Self-storage is a practical way to store your extra belongings. Storage units come in handy during various life situations, such as moving, downsizing, remodeling, or organizing. Sharing a storage unit is a good idea for those on a tight budget or for customers looking to save money per square foot. It’s also a great option if a storage solution is too big for one person. Shared storage units are a smart way to split up rent in expensive cities where the cost of self-storage is at a higher price point. While sharing a unit with someone else may seem like an attractive choice, it has its pros and cons. This guide outlines the top benefits of sharing a storage unit while telling you about potential pitfalls. We also have simple ideas on making this arrangement work well for everyone involved.
Benefits of Sharing Storage
The most obvious benefit of dividing a storage unit with a trusted friend or a family member is lower rent. College students often live on a shoestring budget, but they still need storage units to store their belongings and make more room in their tiny dorms. When going home for the summer break, students can keep their items at a self-storage facility for greater convenience. With so many benefits, renting a storage unit is a terrific choice for students, and sharing it with a trusted friend or roommate is even better.
Sometimes you may have items to store, but not so many that you’ll need an entire unit to yourself. This is one situation where sharing the storage space could be a good idea.
Drawbacks of a Shared Storage Unit
Sharing rent and talking expenses can create a strain on relationships. In the worst-case scenario, your partner may skip their share of the monthly rent, jeopardizing the lease. Since your friend has access to the unit, you don’t have total control over who enters the storage unit or what he/she may store inside. This means you’re indirectly compromising the safety of your belongings.
Best Practices for Sharing a Storage Unit
Given the pros and cons of shared storage, make sure you follow these best practices to create a smooth experience for everyone.
Set Up a Payment Plan
When friends rent storage together, there’s a temptation to keep things casual. But this can lead to trouble when it comes to paying the rent. It’s important to come to a mutual agreement and decide on a 50-50 split of the rent. You can take this a step further and create a formal contract with clear terms and conditions laid out. These small but important steps can save major problems with paying bills in the future.
Divide the Storage Space
Stacking heavy boxes only to realize later that one of you is taking up much more space in the unit can lead to a contentious situation, souring your friendship and creating distrust. Drawing up boundaries before you and your partner store boxes ensures fair and equal allocation of storage space.
A clever way to partition the self-storage unit is to lay down a line of painter’s tape on the floor, dividing the space in half. This simple solution creates two separate areas, so you both know where exactly to place your items. It’s a brilliant way of ensuring neither partner uses more space.
Work Together to Keep the Unit Clean
Sharing the unit with someone else lightens the burden of organizing and keeping it clean. That’s if both partners accept the responsibility. A well-organized space makes it easy to retrieve items and ensures that both renters are happy when they drop by the storage unit. Take turns cleaning the unit every once in a while, and only store items that are clean, dry, and free of dirt, debris, and food particles.
Sharing a storage unit can result in monetary savings and help you declutter your home, dorm, or apartment without breaking the bank. With the above steps in mind, you’ll establish clear boundaries and detail a comprehensive plan that covers mutual obligations. Following these tips can turn your experience of sharing a unit into a pleasant one.
CubeSmart offers units of varied sizes across storage facilities to cater to your storage needs. A size guide on our website sheds more light on unit dimensions and what items best fit inside each size. Call or visit today to find out more about our special offers and discounts that can help you secure a great deal on self-storage. To save more, sharing the unit with a reliable friend, partner, family member, or roommate can be a smart option!
