How Secure Are Your Belongings in Storage Units?

People often ask how secure their belongings really are in self storage. It’s a great question, especially if you’re thinking of storing your stuff for any length of time. The answer to that question has two parts. First, you’ll need to find out about the premise security employed by your self storage provider. The second part is really up to you.

Let’s talk about that first part for a moment. When you bring your stuff to one of our eight public storage locations in Lawton, Duncan, Chickasha, Norman, Newcastle, or Moore, Storage ‘R’ Us does everything in our power to keep it safe. That means employing 24-hour video surveillance using digitally recorded cameras, security lighting all over the property, computer-controlled access, fenced and walled perimeters, electronic gate access for those who need to get to their stuff overnight, on-site management, and more. These are all premise security features that you’ll find at the best self storage locations, including those managed by Storage ‘R’ Us.

At the end of the day, though, there’s only so much that your self storage provider can do. The rest is up to you. Is your stuff packed securely? Is it protected with a good lock? Is it insured? These are all things that you can do to help keep your stuff as secure as possible when you’re putting it into Lawton storage. After all, “secure” means more than just protected from theft. It means that your objects are stored in such a way that they won’t become damaged or degraded over time, too.

Here are some tips on how to use self storage so that your items are as secure as possible.

Keep the Storage Office Number Handy. In the old days, we had a list of important numbers tacked up by the phone. These days, we usually keep those numbers in our phones themselves. Wherever you keep that list of numbers, though, make sure that you can call the storage facility quickly and easily so you can get help when you need it.

Pack Wisely. Heavier and bigger items go on the bottom. Fill boxes with similar stuff. Wrap breakable things in protective cushioning. Employ garment boxes or other storage solutions as needed. Packing your stuff securely will help prevent it from becoming damaged when it’s being moved or when you need to get something out of storage.

Elevate Your Stored Items. Pallets can help keep your belongings up off the floor, which helps to protect them against moisture and pests. They’ll also be easier to reach when you need something.

Limit Who Has Access. Good storage companies provide premise security, but ultimately, you decide who has access to your stuff. Limit access to close family members and trusted friends. If you’re using your Lawton storage unit for your business, only a select few employees should be authorized to access it.

Rent a Climate Controlled Self Storage Unit. The weather may be a bigger threat to your belongings than any burglar or vandal. Heat and humidity can damage everything from papers to wood furniture to electronics and beyond. Climate controlled self storage helps keep your items safe from the seasons.

Choose a Self Storage Company with Security in Place. When you’re looking for public storage in Lawton, ask questions about security. Walk the property line. Make sure that you’re going with a reliable facility that takes premise security seriously.

Visit Your Storage Unit Often. Even if you’re planning to store stuff long-term, you should come by your storage unit frequently just to make sure that everything is still okay. Only you have the ability to enter your storage unit! Let the on-site manager know immediately about any problems or concerns.

Keep Pests Out. Don’t store open food items or other things that might draw pests, and keep space between your items and the outside walls of your unit to discourage (very small) unwanted visitors.

Know What NOT to Store. We just mentioned open or perishable food, but there are a few other things that are actually dangerous to keep in your Lawton storage unit: hazardous materials, guns and ammo, plants, animals, yourself or other people, and so on.

Know How to Prepare Certain Items for Storage. Some things that can be stored should be properly prepared first. Drain the gas from any small engines like the ones in lawnmowers or leaf blowers. Take batteries out of electronics. We’ve even provided a whole checklist for how to get larger vehicles ready for long-term storage.

Buy a Good Padlock. Think about it: If you were keeping all this stuff on your front porch, you’d probably put it in a box with a good padlock, right? The same goes for your storage unit. Padlocks are typically available at your storage facility, so just ask!

Keep a Record of What You Have in Storage. There are a lot of good reasons to keep a record of what you’ve put into self storage. For one thing, it makes it easy to find something when you need it. It’s also a good precaution in the event of a worst-case scenario such as a tornado hitting the facility.

Get to Know Your Storage Company. Don’t be a stranger. At Storage ‘R’ Us, we’re here to help. It also pays to learn the ins and outs of how your storage company operates and to make sure that they offer things like 24/7 access so you can get your stuff whenever you need it. And it’s a good idea to follow your storage company on social media so you can get quick updates on specials, news, or any changes.

Subscribe to Auto Pay. You probably didn’t think about this hazard to your belongings: Forgetting to make a payment on time can put your stuff at risk. Subscribing to auto pay helps to take that worry off your mind and helps ensure that your fee is paid every time.

Keep Your Personal Info Updated. It should be easy for your storage company to contact you for any reason. Got a new phone? Make sure they’ve got the number. Change your address? Pass that along, too. And be sure that the credit card you set up with your auto pay is still current.

Buy Insurance for Your Stored Items. No matter how careful you or your storage company are, there are some things that no one can prevent, such as that tornado we mentioned earlier. In the event of something like that, you’ll be glad that all your items are insured.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to know how secure your belongings are in storage, but the answer to that question depends a lot on you! Fortunately, at Storage ‘R’ Us, we’re here to help! Our blog is full of tips to help you get the most out of your storage experience, so stay tuned! And if you have any questions, come visit us at any of our locations offering reliable, secure public storage in Lawton, Duncan, Moore, Chickasha, Newcastle, or Norman, OK.