Chicago Storage Units: Companies, Laws, Moving & More

Chicago’s storage units give you tons of different options – so you might actually feel a bit lost when you start looking! Maybe you’re trying to clear out your house to make more room, or you need somewhere to keep your business supplies, or you’re in the middle of moving. The useful news is that you can have lots of options to keep your belongings safe and easy to get to whenever you need them.

Here’s what you need to think about – the right size unit that’s in a convenient place. You’ll want to make sure it’s very protected and find something that works with your budget. Chicago has lots of storage businesses all over the city – each one comes with its own set of rules and ways of doing things! You’ll want to know about moving your items in and out without any hassles.

You’ve probably got some questions about this – like which neighborhoods have the safest storage facilities or what size unit you actually need or if you should go for climate control. Don’t worry though! When you find what the Chicago storage businesses can give you and how they work, then you’ll be able to choose exactly what works for you and your belongings.

Let’s talk about what you should know about storage units.

Storage Unit Types Available

You’ll find that storage units can fit pretty much anything you need to store recently. Need to protect your expensive electronics, well-designed furniture, or favorite clothes from crazy weather? Climate-controlled units keep everything just right – not too hot, not too cold (usually somewhere between 60 and 80 degrees)! You can pick from small 5×5 spaces the way up to giant 10×20 rooms at some facilities like Protect Self Storage or Extra Space Storage.

Want something very easy to get to? Drive-up units let you pull right up to your storage space. It’s a good choice when you’re moving big furniture or lots of boxes. These units come in all sorts of sizes too, from small 5x5s to big 10x20s. Some facilities like CubeSmart, Protect, and U-Haul have tons of these units ready to go.

Have a car, motorcycle or RV you need to store? Vehicle storage has you covered. Some locations even keep your ride temperature-controlled if you want extra protection. StorageMart is pretty reliable for this. They have space for everything from small motorcycles to massive RVs.

When picking your unit, you should think about what you’re storing. Useful items that don’t like extreme temps? Go climate-controlled. When you move lots of heavy items? A drive-up unit will save your back. And for your wheels, vehicle storage is the way to go.

Space counts, too. Small 5×5 units work well for boxes and little furniture pieces. Need more room? A 10×10 fits bigger furniture and appliances. Have a whole house worth of belongings or multiple vehicles? Look at those 10×20 spaces.

Remember to think about time. Just storing items for a few weeks? Drive-up units make life easier. Planning to store your belongings there for months or years? Splurge on climate control – your items will thank you later!

Chicago Storage Laws and Regulations

You have to know your rights and follow some basic rules when you rent a storage unit! Your belongings stay safe as long as you can pay the rent and follow the rules in your contract. Think of it like this: You own the items, and the storage company owns the space.

When you miss payments, a few steps will happen. First, you’ll get a notice that spells out exactly what you owe them. The company will also announce they have a legal right to sell your belongings (which nobody wants).

The storage company won’t just lock you out right away. You’ll get some time to fix these problems – you just need to act fast.

Storage owners can sell your items after you miss payments. But they have to follow some strict rules. Here’s something most people don’t know! If your items sell for more than you owe, you can claim that extra money for up to two years.

You’ll always get lots of warnings before anything happens to your belongings. The company has to give you at least 14 days to move out if they want to end your contract.

Don’t depend on email messages – they have to notify you through official channels. Sure, you can sign contracts electronically now, which makes life easier.

Storage businesses take action past missed payments. Leave a broken-down car in your unit? They might tow it away if your contract says they can. Storing hazardous items is a big no-no.

Chicago follows the rules for storage units under the Illinois Self-Service Storage Facility Act – this law works differently from regular rental laws, so you need to know what applies to you.

Want more facts? Look up the Illinois Self-Service Storage Facility Act or talk to the Illinois Self Storage Association. Real estate lawyers, like the pros at Lucas Law in Chicago, know all about these rules.

Keep your storage unit safe and legal. Stay away from storing hazardous chemicals and remember that you can’t keep your belongings on public property except for short periods. Your storage container needs to follow local rules about where and how it can be placed.

Payment Options

Storage pricing isn’t as tricky as you might think once you can break it all down. You’ll pay different amounts based on how much space you actually need and where your storage unit is located. A small 5’x10′ unit will run you about $114 each month, while a medium 10’x10′ unit without climate control costs between $123 and $186. Need something bigger? A 10’x20′ space averages around $240 monthly! Just remember these prices can increase for more conveniently located facilities.

You can save some serious cash by taking advantage of the deals. Most storage locations want your business, so they’ll throw in sweet benefits like 50% off your first month – or even just charge you a dollar to start! Sign up for six months or a year, and you’ll usually score a better rate. Paying for a few months at once can put more money back in your pocket. You’ll need to fork over more cash first.

Don’t jump at the first storage facility you find. Even the same company might charge different prices at different locations. Take some time to shop around and research your options to maximize savings. Paying your bill has been very easy recently! You can just use your credit card, write a check, or manage it all online. Just watch out for those unexpected extra charges like sign-up fees and mandatory locks.

Want climate control? Get ready to pay about 20-40% more than regular units.

