Creepy Self Storage Stories

Self Storage seems innocent enough. When you run out of space, you rent a unit from a Trusted Self Storage location, move your belongings into the space of your choice, lock the door, and go home, comfortable in the knowledge that your possessions are safe, secure, and conveniently out of your house. For the most part that’s true, but did anyone ever tell you about the insane things that sometimes happen at those other self-storage facilities? In honor of the Halloween season, we thought you might find these spooky stories amusing and maybe a little bit scary. If you want to hear about everything from a meth lab to a chop shop being run out of a storage unit, read on.

 

Somewhere in a self-storage unit near you …

Looking for spare parts?

A man in Hartford, Connecticut was using two storage units for his “business.” No, I don’t mean his auto supply business; I mean his chop shop. He was dismantling stolen cars and selling the parts or using them to build new cars. This operation was discovered when a picture of a stolen car was posted on Facebook. A good Samaritan who saw the post contacted the victim and explained that he had seen the car in a storage unit. When the Sheriff opened the unit, he found several cars, along with parts and engines. An 18-year old man was later arrested. How’s that for creative vehicle storage?

Need a place to live?

We all know that a storage unit is not for storing “people.” It’s meant to be a home away from home for your belongings, not for you. You can visit your stuff, but you can’t live with it. Unfortunately, the homeless population doesn’t see it that way. Not only did a group of them break into a unit, but they weren’t happy with the chilly temperatures. When firefighters responded to an early-morning fire in a storage unit, they found that it was caused by a heating source that was placed too close to combustible items. Twenty-eight units were affected, causing a $240,000 loss in structural damage and stored items. Fortunately, there were no injuries.  

Is your basement meth lab exhausting your space?

Remember Walter White’s storage unit meth lab in Breaking Bad? Well, it seems that he doesn’t have the exclusive on that idea. A man and his uncle bid $80 on an abandoned storage unit in California and ended up with boxes full of meth lab equipment. Another man was arrested in  Florida when passersby noted that he was acting strangely. The owners of the property happened to be allowing local law enforcement to use the facility to train their drug-sniffing dogs. When one of the dogs became suspicious, they ran an activity log. The odd tenant at this 5 x 5  unit accessed it twelve times in one week and was always accompanied by a “lookout.” I don’t think he was checking on his vintage Barbie collection.That was the end of his meth lab and his freedom.  

Is your pet part of an ugly custody battle?

During a divorce settlement, arguing over custody of pets is becoming commonplace. Pets are not children, but they are part of the family. One cold-blooded fellow took things too far. He trapped a beloved cat in a bin and stored it in a unit. The bin had no air holes, no food, and no water. There are no details as to how long the cat was kept in these conditions; I can only imagine. Not only is this an extreme way to deal with relationship issues, but it is outright animal cruelty. I hope this was reported to local police, and this heartless person was punished appropriately.

Need any spare body parts?

A former Florida assistant medical examiner enjoyed taking his work home with him, but he must have run out of space in his garage. After conducting hundreds of autopsies between 1997 and 2007, he decided to keep a few souvenirs — in his storage locker. Police say Michael Berkland stored more than 100 body parts, including brains and hearts, in his storage unit. He kept them in formaldehyde in specimen cups, trash bags, styrofoam cups and plastic containers. The worst part? Some of the containers were leaking. The body parts were found when the purchaser of the facility was cleaning out the unit. Mr. Berkland is no longer with the medical examiner’s office. 

Do you know a missing person?

Mother’s instinctively protect their children, but this is over the edge. For two years, a worried California family searched for a missing relative who had mysteriously disappeared without a trace. His body was eventually discovered in a Southern California self storage unit in a freezer. He was murdered in cold blood by his ex-girlfriend’s son. The girlfriend aided her son in hiding the body in the freezer. Can you say, “Bad Moms”? 

Need a place to hide a dead body?

