You've carefully packed and stacked your newly acquired self-storage unit, like a live-action game of Tetris. You close the door and lock it, but that lock shouldn't be the only protection for your possessions. How safe are they in the unit? What would happen if someone was to break into the unit?
Before You Rent
Not all storage facilities offer the same level of security. If you need to store items of value, you should choose a facility that reflects that value. Do they have security cameras? Is there someone on hand 24 hours a day? Yes, these features are going to increase the monthly rental fee for the unit, but surely it's worthwhile for the peace of mind these features can give you. Even when you choose a facility that is less likely to be broken into, you still need to think about whether you will need insurance for the items. It's a short thought process because the answer is yes, you do. But what level of coverage is going to be appropriate?
Insurance Option 1
Many self-storage facilities offer an optional insurance policy, and this charge is applied to your monthly rental fee. If you opt to use this policy, don't simply view it as a general, all-encompassing form of protection. In the event of theft or vandalism, will the policy cover the contents of your unit? There might be specific exclusions that pertain to what has been stolen, such as antiques and jewellery. While you might think that the insurance offered by the facility will be sufficient, you will be out of luck if the contents of your unit contain these excluded items. Even when your unit does not contain any excluded items, the value of the policy should also be examined. A basic policy might not reimburse you for the full value of what was stolen. But, depending on what's actually inside the unit, this basic policy might be more than enough.
Insurance Option 2
Before you purchase an insurance policy from your storage facility, you should also check the specifics of your existing home and contents policy. Is there any provision for off-premises coverage? Even if the items protected by the policy are not physically on your property, they might still be covered, although this can vary depending on the type of policy you hold. If there is any confusion, contact your insurance provider for clarification. They might be able to amend your policy, offering the necessary degree of protection while your items are being stored off-premises.
Really all you need to do is make sure that your chosen facility offers the necessary level of security and that the insurance you choose is going to cover you if something untoward was to happen.