Skip to main content
Fulltext search
FILTER RESULTS BY:
RECOMMENDED IN RENT
Moving to NYC after college? Here's how to find a rental apartment
RECOMMENDED IN BUY
How buying real estate in NYC is unlike anywhere else
RECOMMENDED IN SELL
A guide to using a no-fee renovation loan from a NYC real estate firm
RECOMMENDED IN IMPROVE
How to make your NYC renovation more pet-friendly
BEST REAL ESTATE WEBSITE!
National Association of Real Estate Editors
BEST REAL ESTATE WEBSITE! National Association of Real Estate Editors
Brick Underground
Social Links
follow:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Flipboard
  • search
Brick Underground
☰ Brick Underground
Brick Underground
Brick Underground
☰
Brick Underground
  • Buy
    • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
    A rendering of the roofdeck at 55 Broad Street.
    Rent
    Housing lottery launches for 143 apartments in the Financial District
    Aerial panoramic view of Red Hook, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
    Sales Market
    24 NYC neighborhoods where median prices more than doubled in the past decade
    431 West 54th Street is a co-op building that allows subletting.
    Investing
    Want to buy an investment apartment to rent out? Here's what you need to know
  • Rent
    • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
    Young woman using laptop at new apartment, with moving boxes around.
    Roommates + Landlords
    Didn't get your security deposit returned in NYC? A new chatbot can help
    A rendering of the six-story building in Park Slope.
    Affordable Housing
    Housing lottery launches for 45 rent-stabilized units in Park Slope
    Laura and her dog Jack
    Rent
    Why I moved to NYC from Brazil: I relocated for work and reunited with friends I made 15 years ago
  • Sell
    • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
    Aerial view of downtown Brooklyn
    Sell
    Median sales price in Brooklyn climbs to $995,000 in the second quarter
    Downtown New York City
    Sell
    Manhattan deals rose to highest level in nearly two years, defying national trends
    new condo building and older co-op buildings in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
    Sell
    Brooklyn median price nears $1 million but the spring market is a question mark
  • Live
    • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
    FlatRate moving brick underground
    Live
    How to troubleshoot your move in advance
    Sponsored By flatrate
    Distressed woman sitting in her apartment
    Troubleshooting
    Ask Altagracia: My live-in partner is abusive. How can I get out of my lease?
    Sponsored By Outerbridge Law P.C.
    NYC apartment buildings with fire escapes
    Neighborhood Intel
    Can you sit on a fire escape in NYC? 5 things to know
  • Improve
    • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide
    mini splits apartments new york city
    Products + Services
    Yes, you can install central AC in your co-op or condo unit. Here's how
    image
    Products + Services
    Take back your deck! How to win the war with mosquitoes and enjoy outdoor living again
    NYC apartment building with AC units
    Products + Services
    My neighbor's dripping AC is driving me crazy. What can I do?
  • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Property Management
    • Structure & Systems
    • Sustainability
    Burned and Boarded Up Windows
    When should your board hire a public adjuster?
    Manhattan GM
    What should we consider when renewing insurance for our building?
    Facade of NYC buildings
    How much is insurance on a NYC co-op or condo building?
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with us
    • Sponsored Content
    • Experts
    FlatRate moving brick underground
    Live
    How to troubleshoot your move in advance
    Sponsored By flatrate
    Distressed woman sitting in her apartment
    Troubleshooting
    Ask Altagracia: My live-in partner is abusive. How can I get out of my lease?
    Sponsored By Outerbridge Law P.C.
    Building facades in New York in winter
    Roommates + Landlords
    Ask Altagracia: I withheld rent due to inadequate heat and I'm being hassled to pay it back. What should I do?
    Sponsored By Outerbridge Law P.C.
  • Brick Report
  • About Us
  • About Us
The subscription service is currently unavailable. Please check again later.
Fulltext search
FILTER RESULTS BY:
New Main menu
  • Buy
    • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
  • Rent
    • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
  • Sell
    • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
  • Live
    • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
  • Improve
    • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide
  • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards & Buildings
    • Boards
    • Finance
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Property Management
    • Structure & Systems
    • Sustainability
  • Advertise
    • Advertise with us
    • Sponsored Content
    • Experts
  • Brick Report
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
  • About Us
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER →
Social Links Footer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Search
Small Spaces [ SPONSORED ]

9 questions to ask before renting a mini-storage unit in NYC

By Manhattan Mini Storage  | December 15, 2014 - 9:59AM
image
SHARE:
Share to Facebook
Share to Twitter
Print
More...

