4 Self Storage Facts You Never Knew

Self storage has been around for thousands of years and it is relatively well known of by now, people use self storage for a variety of reasons, but we have some storage facts that might interest you about self storage that many people don’t know.

Self Storage Facts

1. Sizeable Industry

According to a 2013 study, the self storage industry is worth a whopping 24 billion dollars. It is actually one of the fastest growing commercial real estate sectors and has been since the mid-seventies. The self storage industry was even growing during the 2008 recession.

2. American Heavyweights

The largest users of self storage are the Americans. There are nearly 48,000 self storage facilities in the US, and they are continually growing in numbers. Americans are the world’s biggest hoarders of items, and that is mainly the reason for this impressive amount of facilities. Compared to the United States, Canada has about 3,000 storage units and Australia is home to about 1,000.

3. Pioneers

The first storage units can be dated back 6000 years ago in China. Underground pits were used for people to store their belongings, family heirlooms and other items when space became limited at home. The first modern self storage facility was built in Fort Lauderdale in 1958 by Lauderdale Storage.

4. Many Uses

Many people think that storage units are only used for storing things. While primarily this is true, people have used storage units to operate businesses out of, and the business of selling forgotten lockers has sparked a lot of interest because of reality TV shows based around the sale of storage units contents.

Storage facilities are mostly used by people who are living in single family homes (68%) and those who are living in apartments (27%). These statistics prove that expanding your family can lead to increased storage needs. Regardless of the size of your family, storage facilities are always a great option to free up some space in your home and keep your belongings safe and locked away.

sweda

Mike Olsen

18:58 16 Oct 19

This is inexpensive storage that operates 100% as advertised - they do not offer 24/7 access and do not charge 24/7 access pricing. They are incredibly responsive to requests to unlock doors and provide access. It is not fancy but if you need a clean, dry place to store your stuff, you can't beat these guys. Don't expect bells and/or whistles but you also won't be paying for them.

Dave Shirlaw

01:54 10 Jun 19

Have to phone to have buildings unlocked. Annoying.

megan chow

23:06 21 May 19

sara ~

01:04 25 Sep 18

Prices are 1/2 the price of other storage units but it shuts down (locked gates) from 10 am - 6 pm except if you have the enormous ground level outside facing units. Those hours are impossible. The technology getting items up to the second story is an actual forklift thats made stationary. You balance your items up the forklift (and you raise the wooden pallet up yourself) Then you must walk up stairs and hope their is a dolly available to wind precariously around tiny turning hallways. Budget carpentry and ancient carpet in the units. The trolleys sound and feel like their from 1980's and are either coached to disobey or they keep their own counsel. They say its secure but I had a neighbor pick something up and they weren't even asked for permission. I explicitly stated only I was to have access. They said they do not let it happen. The locks are your own, but the flip closure is attached by 3/4 wood screws easily and possibly quite quietly could be opened and emptied with no one batting an eye. A kid could detach it with anything. They have "24 hour security" which means a guy lives on site. Does he/she have CCTV access? Probably not, nor would you want that job. Are there motion sensors? Not likely as sometimes the lights won't turn on and finding a switch in the straggly wandering corridors is impossible. They do not offer insurance. You have to sign forms saying all the things you will and won't do, but they are not liable if anything happens: theft, fire, water, vandals, pests etcSo despite all those complaints, its still 4/5 only because of the prices.