Security
Safety is one of the most important issues in storage, the worst thing that can happen to your stored articles is that they get stolen or damaged. We want our stuff to be safe, just like our homes. We make sure that our houses are safe, doors and windows locked and our possesions out of reach from burglers. Our self storage providers should take the same approach.
There isn’t a self storage operator that doesn’t have some form of protection on its premises. But that doesn’t mean they all have the same standards and tools. Some go all out on security while others stick to the bare necessities. So how important do you deem security? A lot may depend on what items you wish to place in storage. Expensive works of art or childrens toys. Grandfathers extensive library or your childhood comics. It makes sense that if you store valuable items such as art, heirlooms and jewelry that you would choose a more secure facility. If it’s just second-hand furniture that you’re storing you may pick a more standard and cheaper variety.
Have a look before you leap, look a few of these facilities over, that will give you a better picture of what measures of security you’re really looking for in a storage provider. Are their fences intact, do they provide sufficient lighting, both during the day and at night, do they have security guards on patrol at night, do they have proper CCTV in place. If they don’t you may want to check out the competition. If you’re responsible for the lock on your unit bear in mind that a good padlock alone will not stop a thief if he’s already got that far.
There are a lot of differences in safety standards in the self storage branch. Make sure the operator of your choice has at least a few of them in use. we’ve made a list for you of all the security options available in self storage.
1. Security personnel on foot making sure everything is as it’s supposed to be.
2. CCTV cameras that are watched 24/7.
3. Motion sensitive security lighting linked to an alarm system.
4. Permanent security lighting to discourage burglars.
5. Alarm systems, each unit may have it’s own alarm linked to a manned central control room.
6. General alarm systems, facility wide.
7. Infra-red motion detector systems.
8. Fences, electric or not. A new development in fencing at self storage facilities
are concrete walls that prevent burglars from seeing what’s further up ahead.
9. Managers that live at the facility, being in charge at a moments notice if need be.
10. Alarm systems linked to a police station.
11. Smoke and fire detectors. Smoking is almost always prohibited at self storage facilities.
12. Electronic access cards, sometimes with key-code access only.
13. An intercom system that will warn stray visitors they’re not going where they’re supposed to.
14. A sign in and sign out book, keeping record who was there and from when till when.
15. Extra reinforced units, making it harder for burglars to get in.
16. Secured locks that will becomes inaccessible once the wrong key-code has been entered.
Insurance
You may think that self storage operators have some sort of insurance covering in place for the articles stored at their facilities. Hey, everone’s got insurance right? Not quite, oh, they’ll have insurance but not the kind that has your interest in mind. If you pay standard rates you won’t be granted full covering, if they say you do get full covering then don’t be surprised if your standard rate is higher than most other self storage operators. If you cherish your stuff you’ll want to be paid out in full in case of theft or damage. So, make sure you look into the amount of covering you get and if that’s not enough get yourself some extra insurance.
The first thing you should do is call your own insurance firm and ask them if your policy fully covers the stuff stored at your storage company. Maybe it does or maybe you need to increase your covering. Taking out an additional insurance policy may be more expensive and something you would avoid if you can. Don’t be suprised if your storage operator will ask you for some kind of evidence indicating your own form of insurance.
Most self storage operators are quite willing advice you on insuring the goods you store at their facility. There are storage providers that have their own insurance policy, they may even demand that you make use of it, they’ll ask you for a complete list of everything you have stored there. Once you’ve done that they’ll come up with a number of policies that would be most suited to your needs and ask you to chose one. Then there are those that have arrangements with other insurance firms and demand that you use their policy, some have policies that are intended only for storage facilities, these will usually offer you a far better deal than any other you could find for yourself on the market.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you change the amount or number of articles in your storage unit you may also need to change your insurance policy. See if you can find an insuror that won’t have any problems with that.
Not every storage operator will insist on you taking out insurance, most do, and rightly so. Insuring your stuff is insuring you won’t lose it, at least not its financial value.
Most self storage buildings have a number of security measures in place, but this doesn’t cover flooding, explosions, storms,
fires or other freak accidents. They may do all the can against theft but that doesn’t guarantee that nothing ever gets stolen. They may have a no-smoking policy on the premises but that doesn’t mean there’ll never be an outbreak of fire. These are all good reasons to make sure your property is properly insured.
