With break-ins and vandalism becoming more commong, we want to make sure you know what to look for so you are chosing a secure facility. -Cameras: More and more we see facilities with "cameras' that don't record or don't back up data. These are not going to help keep your stuff save. Not only do the cameras need to work, but they need to be backed up and there needs to be a monitoring system. It is always a good idea to ask about the cameras and see if they have motion sense and or monitoring on their camera system as well as a safety alarm and intercom system. -Maintenance: A well maintained facility is a great way to deter nefarious behavior. A facility that is well taken care of means that the staff is paying attention and actively walking through buildings,m they will notice the second something is out of place which makes them a less likely target for break-ins. Holes in the units, broken door seals, rusty latches and doors are all signs that the units go wihtout checking for at least weeks at a time. You want to look around for dust on the doors, spider webs, mice and rat poop/damage, and loose trash every time you come to your unit but especially at move in. -Staff: A well informed staff that knows their way around the facility with confidence is usually a great sign. If they can answer questions with ease, or even know how to get the answer easily, and know the intricate details about storage and what they can offer they are going to be on the look out and aware the second something goes wrong. A knowledgable staff will also be instrumental in solving any problems that do arrise while you are storing, if someting happens you want to know that the people at the facility can handle it instead of relying on you to tell them that there is a problem. ...
—May 15th, 2024
Hi guys, it’s Lauren and today we are going to talk about storage units (shocking, I know). The most common reasons to get a storage unit include moving, downsizing, seasonal storing, reorganizing a room or the whole house, even keeping business property separate from your home. But how do you figure out if you need storage or if you need a storage unit? The first question I like to ask people is can you park in your garage and if so can you park as many cars as you’re supposed to? Another great question is 'do I have a place in my home that remains unfunctional?' Most commonly for families that is the spare room, entryway closet or garage but it could be different for everyone. The last question is are there things that I am holding onto even though I don’t have the space? The answers to these questions will steer you in the right direction, but if you still aren’t sure then give us a call and let us help you figure it out! ...
—May 11th, 2024
With school ending with the month of May it's time to start getting ready for summer! Kids with be home and work will still be rolling on at the same rate, so how are you supposed to keep up with it all? Let us share the best tips we have gotten to get ready for summer! -Stock up on essentials: Paper products, disposable dinnerware, games, toys, whatever you know your family is going to go through quickly. Having to stop a day or event to pick up something you ran out of often creates an orderal for everyone involved. This also goes for medicines, first aid supplies and swim/summer attire. Bug spray and sunscreen are always good to keep in multiple places along with extra sunnies and back up swimwear. -Create a go bag: Something quick that you can grab on your way out the door that has some snacks, some bottles of water, some towels (incase you find a fountain to play in), and some staples like a charger and bandaids. You can also keep multiple of these packed for events. If you know you like to hike and swim and go into town to window shop then you can prepare bags for those events and save the time and hassle day of. This also frees you up for opportunities as they present themselves as you go through your summer! -Landing zone: When you have kids home for the summer the "coming in the door" of it all can get out of control very quickly. Prepping your landing zone for the mess can save you a ton of headache. Bins make it easy to contain different types of shoes (and at different mess levels) so you aren't worried about tracking stuff in. A standing coat rack can hold bags, safety badges, lanyards, and the usual jackets and hats! We have also been told that having a bin per person makes things like keeping track of swim suits and googles a ...
—May 6th, 2024
Now that we are officially a year old, here are some things we have learned to do differently to make life easier on our tenants! -Handcarts in the buildings so you can load and unload easily -Free guest wifi in the buildings so you don't have to lose service inside your unit -Expanded moving supplies inventory -Streamlined move in process to make it fast and smooth every time -Online move in option so you can set up your account the night before your move -Rental trucks and trailers on site -Uncovered parking spots for cars, boats, trailers and RV's -Local movers and home reccomendations for companies you can trust -No call centers, ever! you get us or our voicemail so real people can solve real problems as fast as possible -Expert staff that can help you plan your move from start to finish ...
—May 2nd, 2024
How are you supposed to take all the information that we give you and figure out what facility is going to be the best fit for you? We can help with that too! It's important to take a good inventory of what you are putting into storage in order to answer these questions. Knowing if you need climate control or jsut a place to store things will weed out a lot of locations quickly. The next big ticket question is how often will you be getting into the unit once it's packed. If you aren't going to get into it often but you need into it at a moments notice for business or personal reasons then you will want to look at a facility with good security and easy access. The less frequently you check on your item, the stronger you want the security at your unit, especially camera coverages and a good strudy lock (more than just a padlock). If you are going to get into it daily, you are going to want to make sure that there is plenty of places to park incase someone else is using the same entrance as you when you need acess. Another great thing for busy people is facilities that provide wifi coverage. Inside the buildings can be a dead zone for service, which maes it hard to stay connected while you are working inside your unit or going through your things. One thing that many people don't think about is the person behind the desk and how well you can comunicate and get along with them. If you have someone give you a touir and answer questions and go all the way through the move in process, you should be able to get a sense of what kind of employee they are. Someone who doesn't take the time to answer your questions well is not going to take the time to keep the facility clean or check on the units daily. ...
