This time around we will discuss items that are not to be
stored in one’s unit. So just keep in mind that this is not an all inclusive
list, and you should always read your lease, and confer with your state’s laws
on prohibited items. That said, when getting your things ready to be stored, these
items are to be avoided; Hazardous Materials, Food, Weapons, Money, Living
Creatures, and of course Stolen Items. Many of these may seem like no brainers,
but alas, we must discuss them.
I think we can lump hazardous materials and weapons
together. These items include things such as paint thinner, oil, acids,
propane, gasoline, fertilizer, fireworks, and firearms/ammo. Should something
happen at the storage unit, and a fire erupts, nothing that would help advance
the fire should be stored. These not only can cause the fire to start, but can
really give the fire fighters a run if they are in the unit.
Food: this is a great way to attract rodents and other
pests. Storage facilities already have a battle against pests, so do not store
something that will invite these guys. If stored properly some shelf stable
foods may be acceptable, but please check with the operator of the facility
before bringing it for storage.
Money and stolen items. Stolen items should not need any
further explanation, but obviously, if it isn’t yours, do not keep it, turn it
in to the authorities. As for money, remember that even though the facility may
be secure, they are still susceptible to theft and forces of nature.
Moving on to the last category that we will discuss today is
living creatures. There are many reasons why this will not work, so just
remember that your beloved pets belong where you can keep them safe, and attend
to them.
In summary; where there are many things that you can keep in
your unit, such as furniture, clothes, equipment, and books, there are still many
things that should be avoided. You would not want to take the risk of losing
some of these to auction if things got bad, nor would you want to be
responsible for an arising problem at the facility. If you have a question,
always run it by the facility staff for clarity.