Self Storage

Space for What Matters Most

 

What is Self Storage?

Self storage may refer to the overarching industry of renting a space or “unit” at a storage facility. There are a couple of variations on this central theme, and even some specific language that has developed to refer to the industry. The most common terms being “self storage” or simply “storage.”

A storage unit is a space rented at a storage facility to store any belongings that a person does not have room for in their home or business. These units come in a wide variety of sizes, from a small locker to well over the size of a one-car garage. Whatever your storage needs might be, there is a unit for you. 

About Storage Units:

Storage units come in a wide variety of sizes, although certain measurements have become the industry standards. These are multiples of five, like a 5x10 or a 5x15. These measurements refer to the width and depth of the unit. If you’re not sure what size you need, check out our size guide. 

Units are accessible through either a garage-style rollup door or a more traditional heavy hinged door. These doors are locked either through an internal mechanism or more commonly an external lock. This lock is fully owned by the customer renting the unit, and no one at the storage facility will have access to the unit without the customer’s permission. 

Overview of Different Storage Types:

Indoor Storage Units:

Any unit that is secured within a building. In other words, these units will not have drive-up access directly to the unit. Indoor units are more secure than outdoor units, but may require the use of a hand truck or dolly and sometimes even an elevator if the unit is not on the ground level.

Outdoor Storage Units:

Sometimes referred to as “drive-up access" storage units. These storage units are more easily accessible than indoor units. These units exist on a single ground floor and are more often what people expect when they think of storage. These storage units are favored by businesses in need of easy access to their inventory, as well as people who have larger items to store like furniture and large appliances.

 

Outdoor units tend to be more susceptible to temperature swings and are more exposed to the elements than indoor units. There are a wide variety of other storage features to be aware of before deciding on what you need. 

See the full list of storage features and amenities.

Storage Rental Price and Lease Term

Storage rental rates are charged monthly, either on the anniversary of move-in, or on the first of the month. The rental price of a unit is impacted by a myriad of factors including size, location, unit features, and the facility’s current level of occupancy. Due to the wide variety of factors, rental rates have a wide amount of variance.

Long-Term Storage

Many people need a storage unit for a year or more. This is known as “long-term storage.” Things that are commonly placed in long-term storage include holiday decorations, lawn equipment, or other seasonal items. We recommend regular visits to long-term storage to regularly dust and maintain items left in the storage unit

Short-Term Storage

If you’re not intending to rent for longer than one calendar year or just need a temporary storage solution, iStorage has month-to-month lease storage options for students, or those who need a storage unit prior to a move. There are plenty of reasons to need short-term storage, such as traveling abroad or needing a project space to work on a hobby. Whatever the need may be, there is a storage solution to help accommodate you.

Storage Unit Considerations

There are a few major considerations that need to be made before selecting any storage unit. The biggest among them is the question you were asked when you first started touring facilities: what do you plan on storing? Different objects have different storage needs and that question may not make sense on its face, so here is a brief outline of what we are looking for with different objects needing storage. 

Bulky Furniture

Without fail, the most common classification of stored objects. Bulky furniture can mean anything from a bedframe and mattress to an entire wall of bookshelves. These cumbersome items are more manageable with ground level units, preferably with drive-up access. Depending on the length of stay and the material your furniture is made of, it might be best to look for climate control as well to make sure everything stays in the best condition. 

Vehicles

There are plenty of reasons to need an additional parking space, whether that be you have a new vehicle or you lost the garage to the ever vicious war against clutter. There are a lot of vehicle storage options, but our team will help you find the solution that is right for you.

Check out our handy vehicle storage information page for more details

Seasonal Items

From decorations to wrapping paper, there are a lot of things that the holidays bring with them that takes up a lot of space, but the holiday season is not the only season. There is summer, fall and spring still left to contend with. There are outfits and sweaters and shoes that a closet just might not be able to fit. This is where a storage unit can come in handy.

If clothes and decorations are your primary need for storage, and upper-level storage unit is likely to tick all the boxes on your wish list. Not as easily accessible as a drive up unit, but often at a lower monthly rate than their ground-level equivalent, these will make for an excellent place to keep your out-of-season wear.

 

 

 

 

 

Self Storage Locations

iStorage has a wide selection of self storage facilities across 23 states. Search for a secure and affordable storage unit near you.

Mississippi
Rhode Island