Did you watch this Volkswagen Commercial? I really love it. 

All too many people park their car in the driveway, exposed to bad weather and potential vandalism, while their garage is full of clutter. 

But please – don’t leave all your staff in the yard! Rent a self storage locker!

When you rent a room in a Columbus storage facility, you get plenty of space for all your Christmas decorations, tools and toys and boxes you would otherwise store in your garage.  You don’t need most of these things every day. Especially in winter, when you don’t have any yard work.

Parking your car in the driveway can result in serious damage to your Volkswagen or any other vehicle you own:

• Did you hear of vandalism in your neighborhood? Car tires get slashed even in safe, family friendly subdivisions.
• Every week I hear a story of a car break-in. It’s just too tempting for thieves to pick the low-hanging fruit – cars parked in the drive-way.
• And then you have the weather. In summer we experience thunderstorms, high winds and even tornadoes that could seriously damage your car. In winter its the snow and ice that gradually chips off the value of your vehicle.
• There is convenience in parking your car in the garage. You won’t get wet, when it rains. You won’t freeze your fingers when it’s cold, and you won’t even have to scrape off the ice from your windows when it’s snowing.

Follow Volkswagen’s advice and Reclaim your Garage!

Call Westbelt Storage today at (614) 777-9511 to reserve your self-storage unit and park your car in your garage! That’s what it was made for!

If you are like many American consumers, you probably have too many things. Even if you donate some of your possessions to thrift stores, you most likely still have too many belongings to adequately store in your house. If you’re running out of shelves, closets, and garage space, you might want to look into cheap self storage.

Consumers in the United States have needed extra space since the Industrial Revolution. That’s when goods became a lot more accessible to Americans, and they were encouraged to purchase those goods to stimulate the economy. The consumption of goods has only increased since then, creating a need for the flourishing industry of self-service storage. The Self Storage Association asserts that the U.S. runs approximately 86% of the self storage establishments in the world, which means the need for storage is an issue that is primarily unique to the United States.

Around 10% of Americans rent one or more storage units. Renting these units can be costly. It is crucial to fully investigate different self storage options before committing to one.  Many people who only plan to store their possessions for a couple of months end up storing them for years.  The price of doing so should also be kept in mind while considering self storage options.

First you should figure out exactly what you want from a storage unit. Self storage prices differ by size, location, and amenities. You can factor in whether or not you want your storage unit to be close to your home or business. You can also consider something like whether you want to take advantage of climate control services. If you live in extremely hot or cold locations, climate control can be crucial to preserve the condition of some of your goods. However, if you could store something in your garage, then you probably could do without storing it in a unit that is climate controlled.

Deciding how much space you need is essential. One self storage business may offer cheap access to small units, while charging a lot more for larger units. In general, smaller units are more cost-effective. However, this isn’t always the case. Before you determine how much space you will need, you should assess your personal inventory and see whether there are any items you could donate or sell.

After you have figured out the basics of what you need from a storage unit, you can start searching around for the deal that works best with your budget. SelfStorage.com and SpareFoot are two online companies that provide the option for users to search for units based on pricing, amenities, and location.

The last step in your hunt for the perfect storage unit should be to inquire about promotions offered at different storage companies. You might be able to find a company that allows you to rent a unit for free the first month, or you might you discover establishments that provide a discounted rate for the first three to six months. Some promotions can actually save you quite a bit of money in the end.

Storing your items away from home can be an excellent way to avoid giving away your most valuable keepsakes. So, if you still don’t have enough space for all your stuff, you should start researching storage facilities in your area. If you do your homework, you might just find the perfect unit for your self storage needs.

Margot McClelland is a guest post writer on the subjects of homes and lifestyles.

Season 2 of a web comedy called Self Storage was just released. Enjoy this online video series about 2 women struggling to make it through the Great Recession and trying to overcome their own stupidity while living in a storage locker.

You know that you can’t really live in a Columbus self storage facility, but it’s funny to watch. Maybe even more entertaining than storage auction shows, such as Storage Wars.

Here’s a link to Self Storage Episode 1.

The videos were filmed at a California self storage outfit called StorageOutlet.

The answer is simple: You are not required to buy self storage insurance when you rent a locker at a Columbus storage facility.

