What you should know before renting a storage unit

Washington

STORAGE units can be a great solution for people who are moving and need a spot to perch their stuff during the transition. Likewise, if their home is damaged in a storm or they're doing a major renovation, a storage unit provides an easy, short-term solution. But when people simply don't want to, or can't, curate their possessions and instead opt to put them in storage indefinitely, both the storage space and its contents become a serious and long-term burden.

Before you make the decision to rent a storage space, here are a few things to consider.

Take time to check out a few facilities before deciding which one to use. Find a few options online and then go visit them. Ask questions about temperature control, when you'll be able to access your unit and, perhaps most important, how they will keep your belongings secure. For instance, do they have 24-hour video monitoring of the entire facility? What type of lock is required, or av…