Looking for temporary or long term storage? With lots of different types of self storage options on the market, you may feel a little overwhelmed. Therefore, we’ve put together a list of the most popular storage options on the market. We’ll delve a little deeper into the pros and cons of each type, and look at the difference in cost.

Purpose-built warehouses

Purpose-built warehouses are perhaps the most common sort of self-storage. You will find lots of these local to you. Some are independent stores, but most are chains which have different sites up and down the country. We use Storagebase, in Wednesbury for both our own storage and to store our customers goods. However, they also have other sites nationwide. These units have been built with the core purpose of self-storage in mind. They are the most secure, weatherproof and offer units in a range of sizes to meet your needs. However, they are often the most expensive. We would argue that it is value for money and provides peace of mind that your goods will be safe and secure for the duration they are there. Access is also available to suit you, usually 7 days a week.

Wooden Crates/Metal Containers

Smaller, independent storage companies will likely use wooden crates or metal containers to store your goods. This is a budget-friendly option, as these companies are usually cheaper than the national chain outfits. However, access is usually via appointment only, as they will need to use a forklift, or other sort of machinery to get access to your unit. Sites with metal containers usually have more flexible opening times, however, these sites usually fill up fast with lower availability. Also, as many companies store their crates or containers outside, they may not be as weather-proof as purpose-built units, leading to an increased likelihood of damage.

Lock up garages

With soaring demand for storage, many private companies or even individuals are offering their own garages or warehouse space as storage. You will likely find these are they cheapest option, or may be the only solution for what you need to store. Vehicles, for example, will be best placed here if specialist storage is too expensive. However, you will need to weigh up the safety aspect of renting a private space. How secure are your goods? Also, will they be insured if anything did happen?

What sort of self-storage is right for me?

With so many different types of self-storage on the market, it can be hard to decide what is right for you. We suggest prioritising what the most important factor is. Security should be pretty high up on the list. However, also ask yourself how often will you need to access your belongings, and with what notice? How are you transporting the goods to the storage unit? Are you hiring a removal company? If so, what are their storage arrangements? Do they use wooden crates or would you prefer to take out your own contract with a purpose-built facility and arrange for them to unload there?

If you are struggling to decide what is best for you, please feel free to call our team on 0121 517 0368 and one of our advisors will be happy to help.