How Safe is Storage Anyway?

It's understandable for someone to have concerns about something before they actually have all the details. When you are buying a car, don't you examine the doors and the hinges and look under the hood? Don't you kick the tires to check if they are soft? And when the salesman tells you about the special deals that are available "for this week only", don't you take time to wonder where the catch is?

Yes, it's completely natural, which is why when I was interrogated by a client recently about the level of security that storage facilities really offer, I didn't take it badly. The gentleman was clearly entitled and I was happy to pass on all the information that I could.

He was moving to the west coast and his belongings were going to be transported quite some distance. It meant a short-term storage period at around the midway point, of two nights. He could understand why but he was concerned about losing items that were "important, not expensive", as he put it.

So what type of security should you be looking for? Well first of all, it's worth keeping in mind the fact that without good security a storage facility just isn't going to stay in business. It's only logical then that the facility will put everything they can into making it as secure as possible.

Second, the days of seeing old padlocks on metal latches are long gone. Modern facilities can have electronic keys and digital codes on the doors, as well as technology to adjust the storage environment (the air temperature, for example).

Third, facilities usually have guards on duty 24 hours a day. They carry out regular patrols to make sure everything is okay. There are also CCTV cameras that can record everything that happens.

Basically, storage facilities should be as safe as Fort Knox, though with a significantly smaller military presence!

At Sage, of course, we've been keeping our clients' belongings safe for years. We take security extremely seriously and, as such, guard what we are storing as if it was our own. I guess that's why we've had so many satisfied customers.

This particular client seemed at ease when we had finished our conversation, and of course, his move went smoothly with nothing missing when his things arrived in San Diego!