Stuff. Everybody understands, maybe too much of it. You wish it out of sight but right here. Now enter Brilliant Storage Limited, the unsung hero for messy closets and overburdened garages worldwide. Sounds easy, and it can be, but before you put your third-grade spelling bee trophy next to the Christmas lights, remember a few do’s and don’t’s.
First of all, doors really count. A heavy metal roll-up door has magic; it kind of shrugs off bolt cutters and makes would-be burglars uncomfortable. And avoid the cheap locks from the dollar bins as we are at it. Any day, a disc lock or cylinder type outperforms a run-of- the-ordinary padlock; practically, it’s like the difference between a toy lock and Fort Knox.
You could believe cameras belong in spy thrillers or action movies. No, They are everywhere in safe ministorage, staring day and night from corners. Though some say the camera detects when you have bedhead, really it only maintains tracks. Twenty-four-hour monitoring is peace of mind, not frightening. Alarmed, units boost the ante even further. If something seems fishy, klaxons blare and the cavalry is called.
Let us discuss bugs, moisture, and dust. Storage is about keeping items fresh, clean, and unchewed, not only about keeping people out. Aunt Sally’s antique tea set is kept from melting in the summer or freezing in February via climate control. And moisture barriers under the floor help your comics avoid turning mush during a wet week.
Ever attempted to find anything at midnight? If you are an insomniac packrat, 24-hour access may be a gift. Still, keep your wits about you in the small hours. Certain areas call for personal codes or sophisticated fobs to ensure only the correct people pass the gate. For night owls and forgetful types, that is a big bonus.
Insurance is like a lifeboat—most people hope never to use it, but friend, it’s wonderful to have when things go wrong. Some storage options let you put it onto your homeowners’ policy; others provide it right there. Look over the fine print for a few minutes. Should your boxes disappear into thin air or the ceiling collapse during a storm, will your insurance cover?
In fact, some storage facilities will text you should your unit be visited unplanned. Once, I received a note as during a storm a gust of wind whipped the automatic gate open. I briefly believed Indiana Jones was in there prowling my cardboard crates. As it turns out, the weather was merely acting in concert.
Security in ministorage is therefore not only buzzwords or sales speak. It combines clever technology, dry air, careful eyes, and decent locks. Combining common sense with these qualities will help your valuables to rest peacefully until that future yard sale or life rebirth.