What’s the best way to choose a storage company? Here at Air1 Moving & Storage in Los Angeles, we live and breathe storage. Over the years we’ve kept on perfecting our service to provide the optimal environment for our customers’ belongings.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A GOOD STORAGE COMPANY?
There are various storage companies around so you need to make sure you choose an excellent one. If you choose wrong, it’s a huge risk. Here’s what to check for before trusting a company with your belongings.
IT’S ALSO A MOVING COMPANY
Usually people need storage as a part of moving. They’re moving to a smaller apartment, or moving internationally for a set period of time. So it works best if the moving and storage services are integrated.
We are a storage company that picks up belongings both to move and to store. Our crew can take relevant items into storage at the same time as we drive your belongings to your new home. Simple.
LOOK FOR EXPERT PACKERS AND STACKERS
When you pack up crystal glasses a couple of hundred times you get pretty good at it. It’s the same story with TVs and irregularly shaped art.
Packing and stacking correctly is something that takes experience to do well. Think about what we need to do.
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Pad the items and putting them in boxes
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Seal them from moisture
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Move the boxes
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Secure the boxes on the moving truck
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Move the boxes into storage
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Stack them in a logical way
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Unstack them when you want them back
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Get them back to you in one piece
During this process there are a multitude of possibilities for breakages if you choose a company that’s slapdash about storage.
THE STORAGE COMPANY PROVIDES AN INVENTORY
Will you remember exactly what you put in storage? It’s a great idea to take photos and make a list. Choose a storage company that’s on board with this and will provide its own inventory.
That way when you come to reclaim your belongings, you know there won’t be any disputes.
YOU CAN GET STORAGE INSURANCE
The stuff we store often has more sentimental value than practical use. Think antiques and family heirlooms. Alternatively, they can be large, expensive items like cars and boats.
So storage insurance is key for even more peace of mind. Ask us about our range of reasonably priced insurance plans.
VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
You’ll want to be sure your belongings are safe. Especially if you’re storing cars or antiques. So get a company that has 24 hour video surveillance. That way, everyone’s safe from theft.
And if there was a freak weather event, the videos would show proof of it for your insurance claim.
HUMIDITY CONTROL
If you’re leaving your items in storage during the winter, bear in mind that California winters get damp. So it’s essential to choose a storage company with high quality humidity control.
We’ve heard of many a beloved outfit left to a careless storage company and totally ruined by mold.
Suits, dresses and just about any other garment left in damp storage units just can’t be repaired. Mold can’t be washed or wiped off because it eats into the structure of the fabric.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
A lot of items don’t react well to being left in extreme cold or the typical California summer heat.
INTRODUCING YOUR BELONGINGS THAT HATE EXTREME HEAT AND COLD
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Art
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Candles
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Chemical products
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Electronics
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Leather items like jackets or couches
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Lace clothing or drapes
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Musical instruments
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Printed photos
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Vehicles
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Vinyl record collections
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Wine
All of the above can be damaged or destroyed unless you leave them in climate controlled storage.
And you should take this extremely seriously. We’re talking cracks, changes in taste, melting, warping and so on.
CHOOSE A STORAGE COMPANY THAT INSISTS ON CLEANLINESS
The long-term cleanliness of your belongings should be a top priority of any good storage provider.
If you like, go and check out the units. Your belongings will be there for a while so you definitely don’t want to get them back dusty or musty. Or gnawed by rodents.
THE STORAGE COMPANY WILL DELIVER YOUR BELONGINGS BACK TO YOU
Do you have your own truck? If not, it’s likely you won’t want to visit the storage units and pick your belongings up by yourself.
People do this if they have a couple of boxes in storage and then it works fine.
But all too often they end up making several trips and it’s a real pain for them. So you should definitely look for a storage company that picks up and delivers.
WHAT ARE THE 4 TYPES OF STORAGE FACILITIES?
Finally let’s look at the alternative storage options that you can choose from in California.
#1 LONG TERM STORAGE UNITS
This is the best type of storage unit, and the only type that Air1 Moving & Storage offer. It’s the most secure, and ideal for your belongings.
#2 SELF STORAGE UNITS
These seem attractive on the face of it. You come along with a key and access your belongings. However, they are unlikely to be secure.
Often there is no staff present, but other customers can access the premises where your belongings are stored. How would that make you feel?
#3 CONTAINER STORAGE
This is where you’d be leaving your belongings in a metal shipping container. It’s certainly cheap, but your belongings suffer from temperature extremes and damp.
Also, getting your belongings back tends to be complicated because the containers aren’t easy to access. They’re stacked up to save the company space.
#4 STORAGE IN TRANSIT
This is where you keep your belongings on the moving truck overnight for a weekend or longer. We do not offer this because it’s not as secure as dedicated storage units.
Our trucks are for moving only, and then if you’re moving internationally your belongings are transferred securely to the ship or plane.
CHOOSING A STORAGE COMPANY IN LOS ANGELES IS EASY: IT’S AIR1 MOVING & STORAGE
Now you know which storage company is best, don’t hesitate to call our friendly storage team at (866) 750-3386. Alternatively just use our quick contact form, or email us at [email protected].
