More often than not, the price you see isn't the price you will end up paying so always make allowances for extra costs. Any quote you receive should be all inclusive of extras and you should be aware of any additional charges you incur for things like time extensions, or paying late. You also need to think about the extra costs to you, like time, convenience and travel. Understanding in full exactly what cheap self storage will cost you is important so you can make an informed choice.

Insurance

You need to know if insurance is included in the price and if it isn't how much is it. You need to know how much you are covered for and if you need additional cover. If you do need additional cover, can you get that from the facility as well? If you choose to get your own cover you will need to give proof of this to the unit you are using. This is because all units require you are insured to rent a unit out.

Offers

Special offers are great as long as you check the small print. Don't fall into the trap of choosing a rental because of a special offer, then getting charged double because you break a term you didn't read on the small print.

Deposits

Some self storage units require a deposit. If this is the case, just like a deposit on a house rental you should check exactly how you get that money back at the end, and under what terms.

Charges For Out Of Hours Access

Many units offer 24 hour access, however some only operate similar opening times to high street retailers, opening between 8am and 6pm. You are very unlikely to have to pay to access your unit during opening times, but you may be charged extra to access it outside of opening hours. Find out what the costs are for accessing the unit outside of opening hours so you can be prepared to pay each time, monthly, or not at all if you opt for a unit that doesn't charge.

Charges For Extending Your Contract Or Ending It Prematurely

If you choose to not use your unit until the end of your agreed contract time, you will be charged. You may also be charged if you want to change your unit, or extend your contract. For this very reason it is important to choose a facility with flexible, short term contracts with no charges if you need to change if you can. If you can't, be aware of exactly what the charges are.

Price Guarantee

Sometimes units can change their prices which leaves you getting comfortable and then having to either pay more to stay, or go through the annoying upheaval of moving everything to a different facility. To avoid this, look for a price guarantee so you know you can rely on the same prices for a set period of time.

Unit Damage Charges/ Poorly Maintained Units

It is so important you check the condition of the unit before you move in. If it is in bad condition, this could cost you down the line. You may get blamed for any damage that you didn't flag up when you chose to rent it. You may also find any damp, temperature issues or pest issues could cost you dearly with damage to your stored items.

Travel & Time

It is so important to look at how much a unit costs to rent, inclusive of the fuel costs and time it takes to get there and back. If you have to go through a city centre you may get stuck in traffic, or if the unit is near somewhere that commonly gets a traffic build up, you could end up waiting hours for access regularly.

Remember to get an answer to all of these questions, plus any other questions you have, before committing to a unit. This will save you time, money and a lot of stress in the long run, and it will ultimately ensure the protection of your belongings and your hard earned cash.