Storage businesses in Canada are continuously growing as more and more people realize that they have more items than room to store. Various options are available depending on your budget and what you intend to use the facilities for.

Maybe you need storage in North York because you are downsizing to a smaller home. You may also be a student who needs temporary summer storage for furnishings or simply want a safe space to park your vehicle while attending security guard training.

Perhaps this is your first rental experience of a storage unit, and you find it challenging to determine what type of unit to rent. In this article, we will help you learn more about the different kinds of storage rental facilities. This way, you’ll know exactly what storage unit to look for to meet your needs. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Types of Storage Rental Facilities

Indoor storage

This type of storage requires you to enter a building and pass through security before accessing it. The building offers plenty of storage space, from narrow closets to large rooms. The company may also provide dollies or other transport equipment to assist you in moving your stuff from your car to the indoor storage facility you choose.

If you are storing climate-sensitive items, you can ask the company about indoor storage units with a suitable temperature to avoid damaging them. Or, you can also opt for climate-controlled storage units, which we will discuss next.

Climate-controlled storage units

As briefly outlined, you may consider finding climate-controlled units when you need to store sensitive items that could warp, melt, or deteriorate in extreme temperatures. These may include musical instruments, fine art, antiques, furniture, important documents, etc.

Climate-controlled units are ideal because they are insulated, unlike indoor units that can’t always promise any guaranteed temperature range. Additionally, they can ensure temperatures will be above freezing and below 80-90 degrees to protect your belongings. Other units will also offer humidity control.

Outdoor storage

Outdoor storage units differ from indoor storage units in that instead of entering an enclosed building to access your unit, you can drive right up to it.

This proves to be more convenient when you’re moving a lot of extra items, like used compressors and other appliances, while decluttering or remodelling your home.

The only downside is that outdoor storage units may have limited climate control. This means you have limited options when storing climate-sensitive furnishings and other possessions. Also, outdoor units may expose your things to harsh weather elements, like rain, dust, and extreme humidity. 

Mobile storage

Mobile storage companies will deliver individual storage units, or pods, to your house to hold your items while you are having a renovation. The company will collect these storage units upon the agreed time of use. The mobile storage units resemble small train cars and come in various sizes. You can even rent more than 1. 

If you rent them for moving purposes, you can ask the storage company to take the unit(s) where you plan to relocate. Using mobile storage units is an excellent alternative to renting a truck or hiring a moving company.

How to Choose the Right Storage Unit

If you’re looking for storage, you should first consider your budget and the level of security you need. You should also clarify whether you need climate control. In addition, you must list down and assess these factors:

• Storage duration
• Size and cost of the storage unit
• Storage amenities
• Storage insurance

Talk to the storage company to determine if they’ll be easy to work with and whether or not they can meet your needs. Furthermore, you need to see if they handle late payments, access to units, and whether the company staff will help you move your items. You must not only choose the right storage unit type but also size it well to ensure that it is large enough to accommodate your items. Ideally, select a unit that is a bit bigger than you think you need. That way, you won’t run into space issues should you miscalculate or add more items over time. Finally, when you’re storing vehicles or hobby items, ensure that the unit will have room for all necessary accessories.

Those are among the many different types of storage units. Selecting among them might seem overwhelming, especially for first-timers, but it’s not as difficult as it sounds. Knowing what to look for and how to communicate your plans effectively will help you find potential storage companies easily.