When you’re searching for the perfect storage unit, there are quite a few things to keep in mind. And one of them is the fact that, regardless of how long you’ll be renting; you will need to sign a storage rental agreement with your provider. Unfortunately, this can be a stressful process for some people; especially if you’re not adept at dealing with paperwork and legal matters. Still, there’s no need to worry – we’ll explain everything about signing an agreement with your Lousiana moving and storage provider right here!
Finding storage
The first thing you’ll need to deal with on your way to signing a storage rental agreement is actually finding a proper storage provider. And sure, there are plenty of places where you can find the best self storage Metairie offers; but choosing the right provider is definitely of immense importance.
You’ve basically got two options for this – companies that work in both the moving and storage industries, and companies that specialize only in storage. Both are pretty good choices, depending on your needs and your price range – though companies that offer both kinds of services like Zippy Shell Louisiana certainly give you everything you need in one place.
Things to consider before signing a storage rental agreement
There are some things that you need to think about before you consider signing a storage rental agreement. And among these, your first priority should be ensuring that the company you’re considering is definitely legal and legitimate. Honest people sometimes don’t think about this at all – but the unfortunate reality is that not everyone in this business has your best interests at heart.
That’s why you need to be certain that you’re dealing with a company that’s not fraudulent or malicious; otherwise, there’s a chance that the contract which you’re signing is null and void – or that you simply won’t be able to enforce its terms. Considering this – make sure that you’ve done everything in your power to avoid scams that are common in the moving and storage industries.
Checking the legitimacy of storage companies
So, you want to check out a storage company that you’re thinking about signing an agreement with before doing that. And the question is – where do you start? Naturally, your first instinct will be to go online and see what kind of information you can find on this company. But remember – not all sources of information on the Internet are to be trusted either.
That’s why you should know where to look. And our first advice on this subject is – take a look at the Better Business Bureau website. This is an extremely reliable non-profit organization dedicated to providing interested parties with information on what trustworthy companies are. And they’re one of the leading sources on information when it comes to researching any kind of company online; you want to be certain that this particular storage company has their accreditation.
Other sources
As we’ve mentioned above, plenty of companies simultaneously provide moving and storage services. So, if you want to check them out before signing a rental agreement with such a company – you can also consult the Department of Transportation; or rather, its FMCSA, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Their website has a detailed registry of all registered and legitimate moving companies. A truly great storage provider that also has moving services is bound to show up there; you’ll just need their USDOT number, and you’ll be able to check the company easily.
Plus, this website contains all kinds of useful information and company details – such as complaint histories, insurance data, and safety grades. It’s also important to note that any company that lists long-distance relocations as a part of its services must be registered with the FMCSA; so if you run across a company that doesn’t fulfill this condition, you should know that they’re not to be trusted.
Different sections
When you decide what kind of company you want, you’ll also have to choose the type of storage unit you wish to rent before signing a storage rental agreement. Naturally, this also depends on the type of storage unit you want. You won’t be signing the same agreement for climate controlled portable storage as you would for some other unit. Still, there are sections of the storage unit agreement that are relatively common.
Payments
This section will showcase the payment amount for your storage unit rent, as well as its due date. You’ll also probably have a legal section that depicts the process that happens if your payments are late, or if you fail to pay at all. Generally, the most common practice is for the storage company to auction off your stuff if you fail to pay for an extremely long amount of time. On the other hand, there are security deposits in some rental agreements, as well as other potential fees that you should know about. Obviously, this is a part of the rental agreement that you want to read as carefully as possible.
Using the storage unit
This is also a crucial section; as it dictates the details of what you can and cannot do as the renter of the storage unit. Mainly, it shows what you’re not allowed to keep in the storage unit. As expected, these are generally perishable goods (like food), any dangerous materials (like flammable items and toxic waste), and anything illegal in your state or by federal laws.
Of course, some of these prohibitions are subject to the specific storage provider; but the dangerous and illegal stuff is prohibited everywhere. And there are some additional requirements in some places, such as the need to place all of your items into specific containers.
