Do storage units have CCTV?

It is increasingly common for storage companies to use CCTV to ensure the security of their customers and the domestic goods stored on their premises. To learn more about how CCTV images of your self-storage unit are used, check your chosen storage company’s website for their CCTV privacy policy, or ask to see a copy of it.

Does my home insurance contents insurance cover items in storage?

Some home contents insurance policies will include items stored off-site. But you should check the wording of your policy or talk with your insurance broker to see if this is the case for you. Insuring domestic goods kept in a storage unit is inexpensive with Store and Insure, and our policy has several beneficial features for people who use storage units. For example, your goods will be insured while you are transferring them in a covered vehicle between your home and your storage unit and back again.

How do I get help with moving my goods into storage?

Ask at your storage company if they can recommend a removals company. Some storage centres offer their own removals service, but it’s a good idea to get a few quotes to make sure you’re getting best value.

Do you have an emergency plan for your household? - Storage Insurance News & Advice

Most people go through their entire lives without experiencing a house fire or any other sort of household emergency. But emergency planning is part of home safety, and it is definitely worth doing for peace of mind.

Get out and stay out and call 999

The fire service has simple advice for an emergency: Get out and stay out and call 999. These three steps are a great basis for your family emergency plan. The Scottish Government also has some advice on making a household emergency plan.

Make sure everyone knows the emergency plan

Thinking and talking about house fires and other emergencies may be upsetting for some; but having a plan that everyone understands could save lives.

Discussing your plan will also help you ensure it suits everyone, including pets. It will also help to fix the emergency plan in your family member’s minds so that they can act automatically to get out of the house and call for help.

Think about escape routes from your home

The best escape route is the normal way out of your home. So ensure that everyone can open the door easily if they need to, and that keys are accessible.

Agree an emergency meeting spot outside your home

Pick a place near your home to gather once you’ve exited. That way, you’ll know that everyone is safe.

Do your children know how to call for help in an emergency?

Dialling 999 and giving details might seem like it should be an easy operation – but it can be daunting for someone who has never done it before. Helping your children learn to recite their name, address, postcode, and even a phone number could be really useful in an emergency.

Is your address easy to find?

When you dial 999 to call for help, you’ll need to tell the dispatcher where to send the emergency services. If you regularly find yourself talking on the phone to pizza delivery riders who have got lost with your tea, you may be living at a hard-to-find address. There is an app called What3Words which assigns a unique three-word reference to 10m grid squares, and emergency services use it. Memorising the reference for your home will make it easy to explain where you live.

Keep doorways and hallways tidy for safety’s sake

Make it your policy to keep your hallways and exit routes clear. This will ensure you have a clear route to the door in an emergency.

Firefighters often recommend that you shut internal doors overnight. That’s because it slows the spread of a fire and can reduce smoke damage. So if your doors can’t be closed because there is furniture in the way, it may be time to rearrange your rooms.

Self-storage is a good way to keep bulky, rarely used items out of your living space. The cost of renting self-storage varies around the country, so the best way to work out how much your monthly self-storage bill might be is to get some quotes. We’ve got some other tips on Costing up self-storage that you might find useful. And remember that many people save on their self-storage insurance by shopping around. Get a quote from Store and Insure and check it against your current provider in case you’re overpaying.