Need A Storage Unit? 3 Things You Will Need To Grab Before You Head Out The Door

After spending the time to clean and organize your basement on a busy Saturday afternoon, you might be ready to grab your purse and head to a local storage facility like Arthur's Self Storage to rent a space. Unfortunately, if you show up to your favorite storage business empty handed, you might not be allowed to rent a spot right away. Here are three things you will need to grab before you head out the door:

1: A Photo ID

When you rent a storage unit, you will be signing a contract stating that you are legally responsible for paying monthly rent and looking after the unit. Unfortunately, if you default on your rent or decide to damage your storage space, you will be held liable for the damage or debt that you incur. Because of these legalities, most facilities require new tenants to prove their identity by showing a photo ID. 

When you go to rent a storage unit, bring along a government issued driver's license, passport, or military ID. If you don't have access to these forms of identification, call the storage facility to see what they will accept. Some facilities might accept school identification cards or even club cards that contain your picture.

2: Secondary Contact Information

If anything were to happen to your storage unit, a facility manager would try to get ahold of you. Unfortunately, if you have a bad phone number on file or your address isn't current, the facility might not be able to inform you about that spreading facility fire or recent water problem. To fend off communication issues, some facilities ask that you bring along information for a secondary contact. For example, you might be able to give your parent's name, phone number, and address. Keep in mind that secondary contacts are not typically liable for the unit, they are just another line of communication to keep you informed about your space.

3: A Sturdy Lock

Last but not least, the storage facility will require you to bring your own lock. Although you might be tempted to pick up the cheapest version you can find at your local hardware store, finding a sturdy version will be crucial to your storage success. Instead of a flimsy padlock with an exposed shackle, look for a disc lock with a protected body. In addition to having limited shackle exposure, disc locks also have spring-loaded pins that make them difficult to pick.   

By having what you need when you arrive to rent a storage unit, you might be able to streamline the process—so that you can start unloading your extra stuff.  

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