Having a proper storage system for any space you have in your home or office is important because, well, it simply makes everything organized. It saves you from the hassle of worrying about whether you’re going to find what you’re looking for, or if anything is misplaced or missing.
Now, let’s get down to the point — we have two storage options to choose from: self-storage and valet storage. What’s the difference between them? In this article, we’ll get to know more about what self-storage and valet storage are, and which one would fit your need and preference more.
Self-Storage
What is self-storage?
As compared to valet storage, self-storage is more familiar to people who have tried looking for ways to have extra storage space for their belongings.
Self-storage is a storage service, wherein you can rent a storage space unit from a storage company to store your belongings. In this type of storage, thus the word “self,” you’ll be the one to personally bring your belongings to the storage space unit that you rented and load them up in there.
Pros
- Your own private storage space. Since in self-storage, you rent the whole storage space unit for your belongings, you have it all to yourself. You won’t have to worry if you’re storing too much of your things inside, as long as it fits. And you have sole access to your unit.
- Convenient 24/7 Access. Given that you have the storage space unit to yourself, you’re also the only one who gets to have access to your belongings and to the storage space unit itself. You can access your belongings 24/7.
- Provides a centralized security system. This is to assure you that your storage space unit along with your belongings are being monitored and guarded.
- Rental flexibility. The need for an extra storage space can be short term or long term depending on your items and reason for storing. With self-storage, you can have the flexibility of your rental length without being pressured to fix yearly contracts, deposits or minimum months rental.
Cons
- Requires physical presence. If you are too busy and don’t have any time to spare, this might be challenging for you, having a self-storage unit requires you to personally go there and load in and out your belongings.
- No transportation or delivery service. If you don’t have the transport vehicle to carry to and fro your things, you need to hire one. And that’s an additional cost that you will have.
Valet Storage
What is valet storage?
Unlike self-storage which is a more traditional way of storing things, valet storage is a different storage option wherein you will not have your own unit and you don’t have to physically bring the items to the warehouse.
In valet storage, the storage company is the one who’s going to pick up your items from your home. You may also avail of their packing service for large items so that it becomes a one-stop solution for your storing needs. If you’re only storing small items, then the storage company will bring storage containers (which will serve as your storage unit) to your home. You’ll be the one to pack all your belongings in the container to be stored — all at the comforts of your own home. The storage container that you packed up is sealed to ensure no one has access to it except yourself. It will, then, be taken by the storage company to a warehouse space where it will be stored.
Pros
- Storing convenience. You don’t have to go out of the house to store your belongings in the storage space unit because the storage company will pick up and pack all your large items for you. For smaller items, they will bring the storage container to your very doorstep so you won’t have to worry about moving your stuff.
- Centralized security system. Same as self-storage, valet storage also provides a centralized security system for your belongings. Security will closely monitor who gets to go in and out of the place to make sure that it’s only authorized personnel who have access to the storage area.
- Cost-efficient. You only have to pay for what you store and not a whole unit in the storage facility. This is a cost-efficient solution for items you just need to store for a long time and not access constantly.
Cons
- Limited access. Unlike self-storage, you won’t be able to access your items 24/7, nor will you be able to see it physically. You won’t be able to go to your items. There are scheduled times when you can make a request for pick-up and pull-out of your belongings. Accessing your items in a hurry might be challenging because of time availability and transport delivery time.
- Costs scale with size. If you end up having to store a lot of items or end up accessing your items quite often, the packing and logistics costs may begin to add up, and it might become more expensive than storing in self-storage.
Self-storage and valet storage cater to different needs of customers. Both are cost-efficient if planned and utilized correctly. Depending on whether you prioritize convenience or 24/7 access, you’ll need to assess exactly how you want to use your storage and the items stored inside in order to choose the right storage service for you.
We hope that this article has helped you decide which one of these two storage services is for you. If you’re still unsure of which service is better for you, feel free to give us a call and we’ll assess your storage requirements and give you the most cost efficient option.
If you’re looking for a storage space rental in the Philippines, contact us today!
