What kind of security should you expect from a self-storage facility?

Security is one of the most important aspects of any self-storage facility. Even before you enter the grounds of the facility you should feel comfortable and know that you and your belongings will be safe and secure.

So what security measures should you look for in a storage facility? Here are a list of items that we find to be paramount:

1) Fencing. Any self-storage facility should have good fencing around it. This can be electric fences or high walls. From the road, you should be able to see into the grounds of the facility, even before you enter. Compounds that have high walls all the way around them are generally less safe because you cannot see what is going on behind the wall before you enter the grounds. Being able to see into a facilities compound let’s you know that you can enter at no risk.

2) Guards at the gate. Since we are in East Africa, having a guard service ensures that your facility is well protected during the day, as well as at night. Guards should be there to inspect vehicles and note the names of the driver and passengers. Each person should receive a badge so that people within the facility know that they went through the proper checks. Guards should be equipped with panic buttons and phones to communicate to the rest of the team.

3) CCTV cameras. While people may not see everything that goes on, security cameras do. When choosing a self-storage facility look and see if they have CCTV cameras and how many. The best facilities will have them both outside looking at the grounds, and inside the building itself. CCTV are a must have item when it comes to security in storage areas.

4) Quality of your lock. Make sure when you rent your unit if you bring your own lock, that you buy a lock that is robust enough to suffer an accidental strike or hit. While purchasing a more robust lock may feel like overkill, it does ensure that your unit is secure and will not accidentally open due someone’s cart hitting it by accident.

Self-storage venue. A building dedicated to self-self storage is safer than a self-storage facility located in a multi-purpose warehouse park. It is far more difficult to control theft and accidents to your belongings in an industrial or godown park where other businesses are working than it is in a dedicated self-storage facility.

So when it comes to securing your goods or belongings, whether they are for business or personal, make sure to take a good look at the security offered by the company you are choosing to store your goods with. A little knowledge in this area can help you make a better decision as to which company you should choose.