So, you’ve come to the decision that you are in need of some extra storage. Whether you need storage for personal use, such as moving house, or for business use, such as storing stock, you need to decide what you are after when choosing to rent a self storage unit.
This day and age, there are so many different types of storage facility to choose from, it could take you a long time to make a decision. You could be choosing from large, multi level storage, that you will normally find in a city or town centres. Shipping container storage facilities, often located just outside towns, that are easily accessible via main road etc. And farm yard storage, often in rural locations, on the back of a farm which isn’t being used for anything else, so owners are looking to diversify.
To help you make the right choice, we are going to compare a shipping container storage facility to a farm yard storage option, and help you to make the right decision in keeping your belongings protected.
Storage Units
As both options use shipping containers as their choice of storage, it’s important to know what to look out for and what you can expect.
At RedSpot, every shipping container we buy is brand new. They are only single use units that were transported here, carrying items such as electronics you might be using to read this blog! Using brand new containers means we can guarantee the unit to be safe and dry, and will be more than capable to keep your belongings in perfect condition until you need them.
On the other hand, farm storage units are often second hand, or used shipping containers. The problem with used shipping containers, is you have no guarantee of it being safe and secure, or whether they will be able to keep your belongings dry. Plus you don’t know what’s been previously stored in there. The whole purpose of you putting stuff into storage is to keep them in perfect condition, but you may be running the risk if you store in a used shipping container.
Access
Arguably one of the most important things you should consider when choosing the best storage options. You want to know exactly when you can have access to all your belongings. There’s no point paying for storage if you can’t actually access your unit when you want to.
With RedSpot, you can take advantage of 24 hours access, 7 days a week, to your storage unit. You don’t have to worry about office hours, if you fancy doing some late night sorting, there’s nothing stopping you!
With farm storage, the chances are you’ll also have reasonable access hours, as you aren’t relying on a storage manager to let you into your unit. You’ll be able to come and go as you please.
The Facility
It’s important to know what the state of the storage facility will be in. A shipping container storage facility is designed and set up for the specific use of being a storage facility. This means it will be neat and tidy, with all the shipping containers in neat rows and you should have no issues finding your storage unit. It’s also highly likely the ground will either be a type 1 rubble or tarmac, making it ideal if you have a big moving van that you are using.
It’s important to remember than a farm storage facility is primarily a working farm, but the farm has found some unused space and wants to diversify. The chances are the shipping containers may not all be in neat rows, rather just where the space is. Although your unit will still be easily accessible. As well as that, because it’s a working farm, there may also be farming equipment lying around. Just something to be mindful of.
Security Features
Is your stuff being properly looked after?
You want peace of mind knowing that your belongings are safe, secure and well looked after. Take a look at what security features each storage facility has to offer.
At RedSpot, we have a number of different security features in place to help keep your belongings safe and secure:
- CCTV: Keeping a watchful eye on your storage unit.
- PIN Coded Entry: You’ll get your own personal gate code for you to access the storage facility.
- Security fencing: Keeping the facility secure.
- Alarm Systems
- Lighting
It’s likely that farm storage will have some security features in place, but not all of the above. It’s worth checking to see. You want to make sure there is enough to ensure your belongings are safe and secure.
Customer Services
So, what are you going to do if an issue comes up with your storage unit? Who are you going to get in touch with?
At RedSpot, our storage experts are on hand to help you with any issues that may come up. We’ll help you find the right sized unit, taking payments, or helping recommend a man with a van. You’ll have peace of mind that if any problems were to come up, there will always be someone on the other end of the phone to help you out.
If you are using farm storage, the chances are you are relying on the farm owner to help set you up, and show you to your unit, and they’re your only point of contact. Depending on the time of year, the owner might be busy working on other areas of their farm, leaving you stranded without access to your storage unit.
Cost Of Storage
Cost is obviously very important to everyone. You’ll want to know you are getting good value for your money.
On average, farm yard storage tends to cost less, however, you aren’t getting as much in return. There may not be as many security features in place to help keep your belongings protected. Whereas with a shipping container storage facility, the cost will normally be a bit more than what you would expect to pay for farm storage, but , as we have highlighted throughout this blog, we are getting a lot more for your money. This include top range security features. When considering your option, you should think about which facility has a better chance at keeping your belongings safe.
Hopefully you have found these tips helpful and you are well on your way to choosing the best shipping container storage option!
