Are you having a hard time deciding whether to use your garage or rent a storage unit?
Both have their benefits, and it can be tough to decide which is the right choice for you.
Both choices have benefits and drawbacks, but picking the one that best suits your needs is simple.
In this post, we'll help you figure out which option is best for you.
The Benefits of Using Your Garage Instead of Renting A Storage Unit
Costs Associated With Renting Are Incredibly Expensive.
The cost of renting a self-storage unit will depend on a number of factors, including the size of the unit you require, the location of the facility, and the presence or absence of amenities like climate control.
It is also important to account for the possibility of hidden costs.
The fees can quickly build up, as nearly half of renters may retain their place for a year or more.
When your lease is over, you will have no actual assets to display for your payments.
Hidden Fees and Optional Upgrades
The total amount you spend for a storage unit may be more than you anticipated because of other fees and services on top of the monthly rent.
The rental agreement's tiny print may not make clear that there will be additional costs, such as a one-time fee to set up your storage unit or a recurring monthly insurance premium.
The self-storage facility will also try to boost its profit margin by upselling you on optional supplementary services and amenities.
You may choose to upgrade your storage unit's security by purchasing additional locks or moving it to a more convenient location near the facility's entrance.
Ultimately, the price of renting a self-storage facility will be higher than the price listed on their website.
The Hassle of Getting to Your Self-Storage Facility
Items stored in a self-storage facility are probably not ones you use frequently.
However, you must have a good purpose for keeping them.
You will have to visit the storage facility in person if you have a need to access your unit.
This could be a lengthy process, depending on its location.
Moreover, you can only access your storage unit during the hours that the storage facility is open. It's important to keep in mind that many self-storage facilities aren't open every day of the year or on big holidays.
Problems With Upkeep, Theft, and Destruction
You are investing a lot of trust in total strangers to keep your stuff safe, even if the storage facility is locked.
Here are a few things to think about:
- Is there guard duty covered by someone on the premises at all hours?
- How well-screened and educated are the guards?
- How often are cameras checked and for how long?
- How safe is the area (think about things like gate height, security lighting, and local crime statistics)?
- Is there a working fire alarm system and water sprinkler and in the building?
- How well kept is the building?
- Is there a way to tell if the climate control is doing its job and keeping the place dry and pest-free?
- Do you know how much your possessions are insured for in the event of loss or damage?
Putting your belongings in a self storage unit requires more than simply faith in the facility's staff to protect them.
In addition, you have no notion what is kept in the next units.
Anything from illegal drugs and weaponry to stolen goods and toxic poisons is possible.
Your Reluctance to Declutter Because of Your Storage Unit
If you move your junk to a remote storage facility, you're considerably less likely to deal with it. Put something where you won't have to think about it, and you'll forget about it.
In a matter of years, not only will your storage unit's contents have accumulated additional dust, but so will your savings.
If you've reached the point of hiring a self-storage container, you probably have too much stuff to fit in your house as it is.
That reduces the usefulness of your house. A lot of research has linked clutter to increased levels of stress.
You can clear up unwanted clutter by selling your unused belongings at garage sales, consignment shops, or online at sites like Craigslist or eBay. Donating some of your belongings, especially furniture, to a charity is also a good idea.
Spend a weekend clearing out your garage of any unwanted junk that you have lying around that you can't donate or sell. Just get a truck, round up some friends to help, and take it all to the nearest landfill or recycling centre.
If you're looking for things to outfit your entire garage, GarageSmart® got you covered. We can turn your cluttered garage into a clean, crisp, highly functional area for your home.
The Downsides of Using Your Garage as a Storage Unit
Level of Security
Self-storage facilities, on the whole, are safer than a home garage.
Garages are a great place to store your vehicle, but they may not be secure enough to keep your belongings safe if they only have one layer of protection.
Valuable goods like heirlooms and collections should always be safeguarded with many layers of security.
GarageSmart® Storage Cabinets, Draws, & Work Benches are the perfect way to organize your garage! With GarageSmart®, you’ll have plenty of storage space for all of your tools, sports equipment, and other belongings.
Most self-storage facilities have several layers of safety precautions in place.
