Size: An Average three bedroom house requires a 10x20 storage unit. Remember if you want room to move contents around in unit to look for things, you will need a bigger storage unit.

Value: Keep in mind that if your rent is $50.00 a month, a year will cost you $600.00.  Is your property worth $600.00? Personal items may have no financial value to anyone else but a great emotional value to you.  You must consider length of storage time needed versus value of property in unit. 

Insurance: All storage complex's do not insure contents of storage units but some may have insurance available at an added cost.  Some home owners policies do insure contents of storage units while others don't, it is best to check with your home owners insurance agent. 

Packing a Storage Unit: It is best to place big furniture in first and then stack boxes on top of furniture. This way you can search contents of boxes without having to move furniture.  This will also give you better use of space.  You can place boxes on shelves and in drawers.  You can use your imagination to fill empty spaces in between furniture.  This same theory goes for loading trucks.  Always place what you most likely will need first in front of storage unit, in other words these will be items you put in last.  Some furniture takes less room if you stick them up on end such as couches and mattresses.  Use your height to stack as high as possible. Do not store food as it will attract insects and rodents.  Do not store live plants as they will die in 24 hours because of no sun light.  Do not store gas or oil as it's a fire hazard.  Try to keep your furniture away from garage items such as gardening tools, lawn mowers, and yard work supplies as they all have sharp edges and may have soil or oil on them.  If you are really organized you can build shelves to sort your property. (This is only done if you plan to keep storage unit for a long period of time.) When you vacate unit you will need to remove shelves.  If you cover furniture use a blanket not a plastic tarp because plastic will not release moisture and can cause damage to wood furniture. You may place a plastic tarp on floor of storage unit.

Storing vehicles: Store vehicles either under cover or outside.  Outside storage is usually less expensive but harder on vehicle because you have moisture and sun light beating on vehicle.  Under cover provides more protection from weather.  If it is an RV usually store it with engine in first. For the most part it is best to pull in forward because it is easier to back out then back in.  Only disadvantage is that if your engine is in front it will be hard to jump start if you have a dead battery, but dead batteries can be avoided if you disconnect battery.  If possible plug in RV's so that batteries stay charged.  There is an added charge for plugging in.  If you store vehicle outside you may cover it with a tarp, but this will increase hunidity as vehicle will not be able to "Breathe".  If you have a valuable vehicle you would need at least a 10x20 which is a single car garage size unit.  The door must be at least 8' wide to drive car through.  Beware of storing other things with car as they may fall and damage vehicle.     

Climate Contolled: Some storage complexes have climate controlled units available.  Use climate controlled units for important personal items, pianos, organs, paintings, and any other temperature sensitive items.  While heat is good, it is the air movement that you want.  The humidity is reduced by air movement not temperature.  Example: When you go on vacation you close and lock up house for a few weeks, when you come back, house has a musty smell, the first thing you do is open everything up to let in moving air.