Are Storage Units Safe?
People invest in storage units when they need to storeroom for their important belongings but don’t have the space in their homes. Whether decluttering your home, moving from one state to another, or downsizing, a storage unit can be a great solution to free up some space while protecting your belongings.
But you might wonder, “Are storage units safe?” It ultimately depends on the facility. The most secure storage units have security features that protect your belongings, but you should make the extra effort to keep them protected while in storage.
So is self-storage secure? Keep reading to find out.
How Secure Are Storage Units?
The security of your storage unit depends on a wide range of factors, such as the facility itself and the measures you take to protect your belongings. The most secure storage unit is a combination of actions taken by the facility and the person storing their belongings. If you aren’t careful, you could end up falling victim to theft, pests, and damage to your belongings.
What Security Measures Do Storage Units Offer?
Secure storage facilities go the extra mile to ensure the safety of your belongings. Self-storage security ranges from video monitoring to controlled access and on-site managers. Key Storage offers these self-storage security features at all of our storage locations to enhance the safety of our facilities and protect your belongings:
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Entrance gates: Entrance gates control access to the facility. If someone doesn’t have a storage unit at one of our facilities, they won’t be allowed to enter. This ensures your stuff is protected from anyone who doesn’t need to be on the premises.
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Video monitoring: Video monitoring helps us keep our facilities safe. We have cameras placed strategically around the entirety of each facility.
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Security lighting: Security lighting illuminates movements on the property and increases the feeling of safety for our renters. A well-lit, secure storage facility makes it safer for anyone in their unit after the sun goes down and makes it easier to maneuver through the facility.
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On-premise resident managers: Our on-premise resident managers are there to assist you with all your storage needs while ensuring someone is available should a theft or break-in occur.
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Fire protection systems: Our fire protection systems keep your belongings safe if there’s ever a fire.
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Climate-controlled units: Choosing a climate control unit offers further protection by ensuring your belongings remain in good condition from temperature fluctuations and humidity while preventing pests.
What Are the Potential Risks of Storage Units?
If you’re looking for secure storage units near you, you might wonder just how safe storage units really are. While the most secure storage spaces have security features, there are some potential risks.
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Theft and unauthorized access: If your storage unit doesn’t have controlled access, your belongings could get stolen, so it’s crucial to lock your storage unit before you leave.
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Mold and mildew: Mold and mildew are common in storage units that aren’t visited and cleaned frequently or in areas with high humidity and rain.
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Pest infestations: Pest infestations can also occur if you don’t take the time to prepare your belongings for storage beforehand.
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Weather damage: Weather damage can wreak havoc on your furniture, antiques, clothing, and other valuables.
Key Storage’s storage unit security features are designed to prevent these risks, protect your belongings, and deter theft.
How Can You Secure Your Items in Storage?
Secure storage units can help protect your belongings, but we recommend taking some additional steps to further prevent theft, pests, mold, and weather damage. There are various ways you can secure your storage unit. Here are some recommendations:
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Choose a reputable storage facility: There are many storage options available for you, but one of the most important considerations to make is whether the storage facility you choose is reputable. You can read storage facility reviews online and hear from other customers to determine whether you’re confident in their security measures. If a storage facility is known for break-ins or theft because they don’t have controlled access or gates, it can indicate that security isn’t a priority.
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Properly pack and organize belongings: Packing and organizing your belongings will help protect them from pests, mold, and mildew. You can read these tips for packing smarter to learn more about packing. Then, you should organize your storage unit to maximize your available space and keep important items off the floor where they can be susceptible to pests and moisture.
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Visit your storage unit regularly: Visiting your unit regularly allows you to take inventory and check on your belongings to ensure they’re still in good condition. In addition, any would-be thieves will see that someone regularly visits the unit, deterring them from trying to break into it.
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Keep an inventory: Keeping a running inventory of all your belongings can help you take stock of everything you have in your storage unit. Unfortunately, many people fill their units up so much without an inventory they wouldn’t know if anything was stolen until they went looking for it. In addition, having an inventory can also help you find your belongings when you need them.
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Use your own lock: Whether you’re storing furniture or expensive valuables, you should always use your own lock. Most storage facilities allow you to purchase or rent locks from them, but you can’t always trust that you’re the only one who knows the code. Instead, it’s always better to bring your own lock.
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Purchase insurance: Storage unit insurance may already be a part of your homeowners or renters off–premises coverage. You can also purchase a separate policy. Most self-storage facilities require renters to have their own insurance that covers them in the case of fire, weather events, and theft.
Key Takeaways: Finding the Most Secure Storage Units
Storage facilities are generally considered safe because they allow you to lock up your belongings. However, not all storage facilities have state-of-the-art security features. If you want to protect your belongings while they’re being stored, you should always consider the security features, which can help protect against theft, pests, mold, and extreme weather.
Key Storage uses advanced technology to keep your belongings safe and protected while they’re stored in one of our storage facilities. Find a secure storage unit near you.
