The advantages of self storage
Self storage is the service of providing cargo containers which are divided into storage space which are rented to consumers on a monthly basis. Self storage maybe used by individuals for storing household items and even by small companies for storage of excess inventory etc. The storage space also known as “units” are secured by the tenants own locking systems.
The possession of the unit is completely with the tenant and the service provider does not have a right of entrance once the tenant has taken possession of the unit. The only way an operator can get possession of a rented space is through a right of lien provided for non payment of rent under self storage laws. In the United States in 2007, there were around 52,000 storage facilities which were developed in a property ranging from three to seven acres. The storage facilities cover a total size roughly three times the size of the island of Manhattan.
The self storage industry which was considered the lowest common denominator of the real estate industry, generates around $20 Billion in a year. These spaces are in a variety of sizes ranging from 5×10 roughly the size of a walk in closet to 20x 20 around the size of the two car garage, and are typically windowless, walled and lockable by renter. The facilities which have control access generally employ state of the art security which includes security guards, cameras and individual door alarms as well. Your access to your unit might be controlled by a keypad or a biometric thumbprint scanner as well.
These containers might bed climate controlled which would be compensated with a higher rent for belongings which require a specific temperature. One in ten families in the United States use self storage for extra storage for remodeling of your house or for a more general purpose. Tenants are not allowed to store non perishable, non hazardous and non toxic items in there storage space. Customers are not allowed to live or sleep in their units, it is essentially only a storage space.
If a tenant is unable or does not pay rent for storage space, the operator has a right of lien and can recover the money by auctioning the items present in the tenants storage space. These auctions are open to general public and are seen as an opportunity by many to buy cheap second hand merchandise.
In areas where space is not an issue facilities have a number of single storied buildings so that the ventilation is good and climate controlled storage spaces are not required. Climate controlled storage space is required to prevent mold, mildew or other moisture problems, as humidity control is required more than temperature control.
An ancillary business in the self storage industry is public storage such as lockers in clubs, railways etc, where items can be stores, though these are at a much smaller level and are not always related to self storage.