4 Things to Consider When Renting a Storage Unit
A new year typically comes with new resolutions--weight loss, exercise plan, budgets, hobbies, home improvement projects, etc. One of the popular to-do list items for the new year is to get organized. Some may see that as a resolution, and others are forced to do that to accomplish other goals because they need SPACE. A storage unit at a self-storage facility may seem like a great solution. It's a great place to store items you do not need on a daily basis. However, before you sign that rental contract, here are a few things to consider.
1 - COST & PAYMENT OPTIONS
There’s no need to push this to the bottom of the list. Everyone is first concerned with cost—the impact on the wallet—so let’s go ahead and address it. We did a quick search for a 10 x 10 storage unit in Greenville, SC. Averaging the cost from 10 facilities resulted in a monthly fee of $74* per month. Let’s do a little math.
Storage Unit Cost:
Year 1 = $888
Year 2 = $888
Year 3 = $888
Year 4 = $888
4-Year Total = $3552 (assuming there are no price increases)
Choosing to rent a storage unit means never-ending monthly payments. When you do choose to end your payments, the contract ends and you are once again stuck with the stuff you didn’t know what to do with in the first place. You haven’t gained or accomplished anything.
Purchasing a storage shed for your backyard may be more affordable than you thought. Westwood Sheds offers a Rent-to-Own payment option, allowing you to own your shed with the convenience and flexibility of a rental contract. For a similar size space, a basic storage shed would cost about $107* per month.
Storage Shed Cost:
Year 1 = $1284
Year 2 - $1284
Year 3 = $1284
Year 4 = $0
4-Year Total = $3852
Choosing to purchase a storage shed means there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Payments will stop. And when they do, you will be the proud owner of your very own backyard shed. It’s yours to do with as you wish. You’ve gained the pride of ownership and you have a forever space for your things.
*Pricing as of 1/1/2021
2 - ACCESSIBILITY TO SELF-STORAGE FACILITY
Let’s imagine it’s Saturday morning and you decide to do a little cleaning. There's a pile of stuff in your driveway that you want to keep, but can no longer remain in your garage. You load up your treasured items in the back of your vehicle—after of course you clean it out to make space. You drive across town to your storage unit to give your things a new home. Once you arrive, you once again unload the items from the car and get them to your unit. Maybe it’s on the 2nd floor or maybe you don’t have easy access from your car. You make several trips to your car and then the job is finally complete. You go back home to enjoy the rest of your Saturday, watching the big game or your favorite movie. You pull into the driveway and there it is—another pile. Where did that come from? Oh yeah, your spouse found more things that need to go to the storage unit. So much for the big game!!
Now imagine you have a backyard shed. Your shed is equipped with a lofted area for storage or maybe some shelves for boxes. You move the items from your driveway to your backyard storage shed—maybe you can even get the kiddos to help. In no time, you are free to enjoy your Saturday afternoon. Even if your spouse finds another box of things for storage, you can take care of that on a commercial. Easy-peasy!
Access is an important factor to consider when renting a storage unit. Wouldn’t you rather have your things close by where you can easily access them? What if your child decides he/she wants to pick up soccer again? Where are those shin guards? Do you want to walk in the backyard or drive to a storage unit? Most of us prefer convenience these days, but the choice is yours.
3 - OPTIONS & CUSTOMIZATION OF STORAGE UNIT
Aside from sizing differences, most self-storage units are about the same. Of course, there are some options, such as climate control, enhanced security, and elevators for multi-level facilities. However, for the most part, it’s sort of a one-size-fits-all approach.
With a backyard storage building, you can design a shed that’s exactly what you need. Need a workspace and storage? Choose a lofted building with a handyman package and you get the best of both worlds. Want to use your shed as a retreat? Add extra windows, or even a transom dormer, for natural light and a porch for added charm. Westwood sheds are customizable in so many different ways. You can choose the style, size, color, layout, windows, and doors—and that’s just to mention a few of the options.
4 - VERSATILITY & LONGEVITY
A storage unit is good for one thing—storage. It doesn’t help you with that space you need to store your extra fridge or freezer. It won’t be very helpful on the first warm day of spring when you spontaneously decide to pull out your gardening supplies. It doesn’t give you space to work on that messy volcano project for your kid’s school project. It definitely won’t provide an escape when you just need a little time away from the family—unless you like sitting in a cold, dark room with a bunch of boxes!
A storage shed in your backyard, however, can be used for many things. Of course, the most popular use is storage. However, it can also be a classroom for distant learning or a home office for remote working. It can be an art, painting, or pottery studio. It can provide a safe and secure location for your treasured collectibles. A backyard storage shed can even be a much-needed place to retreat when you transform it into a man cave or she-shed or even a playhouse. The best thing about a backyard shed is that it can grow with you. Maybe you start out using it for storage and then the kids grow up and move out and you no longer have that much stuff. You can take that same shed and convert it into a space you can enjoy. The possibilities are endless.
STORAGE UNIT OR SHED?
Self-storage units are a great option for people who need space for temporary storage. But if you want more than that, consider a backyard shed. At Westwood, we are passionate about helping people find the perfect addition to their home. We believe life should be enjoyed and celebrated and know that families need space for life. We believe every backyard deserves a shed. That’s why we build sheds. That’s why we build them for life…your life.
DESIGN YOUR OWN SHED ONLINE
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