If you live in a NYC apartment, chances are you have already outgrown it.  Chances are also that the basement storage in your building is totally inadequate, nonexistent, or subject to a three year waiting list.   

Fortunately, even in space-starved New York City, it's a lot easier (and cheaper) to find a home away from home for your stuff than it is to rent or buy an apartment for yourself.   Even better, competition in the off-site storage biz has intensified in the past few years,  bringing more choices, amenities and conveniences for apartment dwellers looking for an easy and affordable storage solution.    

Below, the experts at Manhattan Mini Storage share some insider tips on finding the best deal and the right fit for you (and your skis/baby gear/vintage bowling ball collection): 

1. How do I get the best deal?

Generally speaking, the lowest priced options (and the smallest units) in the city tend to run between $20 and $30 per month.  In exchange, you'll usually need to commit for at least a few months. But much like renting an apartment, the amount you'll pay fluctuates depending on the time of year. As a rule, summertime—when students fill up units with their stuff and skip town—is pricier, and you'll find cheaper options during the winter.

To get the lowest price, commit to as much time as possible—the longer you sign on for, the lower your monthly rate will likely be.   Manhattan Mini Storage, for instance, charges up to 20% less when you rent a unit for 4 months or longer.  

Location matters too. Storage units in outlying neighborhoods far from transportation as well as units that require stairs or a  ladder to climb up to are usually more economical.    

2. How easy will it be to get my stuff when I need it?

This depends on where you store, and what you want a storage unit for. If you use your storage unit as an extension of your closet, home office or otherwise have cause to visit it frequently, you'll want to find an option in the city that you can get to without spending an hour on the train. or a fortune on cab fare. You'll also want a unit in the building that's relatively accessible. Conversely, if you're storing some extra furniture, files, or equipment you don't expect to need for the next year (or several), you can be more flexible with your options.

Depending on your specific needs, find out if your unit has 24/7 access, loading docks, freight elevators, and  dollies to wheel your stuff to and from the curb.  Manhattan Mini Storage offers all of the above along with a free taxi service that will ferry you and your stuff to or from your unit.

3. What happens if I want to cancel?

Another way renting a storage unit is a lot like renting an apartment: you'll need to give a certain amount of notice before you cancel, usually between 21 and 30 days. If you're moving early on in the month, ask if the time can be pro-rated, i.e. if you can be charged for a partial month rather than the full 30 days. If it's an emergency, however, policies are often more flexible.

4. Will my stuff be exposed to the elements?

While no one's recommending you use your storage space as a glorified pantry, there's no need to worry that your things will freeze in the winter, or fry in the summer. Units should be temperature controlled in a manner similar to most apartment and office buildings. 

5. How secure is it? Can I give a friend a key to go pick up my stuff?

Any storage facility worth its salt will have an extensive surveillance system in place, and if it's the type of facility that you can come and visit yourself—as opposed to a delivery service—there should be limited guest access, so a stranger can't just grab your key (or key card) and head on in. Ask if there's an authorized guest list. Extras to keep in mind: key cards that take you straight to the floor your unit is on (so no one can wander around the building unchecked), and high security "disc" locks, which are often available for purchase in addition to a unit's standard locks.