Typically, storage facilities have high walls, gate entrances controlled by keypads, video monitoring, guard facilities, and even meticulous administrators to prevent break-ins.
The lock on your storage locker is unique to you, and only you have the key.
No Climate Control
Warping, cracking, and mould growth are all permanent damages that can be caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures and humidity.
There is almost always no protection from the elements in a garage because of the lack of climate control.
Climate-controlled storage facilities are the answer to this predicament. Humidity-related damage can be limited by storing items in these units, which are kept at a constant temperature range of between 55℉ and 80℉.
Storage facilities with climate control are more prevalent in humid and high-temperature regions.
There are numerous goods that require controlled climate storage.
Conflict Over Parking Spots
Garages provide homeowners with a protected space to keep their cars out of the elements.
If you use your garage for other purposes, you may not have enough space to keep your car safe.
If you keep your car in the garage, your auto insurance premiums can even decrease.
The majority of auto insurers provide discounts to policyholders who keep their cars out of harm's way by garage storage.
No Pest Management
Damage from insects and rodents is another risk when storing things in a garage.
Even if you haven't seen any rats or other insects in your garage recently, the presence of cardboard boxes and other belongings could entice them to make a home there.
Unlike your own garage, most containers have pest control to safeguard your belongings.
Often, this entails the use of preventative pest management, which serves to forestall pest issues before they even arise.
Constant Anxiety
A clean and uncluttered garage may do wonders for your mental health.
You can rest easy knowing your car and other valuables are safe in a self-storage facility, and you can put the garage to any purpose once you clear away the clutter.
Installation of Storage Systems Might Help You Make the Most of the Space in Your Garage
Items that you intend to transport to a storage facility should be kept in the garage. It's likely that your garage is already full if you're considering using an off-site storage facility.
Finding creative garage storage solutions is preferable to renting a storage unit. When it comes to making more room in a garage, nothing beats installing new cabinets.
Many people waste their garage space by not making use of the vertical space available.
Garages, where cars are sometimes kept, require particularly large amounts of floor space. Installing cabinets for storage will free up a tonne of floor area by facilitating better organisation and making better use of vertical space.
A well-optimized garage offers the same conveniences as a storage facility without the associated inconveniences.
Need Help in Choosing The Best Garage Storage For You?
GarageSmart has the perfect storage solution for you, and we can tailor it specifically to fit your needs. We have years of experience in the storage industry and know how to make the most out of every space.
You’ll be able to finally declutter your garage and get everything neatly organised and out of sight.
Plus, our adjustable storage means that you can change your mind about what you want to store whenever you want – no need for expensive renovations!
Request a quotation on our website today!
Conclusion
It's not easy to determine whether to rent a storage facility or use your own garage as a repository for your belongings, but making the best choice is straightforward.
However, if the garage simply has one layer of security, your things may not be protected.
Due to the lack of climate control, a garage provides essentially little shelter from the outdoors. An answer to this problem is climate-controlled storage facilities.
The price of renting a self-storage unit will vary based on a number of criteria, such as the required storage unit size and the facility's location.
Consider the likelihood of unexpected expenses as well. Nearly half of tenants may keep their accommodation for a year or longer, which can lead to a rapid accumulation of costs.
Self-storage demands more trust than in a facility's employees to protect your stuff.
What's in the following storage lockers is a mystery to you.
It might be anything from narcotics and weapons to stolen items and poisons.
If you haul your trash to a distant storage facility, you'll be far less inclined to deal with it.
So many individuals don't make good use of the vertical space in their garages.
The benefits of having a storage unit are same to those of having a well-optimized garage.
Instead of paying for a storage container, it's better to figure out a way to store your belongings in your garage.
Putting away items in cabinets allows you to reclaim valuable square footage on the ground and maximise the potential of your walls.
Content Summary
- Do you feel torn between storing your things in your garage or renting a storage unit? Both options have their advantages, so picking one may be difficult.
- In general, self-storage facilities offer more protection than a private garage.
- However, if the garage simply has one layer of security, your things may not be protected.
- Always use many levels of protection to keep your priceless artefacts and collections safe.
- The majority of self-storage facilities include many levels of security.
- Moreover, a garage rarely has any sort of climate control, so you won't be safe from the weather there.