By this time, I’m sure you’re feeling pretty creepy, but I have one more spine-chilling story. Most storage facilities try to avoid auctioning the contents of a tenant’s unit; but, if the monthly rent isn’t paid within a certain time period, the facility is within their legal rights to do so. The owners of a self storage facility in Florida contacted a family to inform them that they would be auctioning off the items in their unit due to unpaid bills. The family explained that they couldn’t do that because their grandmother’s body was still inside! When the unit was opened, the police found a blue painted coffin with the skeletal remains of a woman who had been dead approximately 17 years. The body had been properly prepared for burial, but she was never buried. It seems Page 2 of Google isn’t the only place to hide a dead body.

 

A certain segment of the population thinks self storage is for more than their cast off furniture. Luckily, with advances in technology, most facilities incorporate state-of-the-art security that will keep even Hannibal Lector from being able to break in or use his storage unit for, let’s say “unusual” items. If you’re considering renting a self-storage unit, choose wisely. You never know who’s watching.

 

How to Choose the Right Self Storage Facility for Your Needs

 

The school year is off to its usual confusing start. Fall is a few weeks away, and family gatherings, overnight guests, celebrations, and holiday decorating are closer than you think. Look around your home. Do you have enough space for these events? Is the guest room overflowing with stuff that you have no place for, is the kitchen in need of an update, and are the main rooms crowded with too much furniture? Did you ever think about renting a storage facility as a solution to all of these problems? 

The demand for self storage is high, and storage providers are working hard to meet this demand. Renting a facility is as easy as making a phone call or locating a website and clicking a “Reserve” button. There are so many great facilities available that you might need a system to help narrow down the competition. 

The following tips and suggestions will help you organize your ideas, prioritize your needs, and find storage that is the best fit for you.

Find the Perfect Self Storage Solution

Understand Your Needs

Think about what you’re storing and how long you plan to store these items. 

  • Make an inventory of all the items you plan to store. 
  • Identify the items that you might need to access while they are in storage. 
  • Measure and estimate the collective packing size of the items you plan to store.
  • Account for extra space to provide ventilation and ease of access.

Arrange your belongings for easy access. When storing items for short periods of time, it’s fine to pack everything close together. If you’re storing for a longer time, provide extra space for ventilation and for an aisle so that you can access belongings that you may need regularly. 

Decide Whether You Need a Climate-Controlled Unit

Climate-controlled spaces keep the temperature and humidity within a specific range.

Whether or not you need a climate-controlled unit depends on the climate in which you’re storing your items. For example, dry climates can cause wood to crack and split, and humid climates can cause mold and mildew. Make your choice based on the value of your belongings and the cost of the unit. Climate-controlled units can be more expensive but worth the cost over time.

Think About Location

How many times will you need to visit your storage facility? If you’re going to need regular access, a convenient location is important. Be aware that a facility located in the heart of the city will be more expensive than one outside of town. If you don’t need quick access to your items, a facility farther from the city will be less costly.

Consider Size Options

Self-storage units are available in a wide range of sizes and configurations. Naturally, larger units cost more per month, so it’s a smart to have an overall idea of how much space you’ll need. You don’t want to pay for extra, unused space unless you’re planning to store more items over time. Another factor to consider is the design of the space. Some units are narrow but have a lot of vertical space; others are wider with lower ceilings. In some cases, one layout may be preferable.

Storage Facility Cost Can Vary Considerably

Because many storage facilities are independently owned, business owners have the option of setting their own prices. It’s always smart to shop around because you may be able to find a better deal by making a few phone calls. Storage companies frequently offer promotions. If your preferred facility isn’t offering any deals, it pays to ask. You can also mention a competitor’s promotion; the facility of your choice may be willing to match the deal.

Verify Security

Cost should not be your only consideration. You need a reputable company with state-of-the-art security, a variety of customer amenities, and a range of unit sizes that will be a good fit for your needs. Look for video surveillance, perimeter fencing, security locks, and electronic access. You’ll also want a knowledgeable management team that is willing to provide you with answers to your questions, a tour of the property, and a professional level of customer service.

