At one point in your life, you’re bound to put some of your stuff in a storage unit — whether it is a year or a month is completely up to you, but it’s something that most people will do.
In my young age I’ve already done it at least twice and I’ve selected protection to go along with it both times. Since I don’t own a home (and therefore, homeowner’s insurance), and my parent’s plan doesn’t cover storage units (which I found out most plans don’t), I elected for the coverage offered by my storage provider to give me peace of mind for my items.
But, with so many options and plans available, it can be tough to figure out what is the best plan for you. At Moving Insider, we like to make things as easy as possible — so I’ve cut through the fine print to give you five simple things you should look for in storage protection. As a customer, if our goods are worth storing, they are worth protecting. And, ultimately protecting those goods falls square on the shoulders of us the customer.
Provider
In more cases than not, it is usually the path of least resistance to look for a plan that is associated with the company you are renting the storage unit from. It makes for less paperwork on the front end and far less headaches on the back end if you end up needing to file a claim. It also makes for simple one-stop shopping when looking for the right storage unit. SafeStor by U-Haul is a great option that is bundled in to your monthly storage unit rental fee.
Remember, time is money and the excess time you spend finding another plan and making sure it’s applicable to your goods can add extra stress to your search. Bundling coverage in your rental plan is also a great way to cut costs and save money in the long run.
Don’t Assume You’re Covered
Most homeowner’s insurance plans do not cover items stored at a location other than your home — my parent’s plan did not cover my items. While nothing may happen to your items over the duration of your storage rental, it’s always nice to have peace of mind. While most, if not all storage unit companies pride themselves on clean, secure storage units, unfortunate events do happen.
Look for a plan that is easy to understand and not filled with lots of legal garble that is tough to understand. Make sure the salesman is sold on their product — ask them, “would you purchase the coverage for your valuables?”
Burglary
Protecting your valuables is the number one priority of all storage facilities. Even the most secure facility can still have a burglar from time to time. Some storage facilities don’t insure their customer’s property, so it’s important to look for a coverage plan that covers burglary.
Look for a plan that offers comprehensive coverage if items are stolen. Most plans require signs of forced entry, so be vigilant. Remember to never share your key or gate code with anyone else.
Weather
Weather has to be one of the most important facets of any protection plan. The true unusual player, weather has a mind of its own and does not answer to anyone. In other cases, it is up to the storage facility to mitigate the issue. Reinforced security–such as locks–can help protect burglary. But weather is immune to anything a facility may do.
Look for a plan that covers you for extreme weather: hurricanes, tornado, wind, earthquake and hail. Most storage facilities will prepare your unit accordingly, unfortunately accidents do occur sometimes.
Specific Item Coverage
If you know what you’re storing ahead of time, you can check against potential storage coverage plans. Most plans will have a list of exemptions.
Have you ever had a great experience with a storage coverage plan? Do you have a go to provider who has always had your back? Let us know in the comments below.
