term basis, while companies charging monthly will require a month's contract at least. 

What makes an ideal self storage unit?

With a lot of storage companies offering long term storage units, it becomes tough to pick the best self-storage outlet out of them all, especially for someone who is in it for the first time. There is much more to an ideal long term storage unit than just safety. 

Accessibility: The main thing is accessibility. Some notable storage companies such as STORED do not allow you to personally access your storage unit. Instead, they have a convenient delivery system and will deliver your required items right at your doorstep when needed. 

Before renting, one needs to make sure that either you can access your long-term storage unit yourself or the self storage outlet can deliver your belongings to you when needed. Accessibility should be a main concern when choosing a self-storage outlet. 

Security: Another critical factor is security. Safety is of the utmost concern. Different outlets provide different security features to ensure that your belongings remain safe from theft or any accident. 

STORED storage services offer 24/7 CCTV surveillance and alarms monitored by a professional storage company with padlocks on the doors of storage units. 

There is only team access to the storage facilities so you can ensure that all your belongings are perfectly safe. 

On the other hand, Big Yellow Storage Company has a dual alarm system coupled with a unique PIN code entrance and 24/7 CCTV surveillance. 

Location: Though it may not seem important at first, the location of the self storage outlet should be paid attention to when selecting a long-term storage unit. 

Even if you are keeping your rarely used items inside the storage unit, you do not want to be traveling to another city to pick them up if need be. 

At the same time, a self storage outlet located near the city center is probably going to cost you a lot more than a similar outlet situated in the outskirts of the city. Therefore, the convenience of access is going to come at a slightly higher cost. 

You need to look for the perfect balance between convenience and budget to find the ideal long term storage unit for you! 

Big companies such as STORED, Big Yellow, or Shurgard storage have multiple self storage outlet within major cities and all around the UK, so if you plan on using services of either one, balancing the price and convenience ratio will not be much of a problem. 

What size storage unit do you need?

If you do not know whether you can rent out a storage unit for a month or not, you will probably also be worried about determining the right-sized storage unit to fit your belongings. 

Storage units do come in a variety of sizes; however, they are not customizable unless very big. Smaller-sized units are of fixed size, and you need to decide what size long term storage unit you are going to rent out based on the prices and what you want to keep in there.   

Small 5*5 sq. ft. is an ideal size if you want to store items that can easily fit inside the closet of your room such as your clothes or a couple of packing boxes. 

Anything bigger than that, you need to move on to the next size that is 5*10 sq. ft. It is an ideal space for a student to keep their personal belongings, a queen-sized mattress, or a couch, etc. 

Storage units bigger than that such as 5*15 and 10*10 sq. ft. are more suitable for small families moving their homes as they are spacious enough to store furniture, daily use appliances, dressers, etc. 

What do storage companies offer?

Like everything else, each storage company offers a particular set of services to its customers. 

Even though the name self storage indicates that you will have to do everything yourself, some outlets such as STORED go the extra mile and offer additional services to further facilitate their customers. 

STORED's services are much better than the other self storage companies. STORED offers an all-in-one solution in which all you have to do is pick up the phone and book the storage unit. 

Then, their team will arrive at your doorstep with a moving van to pick up your belongings and transport them to your unit. They will safely unload everything there. 

Moreover, your required items will be transported back to your doorstep when you need them. Your collection fee is included in your package and returns are priced very reasonably. 

You will also save money if opting for a long-term storage unit, i.e., greater than six months.  

Other storage companies such as Big Yellow self storage do not offer such additional services. Instead, you need to book a unit, pack all your stuff, move it into your storage unit, and access it all by yourself.