Check Insurance

If you have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, call your agent to verify that your stored belongings are covered under your present policy. You may find that your facility must provide specific security features in order for your items to be covered. If your policy does not cover stored items, you should be able to purchase insurance from your preferred storage Company.

Tenant Protection Plan

Some facilities offer a tenant protection plan. This plan is not insurance but a contractual agreement between the facility and the tenant, with the facility assuming limited responsibility for the tenant’s belongings while they are stored in a locked unit. In other words, operators agree to pay customers for damages to belongings up to a specified dollar amount. These plans are typically offered in several coverage options and paid for along with monthly rent. They’re inexpensive and add an extra layer of protection to already existing security systems. It’s worth a discussion with the facility manager.

Conclusion

Whatever you do, choose carefully. It’s worth the time and effort to find the facility that is your best option. Once you’ve moved your belongings into a unit, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll want to take the time and trouble to switch facilities. 

Wishing for a Home Gym: Use Self Storage to Transform Your Garage

Are you tired of crowded gyms, expensive memberships, and travel time going to and from your gym? Would you love to wake up and go to a mini-gym that is conveniently located just a few short steps from your bedroom? Why not transform a room in your house into the perfect personal workout space? If you don’t have the extra room in your home, think about your garage. You can turn it into a home gym with all of the equipment you need right at your fingertips. It may take some time and a self storage unit, but in the end you’ll be working on your strength training at home!

Read more to discover how to create a personalized version of your gym that is a perfect fit for you.  

Clear it Out

Unless you’ve been cleaning it regularly, your garage has become a space for everything that you don’t want to keep in the house. Unopened boxes from your last move, Christmas decorations, craft supplies, and useless junk are taking up valuable space. This is why you need to rent a storage unit. Before you read further check out our previous article Choosing the Right Self Storage Unit. 

Take everything out of the garage and place it in three groups: keep, discard, and donate. The items you’re keeping will get packed up and put in storage, and the items you’re discarding will get packed up for the trash. The items you’re donating can be placed in storage until you decide who is getting what. You’re focused on your home gym right now; self storage gives you a place to keep the donations until later.

Clean it Up

Now that you’ve emptied your space, it’s time for a deep clean. The best way to ensure that you don’t miss any dirt is to work from the top down. Start with the ceiling, move to the walls, and then down to the floor. You’ll need to dust and scrub everything before you get to the fun of making the space appealing as well as functional.

Spruce it Up

Paint the walls and ceiling an appealing, bright color and install good lighting. You want to be able to use this space at any time of day. Flooring is important; a cold, cement floor is not the most comfortable place to work out. Carpet sounds nice, but won’t last under heavy workout equipment. The best option is laminate flooring; or, if you want to spend a bit more, you could opt for jigsaw interlocking floor mats. If you choose the laminate, you’ll need to consider purchasing workout mats.

Don’t forget about ventilation. You don’t want to be exercising in uncomfortable conditions. If the garage isn’t already temperature controlled, you can look into portable units that will do the job. 

Make it Entertaining

Watching TV or listening to music makes it easier to motivate yourself to work out. If it fits your budget, a wall-mounted TV with a sound system is perfect. You can use it for watching TV and listening to music. Not essential, but fun. 

Equip it Properly

Purchasing the right equipment can be a challenge. Where do you begin? Think about your goals and what you want to achieve. If you’re experienced, you’re already aware of your specific needs, but where do you find the right equipment at the right price? Do you want a bike, treadmill, weights, or a freestanding punching bag? If you’re a newbie, check out the verywell fit site for help. This site explains different types of setups, cost, safety, and other handy hints.

Don’t forget about shelving or storage for your weights, kettlebells, and other small items. 

Enjoy It

You’ve moved all the clutter to your storage unit, and you’re gradually finishing your home gym. Get the TV connected, fire up the sound system, and you’ll be ready to enjoy your workouts without the hassle of costs, commutes, or expensive gym clothes. 

