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You have a storage unit to store your extra household items, collectibles you want to keep, and perhaps even a few sports equipment. You appreciate all that extra room at home, but you're not sure how often you should be visiting your storage space and checking in on your belongings.

There's no hard and fast rule for this. You should visit as often as you feel comfortable doing so. Here are a couple of factors to keep in mind.

How Often Should You Check on Your Storage?

Most often, it's a good idea to pay a visit to your storage location at least one time each month or even once every two months. How often you visit should depend on a few things.

• Delicate items: If you have items that could be considered delicate, such as collectible items that could suffer significant damage from changes in air quality, you may want to visit a bit more often just to make sure all is well.
• Highly valuable items: It can be good for peace of mind to check in on your expensive items a bit more often just to be sure all is well.
• It's not a climate-controlled space: If your storage facility isn't climate controlled, there's a higher risk of damage to items during seasonal changes. Depending on what you're storing, you may find it beneficial to stop in a bit more often to make sure your belongings remain in good condition.
• The security in place: Also consider the type of security in place at the storage facility. If you feel the security there is high, such as with CCTV surveillance and electronic gates, you may feel more comfortable not visiting as often. If there's less security, checking in as often as once a week may be important to you.
• Significant weather events: There could be situations where you should stop in to check on your belongings, such as after a significant windstorm occurs or if you know the area has had a lot of flooding. While the best storage facilities do their part in keeping locations safe and protected from the weather, large and unpredictable storms may impact your outcome.

It's also a good idea to check your lease. In some situations, your contract may state that you are responsible for checking on your belongings. Some may state a timeframe for how often you are required to do so, while others only make a blanket statement to encourage you to check on your items.

My Storage Is in Another State – How Can I Check On It?

Whether you're traveling for work or just in the process of moving, you may have a lot of your belongings tucked into a storage unit in another state. That's not uncommon, but it does make checking on your unit a bit more difficult.

First, learn what the rules are for the storage facility. Are there any requirements that you physically visit the unit often? Most often, this is not the case, but you should still learn what they are.

Depending on the location, you may have to ask for some help. If you cannot make it back to check on your belongings at least one time every couple of months, you'll want to turn to a friend or family member in the area to help you with this process. That's the best way to have someone you trust look in on your belongings to ensure all is well.

It may be possible to contact the storage facility and inquire about some help. Though there are limitations on what they can do for you (they typically cannot open the unit for you), they may be able to help you with a visual exterior inspection to make sure all is well. They can also tell you if your locked unit is still locked. Be open with the team at the storage facility about what's happening, and they may be able to help you with the process.

How Do You Maintain a Storage Unit?

Having a storage unit doesn't mean you don't have to pay attention to the space or the items you have stored within it. There are a few things you can do to improve the overall results you get using your unit. Here are some tips for maintaining the unit.

• Step into the unit and look for signs of concern. Is there a musky smell? Are there areas that are wet? Always address problems immediately to ensure they can be handled properly.
• Check under your items. The floor may look dry until you peer under the totes in the space and find out it's not.
• Inspect the unit for any signs of damage to your belongings, including small holes or any signs of pests.
• Keep the items in your storage unit covered. This can help to minimize the amount of dust that builds up on the exterior of these items. That includes items in your totes as well as larger items you're storing.
• Avoid storing food, chemicals, or items that are super sensitive to light and changing conditions. You also don't want to store items in here that are dangerous to the facility or other people.

Managing your storage unit doesn't have to be a challenge. Stopping by, opening up the door to let some light and fresh air in, and a visual inspection will only take a few minutes.

We're Your Storage Solution!

Storage Rentals of America is your convenient self-storage solution. So come into our office or give our storage experts a call at 1-800-457-5678. Our call center is available 7 days a week and can help determine which storage unit size best fits your storage needs.

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