If you have excess personal or business goods that need to be stored, you might be on the hunt for a self-storage unit that keeps your items secure until you need to access them again. Along with finding the right self-storage facility, the biggest challenge is deciding which is the right size self-storage unit for your belongings. Here’s a guide on evaluating the right storage unit size for your needs.
7 factors to consider when choosing the right size storage unit
1. Make a list of what you’re storing
Your first step is assessing your inventory to determine exactly how much you have to store. You might find that you have much more than you initially realised as seeing your belongings in a home or office is familiar, but itemising them individually shows the extent of your possessions. If at all possible, this is a good time to downsize by getting rid of any items you probably don’t use and are unlikely to need in the future. You could donate them to charity, sell them online, or give them to family and friends. Consider categorising your items, such as:
- Furniture: Beds, couches, tables, chairs, chests, and shelving units.
- Appliances: Refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, and other large appliances.
- Boxed items: Items you can pack into boxes such as books, toys, and smaller appliances.
- Vehicles: Cars, motorcycles, or bikes.
2. Find out about self-storage unit sizes
Self-storage units come in all manner of sizes depending on your personal needs, from closet-sized to double garage-sized units. Here’s a look at the general self-storage units in South Africa and what they can store.
Size: 3m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: 1/6 Garage unit
- Dimensions: 1.5m X 2m X 2.75m
- Stores: This unit is ideal for suitcases and boxes that clutter your garage.
Size: 4.5m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: ¼ Garage unit
- Dimensions: 1.5m X 3m X 2.75m
- Stores: This fits most sports equipment and is great for overflow books and boxes.
Size: 6m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: 1/3 Garage unit
- Dimensions: 2m X 3m X 2.75m
- Stores: Washing machine, fridge, small couch and double bed with space for some boxes.
Size: 7m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: Ground floor mini unit
- Dimensions: 3.8m X 1.8m X 2.75m
- Stores: Good for those heavy things you need to store.
Size: 9m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: 9m² Long unit
- Dimensions: 1.8m X 5m X 2.75m
- Stores: The narrow unit is ideal for storing boxes.
Size: 9m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: ½ Garage unit
- Dimensions: 3m X 3m X 2.75m
- Stores: This is good for sports enthusiasts with overflow goods to store. It also fits a 1-bedroom flat.
Size: 12m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: 2/3 Garage unit
- Dimensions: 3m X 4m X 2.75m
- Stores: This fits the contents of a 2-bedroom flat or small home.
Size: 15m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: ¾ Garage unit
- Dimensions: 3m X 5m X 2.75m
- Stores: This stores the contents of a 2 to 3-bedroom home with extras.
Size: 15m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: ¾ Garage high volume
- Dimensions: 3m X 5m X 3.5m
- Stores: This stores large quantities of boxes or bundles of goods like clothing or fabrics, with additional height.
Size: 18m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: Single Garage unit
- Dimensions: 3.0m X 6.0m X 2.75m
- Stores: This stores the contents of a 3 to 4-bedroom home with space to spare.
Size: 27m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: 1½ Garage unit
- Dimensions: 3.0m X 9m
- Stores: This stores the contents of a small 4 to 5-bedroom home.
Size: 36m² Storage Unit
- Equivalent: Double garage unit
- Dimensions: 6m X 6m
- Stores: This double garage unit stores the contents of a 4 to 6-bedroom home and more.
3. Consider the vertical space
Check with the self-storage facility whether you can use the vertical space for storage, as this could be key when stacking boxes or if you have taller items to store such as wardrobes or bookshelves. Remember to always pack heavier items at the bottom.
4. Use online size guides
Once you have an idea of your full inventory list, you can look for an online size guide, calculator, or virtual room planner to assess the amount of space you need. To calculate the total volume in cubic metres, you need to use the equation: Volume = Length x Width x Height. Then you add the total volume of all your items together to get the total volume of your belongings. Some self-storage providers offer personalised consultations to quickly and easily assess your belongings and give you a unit size recommendation.
5. Work out the cost: space ratio
All self-storage units prices vary for their offerings, so be sure to compare the cost-to-space ratio so you know exactly what you’re paying per square metre. If you’re getting security, cleanliness, and care from one facility yet another is charging less for the same, you need to question why. Many self-storage facilities will also run specials so be sure to check online or ask about potential deals.
6. Consider your future storage needs
If you’re going to store more items in future, then you must factor this into your unit size assessment. Rather rent a slightly bigger unit now if you’re going to need the additional space soon, as this will save on moving items into a bigger space at a later time.
7. Check out the self-storage facility
The final step when choosing the right size storage unit is to visit in person. This will give you a real sense of the space and whether they can accommodate your belongings or not. You will also get a better sense of the service offerings, the accessibility of the self-storage unit, the on-site security, and the care for your facility.
Getting the right size unit for your possessions will save you money as you don’t want to be paying for space that you’re just not using. However, you also don’t want to be squashing your items into the wrong space just to save money as this could lead to damage and make it difficult to access your goods.
For all your self-storage queries and needs, contact Cedar Storage in Randburg today! The team is happy to assist with any storage concerns, and provide you with the right guidance on which self-storage unit is right for your needs.
Read More: Best 4 Self-Storage Units in Randburg
