Self-Storage Unit Resource Guide

Table of Contents

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What Is Self-Storage?

Self-storage is a type of storage solution that can come in handy during a variety of situations and life events. If you have items, furniture, appliances, seasonal equipment, decorations, etc. that you need extra space for but still want to keep, self-storage can be a great option for you. Self-storage is the perfect solution to many of the following scenarios and more:

Settling an Estate

When a loved one moves into assisted living or passes away, you can store their items in a self-storage until you are ready to divide them among family or have an estate sale.

New Member of Your Home

You may need to utilize self-storage to temporarily store your belongings in order to make space for an elderly family member that needs full-time care, a nursery for a new baby, a hosted foreign exchange student, or your college student who has graduated and is returning home while building their future career plans.

Remodeling Your Home

It is much easier to paint, re-carpet, install floors, remodel your living room, etc. when you have an open space to work in and don’t have to worry about damaging or continuously moving furniture out of the way. Consider renting a self-storage space to save yourself the hassle!

Family Member Leaving

If you have an adult child that is deploying for the military, moving away for college, or leaving for a few years on a mission you can easily store their belongings in a self-storage until they return home.

Building a House

It is extremely exciting when you build a house! However, you may have sold your previous house to make the down payments and are now living with a family or friend. While you wait for the final walk-through and closing of your newly built home, keep your items safe in self-storage.

Hours of Operation

Are their hours of operation at the storage facility suitable for your needs? Some spaces offer 24-hour access so you can always get to your belongings when you need to.

Seasonal Storage

When your garage is packed with cars and you do not have a shed, we are here to help take care of your items that require seasonal storage! From lawnmowers to snowblowers, skis to holiday decorations, self-storage is the perfect place to rotate the items you need in summer but not winter and vice versa!

Staging a Home for Sale

Your real estate agent will always recommend you depersonalize and declutter your home to prepare for its sale. Minimizing to just the essentials and keeping your other items in self-storage helps a new buyer better envision themselves living in your home and how they might decorate it.

Downsizing

When you downsize your home to move into a retirement community or move into an apartment after a divorce or other life-changing event, you may need somewhere to store items from your larger house. Self-storage is a great solution!

Small Business Owner

If you are a small business owner and need a place for extra inventory, consider renting a self-storage unit.

Usually, self-storage units are rented for a period of months or even years. When you secure a rental, you are given a key or code so that you can access your items any time you may need to. Self-storage is easy and convenient for many reasons - it frees up more space in your home, and you can get your items back at any time.

What is the Difference Between Full-Service and Self-Service Storage?

Man Moving a Mattress in a Storage Container | Idaho Storage Connection

When it comes to storing your belongings, you can choose between full-service and self-service storage options. Self-service storage is what most people are familiar with - these are units that you see in cities or along highways (they sometimes look kind of like garages), and they are either accessed by driving up to the unit or through a hallway.

In the case of Idaho Storage Connection, most of our units you simply drive up to the unit, unload your car or truck, and lock up your belongings. Indoor units are inside of a building (like in a hallway), which means you cannot drive directly up to your unit. Self-storage units are a great choice if you want to be able to access your possessions at any time, as many self-service storage facilities are open 24/7. In addition, when you rent a storage unit, you will bring or purchase your own lock, therefore you will have the only key and your things will be safely locked up.

What Size Self-Storage Unit Should I Rent?

What self-storage unit size you decide to rent should mainly depend on what items you are looking to store. Storage units come in a variety of sizes, from the size of a small closet (five by five feet) to the size of a small one-car garage (10 by 15 feet). Larger units are available for things like vehicle storage. Smaller-sized units are great for storing just a few items or boxes, like Christmas decorations or a twin or full-sized mattress, while a larger unit is perfect for furniture like couches or beds, appliances like refrigerators, or even the contents of an entire house or apartment. The largest units available can even store cars, RVs, or boats. 

Before choosing a storage unit size, take a look at the units available at the storage facility to get a feel for how large they are and how much stuff you can fit in them. Remember, you can stack boxes on top of one another or on top of furniture, so even items that took up a lot of space in your home or office can be stacked vertically to make the most of the space you rent. It can also be a good idea to rent from a storage unit facility that offers larger-sized units, in case you ever need or want to upgrade to a larger size.

Should I Insure Items in My Self-Service Storage Unit?

It is always a smart idea to research insurance for the items that you decide to store in your self-storage unit. This will give you an added layer of protection in the case that your belongings get stolen or damaged. In some cases, your homeowner’s insurance may offer personal property coverage, so be sure to check your policy. If it turns out you do not have it, you can sometimes add it to your policy or purchase insurance from the storage facility.

Renter's insurance may also cover personal property in a storage unit, but only up to your policy's limit. Also, keep in mind what kind of damage to your property is covered by insurance. It may cover damage caused by fire, vandalism, theft, hail, the weight of snow or ice, falling objects, and vehicles other than your own. If the items in your storage unit matter to you enough to keep them, it makes sense to insure them as well.

Can Professional Movers Help Me Move Things Out of a Self-Storage Unit?

Most professional moving companies will offer to pick up things at a storage unit if you are in the process of moving into a new home. This can be particularly convenient because moving can be stressful, and you will not have to make extra trips to and from your unit. In addition, you will not have to do all the loadings and unloading yourself, which saves you time, energy, and labor. Movers may charge a premium for this service, though, so make sure you ask for an accurate quote to ensure that the extra cost will be worth it for you. 

What Amenities Does Idaho Storage Connection Offer for Self-Storage?

Idaho Storage Connection is a top-rated storage facility with six different locations and 25 years of experience so you can be assured to receive the professionalism and service you want to make the most out of your storage unit. Our convenient locations in Boise ( Franklin, Joplin, and Joplin II), Eagle and Nampa ( Karcher and Usave), Idaho are clean, affordable, and well-maintained year-round. We offer useful amenities that make our facility a great choice to fill all your storage needs including:

  • An electronic gate that requires a code to enter and exit the facility
  • Full fencing around storage locations, camera surveillance at every gate, and alarms to help protect your belongings
  • Online bill-paying system so you can pay your rent anytime or anywhere without having to visit the facility
  • Access to units 365 days a year
Hallway of Storage Units | Idaho Storage Connection
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  • Month-to month-leases
  • Concrete floors in units
  • Low cost with great value
  • On-site managers with great customer service
  • Covered and enclosed RV parking
  • Storage options for camp trailers, boats, RVs, household items, and office records

Why Choose Idaho Storage Connection for your Self-Storage Needs?

There are a few things that should never be kept in a storage unit. These items include:

Idaho Storage Connection is proud to offer you the best possible storage options for your belongings in a wide variety of sizes. Whether you are simply looking to store a few boxes or want to store vehicles or the contents of an entire home, we have a storage unit that will work for you. We proudly welcome anyone who is looking for storage space to take a tour of our outstanding storage facilities or talk to our helpful on-site managers about the storage solutions we offer. If you'd like to see what units are available to you, learn more about pricing and get a quote, or need any other information or questions answered feel free to contact us.

Inside View of a Storage Unit | Idaho Storage Connection