Yes, it is true! I am officially the proud owner of a storage unit! This was not a decision that I took lightly but so far, it seems to be one of the best decisions that I have made for the business. Currently, all of my reselling inventory has been moved into the unit but it is not yet properly organized. My hope is that in the next few weeks, we will have the shelves and racks assembled and I can give you a full tour of the completed unit. Until then, I will share with you some insight into why I decided to rent a unit, choosing a unit, the process involved in renting a unit, and anything else that you might want to know about renting a storage unit.
Why I Decided to Rent a Storage Unit
The decision to rent a storage unit was surprisingly simple one. When we moved into our apartment in September of 2020, we knew that I would have limited space for my inventory. At that time, I was not in a position to consider other options for storage as the pandemic was in full swing and it was my first full year as a full-time reseller. With so many uncertainties, the best decision for me was to keep all of the inventory in the apartment and not have any unnecessary expenses.
In order to keep all of the inventory in the apartment, I had to get very creative with my storage. To maximize on our available space, I bought storage bags and put all of my clothes in them. Initially, they were great but over time, they would deflate and I would have to constantly replace them which was costly.
Also, over the course of 2021, my inventory grew. Towards the end of the year, my inventory was not only in the closet but also on our office couch, living room floor, and various other locations. We were over the clutter and knew that we needed to find another solution. As a result, I took some of my business profits from 2021 and decided to use it towards a storage unit for 2022.
Picking Out a Storage Unit
In all honesty, this was probably the most challenging part of this entire process. There was a LOT about renting a storage unit that I was not aware of and learned throughout this process.
Finding the Best Company
First and foremost, I needed to figure which company I wanted to use. When it came to picking out a company, I did a Google search to see what options were available in my area. I knew that I had a storage unit facility down the road from my apartment so I decided to start with that one. When I went on the site, I saw that I could get a storage unit for well under $100 per month for a decent size unit and was immediately interested in learning more. I began filling out the online form and quickly realized that there were a few items that I needed to learn more about; specifically, insurance on the locker, lock types, and payment options.
When it comes to insurance on the locker, most home and renter’s insurance policies will cover it so it is nothing additional that you need to purchase. [Note: They will try to get you to pay extra for that when you fill out all of the storage unit information.] After researching various lock types, it does appear that some locks are better than others when it comes to unit security. Disc locks provide maximum unit security but cylinder locks can also be effective too.
Lastly, let’s talk about how pricing works when it comes to renting a storage unit. Most storage unit facilities have month-to-month contracts meaning that you are not locked into a fixed rate. In order to entice buyers, they will offer a low introductory monthly rate but then increase it every month after that. For example, a company might offer a $40 introductory price one month and the next, raise it to $50, then $60 and so on. This is something that a lot of people are not aware of. In order to get around this, I learned that if you pay for the unit upfront for an extended period of time, you are locked into the low introductory rate. As a result, I tried to find a facility that would allow me to do this.
Picking a Size
I chose a size based on what I was planning to put into the unit, how I wanted to spend my time in the unit, and how I was planning on arranging it. As someone who is very organized, I knew that I would need to put shelving and labeled totes into the unit. I gathered the measurements of both and figured out how much space I would need. Based on that, I was able to pick an appropriate size for the unit. Additionally, pricing did play a factor into size as I wanted to get the best value possible.
Which Storage Unit Did I Pick?
After doing all of my research, I decided to use the company, Extra Space Storage. I chose this company for a few different reasons:
Climate-Controlled Units- Climate controlled units are very important to have in Florida as it is humid most of the year. These units typically cost a little more but are worth it in the long run.
Price- This company had the best introductory price for the unit size that I chose and provided me with a fixed rate for 12 months if I paid in advance.
Security– Extra Space Storage has ample security in their facility as there are cameras everywhere. During office hours, there is open access to the facility but after 6 PM, you need to enter a code to enter the facility. The facility closes at 10 PM EST. There is also a lock that is required on the unit. Tip: If you set everything up online and give them a hard time about the lock, they might add it in for free and wave the fee.
Unit Size- After looking at all of my inventory and comparing prices, I decided on a 10′ x 10′ unit. Honestly, it the perfect size for all of my items and I will probably be able to fit some of my personal items in there as well.
Easy Move-In Process- This facility has an easy move-in process which makes everything less stressful. They provide you with everything that you need ahead of time (ie. unit # and building entry code). Once you get to your locker, the lock is inside and you have everything that you need. Bringing in items is a breeze as they have carts at every entrance and extra large elevators that allow you to bring in a large quantity of items.
Convenience- One big perk of picking this particular company and location is that it is right down the road from my apartment. I can walk there which is extremely convenient.
I’m so glad that I made this decision for my business and I look forward to sharing more info about my journey with you in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please reach out to me via email or Instagram! I would be more than happy to answer your questions!
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