You know you need another storage option when your house is overflowing with items you don’t use but also don’t want to part with. You’ve seen ads online, signs around town, and heard about storage facilities through the grapevine. But what should you really be considering when you’re going to sign on the dotted line for a self-storage facility in Atlanta? Chris Poholek from Space Max Storage is here to share his expert perspective.
Climate Control
First and foremost, Poholek says, the importance of climate control cannot be stressed enough. If you’re storing anything valuable, then you don’t want it to wind up soggy after a humid summer spent in storage. You can confirm a storage facility’s legitimacy as a reputable operation by confirming the measures taken to maintain a temperature-controlled environment. This extends to humidity as well. The humidity comes from the ground and the air, so the tops of the units at Space Max Storage have steel-wire mesh. This way, the air can flow freely, and there is breathing room for your belongings. There also are three air handlers on each floor for regulation. Additionally, the units do bring in outside air, so it’s not the same stifled air circulating again and again.
Cleanliness
Second, Poholek says, you should insist on taking a tour of the facility you’re considering. How clean is it? You want to make sure that the facility is kept up as far as cleanliness is concerned because storage units can potentially be a haven for bugs and rodents.
Security
Third - although this could be number one depending on who you ask - security should be of the utmost importance at the storage facility you’re considering. Poholek says that his team doesn’t rent to just anyone. They are selective because ultimately, the building is only as secure as the tenants who rent there. In the five years since its opening, there have been no major break-ins (knock on wood) at Space Max Storage. Additionally, they’re not the low price leader, and they know that, but they’re also not intended for the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers. Space Max Storage is somewhere in between, requiring a down payment up front and offering pricing that’s slightly higher than their perhaps less diligent competitors. But this price structure helps maintain a certain level of clientele, which is important in a storage facility environment.
Ambiance
Finally, Poholek says, think about the general ambiance of the storage facility you’re considering. Poholek and his team are intent on taking the creepiness out of self-storage. There are bright lights in their facilities. Their colors are white and yellow. There is music that plays throughout the building. There is a comfortable temperature setting throughout.
These four factors - climate control, cleanliness, security, and ambiance - are what separate the good storage facilities from the bad. Keep them on your radar if you’re looking to protect the belongings you stock away.