Article updated on 04/01/2024
The warehouse and storage industry has grown consistently over the past two decades, and with my many people choosing to downsize or choose the nomadic life in the wake of the cost-of-living crises, the industry is only expected to grow further. In fact, the UK storage industry is predicted to grow to approximately 29.95 billion U.S. Dollars by 2025.
With a growing industry comes constant new players in the market, therefore it can be difficult to know what type of storage suits your needs as well as which facilities you can trust and rely on.
When looking for a reliable storage facility you should consider the following:
- Cost
- Trustworthiness
- Security Systems
- Insurance
- Climate
- Removals
1. Cost
Cost is an important factor to balance when looking for the right storage facility. Choose a facility that’s too cheap and your belongings could be impacted by damp, cold or loading damage. In some cases we’ve been past customers have items go missing (this is why ensuring your storage provider is insured is also important).
However, choose a facility that is too expensive and you could bit hit by an unexpectedly heavy bill, or unable to extend your storage period due to cost.
Containerised storage vs self storage
Containerised storage and self storage will also differ greatly in cost, and for good reason. Our recommendation is to collect a handful of 3 to 5 quotes from some nearby facilities and compare these costs with their reviews and the five considerations that follow to make an informed and affordable decision.
2. Trustworthiness
Google Reviews are a great indicator of how trustworthy storage facilities are. You’ll want to pick a space that has delivered excellent service in the past, to ensure that your items are also stored with care.
Trust and experience also go hand-in-hand. The chances are that the more experienced your team are, the better their service and facilities. We know this to be true – our 131 years of expertise at Falconer Removals is reflected in our 5-star reviews as well as our recent feature in Classic and Vintage Commercials magazine.
Reviews don’t lie. Ensure your chosen storage facility is both highly reviewed in quantity and quality.
3. Security Systems
For your peace of mind, you’ll want to know for sure that your furniture is safe. We’d recommend picking a storage space that is manned and has 24/7 CCTV.
The best storage facilities will seek to keep everything separate and ensure that each container is clearly marked with the name, date and location of its owner – a system that we believe all storage facilities should use.
Seeing is believing when it comes to finding storage you can trust
You should also see your furniture loaded into containers and labelled in-front of you, so you know for certain that your items are stored with extreme care and precision. The units should then be clipped and sealed airtight while you are present, so your belongings will not get mixed up or lost.
For even more peace of mind, it’s important that no-one other than staff can enter the storage space so there’s no chance of your furniture ending up in the wrong hands.
A professionally installed camera system helps to deter thieves.
4. Insurance
But what if something still goes wrong? Well, a good storage service should have comprehensive insurance to protect you if anything were to happen.
This should cover all your items, so you can rest assured that you and your belongings are protected in the event of an unfortunate incident. Remember it’s not untoward to request proof of insurance from your storage provider – especially when there are family heirlooms or antique items at stake.
5. Climate
To ensure your stuff remains in good condition, we’d also recommend a storage space that is heated, dry, and clean.
You might find that some storage depots are converted and adapted for storage but, in our experience, the best ones are those that have been purpose-built for storage from the ground up.
At Falconer Removals, our storage facilities are purposely built for storage, meaning that your space will always be heated, dry and clean.
Feel free to ask your chosen storage facility if the storage space is heated.
6. Removals?
If you require storage because you’re moving, see if you can find a team that do both. This ensures that those positive reviews you’ve found, proof of insurance and positive reputation spans across the entire moving process.
Likewise, if you require specialist packaging for fine art and antiques to ensure that no damage occurs during transport or storage, make sure that your storage team and/or movers can accommodate for that too.
About Us
To learn more about our removal services or purpose-built storage facilities, contact Nathan. At Falconers we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your goods are moved with expert precision and kept in perfect condition. For more expert advice on how to pack, move and store your belongings — or other FAQs on how storage works — check out our blog page.
– –
Written by Holly Charman, for Falconer Removals & Storage.
