What to look for in a storage facility

If your business doesn’t have enough storage space for its stock, or you simply require overflow space while you are in the process of moving to a new premises or expanding, your best option is to find a storage facility to rent. From small individual storage units to entire warehouses that can be integrated into your supply chain processes, these facilities can be vital to ensure your business continues to operate smoothly. However, with so many options out there to choose from, what features should you look out for in a new storage facility?

In this article, we explore the key criteria to consider when choosing a new storage facility for your business and what you have to bear in mind. 

How safe are storage facilities?

Although it may sound obvious, security is an aspect that is often overlooked when it comes to looking for storage facilities. Remember, regardless of how good of a deal you may think you have on price, if your goods are not secure, there is no point. Before making your final decision, make sure you do some background research on the storage company in question. Check if there have been any reports against the company regarding lost or stolen goods, or whether any of their facilities are prone to break-ins. 

Once you are happy with the company’s history, it’s also a good idea to check out the actual location you will be renting yourself. Look to make sure security cameras are in place, competent and experienced security guards are used and the state of building is acceptable. If anything doesn’t look right, don’t use that facility and look for another company. While most storage facilities are safe nowadays, it’s essential you do these checks just in case. Afterall, storing your goods in a facility that is not safe could be hugely costly in the long run. 

What is the cost of storage facilities?

Once you have located a storage facility that you are satisfied can keep your goods safe, naturally the next thing you need to look out for is the cost. As a rule of thumb, when looking for a new facility, instead of looking at the overall price, you should look at the cost per square footage of the space you are looking to rent. As well as giving you the clearest idea of the size of space you are actually getting for your money, in the long term having this clear idea of size allows you to accurately predict how much expanded storage space you might need should your business grow. Without having the cost per square foot available to you, you may be limited to storage spaces that may not be compatible with what you require. 

When it comes to cost, this will obviously depend on the location of your storage facility, how accessible it is and what additional extras you require. As a rough guide, a small 50 square foot unit will cost around £140 pcm – £2.80 per square foot. At the other end of the scale, a large commercial warehouse of 5,000 square feet could cost around 85p per square foot. The bigger the unit, the smaller the cost per square foot. However, it’s also crucial to remember that you may also be responsible for the cost of maintaining and repairing your storage space during the duration of your contract, and you may also have to factor in gas, electricity and water costs. Always make sure you read all the terms and conditions included in your rental agreement before signing a contract. 

Storage facilities with additional extras

Aside from simply keeping your goods safe, finding a storage facility that offers a range of additional services is also worth looking out for. From stock control solutions that make sure the flow of your goods leaving and entering storage is as efficient as possible, to pick and pack services that make sure your goods are dispatched with ease, warehouse and supply chain management can be so much more than just storage. 

Deals can even be put in place with your logistics providers to ensure complete synergy between the storage, packing and delivery processes of your business. This can not only make life easier and make operations run seamlessly, it can also save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Why use our warehouse storage facilities?

Here at Freightline Carriers, as well as being experts in the field of road and air freight solutions, we also offer state-of-the-art warehousing and distribution services. These services incorporate a range of processes involved in typical supply chain management – from finding suitable warehouse storage facilities to meet even the most niche requirements to sophisticated stock management techniques and pick and pack distribution services. 

Whatever your warehouse storage requirements, you can rely on Freightline Carriers to provide an experienced warehouse and distribution team to meet your every need.