However, you will be responsible for any loss of your personal items. It is certainly recommended that you have insurance. Most likely your home owners policy will cover you. They may also allow you to buy additional coverage for the items you put in storage.

Some self storage operators recently got busted for bullying customers into buying self storage insurance. Watch the video below in which Public Storage, the country’s largest operator of self storage facilities, turned customers away, who did not buy their tenant insurance.

What’s even worse, some customers reported that the insurance did not cover damage that occurred to items stored in that facility.

Here at Westbelt Storage we never require that tenants buy insurance from us. We offer storage insurance from SafeStor, which you can buy, if you need it.

We recommend that you first check with your insurance agent to see, if your belongings are covered by your regular home owners policy.

This story comes right from the UK, where austerity measures by the British Government send some Brits to the brink. The London Daily Telegraph published a story saying sex in self storage units has become a low-cost option for one time affairs.

Here’s their article “Self-storage Affairs of the Heart” stating that self storage facilities may not appear to be the most romantic of locations, but self-storage units could become a refuge for furtive couples looking for a quiet place to conduct their affairs.

The Metro Online magazine put a spicier spin on this story with Sex in self-storage a low-cost option for hard-up Britons having affairs. It’s a funny read – you will enjoy it.

The UK self storage association certainly warns operators to have an eye out for “couples frequenting” storage units, and lockers that don’t have any content but a mattress. I believe this will be hard to police, especially in units where the customers does not have to go through all kinds of security doors with key codes and surveillance cameras. I am talking about the typical self storage facilities where you can access your garage from the parking lot.

Funny how the UK self-storage association tells that numerous cases of adultery actually happened in the US not the UK. Love in a cold unit: Self storage and adultery tells about 13 American storage operators that caught lovers in their facilities (and kicked them out).

I never heard this happening in a Columbus self storage. Nor do we encourage readers to get any ideas …

Do not rent a self storage locker to have sex!

It’s not comfortable! It’s cold in winter, hot in summer and you certainly won’t leave a lasting (good) impression with your lover.

Hoarding has been in the news thanks to a number of TV shows that feature extreme cases of hoarding. They show how people that are affected by this compulsion find help to clean up their homes (and save their valuables in a Columbus self storage).

I never thought that hoarding could be deadly, until I read this article in Readers Digest:

The Hoarding Syndrome — When Clutter Goes Out Of Control

It dates back to 2007, when most of us did not realize that hoarding is a medical condition, and that it could be deadly. The author references a number of cases where people actually perished because the piles of clutter collapsed on them.

Dangerous Compulsion
“Saving stuff, in moderation, is usually considered normal. But this otherwise healthy impulse can go too far and develop into what some experts consider a clinical obsessive-compulsive disorder”

The story is about a couple that struggles with their rising living expenses, growing kids and their attempt to catch up with it, which does not leave them time to clean up their house, through items away or save them in a Self Storage Facility. Although this story has a happy ending, people suffering from the hoarding compulsion will face a lifelong battle, trying to keep things organized in their house and getting rid of clutter.

The article gives numerous references to self-help groups you can find online, as well as books that help you address the issue, such as
Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding: Why You Save & How You Can Stop
(click the link to find out more about this book)

I am sure you watched the new TV show Storage Wars. It runs on A&E on Wednesday evenings at 10:30.

Since it started airing a few months ago, it exploded the interest in Self Storage Auctions.

Here’s why!

The show features four groups of storage auction buyers. They are professionals and make their living from buying items at these auctions at a bargain price and reselling them at a profit.

Part of the drama behind the show is the storage auction process and the bidding wars the players engage in. It seems the pro always gets the rookie to pay too much for a unit full of junk.

Every episode has a Revelation! There’s always a hidden treasure in one of the units.

This treasure is usually worth 10 or 20 times what they paid for the storage locker. It gets viewers excited, as they discover a antique baseball card collection, shrunken heads or an antique flare gun collection.

Do you want to learn how to make Quick Cash at a Storage Auction? Click here to get a copy of Mini Storage Auction Riches today, and start profiting from the next storage auction tomorrow.

We received a lot of calls at Westbelt Storage since the show started. Most of the callers are asking about our next storage auction. Unfortunately, we really don’t have that many auctions going on. In my article on How Storage Auctions Work you can learn more about the auction process.

