Choosing Your Commercial Storage Unit | Scenic Self Storage Pewaukee

Choosing a Commercial Storage Unit

Sign with the wrong commercial storage company and you can find yourself in a year-long contract with a company that doesn’t meet your access or storage needs. The next time you need to lease storage space for your business, consider the following before you sign any contracts:

Make a Plan

Taking the time to understand your businesses storage and access needs before you store can make a huge difference in how successful and rewarding your experience will be. Be sure to:

Make a list of everything you intend to store. (This can help prevent you from over or underestimating your space requirements.)
Estimate the number of boxes you’ll need before deciding on a storage unit of a specific size.
Label your boxes, especially if you plan on storing paperwork that has not been scanned, digitally recorded or you need to access frequently.
Plan for extra room for walking within the unit (to allow you or staff to access and reorganize items).

Assess Your Needs

As you think about your storage requirements, be sure to consider the following:

Will your workers need to visit the storage unit regularly? If so it’s better to choose a storage facility that is relatively close to your place of business or to the workers who will access the unit.
When will your workers need access to stored items? Is 24-hour access necessary, or are normal business hours acceptable?
What environmental protection, if any, will your stored items need? For instance, are you storing office furniture, equipment or electronics that are best suited to a temperature controlled space?

Tour the Facility

Taking the time to take an in-person tour of a commercial storage facility is one way that you can accurately evaluate critical factors before you’re locked into a contract. Things you’ll want to evaluate include:

Are staff available when you need them? Is there a manager on site if you need one?
What security measures are in place? Is there external security (like a fence and a gate) and indoor security (like cameras and locks for all units)?
What condition are units in? Are they free of damage and adequately secured? Is there evidence of infestation, such as rodent droppings or chew damage?