People all over the world more and more often take advantage of self-storage facilities for multiple reasons. When you are forced to move from a big home to a smaller one and you lack the space for all your beloved belongings, a self-storage unit can save the day. Couples who move in together and find out that their possessions simply don't fit the home are also forced to look for alternatives for storing. Self-storages are also rented by offices, small start-up businesses, large companies with lots of paperwork, collectors of cars and antiques and many others. No matter what your reason is for storing, you can really benefit from using a self-storage unit. In terms of safety, most people consider storage units quite secure, but there are a few steps you need to take to make sure your items are really guaranteed safety. The first step is to choose a self-storage facility in a good location. If the self-storage is in town, make sure you pick one in a safe neighborhood. Many self-storage units are outside of town in order to keep their costs low. If that is the case with the company you've chosen, inquire about their safety policies. Do they have a 24/7 CCTV and alarm system on each unit? Is the unit's lock secure enough? You can do an independent research first and ask other clients of the company or check online forums. Do not trust everything a self-storage representative tells you. Many burglaries are committed by other clients and a poor security system won't help you out much. If you are comparing between two or three companies, find out whether they have received complaints in terms of safety before. Avoid facilities which have a history of robberies. What makes a big difference in terms of safety is a facility with fences, big gates and restricted access. Some of these self-storage facilities allow clients during specific hours of the day. Most people may find this a little inconvenient, but it is made in order to ensure more safety and helps the manager of the facility keep an eye on who gets in and out. Self-storages that are open for everyone and thieves can easily drive in should be avoided. Even if they offer a lower monthly fee, it is not worth the risk. There are many facilities nowadays that have upgraded their security system so that a client can access their unit only by using a security code. Most standard locks can be cut with the right tools, so be careful before you sign your agreement. Agreeing to a poor security system is quite unreasonable. You can discuss any additional security features with the facility manager. Inquire whether the self-storage facility has evening and night guards and if you find a facility which has live guards always present on site, choose it immediately. Video surveillance is offered by most companies instead of live guards, but keep in mind that some cameras don't even record all day long. A good alarm system is a must, so make sure your unit has one. Some thieves may still attempt a robbery, despite tall fences and gates. Reputable self-storage companies should notify the police in case of robbery on their premises. Avoid companies which don't involve the police, because this means that you will simply lose your possessions. Once you find a self-storage unit, protect your items as much as possible - pack everything in boxes and wrap the boxes in bundles using stretch wrap. This way it would be harder for a robber to reach them and carry.

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