Use Self Storage to Give Yourself a Home Office Upgrade

Working from home, once considered out of the ordinary, is now a regular occurrence. There are plenty of advantages when your commute is just a few steps from your bedroom. You save time and money, and you have far more flexibility than you would in a traditional office environment. Being able to do your job from home, however, means that you need to create a designated office space and outfit it with the must-haves that will make it a work friendly, cozy haven that you’ll enjoy every day.

Look around your home and decide on the best place to locate your office. If you have family, meaning a spouse and children of any age, you need to be able to close the door. 

Working from home takes a lot of self-discipline and dedication. It’s not easy to stay motivated over the long haul without giving in to distractions and losing your drive. Nevertheless, you can have the best of both worlds with a little effort and a lot of good advice. 

To make your work-from-home life easier, you need to carve out that designated office space. This does not mean finding a corner for an old card table and working with out-of-date technology and uncomfortable furniture. It means surrounding yourself with items that will delight and inspire you. You left a drab cubicle. You don’t need another one. 

This is where a safe, secure self-storage unit comes into play. You need a space at home for an office. Whether you choose to make over an extra bedroom, a dreary room originally designated as office space, or a cozy attic area that’s been turned into a playroom, you need to start cleaning and make that space your own. Even though you don’t need all of this stuff right now, you don’t want to discard it because you might eventually use it. You just need a place to put it! Self storage gives you the solution to that problem –  the cost effective option of being able to keep your belongings and set up your new office. 

Following is a list of items that will maximize your motivation by surrounding yourself with things that make you comfortable, happy and productive.

Work-From-Home Essentials

TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp

Eye comfort is so important to productivity, and this trendy little TaoTronics  lamp comes with seven brightness levels and five color modes via built-in touch controls. It’s gentle on the eyes, with a flicker-free light that brightens your space without harming your vision. It also comes with a built-in USB port to keep your phone at a full charge. It’s energy efficient and has a frosted light panel to prevent unwanted glare. All this and a very reasonable price.

Porthos Home Xenos Swivel Office Chair

For functionality as well as luxury, you can beat this swivel chair. It ranks high in understated elegance, with velvet upholstery, chrome legs, and a choice of delectable colors. You can instantly adjust the height to complement any desk so that you can sit slouch free, eliminating neck strain, frozen shoulders and backache. It turns in every direction so that you can swivel and roll yourself right over to the printer. The Porthos chair is available on Overstock at a very budget-friendly price.

TaoTronics Laptop Desk

Sometimes you just feel like working from the couch, or even in bed, but you don’t want to fall asleep and experience a sore neck or back. With this TaoTronics Laptop Desk, you can work comfortably. The height elevation adjusts from 5 levels, from 9.5 to 12.6 inches, so you can use this table on your desk or couch, as well as on the floor. The angle-adjustable table tilts at 0-, 15-, 25-, or 35 degrees. The retractable blockers keep it from falling off if you’re working on the sofa. This table even has a wrist rest to reduce strain.

Sony Noise Canceling Headphones

Don’t let your kids loud play or your neighbors construction project disturb your concentration. These Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones are comfortable, foldable, and ensure absolute concentration. Smart listening adjusts noise-canceling levels based on your activity. Touch controls easily let you control music and volume, and a single charge has up to 30 hours of battery life. Alexa is built in so you can ask for information or take calls without using your hands. The comfort and adaptability of the headphones makes them a great addition to your walking breaks.

Dell UntraSharp 24-Inch Screen Monitor

If you need a large, clear display for spreadsheets and design work, boasting a 16:10 aspect ratio, 2910 x 1200 resolution and ultra-wide, 178 x 178 degree viewing angle, the Dell UltraSharp 24-inch Screen Monitor is for you. You can upgrade your setup by connecting with another monitor thanks to the thin 6.9mm bezel that allows “borderless”viewing. This monitor can swivel and pivot depending on your needs and you can also connect other USB devices for convenient charging. 

ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion

Whether you’re using a conventional office chair or a bar stool to do your work, you need comfortable seating to prevent lower back or other aches and pains. The ergonomic design of the ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion provides extra support and helps reduce pressure on your tailbone. And, It’s versatility allows you to take it from your desk chair to your car or airplane. 

