Look, I’m the manager at a storage facility. My name’s Dan. I’ve been doing this for eleven years. I’m the guy you call when your lock is stuck or you need a bigger unit.
I need to tell you what not to put in your storage unit. Not because the rulebook says so, but because I’m the one who has to deal with the aftermath. And trust me, you don’t want to be that customer.
Let’s get to it
Forget the gas can
I had a guy last summer, a nice guy, who stored his lawnmower. He left gas in the tank. In July. The fumes built up and when our maintenance guy plugged in a fan nearby, the spark… well, we evacuated the whole building. Fire department and everything. Your lawn equipment needs to be empty. Bone dry. No “just a little bit” of gas. That little bit is all it takes.
Stop using your unit as a pantry
I don’t care if it’s a case of canned soup or a bag of fancy dog food. If a mouse can smell it, they will find it. I once saw a mouse chew through a sealed plastic tub, then a Tupperware container, to get to a bag of birdseed. They don’t stop at your unit. They go next door and have babies in someone’s expensive leather sofa. You will be responsible for that bill. And you will not be popular.
Nothing that’s ever been wet
This is the big one. The silent killer. You pack up your tent after a camping trip. It’s a little damp, no big deal, right? Wrong. Three months later, you open your unit and it smells like a locker room that has flooded. That mold isn’t just on your tent. It’s in the air. It’s settled on the wooden legs of your dining room table. It’s ruined the box of books your dad gave you. Mold is a nightmare. It’s almost impossible to get rid of. If it’s not completely, totally, 100% dry, do not lock it in a box. You are just ruining your own stuff.
Your most important things should stay with you
We have good locks and cameras. But we are not a bank. Do not put your life’s most precious things in here. I’m talking about the physical photo albums from before everything was on phones. Your grandpa’s war medals. Your passport and social security card. The one-of-a-kind painting your kid made for you. If you could never, ever replace it, it belongs in a fireproof safe at your house, not in a storage unit. I’m not trying to scare you, I’m being practical. This is for things you value, not for things that are your heart.
Finally, the living stuff
No plants. They’ll die. It’s sad. And for the love of all that is good, no animals. Ever. It’s dark, it’s lonely, and it’s no place for a living creature. We will find out, and we will not be nice about it.
Here’s the real deal. When you rent from a place like ours, you’re not just renting a space. You’re joining a little community. We all rely on each other not to do stupid stuff. I promise to keep the place secure and the lights on. You promise to use the common sense you use every day.
If you’re looking at something and your gut says, “I’m not sure,” just listen to it. Or better yet, give me a call. I’ve seen it all, and I’d rather you think I’m an idiot for asking than have me call you about a mess you can’t even imagine.
That’s it. That’s the talk. Now you know. Store smart.
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