admin As a tenant, there are probably a lot of questions that you have that you’d like answered before you settle on a place. How is the parking? Is the property in a good school district? Is the area walkable or do you need a car? But one question that you may not have thought to ask is whether your potential new home has bulk storage solutions.
Well, truthfully, if you’re reading this article there’s a good chance that you at least asked that question while reading the title of this article. And we don’t blame you- it’s a valid question! After all, if you’re going to be living in an apartment complex there’s a good chance that you won’t have as much space as you would if you were living in a house.
Well, we’re going to be exploring this question in detail throughout the course of this article. We’ll be looking at what bulk storage solutions are, why you might need them, and whether or not apartment complexes typically offer them. By the end of this article, you should have a good idea of whether or not an apartment complex is likely to offer bulk storage.
Bulk Storage and You
Now, you might not really know what bulk storage is. That’s okay! We’re here to help. Bulk storage is simply a way of storing large quantities of items in a single, convenient location.
There are many reasons why you might need bulk storage- maybe you have a lot of seasonal decorations that you only use for certain holidays, or perhaps you have a collection of items that you don’t use very often but that takes up a lot of space.
Whatever the reason, if you find yourself needing to store large quantities of items then bulk storage is likely the solution for you.
There are many different types of bulk storage, and different industries use this word to the same effect. Let’s take a look at a few types of bulk storage:
- Warehouses:
- This is commonly used by companies to store large quantities of inventory.
- Self-storage:
- This is a popular option for people who need to store items but don’t have the space in their homes.
- Bulk containers:
- These are often used in shipping and manufacturing to store large quantities of materials.
- Bulk storage tanks:
- These are used to store liquids, like oil or water. -Bulk storage: There’s not really a better way to say the name of this one because it’s simply referring to the storage of items that you’d buy from a bulk store like Costco.
We’re going to be taking a look at the kind of bulk storage that would be the most likely to be at an apartment complex, which would be self-storage. This is because apartment complex residents typically don’t have a lot of space, so they need to find ways to store their belongings efficiently.
That being said, the other kinds of bulk storage are also important for their own reasons, but unless you’re running a company most of them aren’t going to be relevant to your life. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at self-storage and see if apartment complexes offer this type of bulk storage.
Self Storage- What Is It and Do Apartment Complexes Offer It?
Self storage is simply a way of storing your belongings outside of your home. This can be done for many reasons- maybe you’re moving and you need somewhere to store your things until you find a new place.
Perhaps you just don’t have enough space in your home and you need to declutter. Whatever the reason, self-storage is a convenient solution for people who need to store their belongings but don’t have the space to do so.
There are many different types of self-storage, but the most common type is probably going to be an off-site storage facility. This is where you would rent a unit from a company and then store your belongings there.
These units can be as small as a closet or as large as a garage, and you can typically access them whenever you need to, depending on the company. Some self-storage facilities have set hours that you can come and go.
Another type of self-storage that’s becoming increasingly popular is on-site storage. This is where your apartment complex would have its own storage units that residents could use. The advantage of this kind of self-storage is that it’s usually more convenient than renting from an off-site facility, and it can also be cheaper in some cases.
Most of the time this kind of storage would be in the parking lot or structure, and there are a few types that are commonly offered by apartments:
- Wire mesh cages:
- These are pretty self-explanatory– they’re cages made out of wire mesh that you can use to store your belongings. They’re usually pretty small, so they’re not going to be suitable for large items.
- Garages:
- These are usually only offered to people who have assigned parking spots in the apartment complex, but some complexes will let you rent a garage if you don’t have a spot. These are great for storing larger items like furniture or bicycles.
- Storage units:
- These are similar to the kind of storage units that you would rent from an off-site facility, but they’re usually smaller and more expensive.
- Storage lockers:
- These are very similar to storage units but smaller, usually about the size of a closet.
If your apartment complex offers any sort of bulk storage, more than likely it’s going to be one of these four types. Now, it’s not uncommon for apartment complexes to not offer any kind of bulk storage, but it’s becoming more and more common as people are looking for ways to declutter their homes.
How to Get On-Site Storage if Your Apartment Complex Doesn’t Have Any
As we mentioned, not every apartment complex offers this kind of storage. In fact, it is kind of rare for apartment complexes to offer this kind of thing.
If you’re apartment hunting it’s easy enough to make sure that the complex you’re looking at offers on-site storage, but what if you’re already living in a complex that doesn’t have any?
Well, there are a few things that you can do in this situation. One option is to look for off-site storage facilities. That can be a good solution if you don’t mind having to come and go, but what if that’s not really an option for you? That can make things a bit more difficult, but there are still a few things that you can do.
Another option is to talk to your complex’s management and see if they would be willing to add some kind of on-site storage. This is more likely to be successful if you’re not the only one who wants it, so try talking to your neighbors and seeing if they’d be interested in this as well. If there’s enough demand then the complex might be more likely to make a change.
Depending on how to pitch it to them, another option is to start a petition. This can be a good way to show the complex that there’s a need for this kind of thing, and it might make them more likely to act. Of course, this isn’t always going to work but it’s worth a shot!
Getting a petition started would require talking to your neighbors and getting them on board, but it can be a great way to show the complex that there’s a need for on-site storage. If you’re not sure how to get started, there are plenty of resources online that can help you out.
As a last resort, you could always just buy a bunch of storage totes. They’re not as good as having a dedicated storage space, but they can be a decent temporary solution. Just make sure to label them so you know what’s in each one!
You could also try asking a nearby friend or family member if they have extra room in their home that you could use. This can be a great solution if you don’t mind having to go off-site to access your belongings, and it’s usually free or very cheap. Just make sure to ask first and be respectful of their space so the arrangement can continue to be mutually beneficial.
Getting Your Things Stored Away
Everyone has things they need to store. It’s just kind of part of being a person with stuff. And while some people have the luxury of being able to store their things in their homes, others don’t have that option, unfortunately.
If you’re really lucky you can definitely find an apartment complex that offers on-site storage, but unfortunately, not everyone is that lucky. But don’t despair! There are still plenty of options available to you, even if your complex doesn’t have any kind of bulk storage solution. Just remember to be creative and think outside the box!