6. Will I need a ladder to reach my storage unit (and can I only store things that can be carried up a ladder)? 

Finding space to live in NYC usually means going vertical, and the same is often true in storage, where units tend to be stacked two or three high. While a higher-up unit does usually mean a lower price, consider what you plan to store. If it's light boxes full of winter clothes you're not wearing, go for it, but if it's that massive couch that didn't fit through the door of your new apartment, you'll want something close to the ground.  But rather than the kind of apparatus you'd climb to get to a bunk bed, your storage facility should provide you with a sturdy, rolling staircase. 

7. Will my stuff be insured?

You can typically add coverage to your existing renter's or homeowner's insurance policy if it doesn't already cover damage to property in a self-storage place.  Some storage facilities may offer additional alternatives.

8.  How much can I customize my space?

For storage facilities you can visit in person, it's worth looking into extra shelving options to keep heavy boxes from squashing each other, or garment racks if you're using the unit as an off-site walk-in closet. Manhattan Mini Storage provides one small shelf or rolling rack for free; prices for additional ones range from $5 to $10 per month. 

9. What are some extra perks to look out for?

Depending on the size of the unit you rent and the amount of time you commit to, you may qualify to get a free move to help move your stuff from your apartment.  (For example,  Manhattan Mini Storage's  free storage taxi will pick up you and your stuff.  Moves requiring more manpower, like moving larger furniture or heavy items, may qualify for a free move with a  professional moving company.)  Some  storage services offer pick-up and delivery service of your belongings (unaccompanied by you), while others are taking on the role of a doorman.  Manhattan Mini Storage customers, for instance,  get free package acceptance--meaning you can send FedEx, UPS or DHL deliveries to your storage facility and then pick them up at your convenience within 48 hours.  

Related:

9 surprising ways New Yorkers use their mini storage units


Manhattan Mini Storage is New York's premier moving and storage company since 1978. With 17 locations from Battery Park to Inwood and everywhere in between, they're the go-to self-storage solution for more than 250,000 New Yorkers. To find great storage in your neighborhood, visit Manhattan Mini Storage or call 1-800-STORAGE.

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

topics:

renting Small Spaces sponsor story storage
SHARE
TWEET
BRICK’S PICKS
NYC apartment building with AC units
My neighbor's dripping AC is driving me crazy. What can I do?
Historic brick facades of NYC apartment buildings
Getting overcharged by a landlord? Here’s how the Tenant Protection Unit helps rent-stabilized tenants
Apartment buildings in Soho
New Rent Guidelines Board report justifies a rent freeze, tenant advocates claim
Brooklyn apartment buildings
Understanding net effective rent: Here's how to calculate your real monthly rent
image
How much should you renovate your NYC apartment or house before selling?
Council Member Shahana Hanif hold press conference before the City Council vote on Arrow Linen spot rezoning.
City Council signs off on 10-story towers for Arrow Linen site
Follow Brick on Instagram
@brickunderground | #brickunderground
Brick UndergroundBRICK UNDERGROUNDREAL LIFE. REAL ESTATE. REAL NEW YORK.
Social Links Footer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Search
Main menu footer
  • Buy
    • The Market
    • Investing
    • New Construction + Condos
    • Affordable Housing
    • Co-ops
    • Negotiating + Financing
    • How to Buy in NYC Guide
  • Rent
    • Affordable Housing
    • Roommates + Landlords
    • The Market
    • The Search
    • How to Rent in NYC Guide
  • Sell
    • Staging + Open Houses
    • Negotiations + Closings
    • Getting Ready
    • How to Sell in NYC Guide
  • Live
    • Neighbors
    • Kids + Pets
    • Neighborhood Intel
    • Products + Test-drives
    • Troubleshooting
  • Improve
    • Small Spaces
    • Small Projects + DIY
    • Renovations
    • Design + Architecture
    • Products + Services
    • How to Renovate in NYC Guide

Get more news you can actually use...

Email Address

Delivered to your inbox weekly - for free.

*By signing up you agree to receive occasional emails on behalf of our sponsors

Footer Menu
  • About Us
  • Advertise

Copyright 2009-2024 by BND Ventures Inc | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices | Login