You are probably wondering: Is this real? Are there hidden gems in storage units?

Truth be told, you can find treasures in storage lockers.

The other truth is that you will collect a lot of junk and trash.

When you bid at a self storage auction and buy a storage locker, you buy everything that’s in the unit. So be prepared to haul its contents to a place where you can sort through the items you purchased. Often, a self storage facility will rent the unit to you for a month, so you won’t have to take it home and fill up your garage.

Professional buyers have their own warehouses, where they can spread out everything they acquire and pick the useful items from the trash. They also have access to a dumpster to dispose of the junk.

In an average storage locker may find many items you can sell for a profit on websites like Ebay or Craigslist. You should be able to recover your investment or at least break even.

If you are lucky, you may find the treasure you’ve been hunting for. That’s when you should locate an antiques dealer or specialist who can give you a reliable valuation of the items and advise you on the best way to turn them into cash.

After the first big snowstorm of this year I was in my car traveling along slippery Columbus streets. As I watched other cars go by on that cold December morning I noticed that at least two thirds of them  had snow on their roof and hood, and most windows were covered with ice. Many of these drivers have a garage, but they keep their car in the driveway or park it on the street, because their garage is full with “stuff.”

When I look at my neighbors’ homes I notice that 2 out of 3 had their car parked on the road or in the driveway. Each house in our subdivision has a 2 car garage. Either my neighbors have more than 2 cars or they don’t have any free space in their garage. I am sure its the second one.

It’s a bad idea to leave the car outside in winter. Just imagine, every morning you get up the car is covered with snow and ice. You have to scrape off the ice and snow before you can go to work. You need to warm up the car for 5 or 10 minutes and maybe clear the snow around the wheels just to get out of your parking space.

You know what’s even worse? You may have to do this in freezing rain, and get all wet before you head to the office. Why would you own a garage, if you can’t use it in the first place?

Sounds inconvenient? Let  me give you five more urgent reasons why you should free up space in your garage and rent a space in a Columbus self storage facility.

1. Every year dozens of cars suffer serious damage from hail and thunderstorms. Golf ball sized hail will dent the metal parts of your car and break the glass and plastic.
2. Branches and tree limbs can break and fall on your vehicle. This is very common during wind storms in fall and spring, and when tree branches get covered with heavy snow or ice and become brittle.
3. Parking a vehicle under trees is bad for another reason. Many trees release sticky liquids from their leaves that drop down on your car. Even worse, small berry like fruits growing on these trees drop down in autumn and make your car a guey mess. They are very hard to get off your car and may even damage the surface.
4. If you park on a street, your car may be damaged by other vehicles driving by closely and hitting your mirrors or scratching and denting your bumpers. Even a neighborhood streets are not safe. A stray baseball or basketball may hit your car and break your window.
5. Finally, there’s always the danger of vandalism. You hear it in the news every day. Tires get slashed, windows broken, and doors scratched for no reason at all.

These problems that may cost you thousands of dollars. But there’s a simple solution. Park your car in the garage – that’s what it was made for.

Bring all the other items that accumulated over the years to a Columbus storage facility. They will rent you a 10 x 20 ft unit for around $120. It give you enough space to clear out your garage and keep your car at a safe and warm place in the future.

Thanks for reading the Columbus Storage Blog
Feel free to contact Westbelt Storage
Phone (614) 777-9511

You may have heard from friends who go to self storage auctions to buy collectibles, antiques and other items for next to nothing. Self storage facilities schedule auctions on a regular basis, to sell property of storage customers that fell behind on rental payments or abandon their property.

The law allows the operator of a self storage facility to put a lien on all property stored in the facility. If a tenant does not pay his rent the storage facility will schedule an auction to get rid of the personal property and recover some or all of the money owed by the tenant.

Self storage auctions are usually announced in a local newspaper of general circulation. In Columbus the paper of choice for all kinds of auctions is the Daily Reporter – the legal newspaper of Central Ohio.

Self storage auctions have to be advertised for 2 weeks before the actual auction takes place.

At the day of the auction interested buyers gather at the facility. First, you will have to sign in on a bidders sheet. Most self storage facilities require a cash deposit of $25. You can get the deposit refunded when you emptied the unit you purchased or, if you don’t purchase anything.

