How Self Storage Can Help Residents And Businesses In Charleston — The 2020 Edition

Charleston metro, with more than 800,000 residents, is a dynamic area that experienced healthy economic growth over the past two decades. The GDP increased from $38,570 per capita in 2001 to a forecasted $48,000 in 2020. About 30 new residents moved to the region every day last year, according to the Charleston County Economic Development data center.

However, like everywhere else in the country, the COVID-19 pandemic imposed some adjustments for the metro area’s residents and businesses alike. Many employees resorted to working from home. Businesses that rely on foot traffic reorganized their establishments to comply with social distancing rules. These adjustments translate into a general need for extra storage space – and self storage can help. A 10×10 storage unit in Charleston that is not climate-controlled rents for about $90 per month, according to Yardi Matrix. There are approximately 209 storage facilities in the entire metro area to pick from, totaling 11.6 million square feet of rentable space.

Here are some of the benefits for Charleston residents and businesses using self storage:

Charlestonians can use self storage to keep homes better organized and clutter-free

• Carve out the space you need in your home right now

If you’re working from home while your children are also learning remotely, you need space to install some extra desks. And, as social distancing will probably continue to dominate this winter, it would also be nice to have some space dedicated to exercising, crafting, playing board games with your family and so on.

You can work around the space limitations of your own home by using self storage for pieces of furniture, appliances, accessories, tools and so on that you are not using right now, at least not to their full potential. This way, you’ll be able to set up a home office area, for example, while also holding onto belongings you’ll be using again in the future.

• Keep your sport- and hobby-related items safe

Charleston’s geographical setting and climate provide numerous opportunities for outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and so on. Also, Charleston is well-known for its many golf courses and tennis courts. Residents make the most of those opportunities. However, keeping different sport- and hobby-related equipment at home creates clutter, particularly in garages and basements. A simple solution is to rent a self storage unit – even a small, 5×5 unit will work for most – and deposit your stuff there.

• Use it while moving or remodeling

Whether you’re getting ready to move or are in the process of remodeling remodeling your home, self storage helps you organize and streamline the process.

Putting furniture or appliances in self storage during a home improvement project allows you to finish faster because you have more space to work. Also, your belongings are safer, and there’s less cleaning up to do afterward.

Self storage makes moving easier, whether it’s local or long-distance. Choose a storage unit close to your new home. As you pack, you can drop-off or ship your belongings there. By the time moving day arrives, you have already done half of the work.

• Protect your fragile items in a climate-controlled unit

Charleston’s climate is suitable for year-round outdoor activities. However, humidity is high. Combined with the hot summers, it creates the kind of environment that’s likely to affect delicate items like collectibles and antiques. If you own such items, rent a climate-controlled self storage unit. It sustains constant temperatures and humidity levels throughout the year, protecting your items.

How local businesses can use self storage in their favor

• Store furniture and equipment temporarily

Almost all businesses had to adjust to the COVID-19 realities and reorganize their spaces. Restaurants must set tables further apart. Gyms are allowing fewer people to use the facility at the same time. Office employees are coming in at different hours, and there is more space between desks. All these adjustments mean that businesses have furniture and equipment they’re not currently using but will need again once the pandemic is over.

Self storage is an affordable, easy-to-use service where businesses can put extra furniture or equipment. Since businesses can rent self storage units for as long as needed, there’s no need for complicated lease contracts. The minimum period for a rental is just one month.

• Put your important documents in storage

All businesses have paper documents they need to hold onto for a while for legal reasons. Some businesses, such as legal practices, regularly deal with high volumes of paper documents. A storage unit is a good solution for storing said documents. It’s a lot more comfortable than cluttering offices with file cabinets, and it’s more affordable than renting larger offices.

• Keep your equipment at hand

Construction companies and other businesses that use a lot of equipment can certainly benefit from renting a self storage unit close to their work sites. This way, their expensive tools are safe and, at the same time, just a stone’s throw away.

During this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, the self storage industry is proving itself to be an important sector that serves both people and businesses in a variety of ways.