7 Benefits of Drive-Up Storage Units for Vehicles
The US market for self-storage units reached a staggering $38 billion in 2019. With more than 2.3 billion square feet of rentable self-storage space currently available nationwide, this real estate sector continues to boom.
In the last half a century, storage units have played a massive role in the way people across the country organize their lives. As new investors enter the industry and existing ones broaden their portfolios, these miniature warehouses will only become more common.
If you’ve been on the market for storage space for your vehicle or other treasured property, you’ll be happy to know that there’s a variety of options to choose from. But what exactly are drive-up self-storage units? More importantly, what benefits can you reap by opting to use them?
These are some of the issues we discuss in today’s post. Keep reading to learn more.
Understanding Drive-Up Self-Storage Units
A drive-up storage unit is a garage-like storage space that lets to pull your vehicle into or next to it for easy unloading and loading of your items. Usually, drive-up storage units are an outdoor option. However, you can still find indoor facilities that offer drive-up access.
Drive-up self-storage units are typically enclosed and come in different sizes. Typically, the smallest units are the size of a one-car garage. The units are ideal for storing various items, including:
- Household and personal items when moving
- Vehicles
- Building and Gardening or supplies
- Outdoor recreation equipment such as jet skis and dirt bikes
- Furniture
- Winter snow equipment
Some drive-up storage units are also perfect for storage for vehicles.
What Makes Drive-Up Storage Units So Desirable?
Demand for drive-up self-storage units continues to skyrocket, and it’s easy to see why. Below, we outline seven top benefits of these facilities.
- Easy Access
Drive-up storage units are built at ground level, which makes it easy to move the vehicle right up to the entrance. This is important because it minimizes the chances of your goods being damaged.
As you probably know, most damage done to goods happens when you’re moving them to the self-storage facility, not when you’re storing them. With the vehicle parked at the entrance of the facility or inside, it’s easier and safer to load and unload items.
- Transfer of Heavy Items is Easier
Sometimes, you are using drive-up storage to store bulky items, such as furniture. With this type of facility, you needn’t worry about the people moving the items damaging their backs since they’ll only need to move the items a short distance.
- You Save on Moving Companies
With other types of storage facilities, you may need to hire a moving company to help you load and unload heavy items. The best movers don’t come cheap, and there’s no guarantee they’ll take the utmost care of your expensive items.
Drive-up storage units eliminate this problem by helping you get as close to the unit as possible. This way, you can do the job yourself or with the help of a friend or relative.
- You Get Larger Space for Storage
An indoor storage unit is usually designed to fit the design of the entire building. These units are generally compact compared to drive-up storage centers.
Drive-up centers don’t usually include hallways, exterior walls, or doors for people to enter and exit. Rather, each unit has only its walls and entrance, which help make its overall size bigger.
- They Offer Car Storage Possibilities
Sometimes, all you may want to store your vehicles in a self-storage facility. Earlier, we pointed out that the smallest size of a drive-up storage facility is a one-car garage. You can still get a larger facility, depending on the type of vehicle you’re looking to store.
There are many benefits to opting to store your car in a drive-up storage facility, especially if you are a car collector. For starters, you can rent the space almost indefinitely. Moreover, many of these facilities give you the option to control the room’s humidity and temperature, so your car doesn’t get damaged.
An added benefit is that drive-up storage centers are considerably spacious, making it easier for you to work on your vehicle whenever you need to.
- They’re Affordable
Drive-up self-storage facilities are the ideal choice for people with a relatively small budget for storage units. These facilities typically cost much less than indoor storage centers.
Given that drive-up storage units are larger than indoor storage units, it might seem surprising that they would be cheaper. The reason is that indoor units usually provide more security benefits. Besides, indoor storage facilities have more temperature control options.
That said, it’s important to note that outdoor storage facilities still do offer security and climate control. These units will usually have high-quality locks and security cameras, among other security features. You also get humidity and temperature control options.
- You Get Better ROI for Your Large Items
When you invest in large items such as vehicles, boats, yard equipment, and so on, you expect the best return on investment (ROI) on them. When you keep the items outdoors, they often experience faster wear and tear.
The harsh elements may cause rust on the gears and cranks and swelling on wood. Even plastic can get weakened by the heat and cold.
The best solution is to keep your large items out of the weather. Unfortunately, you may not always have enough space in your home to do so. Opting to rent a drive-up storage facility is an excellent option as it provides a secure and affordable place for your expensive items.
Choosing a Storage Unit
Different drive-up storage units have different features, so it may not always be easy to know which one will work best for you. In this section, we outline several things to consider when selecting a drive-up storage facility, whether you’re looking for short term or long term storage.
- Consider the Item You Wish to Score
What you wish to store will play a great role in determining the type and size of the facility you should go for. If it’s antique furniture or heirlooms, then you want a climate-controlled unit. If you’re planning to store some sports equipment or seasonal items, a smaller unit should suffice.
- Value for Money
You’re going to be spending your hard-earned money on a drive-up storage facility, so it’s only natural that you want to get the most out of it. Of course, rental fees will vary considerably based on location, size, and unit features.
Start by making sure that the facility has all the amenities you need. Compare different facilities and carefully examine their quotes. You also want to enquire about discounts or specials.
Always insist on an accurate, all-inclusive quote before signing any papers. You want to steer clear from facilities that may have hidden fees.
- Location
Chances are you want a drive-up storage facility near your home or office. The convenience of being able to get to the facility quickly can be irresistible. But before you rush to make a decision on the ideal location of a storage location, ask yourself where specifically you intend to use the items you plan to store in the facility.
If the storage unit is meant for your vintage car or yard equipment, then choosing a location near your home makes perfect sense. On the other hand, if you intend to store your skiing equipment or personal watercraft, it makes sense to choose a storage center close to a nearby mountain or lake.
- Amenities
Understandably you want to take advantage of the amenities that a facility offers. Some of the amenities may be more important to you than others.
Start by looking at the facility’s security features. Is the facility well-lit? Does it have perimeter fencing, video surveillance, electronic gate entrance, and resident managers?
Next, consider the convenience the facility offers. Consider such things as online reservations, month-to-month leases, daily access, extended access hours, and online bill payment.
- Trustworthiness
You’re storing your precious belongings in a place other than your home. It’s essential to know that you can trust the facility to take care of your goods.
Start by checking their online reviews. You can visit such online places as Yelp and Google to check their ratings and customer reviews. If the facility has good ratings and reviews, you have a good idea of what to expect.
Visit the facility in place and speak to the staff. Observe how they treat you and other clients. When they speak to you, do they seem confident and sincere?
Take a good look at the facility. Does it look like the pictures you saw on their website and social media pages?
CHOOSE A DRIVE-UP STORAGE UNIT AND REAP THE BENEFITS
Drive-up storage units can make a huge difference for people looking for storage space for their items. The ease of access, security, affordability, and storage options that these facilities offer make them the number one storage option for millions of customers.
Are you looking for the ideal storage solution for your items? Please contact us today.