If you’ve got a garage at home, we’re willing to be you got some stuff stored in there. Whether you’ve got just a few boxes of knick-knacks or things are stuffed floor to ceiling, everyone has something tucked away in their garage.
While there’s no arguing that the immediate accessibility of a garage is more convenient for accessing things you need on a regular basis, anything that you want to store long-term is almost always better off in a storage unit than your home garage.
So, before you haul that old leather chair that you just can’t bear to get rid of into the garage, consider the following:
Climate Control
Unless your garage is fully insulated and climate-controlled with heat and/or air conditioning, whatever you’ve got stored in there is getting exposed to your local weather extremes. That means whatever you’re storing in there gets exposed to the highest and lowest temperatures, and the highest and lowest humidity in your climate.
Wood, leather, rubber, plastic, and many other common materials become susceptible to warping, cracking, mold, and mildew in those kinds of conditions.
With climate-controlled self storage, you don’t have to worry about any damage to your possessions due to weather. Climate-controlled storage units are optimized to keep their contents at the optimal temperature and humidity all year round, regardless of the actual weather outside.
Security
If you keep anything of real value in your garage, ask yourself: How hard would it be for someone really determined to get in and steal your stuff? Aside from the usual deadbolts and padlocks almost everyone has on their garage doors, what else is keeping your valuables safe?
Reputable self-storage facilities typically have multiple layers of security in place around the clock. This often includes measures such as:
Gated access
24/7 video surveillance
Alarms
Security lighting
Security guards
If you have any concerns about the security of your home garage, it’s worth considering putting your valuable items in a more secure facility. If you do decide that self-storage is a better option, be sure to ask about security measures before making a commitment.
Your Car
Do you leave your car in your driveway or on the street because you don’t have room to put it in your garage? It’s a pretty common scenario for many American homeowners. Most people, if given the option, would prefer to park their vehicles in their garages if given the choice.
Parking you car in the garage makes it more secure at night, and allows you to avoid inclement weather when you leave and come home. While this all might sound like a “nice to have” rather than a necessity, did you know that keeping your car in the garage can lower your auto insurance premiums?
Insurance companies factor your vehicle’s security when determining the price of your insurance premiums. For example, let’s say you and your neighbor both own cars that are the exact same make, model, and year. If your neighbor parks on the street, and you put your car in the garage every night, you would likely pay less for the same amount of insurance.
Will the amount you save on insurance be enough to cover the cost of a self-storage unit? Probably not, but it’s certainly worth calling your insurance provider to find out how much you might be able to save.
Peace Of Mind
Some people don’t mind have a garage full of stuff. For those that do however, it can often feel like a burden or an eyesore that never goes away. Moving the contents of your garage into a secure self-storage facility can bring a sense of relief and peace of mind.
Here at GoldKey Storage, we offer a wide range of secure, climate-controlled storage units that can accommodate the contents of almost any size garage. To learn more about our facilities, rates, and available units, please contact us today.