December 11, 2009
Kalyan Kumar

The self storage business is picking up in many urban centers worldwide. As a growing number of people are facing problems on limited space especially in the metropolitan areas, self storage facilities are seen as an ideal solution.

Some 58,000 self storage facilities are in place around the world today and most or 52,000 of them are situated in the U.S. In the U.S. alone, there is an estimated 1.6 billion square feet of rentable space available. In Australia, there are 22 million of rentable square feet available while in the U.K., available rentable square feet is 20 million.

Also referred to as self service storage or mini storage, these facilities are similar to warehouses that people rent out for a certain period of time in order to keep their valuable things or stocks. For instance, families and individuals living in apartments don't have extra space to store their bulky appliances. Also, businesses renting out only a small office space may not have sufficient space to keep important documents or inventory. In both of these instances, self storage facilities can solve their problems.

Unlike warehouses that are quite huge in area, these facilities also known as rental units are smaller and are ideal for storing even small items from household appliances, furnishings and accessories to vital business documents. Various sizes of storage space are available today to suit every client's needs starting at a minimum or 5' x 5'.

Other than the size, clients can also choose between the open and enclosed types of unit depending on the items that they need to keep in a safe and secure place. For regular and recreational vehicles, owners may choose from either the tent type or the container type of self storage.

Security is guaranteed in these areas so clients need not worry about losing their valuable stuff. Most facilities install a closed circuit TV (CCTV) camera and even an alarm system for their doors to ensure that security is provided to stored items round the clock. Clients are also provided with the keys to the locks used in the doors and they are the only ones with the keys to ensure that nobody else enters the premises of their rented spaces.

If room temperature is an issue, clients can always look for climate controlled units. In these types of self storage facilities, mold or mildew and other moisture problems are prevented and therefore ideal for storing perishable items such as vegetables, meat and fish.

These self storage units can be rented on a monthly basis and the duration can be as long as you need your things to have a secure storage space. Most are very affordable to rent. Be sure to read carefully the terms and conditions before signing a contract. Ask questions if needed to clarify everything. Some providers may ask for a deposit up front while others may not require such deposit.

Before deciding on a self storage facility, do make it a point to shop around first to compare rates and features. It would also be a good idea to select a provider near your place of residence for utmost convenience.