Whether you are buying or selling a home, heading home for summer break, or making room for baby; a storage unit can provide that extra space you need to store items from your home or apartment. If you have never rented a storage unit before it may seem confusing but it is actually a very simple process. 

Storage Unit Sizes

The first step is to determine the size of storage unit you will need. The size guide below can provide a general description of how much will fit into a specific storage unit. The capacity of a storage unit will vary based on the type of items you are storing and how you pack. For instance, if you are storing large furniture or appliances those items will take up more space.

For example, a student storing items from a dorm room or small apartment would want to rent an 8x5 or 8x10 storage unit. If you are trying to declutter a packed single car garage then you may need a 10x16 or 10x20 storage unit. If you are still unsure what size you need our managers will be glad to assist you with choosing a storage unit for your specific requirements.

Contactless Rental Process

Once the size of storage unit has been determined you will need to call one of our rental offices to proceed with the rental process. You must have a credit card, a vaild email address and a device that will allow you to electronically sign documents. You will be asked to text a copy of a valid Driver's License. 

Packing a Storage Unit

Here are some tips to keep in mind when you are packing your storage unit:

• Load larger items first and keep heavier items on the floor then stack light boxes on top.
• Group items together based on rooms to make it easier to find items.
• Store valuable items in the back of the storage unit.
• Keep items that you may need to access later in the front of the storage unit.
• With larger units you can create an isle down the middle to make items more accessible.
• Remove the legs from dinning tables so they will store flat against the wall.
• Stack dinning chairs on top of each other.
• Consider storing mattress flat to prevent unevenness.
• Cover mattresses and upholstered furniture with plastic covers to protect them from dust and pests.

Leasing Terms

Storage unit leases are typically rented on a month to month term. We do offer discounts for longer rental terms. For a 6 month leasing term you will get a 1/2 month discount and we offer 1 month free for a 12 month leasing term.  To receive the discount you must pay the full amount in advance. 

Insuring Your Items

Intermountain Self Storage does not insure the items that you are storing in the unit. We recommend that you speak to an insurance agent about renters insurance or confirm whether the items will be covered under a home owner policy.  Some companies that provide tenant storage insurance are Minico, and Safestor. Be sure to ask what is not covered under their policies.

Securing Your Unit

The type of lock you use to secure your unit is very important. A good quality lock will have a thick, hardened steel shackle and a 5-pin tumbler. We recommend that you use a disc lock, which can be purchased at the rental office. It is also recommended that you keep an extra key in a safe place in case you lose your key. For a fee, we will cut your lock if you lose your keys.

Do Not Store

To protect your items from rodents and insects do not store perishable food, pet food or anything that can spoil and that will attract any unwanted pests. Do not store kitchen appliances that have not been cleaned.

Unfortunately, we cannot control what your neighbor will store in their storage unit. To better protect your items pack using new boxes and avoid using boxes from the grocery store or any boxes that have been used for food or beverages. Better yet, invest in plastic totes with lids and cover mattresses, sofas, and chairs with plastic covers. 

Storage units can get very hot in the summer and really cold in the winter.  Items that are volatile, flammable, combustible, explosive, or poisonous, i.e., paint, batteries, tires, asbestos, chemicals, corrosives, and pollutants are prohibited from being stored in the storage unit. 

Restrictions 

Idaho Statutes 55-2303 states that a facility operator cannot lease a storage unit to be used for residential purposes and a lessee may not use a leased space for residential purposes. In addition, we restrict the use of the storage unit to be used for storage only and do not allow activities such as repair or maintenance of personal property, transacting business matters other than storing items for an offsite business, or using a storage unit to conduct garage sales.