Storage facilities

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Any recommendations for good storage facilities? Last post on this topic was 18 months ago, so I could use more recent input if anyone has it.

My wife and I are expecting a baby in December, so we're looking for a reasonably-priced storage unit where we can stash some furniture and stuff for a few months until we're able to move to a bigger place. We're on the east side of Somerville, but any recommendations in Somerville/Cambridge/Medford would be great. Thanks!

Comments

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Whoa, I am just finding out about this! Mazel tov! :)

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Thanks! (As you can tell, I'm way behind on posting to my personal LJ)

[spot.livejournal.com]

When I was in the process of moving from Arlington to Ayer, I had a similar need for a reasonably priced storage unit. I ended up using the Public Storage in Medford (327 Mystic Ave). Friendly and helpful staff, well lit, and decent storage facilities.

I would also strongly recommend that you avoid UHaul, specifically, the one at 600 Mystic Valley Pkwy, Somerville. Incredibly rude and incompetent staff, not to mention that they seemed to be attempting to rip off everyone who walked in the door.

[amy-s1.livejournal.com]

We had a horrible experience with Public Storage in Medford. EVERYTHING was covered in mouse/rat feces after storing things there for 3 years. Emptying that unit was one of the most disgusting experiences of my life. They have massive rodent issues.


We had NO FOOD stored in the unit.

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

I did some pricing on storage places for some of my mom's stuff a few years ago. This advice will be slightly contrary to my usual "yay local businesses" attitude - but the further away from Somerville/Cambridge you go, the cheaper the monthly rates get. This is for basically the same facilities/features/etc. if you don't actually need to go back beyond dropping your stuff off (presumably w/ vehicle) and picking your stuff up (presumably again w/vehicle) you might want to look at some of the locations of these chains outside of the T accesible zone.

[pjmorgan.livejournal.com]

Along those lines, I was happy with Town Line Self Storage on Route 1, which I used for a about a year from 2005-6.

[mistresshellena.livejournal.com]

Metropolitan Storage on Mass Ave/Vassar? by MIT (aka "rage warehouse ire proof") is great. We've had stuff there for years, never any problems, helpful staff, reasonable prices.

And it's "ire proof" ;)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_meej_/]

So happy to see I'm not the only one endlessly amused by that.

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

Oh no, definitely not.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Hmm I will have to watch this posting...I am also expecting in December and it didnt even occur to me that I could get a storage unit instead of selling/giving away! :)

[lonelyholiday.livejournal.com]

The building where I work, in Porter Square, also has storage space:
http://artyswarehouse.com/

Two caveats:
1. This is NOT self-storage, meaning you won't have your own space with key access to come and go as you please, etc. Definitely a "drop everything off on one date, come back and get it on another" kinda place.
2. I haven't actually stored anything with them myself; we have office space in the building. But we've been here for 10 years, so I know the owners/staff are reliable, responsible, etc. Can't imagine they'd run the storage side of the business in a drastically different way. :)

Not so good: Extra Space in Somerville

[djethan.livejournal.com]

I've had a not-so-good experience with Extra Space in Somerville (Somerville Ave between Porter/Union). It all started out well and I was even ok with fingerprints being taken (my job requires this too). But then I was walked past many many free lockers and put all the way in a back corner for some reason, even after asking if I could use one of those (Sorry, the computer already reserved this for you) Maybe I was bad...? Maybe the computer hated me...?

Hassle #1: I was told they _required_ me to buy insurance. This was absolutely false and contradicted by their web site. To remove the insurance I had to bring proof that my own insurance covered the storage locker (it does).

Hassle #2: After 3 months my pretty good rate was raised up 10% and is now the same as everywhere else. So the rate is by no means locked in like I though it was. The fine print here is very important.

Hassle #3: After 3 months they also stopped sending me email reminders that my payment was due. And guess what? Yup, I relied on that email and I missed a payment. I ended up paying a $10 overdue fee.

Overall this place's business practices are horrible. Almost bait and switch type tactics. If you look them up at the Better Business Bureau they have many many complaints from across the country about the same issues I mentioned above. So it's standard practice for them.

This weekend I too am seeking a new storage locker and may end up using either Planet Self Storage or Space Self Storage. Although Metropolitan by MIT looks promising too.

Re: Not so good: Extra Space in Somerville

[i-leonardo.livejournal.com]

i didn't enjoy my experience with extra space, either. the place was clean and well-kept, but it felt like the rates increased pretty steeply after the initial teaser rate.

Re: Not so good: Extra Space in Somerville

[pywaket.livejournal.com]

Thirded. I've used the Extra Space over in Everett, which is the cheapest I've found in the area. But yeah, they keep raising the rates, much faster than inflation.

I've heard good things about McCarthy Self Storage in Meffa
http://www.mccarthyselfstorage.com/

[joylewis.livejournal.com]

I had good luck for short term storage (1 mo) at Planet Self Storage. Clean, air conditioned, and an elevator that worked. As an interesting note, the unit across from mine was used by the owner's brother's band as a practice space, and once I saw inside to see the requisite garage band mess. It lent an air of potential to an otherwise boring trip to the storage facility. :)

U-Haul Medford

[lioracle.livejournal.com]

I had a fine experience with the U-Haul facility on Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford. It's really close to Davis Square, which is a plus. I don't know, though, how the prices compare with other places.

UHaul

[howlymcghee.livejournal.com]

I also have used the UHaul in Medford for almost 5 years, and have never had any problems. They open super early which is nice, and the place it clean and all that. The only two problems: sometimes the "people' elevator is broken, but that just means you have to use the freight elevator around the corner, and once they gave my license to the wrong person, but they got it back for me in under an hour, so that was nice.