Anyone who decides to store some of their belongings away from home naturally wants to make sure those possessions are well protected. Security is therefore one of the most important factors tenants consider when choosing storage facilities and self-storage before placing their inventory in someone else’s hands.
In most cases, the need for storage outside one’s own home arises when living circumstances change or when people simply want to create more space at home. The most common reasons for choosing an external storage unit include:
- Relocation
- Renovations
- Temporary storage of household belongings due to a new partnership
- Surplus furniture resulting from inheritances
- Documents/files that are taking over
Students and people who move abroad for work or after retirement also make use of self-storage and other storage options.
Whatever households, private individuals, or businesses place in storage facilities, those items have value to the individual tenant and must therefore be treated with respect. Adequate and reliable security measures are therefore high on the list of essential services offered by reputable storage providers.
This is not only about surveillance measures such as CCTV/video monitoring, alarm systems, and security staff, but also about sufficient protection from the elements. Moisture, cold, lack of ventilation, or even fire can cause just as much damage as intruders, thieves, and vandals.
Below, we provide an overview of the security precautions taken by self-storage, full-service storage, and other storage providers to keep your belongings safe from unauthorized access.
What is a secure storage space?
At the most basic level, a storage unit can be considered secure if it is subject to some form of regular monitoring. This can be achieved through several measures, including:
- Good lighting that ensures quick detection of people and incidents
- Video cameras and CCTV covering the entire storage area without blind spots
- Security personnel or staff from the storage provider regularly patrolling the premises and preventing unauthorized entry
- Strict access control, which not only uses modern systems such as PIN or card validation and security locks, but also keeps records of who enters and leaves the facility
- Alarm systems and infrared detection systems that provide early warning of potential attacks or break-in attempts
In addition to measures against human interference and crime, professional storage facilities also provide reliable protection from environmental damage. To ensure safe storage for your belongings, regardless of the type of goods being stored, good storage facilities include:
- Air conditioning and climate-control systems that measure and regulate temperature and humidity in warehouses
- Heating systems that distribute warmth evenly and prevent sensitive stored items, including electronic devices and paper items, from being damaged by the cold
- Ventilation and suitable air circulation systems that maintain constant airflow and thereby prevent mold and rust
- Pest control and prevention measures that stop rodents and other vermin from entering your storage unit
- Fire protection such as smoke warning systems, fire alarms, fire-resistant partitions, fire doors, and of course a sufficient number of evenly distributed fire extinguishers
Before choosing a storage space, you should inspect the future storage location of your belongings. Make sure the rooms are dry and clean. A musty smell, signs of damp surfaces, mold, dead insects, and poor lighting are warning signs that this place may not be suitable for storing your inventory. A lack of proper signage, including for emergency exits or fire alarms, should also undermine your confidence in the provider.
Why choose a secure storage space?
When it comes to the safety of storing your inventory in an external facility, the saying “better safe than sorry” applies. By choosing the storage provider that offers the best security, even if it costs a little more, you can save yourself a lot of trouble later on. You’ll also sleep better.
In many cases, the items stored in a unit are irreplaceable. Whether they are childhood memories or cherished collectibles, you want to be sure that nothing is lost or destroyed. Besides their sentimental value, the items may also have material value, not to mention the paperwork involved in filing an insurance claim.
If you store your furniture and household belongings temporarily because of a renovation or a move, you naturally want to receive them back in the same condition in which you handed them over. After all, who wants to furnish a brand-new house or a newly renovated apartment with moldy, musty-smelling furniture?
Businesses that store tools, materials, products for sale, and possibly documents and files at a storage site outside company premises also need the reassurance that everything will remain in good condition while in storage. Rusted tools, moldy materials, or goods that can only be sold at a discount because the original packaging became soggy during storage can jeopardize smooth business operations.
And if the tax authorities come to inspect the files and discover that the accounting records of the last ten years have become illegible due to moisture, the situation can become highly unpleasant.
So make sure your belongings are protected against both human and natural forms of vandalism, and find a storage provider that has taken all necessary precautions to give your property a good home.
What do I need to do myself to make my storage unit secure?
Most household and business insurance policies have no issue with households and companies storing their belongings elsewhere. In most cases, professional storage, self-storage, and full-service storage providers can offer a much safer place to keep inventory than individual tenants can provide in their own homes or on company premises.
High-tech security measures and sophisticated protection against environmental influences around the clock give insurers confidence that your belongings are probably safer away from home than under your own supervision. However, you must also take some precautions yourself to complement those of your storage provider.
To ensure secure storage for your property, you should pay attention to the following when storing your belongings:
Packaging
Make sure your items are packed properly and with consideration for the nature of each individual object. If you plan to stack items to make the best use of the storage space, make sure the packaging is designed for that. Cardboard, for example, deteriorates over time and could turn your once-stable stack into a life-threatening hazard. For your own safety and that of your family members/employees, use sturdy plastic containers and storage bins.
Prohibited items
For the safety of your stored goods and those of other storage users, certain items and materials are excluded from storage in conventional self-storage and full-service storage facilities. Generally prohibited items include:
- Flammable liquids and gases, including lubricants, gas cylinders, and chemicals
- Weapons and ammunition
- Illegal items
- Valuable items such as jewelry, art, coin and stamp collections, or cash
- Perishable food, animals, and plants
Locks and keys
In many, but not all, cases, your provider will supply an installed locking system for your storage unit. If you need to provide your own lock and key, you should make sure to buy one or more good-quality locks for your unit. Small padlocks with tiny keys from discount stores are generally not sufficient to satisfy insurance requirements, among other things.
In many of the cases mentioned above, failure to follow the rules and precautions may not only lead to the loss of your property, but may also invalidate your insurance and your rental agreement with the storage facility.
