According to the Self Storage Association, one out of every ten adult Americans has some amount of property in a self storage unit somewhere. That’s a lot of people and a lot of property in self storage across the country. If you follow Storage Wars on TV, you probably know that some types of stored property are of lesser value than others (speaking in terms of dollar value not sentimental value, of course). So, it could be very easy to say that every piece of property put up for storage has value. And what do we typically do for the things we value? We buy insurance to cover the items in case something unexpected happens to them. Why? Because it makes good sense.
Your valued possessions at a self storage facility, especially public storage in Oklahoma at Storage ‘R’ Us, are held under lock and key and further protected by security lighting, computer controlled property access, 24-hour digital surveillance cameras, and a fenced or walled perimeter. Most would say that’s a good bit of security for a storage locker filled with personal possessions – and they’d be right. But not all losses at self storage facilities are that easy to prevent. Some losses come at the hand of Mother Nature, and as we clearly saw during the devastating EF5 tornado event last May here in Moore, no amount of padlocks and gates would prevent the 200 mph winds from wreaking havoc on a few storage facilities around the area. Fortunately, Storage ‘R’ Us was spared any damage, but we know a few self storage facility owners in the area that suffered terrible losses. And, we also know that many storage unit renters lost a great deal of personal property.
Taking out an insurance policy on the items you place in self storage units makes good sense because the self storage facilities aren’t liable for loss or damage to stored property. In fact, most self storage facilities strongly recommend that their renters purchase fire, theft, and casualty insurance on all of their property if the value is $1,000 or more. And although the average homeowner’s insurance policy typically covers an amount of “off-premise” property (read: stuff you have in self storage), there are usually coverage limits. Most of these coverage limits are 10% or less of the total amount of coverage in your policy. So, if you have a $50,000 limit in your homeowner’s policy, you’d only be covered for $5,000 on your off-premise belongings. While this may seem like a fair amount of coverage for most, the value of the property you keep in self storage can quickly add up over time (especially if you’re storing antiquities).
In the end, your possessions are valuable. So, when you make a decision to store your belongings in an Oklahoma self-storage facility, you’re well-advised to purchase insurance that effectively protects your stored belongings from loss or damage caused by fire, smoke, dust, water, weather, insects, vermin, explosions, utility interruptions, equipment malfunctions, unexplained disappearances, negligence, or theft by any cause. It’s the smart way to approach the security of your stored belongings. Especially, if Mother Nature comes calling.
If you’re looking for an Oklahoma self-storage solution for your belongings, feel free to stop by one of our Storage ‘R’ Us locations in Moore, Duncan, Lawton, Newcastle, Norman, or Chickasha today, and see what our self-storage solutions can do for you and your family! One of our self-storage experts will be happy to talk to you about your belongings and recommend a self-storage unit that affords you the kind of security features you require.
You may have already seen the “Newsflash” on the home page of the Storage ‘R’ Us site that mentions how we’ve been honored by Office of the Secretary of Defense. Folks who know us also know that we’re proud supporters of the U.S. Military. And, we believe that , as an employer, we have a duty to preserve an employment position for any of our staff members who enlist in the Guard or Reserve to serve our country. In other words, we’ll do our best to keep your job open while you’re doing your best to protect American citizens and the American way of life wherever you’re stationed. And although we don’t have this policy in place so that we can get certificates of recognition, we still think it’s pretty cool that we have a certificate to hang on the wall now.
The certificate we received from the Office of the Secretary of Defense: Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) will hang proudly in our office here at Storage ‘R’ Us in Oklahoma. The certificate states that Storage ‘R’ Us is recognized for being a “Patriotic Employer” and “Contributing to National Security and Protecting Liberty and Freedom by Supporting Employee Participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force.” The certificate features the official seal of the Department of Defense and the ESGR. The certificate is signed by ESGR Executive Director Ronald G. Young and National Chair Paul E. Mock.
Although many may know the Department of Defense (DOD) by name, some may not know the ESGR and what they represent. The ESGR is an office of the DOD that was established in 1972 to promote solid relationships between Reserve members and their civilian employers. During the Vietnam era, there were, unfortunately, a great number of conflicts between Americans with military commitments and their employers back home in the States. Today, thanks to the ESGR and its network of nearly 5,000 volunteers across the U.S., there is a promise of meaningful employment when members of the Guard and Reserve return to civilian life. You can read more about the EGSR, their mission and strategy, by clicking here.
There have been a number of Storage ‘R’ Us employees who volunteered for various branches of the U.S. Military over the years, and we’ve honored them all in our own way. As a family-owned business with unique ties to the U.S. Military, we understand the bravery and sacrifice it takes to join up and serve the interests of the Nation. As stated earlier, we are proud to have a Patriotic Employer certificate to hang on the wall here at Storage ‘R’ Us, but, more than that, we’re even more proud of our employees who felt the call to service and answered by joining the other brave men and women who protect our interests and our lives around the nation and across the globe.
If you’re looking for an Oklahoma self storage solution for your belongings, feel free to stop by one of our Storage ‘R’ Us locations in Moore, Duncan, Lawton, Newcastle, Norman, or Chickasha, Oklahoma today, and see what our self storage solutions can do for you!