Here’s a money-saving trick – look at some storage facilities in the suburbs instead of downtown Chicago. Sometimes renting two smaller units ends up cheaper than one big one (weird but true)! Another pro tip – units on higher floors that need elevator access usually cost less than ground-level places.

Think about how you want to manage the payments. When you pay for a whole year might save you money each month. But you’re stuck with that contract. When you pay ahead can get you a discount. You’ll need that chunk of cash ready to go. Whatever works best for your wallet!

You have options to pay your bill. Jump online with your credit card, stop by the facility with cash or check or call it in (heads up – phone payments might cost extra). Some facilities even let you mail checks, you can use their app or set up automatic payments to make your life easier.

Security Features of Storage Units

You’ll find reliable security at known storage facilities like Extra Space Storage and The Lock Up Self Storage. These businesses use strong security features to keep your items safe and sound! High-tech cameras watch over everything day and night – this scares off would-be thieves and catches any troublemakers on video.

You’ll get your own code to open up the gate when you rent a unit. The storage facility tracks everyone who comes and goes – making sure only the right people can get in.

Want even more protection? Some facilities like Extra Space Storage give you units with their own alarms. Try to break in without the right code, and you’ll set off a loud warning. Staff members and managers walk around the property. They keep an eye out for anything fishy and jump into action if something seems wrong.

Bright lights help keep bad guys away. Motion sensors flip them on whenever someone moves nearby, so you can feel safe visiting your unit – even at night. Storage facilities also use electronic locks or smartphone apps to control who can access different areas.

Regular checks and cleanup crews make sure that everything stays protected and clean. They place possible problems before they start and keep the pests away from your belongings. These security features work together to create a fortress around your stored items.

When you look for a storage facility, check out locations with round-the-clock video-watching and electronic gates. See if they offer alarm systems on individual units. Talk with the staff about who’s around to keep watch and check out how well-lit the property is. Ask about their cleaning schedule and how they manage pest control. You might also want to look up what kind of security technology the big storage businesses use these days – they’ve got some great features!

Tips for Storage

An organized storage space starts with spotless items. You’ll need to wipe down all your furniture and appliances first – this keeps the dust and grime from building up while they sit in storage. Next you’ll need the right boxes and bins! You can grab some airtight containers for all your clothes and pick up some clear plastic bins so you can see what’s inside right away.

You should pack everything the way it naturally stands. Stand your plates up like they’re in a dish rack, and your boxes won’t crush them flat. Wrap your delicate items in bubble wrap or those old towels you have lying around! Remember to slap a “fragile” sticker on these boxes – you’ll thank yourself later.

Make your life easier by labeling everything. Write down what’s inside each box and mark the fragile ones. Even better – draw yourself a little map of where you put everything (this helps when you need to find something months later).

Keep your belongings organized by putting similar items together. Your kitchen boxes should stay with other kitchen boxes – your bedroom items should stick together, too.

Make the most of your storage space by thinking up, not out. You can put up some shelves to save floor space for your bigger items. Stack your boxes high. But make sure they won’t topple over. Always put the heavy items on the bottom – your lighter boxes won’t get squished this way!

Make sure you can reach everything. Put the items you’ll need right at the front and leave yourself a path to walk through your unit.

When you move big or delicate items, you’ll need to take extra care. Take apart any furniture you can – this saves space and keeps objects from breaking. Protect your mattresses and furniture with covers and lots of bubble wrap. Turn your coffee tables and mirrors on their sides – they’ll take up less floor space, and your mirrors are less likely to break this way.

Load your unit like an expert by starting with the walls. You can work from the back to the front. Toss some pound bags in the gaps to keep everything steady. Cover your furniture with old sheets or tarps to keep the dust off.

Get ahead of moving day stress with a complete checklist. Write down everything you plan to store and measure your bigger items first. Take pictures and make notes – you’ll be happy you did when you need to find something later.

Clean Out Your Junk

Getting your storage unit cleaned out doesn’t need to be a headache. You might feel overwhelmed when you’re looking at all your belongings piled up. But breaking it down into smaller steps makes everything easier. You’ll feel energized once you’ve finally finished going through those boxes you’ve been putting off for months! Think of it as a chance to keep what matters and say goodbye to the items that are just taking up space.

Junk Relief makes the whole process way less stressful – you won’t have to break your back moving that old couch or those heavy boxes. We’ll manage that for you.

While we’re doing the heavy lifting, you can focus on what needs your attention. The best part? We’ll make sure your unwanted items can find new homes through donation or get recycled the right way, so you can feel wonderful about where your belongings end up.

Before our team shows up, just make sure there’s a clear path to your unit. Moving any cars or obstacles out of the way now will save everyone some time later. Once the Junk Relief crew arrives, you’ll see right away how we manage everything (we know exactly what we’re doing)! We’ll leave your space looking spotless.

Junk Relief takes the stress out of clearing your storage unit. You have better things to do than spend your whole weekend hauling junk – right? Our team works fast, and you can see we’re careful and friendly too. Ready to finally tackle that cluttered storage unit? Give us a call or book online for a free estimate – your future self will thank you for making the move.