It may give you some piece of mind to think of all of your important paperwork stored securely in your home safe. But before you get too comfortable, you might want to take a look at your safe and ask yourself a couple of questions.
Are you 100 percent certain it’s fireproof? Even if fire technically cannot get in your safe, would the surrounding high temperatures disintegrate any paperwork inside?
Also, how big is your safe? If your safe can be carried away, then it could actually be doing more harm than good as it would be the first thing to go in the event of a home burglary.
Are Self Storage Units Safer Than Home Safes?
The short answer is that, unless your home has incredible security, self storage units can actually be safer.
That’s because storage units (at least the reputable ones) are under 24-hour video surveillance. Also, your storage unit won’t have any glass windows that can be easily broken. What’s more, there won’t be any repair people, cable providers, housecleaners, or nannies coming and going from your storage unit.
You’ll still want to use common sense by putting your important documents in something besides a cardboard box. But, in the vast majority of cases, a self storage unit is actually safer than keeping your valuables at home.
How Safe are Self Storage Units?
There are more than 50,000 self storage facilities across the United States, so it makes sense that some of these businesses will be better than others.
Here are a few things to look for:
- Is the unit well lit? No matter how safe a location may be, dark corners and shadows make everyone feel uncomfortable. Before you chose a storage unit, take a walk around the facility and make sure that the entire location is well lit.
- Does the facility have gated access only? This is a must-have in order for a location to be secure. Whether you’re storing valuable paperwork or electronics in your unit, you want to know that access to the facility is restricted.
- Are there 24-hour surveillance cameras? These are obviously a huge deterrent for anyone looking to cause trouble. Make sure any facility you’re considering has them.
- Does the facility use locks or a keypad entry? Almost any kind of lock can be picked.
Secure Storage Facilities and StorageMart
At StorageMart, self storage units offer more than a place to stash your stuff. They help you to make your own home more organized, while also offering the peace of mind that your belongings are being stored in a clean and well lit location. The best part? There’s never any long-term commitment. Check out our storage unit guide for more information or rent a unit online today.