Approximately 10% of U.S. households use self-storage units, not including commercial rentals for business purposes. If you're one of the 10%, you'll want to make sure you choose a good self-storage company.
There are numerous reasons people need to make extra space. They may be moving to a new home and want to declutter their house while it is on the market. Sometimes they are temporarily storing items until their new home is ready for them to move in. Often, businesses need extra space to store inventory.
No matter the reason you are looking to rent a unit, it's likely you’ll want to rent from one of the largest self-storage companies in the USA. Here are the top choices to help you choose a self-storage company
. Public Storage
Headquartered in California, Public Storage is the largest owner of self-storage locations in the U.S. Established in 1972, the company employs more than 5,000 people in more than 2,000 facilities. Having a long history in the business, Public Storage has seen the industry evolve and modernize over the years. The company offers great deals, often charging only $1 for the first month for new customers.
All the facilities are fenced with electronic gates requiring access codes, are typically open extended hours, often have managers living onsite, and offer insurance for your items. Public Storage also has a wide variety of units, including standard, climate controlled, and vehicle and RV storage.
Owning nearly 1,700 locations throughout the U.S., ExtraSpace Storage has facilities in 39 states and employs more than 3,600 people. The second largest owner of self-storage facilties, the company is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Besides offering numerous types of units, ExtraSpace Storage offers individual alarms for every unit. Facilities are fenced with electronic gates requiring access codes, and there are on-site managers at every location.
For added protection for your belongings, the company offers insurance and regularly scheduled pest control. There's also storage for autos and RVs, which you should take extra care in protecting if you are planning to store for an extended period
. Life Storage
Life Storage is one of the largest self-storage companies in the USA. The company has more than 750 locations and is headquartered in New York. Born in 2016 from the merger of two large national firms, Life Storage is better known for its business units. Personal or business, the company boasts an abundance of features such as motion-activated lighting, fenced facilities with code access electronic gates, and 24-hour surveillance video systems.
Types of units offered are similar to the other top self-storage companies, with one exception. Life Storage also offers wine storage units in many of its facilities with special climate control designed specifically for that purpose.
StorageMart
Founded in 1999, StorageMart is headquartered in the midwest city of Columbia, Missouri. Located in 18 states, the company offers hundreds of units with added security features. StorageMart includes fenced facilities with access codes for the electronic gates, camera surveillance, odd hour access as necessary, and they even receive deliveries for customers. Types of units include climate-controlled and vehicle storage units.
Placing your belongings in storage requires a lot of trust on your part. You will have better peace of mind if you use one of the best self-storage companies in the USA. If the facilities mentioned here are not available in your area, do your research to find one that takes added security measures and goes the extra mile to keep your stuff safe.