 

Work From Home Delights

Indoor Plants from The Sill

Though not essential to your home office, plants can relieve stress, elevate your mood, and foster a happier work environment. The Sill, an online plant delivery company, offers a wide variety of indoor plant options. Their website is perfect for plant “beginners” and walks you through finding the best plant for your needs and how to care for it. 

InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

Enjoy relaxing scents while you work with the InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser. The compact size and two cool misting modes make this diffuser a pleasant addition to your home office. You can set it to mist every 30 seconds (it will last 6-8 hours), or mist continuously (lasting 3-4 hours). The relaxing scents are calming and create instant fragrance. You don’t have to worry because it has a waterless auto-off to prevent overheating.

West Elm Cotton Knit Throw

Whether you’re going through a mid-winter cold spell or a sizzling summer heat wave with cranked up air conditioning, the West Elm Cotton Knit Throw is a comfy, cozy addition to take off the chill in your office space. Sitting at your desk for several hours can make you feel frosty, and this cozy throw will not only add a touch of style to your office, but will come in handy to take off the chill. It’s 100% cotton, machine washable, and comes in eight pretty colors.

Don’t Forget that Your “The Boss” of Your Office

Unlike the conventional office where management makes the rules, you get to make the rules in this office.  You can paint or wallpaper in your favorite colors, and hang paintings, posters, or family photos. Use your own personal touches and creativity to make it your space. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in this room, and you want to look forward to the experience of working at home. Have fun with it, and enjoy everything that comes with being able to work in your own personal space.

Give Your Home Rental Business a Boost with Self Storage

The summer months, traditional family vacation time, are here. Short-term vacation home rentals are growing in popularity because prospective guests recognize the obvious: a single family home rental offers far more space than a small hotel room or even a suite, especially if you have children. If your vacationing with the entire extended family, a large home rental is less expensive than a resort, offers more privacy than a hotel, and provides a more comfortable experience than conventional accommodations.

Most people are familiar with Airbnb, VRBO, and any of the other online short-term property rental sites. If you aren’t familiar with this concept, property rental sites enable hosts to list properties online for viewing by prospective vacationers. Online listing also enables a secure payment platform for the benefit of both guests and hosts. If you’re interested in making some extra income, this can turn into a profitable business venture.

Where do I start?

The first step to becoming a short-term property rental host is to register your property by submitting photos and descriptions of your rental space. Travelers who are looking for accommodations in your area can view these listed properties using criteria like availability, number of bedrooms, price, and amenities to refine their search. Prior to booking through the online service, a guest can contact the property owner.

How does self storage fit into the picture?

Travelers are looking for a welcoming space that they can quickly settle into. They want to make it their own, even for the short time that they are renting. If you want your rental to be more welcoming, you need to depersonalize and declutter. This is where a self-storage unit becomes your ideal solution. A self-storage space will give you the perfect place to store valuables, personal mementos, bulky furniture, and anything you guests won’t need during their stay.

Storing items like family photos, books, and memorabilia will not only ensure the safety of these items and provide a more welcoming atmosphere, but it will help to make the photographs of your rental more appealing to prospective guests. You’ll want to make your space look sleek and appealing, because the way the property appears in photographs has a huge influence on your number of bookings.

Take a look at the following photos:

         

Clean and orderly AirBnB rental.

Disorganized and cluttered AirBnB rental.

                                                  

These pictures speak volumes. Which place would make you more comfortable?

Which one looks like they use self storage to clean up their property?

 

Self storage for your home rental business may be tax deductible.

Renting a self-storage unit for your home rental business may also provide you with a tax benefit. If you want more bookings and more income, using self storage to tidy up your space is a necessary business expense. The IRS generally allows business deductions if they are ordinary and necessary. Be sure to keep careful records and consult your CPA.

Be cautious when you choose your investment property. Look for a secure, dependable, affordable facility that has flexible leasing and 24/7 access. The home rental business can be a serious source of extra income. Do your research to determine if it works for you. If it does, go for it!

                                                 

 

 

 

 

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