When you have to put your belongings in a self-storage unit, you will want to make sure that everything stays safe. You have two main concerns: 1) damage to your belongings and 2) theft. Before you place your belongings in a unit, you will want to make sure that you choose a facility that will help you in both cases.

Climate-Controlled Units

If you have sensitive electronics, fine art, or musical instruments, renting a unit that is open to the outdoors can cause damage. Humidity and dust can flow around the door. Humidity can cause wooden instruments to expand and contract, which will cause them to get out of tune. It can also cause metal instruments to corrode and art to degrade. Dust can settle through the vents in electronics and cause damage. In order to keep delicate belongings safe, you need to purchase a climate-controlled unit. Such a unit will have equipment to filter out dust, control the temperature, and regulate the humidity so that your belongings stay just the way you were when you put them in the unit. 

Security

Look for the following when you are analyzing the safety of a potential unit:

1. Cameras. A well-secured storage unit should have cameras placed so that they don't just cover the main gate but every location of the facility. This way, if these thieves do get past the main gate, they will still get caught on the cameras placed elsewhere in the facility. 

2. A Solid Wall. Facilities that are enclosed by a chain-link fence are susceptible to break in. A thief only has to cut the links with a bolt cutter to get in. On the other hand, a facility that is enclosed by a masonry wall will be much safer. 

3. Individual Alarms. The most modern facilities will have alarms placed on each storage locker. Inside the locker you will find a keypad so that whoever opens the locker will have to punch in the code in order to prevent the alarm from going off. 

Renting a storage facility is a good way to store seasonal items, yard equipment, or other extra items. Rather than base your choice of facility simply on proximity or price, you should consider what you will do to keep your belongings completely safe. After all, it isn't worth it to save money if you leave your belongings susceptible to the elements. It's worth it to pay a little extra money for a highly secure facility to keep your belongings safe.