Despite living in a time where we can fit everything in the palm of our hands, many people find their homes cluttered with the things that they’ve collected over the years. No matter how large or tiny your space is, there’s always something that just doesn’t seem to fit anywhere. This clutter often leads us to seek out additional means of storage – and what better way to do it than renting a self storage unit?
Why Use Self Storage Units?
Self storage units are extremely beneficial for storing items you no longer have room for in your own home, have too much of, or items that need more security than you currently have available. With the large collection of storage units, many people find it impossible to fit all their belongings into the space that they have available.
How Much Do Self Storage Units Cost?
Self Storage unit prices vary depending on the size and location of your unit. Storage sizes range from as small as a fraction of a room to roomy enough for a single car and still not being considered too small.
Self Storage unit prices also vary by how often you need your rental filled. “icebox” or “frozen” units are generally the least expensive while the most expensive lock-down units will cost you more than $1 per month.
What Can You Store In These Units?
Self storage units are available in several different sizes. The smallest of them are considered the “icebox” units and they are the most affordable (and the smallest). There’s typically not enough room to store even a single vehicle inside, but it’s more than enough space for you to store seasonal items, such as camping gear, holiday decorations, or other large items that you don’t need regularly.
The next larger rental is called the mini-storage unit and it allows you to store anything from a couple of boxes to an entire car. It’s generally large enough for all your belongings when you move into a new apartment or home and need some extra space until you unpack.
The next size up is called the standard storage unit. This size is large enough for most households as it allows for storage of several furniture pieces and will sometimes hold a single car if you have a larger vehicle.
Larger units are available that can allow for the storage of several vehicles and can be found in locations across the country, including in cities such as Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.
Here are five interesting facts about self storage units that may surprise you:
- The Self Storage Concept Is Older Than You Think
The idea of storing your possessions in a facility that isn’t considered your own property is an older concept than you might think. Of course, most people don’t think about the fact that there’s an entire industry dedicated to storing objects for people around the world. The concept dates back to at least 2000 B.C. when people would store their possessions inside temples and tombs for safe-keeping. In the modern day, self storage units are used by anyone who needs to store belongings and is usually rented either on a month-to-month basis or rent by the year.
- It’s Normal To Rent A Unit If You Are Moving
If you know you’re moving in six months, it makes sense to put some of your belongings in storage until you find a new residence. But apparently, it’s not only normal but a common practice: almost 4 million Americans move every year and roughly 40% of Americans will rent a self storage unit at some point in their lives.
This means that nearly 1/5th of the population rents one at some point in their life – and many more than once! Of course, this doesn’t mean that 1/5th of people rent self storage units for the rest of their lives – just that they’ve rented one at some point.
- The Self Storage Industry Has Been Getting Busier
Over the last five years, the self storage industry has grown by 17.2% – not only in the United States but around the world as well. And by 2020, industry revenue is expected to increase by $11 billion worldwide. How much of this increase will take place in the US and worldwide is unknown, but it’s clear that self storage units are here to stay.
- The Self Storage Industry Is Bigger Than Boxes
According to the National Association of Self Storage, an estimated 50 million self storage units in the United States and Canada are available for rent: that’s one for every seven American households. That’s a lot of storage units in – and a lot of box.com customers who didn’t know about their options!
- There Are More Units Than You Think
Self storage facilities are growing at a rate of 6-7% per year, meaning that they’re certainly not going away any time soon. According to Boxes and Packing Cubes magazine, there are currently around 500,000 self storage facilities in operation around the country with another 10,000 new facilities being built each year.
Conclusion
So these were some interesting fun facts about the Self Storage world. Let us know what you found interesting about them in the comments!
