There are roughly 50,000 storage facilities in the U.S. alone. And it’s no surprise that Americans purchase far beyond their living needs and using self-storage units to solve their material stockpiles can lead to many other difficult challenges. When people spend hundreds of thousands of money a year for the rent of their storage space, there’s a lot more impact than just their wallet. Here’s why American Veteran Garage Door’s recommend avoiding investing in a self-storage unit.
Self Storages Are Bad News
1. They’re overpriced
Why spend loads of money on a storage unit when you can invest that same price in options right in the comfort of your home? Self-storage units are commonly overpriced and consumers don’t realize this. Let’s not forget about those hidden fees. According to Consumer Reports, an average 10’x10’ unit will cost about $2,000 a year to rent in the U.S. And depending on what city you’re in, those prices are only rising!
2. Limited accessibility
Aside from coughing up extra money for hidden fees and services, you might not even be able to access your unit whenever you want. Many self-storage companies aren’t open around the clock including major holidays. In addition, think about how time-consuming it is to commute to your storage?
3. Gives people the excuse not to declutter
Honestly, if you’re just lugging these items away in storage, they are most likely never going to see the light of day. We understand that people use storages for sensible reasons like travel or in the process of moving. But a common reason why people use storage units is that they don’t take the time to declutter and let go of things they don’t need. If something really means a lot to you, you wouldn’t just let it sit in a remote location.
4. Lack of security
If you rent a self-storage unit, how sure are you of the security of your belongings? Depending on what you’re choosing to stow away, you might want to consider the liability of leaving your possessions. Is there security personnel or video surveillance 24/7? Does the facility have a proper fire and sprinkler alarm system? Does your unit have the proper climate control to prevent mold, mildew, and pests? How much insurance protection do you have? These are important questions to ask yourself because whatever you may be storing might be safer in your own residential garage.
5. Not eco-friendly
If there are over 50,000 self-storage facilities across the nation, think about the amount of energy that it takes to power each unit. And keep in mind, these facilities take up hundreds of thousands of square feet. Sadly, this is a wasteful burden on our resources just to keep our unwanted junk in one place.