If you have a small office building, you may not have much room for storage. You don't want your office to look cluttered either, so consider renting a commercial storage unit. If you find one that's near your office building, it's convenient to get things from your unit when needed, and you'll enjoy a spacious and decluttered office space. Here are tips for using a commercial storage unit.
Rent A Climate-Controlled Unit
You may not need climate control if you're storing equipment that you could store outside without harming it. However, if you're storing documents, seasonal decor, furniture, or office supplies, climate control is a good idea so your things aren't damaged by extreme cold, excessive heat, and high humidity.
Bring Your Own Shelving For Easy Organization
If you're storing things in boxes that you may need to retrieve later, putting the boxes on shelves and plainly marking their contents makes things much easier for you and your staff. You can scan the boxes when you enter the unit and find the exact box you need without having to move things around or open multiple boxes to find what you're looking for.
Keep Things Off The Floor Of An Outdoor Unit
If you decide to rent a commercial storage unit that's outside and not climate-controlled, it's a good idea to put down pallets so your things stay off the ground in case the floor is damp or water leaks in during heavy rain. You'll also want to make sure everything you put in storage is completely dry so mold doesn't grow.
When you rent a unit that isn't climate-controlled, you have to guard against mold, pests, and damage from extreme temperatures and humidity. Visit the unit often, so you can keep an eye on your belongings, implement pest control when needed, and move to a climate-controlled unit if it becomes necessary.
Get A Quality Lock
You'll probably need to get your own lock for your commercial storage unit. You'll want one that can't be broken by a vandal or thief. Plus, you'll want to think about controlling access to the key if multiple people will use the storage unit. You may want copies of the key in case someone loses a key. You may want a padlock with a keypad so you don't have to worry about keys being lost.
A commercial storage unit is a big help for a small office when space is tight. You can put inventory, supplies, and furniture in for the long term or use the unit like a big storage closet that you keep organized and return to often.
Contact a local commercial storage service to learn more.