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The uses for storage companies are obvious - you store all your belongings, and items that you just don't need, but you aren't ready to get rid of them. But what other uses are there for storage containers and warehouses?
I use my storage facility at my local Big Yellow as an overflow. I think most people do use it for this purpose. It's a great, low-cost, safe way to store all your items that just won't fit in your house, but you aren't quite ready to give up yet and get rid of them. Maybe it is antiques? Maybe it is family treasures from relatives who have passed away? Whatever it is, using a storage facility in this manner is very common. But what if you decide to use that space in other more inventive ways? A lot of entrepreneurs are doing just that across Britain. Many stories of small businesses using storage company facilities as office space are starting to emerge. The trend seems to have started with some more seasonal businesses, such as Harpreet Ramprakash who owns a small business selling santa hats.Naturally, the business only really starts up around the end of summer and pretty much ends just after Christmas. This means it can be rather cumbersome for Harpreet to have to locate premises for a short period of time.Previously he had to rent a small, cold industrial unit on a 12-month lease. This meant he needed to sub-let the unit for the months he wasn't using it. Then Harpreet had an idea. Why not rent a small unit at a storage facility? He checked with the company if this was possible - which they said was fine as long as the basic rules and guidelines were not broken. This works very well, as the rent is very low compared to a normal office/unit space, it has better heating, and the tenancy agreement is easy to chop and change! Harpreet can even expand into another unit if he has a busy year, or downgrade if it is quieter than expected - very flexible! Of course, this is a special case. But what if you have a long-term office requirement? Could you still take advantage of using a storing company as your base? It depends. You need to formally address what your requirements are, how many staff you have, and whether you need specialist equipment, phone lines or electrical equipment. However, it might be worth discussing with your local storage facility and seeing what they can offer. You also need to remember that you are unlikely to get windows or proper heating, just enough to stop freezing temperatures! Cities in the North of England seem to be leading this trend, with many companies based in Liverpool, Manchester and Stoke all leading the way on opening their centres to businesses in the area, and encouraging new and growing businesses to use their storage units as a cheaper and more flexible alternative whilst they are in their early days. Liverpool is known to have costly rents for office space, due to a shortage in available office pushing the price up, so it's easy to see why storage in Liverpool and Stoke, and Manchester are leading the way in this. Students are also getting in on the act of using storage companies to their advantage. Students who travel from abroad to the UK cities, are storing items they need in specialised storage facilities set up for the student market. This way, overseas students can store items out of term time, and then get help with moving companies transporting them between UK cities if they change location. Very savvy indeed! In fact, the Univeristy of Liverpool has realised this and its website now advises overseas students of their nearest storage facility. So maybe you should consider a storage facility when thinking of your next office move, or when your children may want to head to Univeristy or college abroad! Purchasing an affordable storage unit can be a strain because you know you need one but don’t want to pay the high monthly fee sometimes associated. The right storage units have somewhat became a necessity in this day & age which is why they are popping up everywhere. No one can argue they provide a value asset often letting you store important items for different seasons, when you need more space, etc. The problem is with demand comes the requirement of supply and when they are few units in your area, you can end up paying a high monthly fee renting one. However, there are a few tips you can take advantage of when renting a unit that can save you enormous amounts of money each month. We’ve talked to the experts and here’s what they have to say about making use of storage units. They provided their top money saving tips and we’ve listed them below.
Exit Strategy One of the best ways to save money is to have an exit strategy in mind so when times get tough you can move out of your unit. First, don’t sign any long-term contracts because you don’t want to be locked in a commitment of paying a monthly fee when you can’t afford it. Next, if you find something which is more affordable, you might want to move out of the unit and into the lower cost unit so you can save that extra money. Remember, the goal is to find something which you can afford each month and which provides you exactly what you are looking for. Reduce Space Required There is no point in paying for space which you don’t need so it’s important to choose a unit which fits your requirements. Storage units are rented by space required so don’t rent out space which you don’t need because it’s a complete waste of money. Next, you can lower the amount of space required by removing things which are not important. Many people will store items they no longer need and this is increasing space and cost for your storage unit. It’s important to take out time from your schedule to organize what you need and what you don’t. The stuff not required you can throw out or place somewhere else as storage units are usually for things important and which you don’t need right away. Insurance Policy People know that storage units often keep valuable things so they are sometimes the target of theft however many storage units are now beginning to offer insurance so make sure you get it when you rent a unit. This means your investment and things are safe when they are in storage unit. Imagine paying monthly and than losing your things to theft, a fire or other event. It’s essentially losing your complete investment because you paid to keep things safe in storage and the outcome was completely different then you expected. Saving money through insurance is a great tip because you are protecting your valuable goods in case something happens in the long run. There are many reasons why people choose to use storage units today. So what are some things you should know before using self-storage and what exactly can you store in these units? We are a storage blog providing you the very best information so you make the right choice when choosing a unit for yourself. We understanding that some items are meant to be kept securely even though using them day-to-day might not be a priority. This is how we can help by providing you the information you need to make the right choice and tips on what to look for.
Here are some facts about Self-Storage units your not familiar with... Read tips on how to ensure you choose a unit which is spacious and clean. This way you know you things are in an environment which preserves the quality of your items. Learn why it's important to choose units which are climate controlled for your items which cannot be in hot or cold temperatures. This way your ensured everything is at room temperature and the quality is preserved. Learn why it's important to choose a company which provides various different payment options. This will help you streamline the monthly fee going forward and can save you hundreds of dollars. Finally for ease, make sure you find units which are completely insured so that your belongings are fully covered and you reduce the risk of long legal battles. If you require more information please read some of our other posts. |