—April 29th, 2024
Drive up or non-climate controlled units are often times easy to access and quick to get loaded, but they don't offer the same protection as a climate controlled unit. There is still plenty of ways that you can protect your items! Containers: Picking the right container can make a big difference in how you items store. While the rubber totes are easy to move and stack, they are not the best at allowing moisture to escape. Storing everything in these totes will keep your items safe from all kinds of dirt and bugs which can give you peace of mind when storing in a drive up unit. However, it might cause problems if you pack them full of clothes or blankets when the weather starts to change. There are small humidity packs that can be placed in each container or these items can be stored in sealed cardboard boxes towards the top of the unit for the same protection without worry about moisture damage. Flooring: Most drive up units have concrete floors that will provide you with a smooth base, but that means any water from humidity or rain that gets in to your unit can stay there. So the first step to to check for a weather seal to see if water can come in under the door. If you need to prop things up off the floor, be sure to keep a plastic layer bwetween your items and whatever is touching the water. Humidity: The next thing to do is load things into your unit with a purpose. If you know that humidity could play a roll in how well your items store, then load them into the unit with room for air to circulate around the items. In addition, there are bunches of brands that have moisture packages and hangers that can help pull water out of the air. We reccomend keeping some right next to the unit door and at the very back of the unit ...
—April 27th, 2024
When you rent a truck through any of the easily accesible dealers in our area, there are a couple things you may not know to check first. Size: While the size of your items should determine the size of your truck, you also have to think about the size of the truck in relation to your trip and new house as well. More and more frequently we see people coming in to get the biggest truck we offer with no idea if it will fit into their neighboorhood. The smaller trucks (10ft and 15ft) are pretty easy to drive but the 26ft trucks are not for your average driver, when loaded with a trailer they are even as long as some semis. While there isn't a requirement beyond a regular DL for these larger trucks with or without trailers, you definetly want to think about where you will be driving the truck and getting gas. Movement: When you rent a truck and go to start driving it around, there are a couple moving parts that people tend to glance over but they can make a big difference in your move. First, the top of the truck moves during transit, especially during sharp turns, so when you pack it you want a little clearance surrounds your items. The next part that moves more than people think it the items in the truck. There are all these stickers about loading the truck with heaviest items in the back, but why? Theres the likely hood of your items moving and damaging each other during transit (especially with rough starts and sudden brakes) but the weight distrobution will also affect your gas mileage and how smooth your turns are. Another moving part to think about is the truck itself. When all of that weight gets moving, it takes alot of mechanical energy to change the course its on or slow it down. Taking fast turns or even changing lanes without paying attention can ...
—April 20th, 2024
Temperature is a great option for placees that get hot but don't have much humidity. These units are also commonly referred to as AC Units or Cool Units, but they wont protect your stuff from moisture damage. Climate Controlled Units are temperature controlled and monitored BUT ALSO have humidity controlls as well. Typically in a state like South Carolina this means having insudtrial dehumidifiers in each section of the building. If you are storing items like: antiques, wooden or leather furniture, paintings, photo albums, wine, clothing or collectables this can make or break your storing experience! If you don't have a climate controlled unit this summer make sure you grab some moisture absorber pouches so you can monitor it the best you can yourself! ...
—April 17th, 2024
Moving supplies can vary from move to move, there are always a few staples that can make any move easier. Boxes: Everyone wants the boxes with handles because they are easy to carry, but technically they aren't always the best choice. If you are on a budget then the extra price may not be worth it, as well as the thickness of boxes with handles is typically thinner than the standard moving boxes. The space for your hands also means that some of you boxes will be packed less efficiently, making room not only for the handle itself but the hand and space above the handle. Little things like this can add up if you have a large amount of boxes. Tape: If you have boxes, you are going to need tape. But there is more to tape than just sealing boxes; you can premake labels for boxes for quick and easy organization, you can also use tape to keep track of numbers for all the movers and firends that help along the way especially if you are driving across states, you can secure the screws and bolts to furniture so they don't get lost, I have even seen a tenant with no door stop tape a door open! Rubber totes: these are one of the best moving accessories out there! Not only are they reusable, and easy to label with tape or wet-erase markers, but they are sturdy and quick to pack and unpack for runs of frequently used items and appliances. These also stack well and can keep your foundation stable in your moving truck or storage unit. Utility knife: this is not very useful for packing, but when it comes time to unpack having individual, cheap box cutters can make the process go so much faster. You can also look up how to modify boxes with a few cuts to better protect your specialty items! Corner protectors: one of the most common complaint in moving is that ...
—April 16th, 2024
We have taken quite a few security measures here at Fortress, most of which are visible upon arrival to tha facility. We have extensive cameras covering every inch of the property at multiple angles, motion flagging software for every camera, security lights that make sure our facility isnt sitting in the dark, electronic gated access with no access between 10pm and 6am, keypad door access to restrict who gets into each building, in-office staff 6 days a week, and no call centers so you get our staff directly or our office voicemail! We use cylinder locks instead of the unsecure padlocks and we don't keep keys to your unit! Fortress take sercurity very seriously so that you can trust while your stuff is here it's safe and well looked after! ...
—April 13th, 2024
