Questions to Consider When Choosing a Self Storage Facility in Melbourne

If you’re looking for Mordialloc self storage, or self storage in Melbourne generally for that matter, there are a range of options out there. Here are five questions to consider when deciding which facility is the best fit for you:

1. What do the customer reviews say?

It’s prudent to check customer reviews. This provides an idea of the type of experience you might have if you choose to store at a given facility. At Hippo Self Storage, our family-owned business has been operating for over 13 years and we are proud of the fact that, at the time of writing, we have a Google customer review rating of 4.9 stars! We take customer service very seriously and aim to deliver a service level that reflects what we would like to experience if we ourselves were the customer. Our focus is on providing friendly service and flexibility to customers at our clean, secure and convenient Mordialloc self storage site. It is a great pleasure, therefore, when we meet new customers who were recommended by previous ones! It gives us confidence that we are on the right track - while, at the same time, being mindful of the importance of continuous improvement. Remember, then, to check out the reviews when researching different storage facilities.

2. How far is the storage unit from where I can park my vehicle?

This is a practical question that is worth bearing in mind. We have heard anecdotes from customers of how their storage units at previous facilities had been located very far away from where they could park their vehicle. The “commute” from one to the other can indeed be lengthy and involve winding corridors, a series of doors and elevators. The result being that it takes a long time (and a lot of energy!) to trolley loads of goods between the car or truck and unit. At our facility, you can drive right up to the shipping container storage units, meaning that loading and unloading goods is a lot more efficient. If you are hiring a removalist to do the job, the likely outcome is that their services are cheaper because it takes them less time. And if you are dropping into the site for whatever reason (say, to pick up a surfboard!), it’s a whole lot more convenient. So when you’re deciding which storage facility to store your goods at, consider asking how far away the storage unit would be from parking.

3. Will there be a rate increase in the first year?

This is a really important issue that can catch storers by surprise. Some storage businesses adopt the strategy of charging low rates to begin with, only to increase them significantly after around 6 or 8 months, and then at relatively short intervals after that. Once you already have belongings in storage it can be inconvenient, time consuming and costly to move – meaning that you may be left paying meaningfully higher storage rates than you originally anticipated. As a result, it’s a great question to ask a facility, before signing up, the frequency and level of any future rate increases.

4. Are there any administrative fees?

There are a number of additional administrative fees that storage businesses may charge on top of actual storage. These include sign-up and late-payment fees. While the amounts may not be significant in the context of what is being paid for storage, they can be a real source of frustration especially when not aware of them from the outset. At Hippo Self Storage Mordialloc, we do not charge either of these fees. This is consistent with our affordable self storage model where we charge competitive rates and there are no hidden fees. When choosing a self storage facility, it pays to check on any additional charges!

5. How much notice is required to finish up storage?

Some storage facilities in Melbourne require extensive notice periods to finish up the use of a storage unit. This means that you may be paying storage fees for several weeks after you vacate! We take a totally different approach – our philosophy is that you only pay for the time that you actually store. So if, for example, you have paid storage fees until the end of a given month but end up vacating halfway through the month, we will refund the difference irrespective of the level of notice provided. This flexibility can be very beneficial to customers and provide peace of mind if their plans change. At Hippo Self Storage, we’re passionate about providing the best self storage experience possible. Feel free to CONTACT US today to discuss your storage requirements.