All payments have to be made in cash. The amounts are rather small, so cash is not a big issue.

Do you want to learn the Secrets to Storage Auctions from the Pros? CLICK HERE to see how you can make a full time living buying and selling Storage Units!

Next, the storage units that will be auctioned off are opened by the auctioneer or the manager of the facility. You are not allowed to enter. You can only assess the value by looking at the content from the outside.

Then the auction starts and the auctioneer will ask for bids. Typically, self storage auctions are absolute auctions. This means that there is no reserve or minimum bid. However, the facility may deny any bids which they deem too low or unreasonable.

Just like with any auction the highest bidder wins the content of the storage unit. The winning bidder has to pay cash and must remove the contents of the unit the same day.

Some self storage facilities require that you sign a lease agreement after you win a bid. This allows them to charge rent, if you don’t remove everything on the day of the auction. Other facilities simply use your deposit to secure that you will empty the unit.

Self storage rooms can be a true treasure coves. People leave all kinds of antiques and collectibles in a facility. Sometimes they simply don’t want to deal with their belongings or don’t have a place to put them, so they decide to abandon the property.

On the other hand, you may find a lot of trash in a self storage unit. Be prepared to dump the stuff you don’t need. Most of the time you will find the little treasures that get you excited, and you can either sell them on Ebay or Craigslist and make a nice profit. Or just keep those collectibles for yourself.

Thanks for reading the Columbus Storage Blog
Feel free to contact Kurt Novak
Phone (614) 395-7375
Email: knovak@westbeltstorage.com

Self-storing a vehicle that’s only used seasonally or periodically is a smart idea.

Studies show that far more accidents occur in your driveway or out on the street than in a secure Columbus storage facility. And if you live in an urban area or apartment, finding space to park your vehicle for extended periods of time can be difficult or even impossible.

The advantages to renting vehicle storage space at Westbelt Storage are many:

• Rent the space for as long or as short as you need it. If you are storing a boat or classic car, for instance, you may wish to keep it at your home during the summer months, but need to store it for the other nine months of the year. You only need to rent the space for nine months, then.

• Westbelt Storage offers secure storage. Unlike your home property, there is a security fence surrounding the storage area, accessible only through a code-protected front gate. The grounds are well-lit at night and security cameras monitor and record activity on premises.

• Some insurance companies will offer reduced rates, if you store your vehicle in a secure off-site location.

• Westbelt Storage offers better protection from the elements and traffic than does storing your vehicle in your driveway or in front of your house, where other cars go by daily.

• Westbelt Storage offers both indoor and outdoor vehicle storage options.

• By storing your vehicle at our Hilliard Self Storage, you open up space at your home that you can either simply leave empty or use for some other purpose… like putting up a basketball hoop and backboard for your kids to play!

You can make best use of your storage space by defining the features you need. A large boat, for instance, does not need to be stored indoors, but a vintage car would be better protected inside a storage garage. A less expensive vehicle (a pontoon boat, for instance, as opposed to a yacht) is also a good candidate for outdoor storage.

Do you have a cover or tarp to wrap over your vehicle? This will help further protect it from sun, rain, snow and dust.

Make sure to measure the dimensions of your vehicle carefully. Bear in mind that the door may be narrower or lower than the dimensions of the self storage unit you rent. For example, if you are planning to store a zero-turn mower for the winter, the mower itself may fit through the entrance just fine, but the trailer you used to haul it may have too wide a bed.

If you need frequent access to your vehicle, consider renting space closer to the entrance. But if you’ll need only limited access, it might be a better idea to rent a unit further away from all the traffic near the entrance gate.

For liability purposes and for your protection, Westbelt Storage requires that

• Any wheeled vehicle be in drivable condition. You can store it securely on a trailer, but you may not place it on cinder blocks.

• Tires must be kept inflated and in good condition.

• Your vehicle must be registered and insured (you will need to provide proof of this).

• You may not use any storage unit as a workshop to repair your vehicle, since Columbus storage facilities are not set up to dispose of motor oil and other chemicals solvents.

Call Westbelt Storage today at 614-777-9511 and tell us about your vehicle storage needs. Our facility manager will help you to determine your best and most cost-effective options for storing your car, boat, truck, mower or van.