With more than 54,000 self-storage facilities, the U.S is the undisputed leader in the public storage industry.
This is a multi-billion dollar industry with annual public storage revenue standing at $22 billion as of 2015. Occupancy rates stand at 87.4{2e7b4b4bb4237f7afb66ad59d59901d5cb12b0a6887a5429cb609a12635a799b}, indicating high demand for storage units.
In such a vibrant industry, there are bound to be lots of options for consumers, consumers like you who are searching for the best self-storage scenario you can come up with.
With that in mind, here are five ideas to finding the top self-storage units near where you live or where you plan to relocate to (out of town).
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Online searches
If you are looking for a public storage unit in Seattle, it is advisable to use the worldwide web to assist you in this process.
For one, the Internet is loaded with self-storage operators, many of whom have plenty of information on their websites regarding their offerings.
As such, you are bound to find one that meets your requirements when it comes to location, security, spacing, pricing etc.
Those self-storage business owners with more in-depth websites tend to be ones with not only their acts together (see more below), but lots to offer consumers.
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Word-of-mouth
As productive as the Internet is these days in alerting consumers to just about any product or service out there, old-fashioned word-of-mouth still exists and works.
If you are staying in your community, yet needing self-storage as the result of a local move or just running out of space at home, ask locals who they’d recommend.
In many cases, you will get enough feedback, feedback that should easily guide you towards a self-storage facility just right for your needs.
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Newspaper ads
Yes, the Internet has led to the reduction of newspapers around the country, including putting a number of them out of business or with online only operations.
That said you can still find many self-storage operations using newspapers to showcase their facilities.
With that in mind, be sure to check the local papers (especially the usually packed Sunday editions of your daily). These tend to have the most in terms of advertising and marketing from businesses, including specials.
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Television ads
Your local television stations are another avenue for you to catch area businesses hawking their products and services.
A local 30-second ad is not going to make a self-storage facility owner go broke, so he or she is still inclined in many instances to use TV to advertise their units.
In some cases, you will see current or past customers providing short testimonials on what they liked about the units they rented, so be sure to pay attention.
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Social media
Finally, many self-storage operators have found over the last decade or so that social networking is a great way to market their businesses.
Look to sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest etc. for more information from area self-storage businesses. Keep in mind that Pinterest and Instagram are heavy on images, so you may very well find lots of pictures of facilities you might find appealing to you.
When the time comes to locate a self-storage facility for your needs, you should have plenty of ideas on how to get started.