- An answer to this problem is climate-controlled storage facilities.
- Areas with high humidity and temperatures tend to have a greater concentration of climate-controlled storage facilities.
- Climate-controlled storage is necessary for many different items.
- However, if you need to park your car in the garage for work or other reasons, you may not have enough room.
- By parking your vehicle in a garage, you may be able to lower your monthly insurance payments.
- Most storage containers also feature pest control to keep your valuables safe from unwanted visitors, unlike a garage.
- When you store your car and other possessions at a self-storage facility, you can rest easy knowing they are safe, and you may use the garage for whatever you'd want.
- There are a number of variables that go into determining how much it will cost to rent a storage unit, such as the size of the unit, the location of the facility, and the availability of features like climate control.
- Consider the likelihood of unexpected expenses as well.
- Payments for a storage unit typically include not just the monthly rent but also a variety of other fees and services.
- Additional fees, such as an initial setup charge or a monthly insurance payment, may not be explicitly stated in the fine print of your rental agreement.
- You may improve the safety of your storage unit in a number of ways, including by acquiring extra locks and relocating it to a more central part of the facility.
- Rental fees for a self-storage unit will end up being more than what is advertised online.
- You probably aren't going to use the items held in a self-storage facility very often.
- But there better be a strong reason for you to keep them.
- You must physically visit the storage facility in order to gain access to your unit.
- In addition, your storage space is only accessible during the times that the facility is open.
- Even if the storage facility is secure, you are putting a lot of faith in complete strangers to take care of your belongings.
- Furthermore, you have no idea what is stored in the following units.
- If you haul your trash to a distant storage facility, you'll be far less inclined to deal with it.
- Keep something out of sight and out of mind, and you're more likely to forget about it.
- The contents of your storage container will be gathering dust faster than your funds will grow in value.
- Simply put, if you need to rent a storage container, you have far more possessions than your current living space can comfortably accommodate.
- The efficiency of your home will suffer as a result of it.
- By selling your unused items at garage sales, consignment shops, or online at marketplaces like Craigslist or eBay, you may free up valuable storage space and make room for new, more useful things.
- It's also recommended that you help those less fortunate by donating part of your possessions, especially furniture.
- This weekend, devote yourself to getting rid of all the unused items that are just taking up space in your garage that you can't give away or sell.
- You may make better use of the space in your garage by installing storage systems.
- It is recommended to keep in the garage any items that will be moved to a storage facility.
- Most likely, you're looking into a storage facility since your garage is already jam-packed.
- Instead of paying for a storage container, it's better to figure out a way to store your belongings in your garage.
- Installing new cabinets is the best way to free up space in a garage.
- So many individuals don't make good use of the vertical space in their garages.
- By allowing for more order and making more efficient use of vertical space, storage cabinets can free up a tonne of otherwise needed floor area.
- The benefits of having a storage unit are same to those of having a well-optimized garage.
FAQs About Garage Storage
How Can I Declutter My Garage Quickly?
- Devise a Plan of Action.
- Make it Fun.
- Assess The Mess.
- Create Dedicated Zones.
- Garage Cleaning and Organizing.
- Consider Your Organizing Systems.
- Consider Garage Shelving and Other Garage Storing Solutions.
How Much Does It Cost to Clean and Organize a Garage?
The national average to organize a garage is $1,410, with a typical cost range of $600 and $2,542.
The total cost can range from a low of $160 for small areas that don't need additional storage systems to a high of $5,550.
Is Overhead Garage Storage Safe?
As long as they're installed properly, and your garage ceiling can support the weight, overhead storage is extremely safe.
Storage manufacturers put their products through rigorous testing and rate them up to a specific weight limit.
What Is the Best Wood for Garage Shelves?
Why should you use hardwood plywood in your garage? Simple. Hardwood plywood is sturdy, moisture-resistant, dimensionally stable, versatile, easy to work with, affordable and beautiful.
Hardwood plywood panels are made from plies (layers) of wood glued together at 90-degree angles under pressure.
How Often Should You Clean Your Garage?
The answer is, as a general rule of thumb, every six months.
This is the perfect amount of time: it won't let too much debris build up or embed itself in your concrete, but at the same time, it isn't so frequent that you're investing in unnecessary services.
