How to ensure my stuff is safe in a rented storage unit

Are you ready to take the leap and rent a storage unit, but are worried about whether or not your valuable items will be safe away from your home? If so, you’re not alone. 

One of the most common questions people have when looking to rent a storage unit is whether or not their items will be protected and insured if damage or theft does occur. 

There are a couple of different ways to protect your storage unit. You can rely on physical deterrents, such as fences, locks, and guards, but you should also have some kind of insurance that will cover any damages that may occur. 

Rent a storage facility with built-in security

All storage facilities will have some kind of built-in security, but some facilities take this step much further and turn their storage facilities into a kind of high-tech security area. If you plan to store items that are very valuable, paying extra for a high-security facility may better protect your items, and will certainly bring you better peace of mind. 

Most storage units offer security that will adequately protect your valuables. For example, all facilities will have some kind of lock system on each storage unit, whether it’s a lock with a key, a lock with a code, or a fingerprint scanner. While these locks will deter most thieves, determined ones may still find a way to access your valuables. 

If this worries you, you should look into facilities that offer more security than a simple lock. Some facilities have fences, security guards, video cameras, and more. All of this will better protect your items. But the higher security your facility offers, the more expensive it is likely to be. 

Yes, storage units are occasionally vandalized or broken into, but this isn’t as common as you may think. If you don’t plan to store very valuable stuff or don’t want to pay extra for more security, chances are that your storage unit will be safe. But remember that there are no guarantees. 

Storage facility owners go to great trouble to keep burglars out and keep their renters’ stuff safe. This may include high-tech locks, security gates, security guards, keypads, and more. But having physical safety measures is only one part of protecting your items in a storage unit. You also need to get insurance. 

Get insurance

Let’s face it, most damage is beyond our control.

Fences and locks and cameras are great for stopping theft and vandalism, but they can’t do anything against severe weather. If your area has a hurricane, tornado, flood, fire, or anything else, your items are likely to be damaged. And if you don’t have insurance, you’ll be stuck footing the bill. With insurance, though, you can be compensated for some, if not all, of the damaged stuff. 

Yes, you’ll still have to mourn your precious items being damaged, but at least you won’t lose a bunch of money. 

Insurance also protects you against theft and vandalism, so if that is your main concern, insurance is still a great idea, in addition to the security measures mentioned above. 

Even if you don’t want to spend extra money on a higher security facility, you can still take steps to protect your items. Buying Tenant Protection insurance or Homeowner’s insurance will at least ensure that should your items be damaged or stolen, you’ll get some or all of your money back. 

Tenant Protection covers the following situations:

• Burglary/Vandalism 

• Wind

• Lightning 

• Hail

• Water (excluding flood)

• Fire 

• Smoke 

• Explosion

• Vermin (covered up to $500)

• Sinkhole 

• Building Collapse

And if any of these unfortunate incidents do occur, it’s fast and easy to file a claim online. When filing a claim, make sure to take pictures of all damage and, if possible, the source of the damage. Don’t clean or throw anything away until you speak to a claims specialist. If the incident involves a crime, such as a burglary, vandalism, or damage, make sure to contact a police officer and file a report. This will ensure that all paperwork is properly filed and your claim can be processed quickly. 

When you choose to rent a storage unit, you understand that there is some risk attached. By taking your items out of the safety of your own home, you open them up to damage from people, weather, and more. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as long as you’ve taken steps to protect your items as much as possible and ensure that you are compensated should anything go awry. 

Now that you know how to protect your items in a storage facility, it’s time to do some research and find a facility that will best fit your needs and comfort level. If you’re okay with having only minimal insurance and a simple lock on your storage unit door, then you’ll probably pay less to store your items. If you want to minimize the risk as much as possible, you’ll spend more money now on a high-security storage facility and top-notch insurance. But in the event of loss or damage, you’ll be glad you did.