With 50% of all self storage customers being first time users one may ask how does air conditioned and heated storage make a difference? This is an important question, as many factors play into the decision to store in a climate controlled environment. Air conditioned and heated storage, simply put, makes a world of difference and here’s how: 

Elemental Protection – Standard, non-climate controlled storage units are usually found in buildings constructed of metal or tin. These building are generally susceptible to the elements as wind, rain and humidity find ways to penetrate the outer seams and openings. These types of buildings are also affected by major temperature swings as they tend to heat up rapidly during summer days and then cool down at night causing condensation. This moisture can cause warping of wood, yellowing of paper and mildew to grow on stored item.  During the winter months these buildings can become extremely cold causing stored goods to crack or chip. Temperature controlled storage units are designed to protect stored items from large temperature variations preventing moisture and mildew from forming which help items maintain their stored condition.

Sensitive Belongings – documents, photos, antiques, family heirlooms, and other valuables may not survive long term in regular outdoor storage. Choosing a climate controlled storage unit could save you from experiencing significant damage to weather sensitive items. 

Peace of Mind – Knowing that your items are stored in a climate controlled environment, protected from the elements just like your home or office will provide great comfort.  Air conditioned and heated storage units were designed so your items come out of storage in the same condition as when you put them in. What a concept!  

Making the right decision about self storage types is just as important as the decision to store. Making the wrong decision, in the long run, could cause more harm than good. To fully understand what self storage unit type and size is right for you, contact a storage professional today.

The Village of Lombard, Illinois experienced heavy rain and flooding last month accumulating up to six inches in some areas. While the sewage drains and pumps remained fully operational throughout the storm the quality design of our Lombard Storage Facility kept our building and property out of harm’s way.

At our facility in Lombard, 5.8” of rain was funneled from our roof, away from our storage building and deposited into drains around the perimeter of the property. The retention pond filled to capacity, but receded nicely the next morning.

Although the Village President had declared a state of emergency due to flooding of homes and businesses, our facility remained an island amid the rising water. All day our dedicated staff took calls from concerned customers worried about their stored belongings.

It was a pleasure to notify them that our facility was perfectly safe and dry. If you are considering storing your belongings, chose Safeguard Self Storage and discover why we say; don’t Just Store It, Safeguard It!

~Courtesy of Gil Beres

Safeguard is proud to team up with Mayor Bloomberg and the city of New York to establish the first Self-Storage Operator Code of Best Practices. The new codes will ensure self-storage facilities follow best practices to help prevent against the storage of counterfeit items in storage units.

The “Code of Best Practices” Includes the Following Items:

- Manager walkthroughs will be performed daily and a record keeping system establish where, upon unusually activity, further investigational measures will take place.

- Video recording system to be enhanced to sufficiently monitor the property.

- Tenant record system will require photo ID’s of tenants to remain on file for a year after they move out.

- Rental agreements forbid storage or sale of counterfeit items in storage facilities.

Kathleen McGee, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement issued this statement, “We welcome Safeguard Self Storage as a partner in reducing the proliferation of illegal goods and look forward to working with other storage operators in our continued efforts against counterfeiting”.

Safeguard’s mission is to lead the self-storage industry in product quality, service and value. And, as always, Safeguard will strive for continuous improvement in all that we do. Our goal is to provide high-quality products and services that customers can trust and that distinguish Safeguard in the marketplace.

Welcome to the brand new Safeguard Self Storage blog! Consider this your go-to resource not only for Safeguard Self Storage news, events, and information, but for the world of self-storage at large.

At Safeguard Self Storage, we are passionate about storage and exceeding our customers' expectations. One of our goals with this new blog is to make a bit of our passion rub off on you, the reader and valued self-storage customer. With this goal in mind you can expect the information we bring to this blog will be informative, topical, and perhaps most importantly, entertaining.

Expect to find a wide range of storage advice and insight from our professional Safeguard Self Storage employees, including:

• Responses to questions from our customers: If one of our customers has a question about self-storage, chances are many others do as well. We want to answer them right here, for you!
• How-tos and Tutorials: Packing and storing your belongings isn’t always as straightforward as you may think. We want to help you benefit from our years of storage experience.
• Local events: We understand that storing your belongings with Safeguard Self Storage isn’t just about having confidence in the quality of our storage facilities—including our computer-controlled access, individual unit door alarms, digital video recording, and store-wide intercom systems—it’s also about our people and the communities that we serve. We want to provide you with information about the local events that are important to you and our employees.
• What’s happening in the world of self-storage: We are here to guide you through the world of self-storage. From the many annual self-storage conferences, such as SSA and Inside Self Storage Expo, to the uncontrollable events of our lives—weather catastrophes such as snowstorms and hurricanes or personal life changes such as career and other life changes or cross-country moves—Safeguard Self Storage is here to make sure you understand how self-storage is here when you need help.

We want the information in this blog to be engaging and entertaining, even if you have absolutely no interest in self-storage (Gasp!). That’s why feedback from our customers—YOU—is extremely important. Please, leave a comment below if you have any suggestions or/questions about this blog or Safeguard Self Storage in general. Also be sure to Like our Facebook page as an additional way to stay engaged.

At Safeguard Self Storage our mission is to lead the self storage industry in product quality, service and value.

The photo included in this blog post is of Barbara Drozdowska, Manager of the Safeguard Self Storage located in McCook, IL. Barbara is dedicated to helping Safeguard customers find the ideal storage solution and delivering an impeccable customer experience.