Paul | 
06 24th, 2008| 
As the storage rental business has evolved there are more choices than ever for storing your goods. Needs will vary widely, and consider yours carefully before picking a unit.
Remember in renting a storage unit you’re paying for cubic feet. Consider how tall the unit is - you can fit more “stuff” in a unit 10′ high then one 8′ high - but if you have mostly heavy items and few light ones to be safely stacked that high, look at other options.
What are you storing? Household goods? Inside/outside items? A car? How much protection do you want? If you have an older car that broke down and you just want temporary storage until you can fix it, you might be fine with outside storage in a fenced and secure area at a lower rate. However, the classic car that you spent three years rebuilding with your son you probably are going to want a little more protection for!
If you’re storing boxes, books and paper goods remember to account for the unseen. Placing wood pallets down is a good idea - keeping your possessions up off the floor. This can give a few more inches in case of a flood, or if a leak happens in another unit or water drains in where it shouldn’t. Also account for if you need access to them, pack the unit so you can get in and find items when you need them. Arrange it so the stuff you’re likely to need the most - or the soonest - are further towards the front.
Generally speaking you can expect a 10X10 standard space to hold a one bedroom home. A 5X5 unit is more like a small closet, for boxes or files. On the other end is the larger 10X30′, which can generally hold furnishings of a larger home including furniture and appliances. Remember to include any outdoor gear you’re bringing when figuring room needed.
Consider in the what you have to store - are there items that can be damaged by heat or cold? If so you will want to strongly consider a climate controlled unit. For boxes of photographs, for example, extremes of temperatures aren’t advised. Electronic equipment and books or files can withstand temperature changes but takes less kindly to dust and dampness. Reserve a couple of sheets to drape over the entire stack of items to keep dust at bay. This is preferred to plastic, which can hold the heat in even more.
Remember that just as with rental housing what happens in another unit can affect yours. Plan for that. If you have a climate controlled room with books or electronics in it you might use that plastic cover - if there are sprinklers activated due to something in another unit this can greatly reduce the chances of damage to your goods. This is another reason for using pallets. The climate control helps stave off the odor often associated with items in storage.
If, however, you are storing non-sensitive possessions such as living room furniture, a kitchen table, normal kitchen goods and such, a non-climate controlled unit may serve you well. These can be more economical for many items that temperature fluctuations do not bother.
Don’t overlook storage options for campers, RV and other uses. Proper storage of these items protects them and insures a longer life. When you’re done camping for the year, consider cleaning out your trailer, restocking it fresh (except for food items) and checking it into a storage area. Next year you have a clean rig and you can stop at the grocery store, hook up and go.
There are many cases a storage unit may be the best solution for you. Check your insurance, look closely at the space needed as well as what you’re storing. Choose the solution that works the best for you.
Paul Darden is owner and CEO of Buckingham Storage, the only Richardson self storage rental facility with a 24/7 onsite management team, the only Richardson public storage by Plano. Darden specializes in the brokering, marketing, feasibility studies, and developing of self-storage personally brokering over 130 self-storage facilities throughout the southwest to both national and regional self-storage operators. For more storage tips and information, visit http://www.buckinghamstorage.com
