If you have never rented a storage unit before, it can be a little intimidating to call different facilities and talk with sales staff. In order to determine what you need, they might ask you several questions.  Here are two things that they will probably ask, and how you can answer them in order to get the best deal on your space.

1: "What size of storage unit do you need?"

Before you call around, it is important to have a rough idea of how large of a storage space you need. The first questions that they will ask you will be about what size of unit you are looking for, and not knowing could lead you to rent a larger space than is necessary.

The average price of one square foot of storage is about $9 per year, or 75¢ per month. Renting a larger unit than you need to can really add up, so it is important to secure the right size.

Instead of giving the facility manager a verbal list of all of the items that you intend to store, consider the actual dimensions of your things and calculate the amount of square footage that you will require.

Remember that a large bathroom is about the size of a 10x10 foot unit, or 100 square feet, and that a single car garage is about the size of a 10x20 foot unit, or 200 square feet. Keep in mind that you can always stack your belongings, disassemble furniture, or nest some objects into others to save space.

If you call in without a clear idea of what you want, storage managers will most likely try to put you into a larger unit in order to make sure that all of your belongings will fit. They do this in order to keep you from having to transfer to a different space later, which usually requires a lot of new paperwork.

By having a good idea of what you need, you can save yourself and storage managers a lot of hassle.

2: "How long will you be renting?"

In order to determine what kind of deal to give you, sales associates will ask you how long you intend to store. Generally, it isn't in a storage facility's best interest to recruit tenants that need storage for a brief amount of time.

For example, college students are not usually customers that are sought after in the storage industry. These types of tenants only use units for a few months, and then move out promptly when they return for school. This means that they take up valuable space for a brief amount of time, reducing the number of long-term tenants could potentially rent at the facility.

Storage facilities value tenants that rent for a long period of time, and that pay the full amount of rent each month. Because new customers are generally offered move-in specials that reduce their overall revenue, targeting their sales approach to students or other customers that don't intend to stick around wouldn't be a good business decision.

If you are shopping for a unit and they ask you how long you plan on renting, it is in your best interest not to tell them, or to lead them to believe that you will be there longer than you actually plan to be. When managers think that you will be around for awhile, they are more likely to offer you an aggressive special on your unit. On the other hand, if they know that you are a short-term tenant, offering you a great deal will only hurt their bottom line.

Understanding the types of questions that you will be up against when you shop for self-storage at places like StorageOne can help you to mentally prepare for the experience, which will probably work to save you money and frustration.

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