Houston, TX: Top Things to Know About Storage
Why the Term “Rush Hour” Should Just be Changed to “Rush”
Finding the right storage facility in Houston can be a bit of a challenge. ?Although Houston is the fourth largest city in the country, its 473 storage facilities have enough units to accommodate its population. ?Traffic is a big problem to consider when trying to
Why the Term “Rush Hour” Should Just be Changed to “Rush”
Finding the right storage facility in Houston can be a bit of a challenge. ?Although Houston is the fourth largest city in the country, its 473 storage facilities have enough units to accommodate its population. ?Traffic is a big problem to consider when trying to find a storage facility. ?If you’re storing things that you won’t go back to more than a few times a year, traffic is not much of a problem. ?However, if you’re storing things that you need to go back to frequently, keep reading. ?LA isn’t the only city with bad traffic. ?Studies show that traffic is only getting worse in Houston. ?You can’t avoid traffic too much, but you can make sure to find a storage facility that isn’t inside “the loop” (the Interstate 610 freeway that forms a 38-mile loop around downtown Houston). ?The average Houston driver claims that rush hour traffic times are: ?6:30AM-9:00AM, 11:00AM-1:00PM, 4:00PM-7:30PM. ?But of course, this does not account for traffic caused by football games in NRG Stadium and Rice Stadium, and added traffic of students of Rice University during the school year. ?If you ask us, that doesn’t leave much time in a day to access your storage unit. ?If you really want to store your things in or around the loop because of proximity to your home, consider opting for a facility that offers 24-hour access to your unit.
Events and Even More Traffic
Football games are not the only thing that will affect your access to your storage unit. ?Houston has a plethora of local events that cause road closures pretty often. ?The MLK Jr. Grande Parade is a parade that marches through the heart of Houston and draws 300,000 supporters, the Chevron Houston Marathon is an annual run which begins and ends in downtown, and has 20,000 entrants and 200,000 spectators, and the Buffalo Bayou Regatta is the largest canoe and kayak race in Texas, with over 200 vessels hitting the waters in downtown Houston. ?These events are just the tip of the iceberg, and they’re bound to cause some road closures and more than a few traffic jams along the way.
Humidity Doesn’t Just Affect Your Hair
Houston has a humid subtropical climate, which means hot and humid summers and mild to cool winters. ?In the summer, temperatures can go up to 109 degrees Fahrenheit, which is enough to make precious things in your storage unit start to grow mold. ?Because of this, one of the most vital things to know about storage in Houston is the importance of having a climate controlled storage unit. ?Some facilities actually also have humidity control because of humidity ranging from over 90% in the morning to around 60% in the evening. ?Be careful though, because not all facilities offer these units, and we highly advise against storing valuable items in units that don’t have this option. ?Some things you should consider storing in a climate controlled unit are: ?wood, metals, wine, and art pieces. ?If you’re not sure of what should or should not go into a unit, talk to a storage facility manager. ?It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Houston also faces the challenge of dealing with tropical cyclones, which are hurricanes or tropical storms. ?During hurricane season, the city experiences heavy rain which can possible lead to significant damage to the city. ?What does this mean for storage? ?Well, flooding is a big problem in Houston because of its flat land, so you want to be sure that the storage facility you choose takes precautions against leaks and flooding to avoid water damage to your belongings.
Storage and Crimes
Houston has some of the worst crime rates in the country. ?The city has an annual property crime rate of 105,990, and is safer than only 4% of the cities in the U.S. ?As scary as that is, you shouldn’t be afraid to store things at a storage facility. ?In fact, your belongings might be safer in storage than they might be at home! ?Storage facilities take a great deal of security measures to ensure the safety of your things. ?Some things to look for in a facility are whether or not it’s well lit, if there are 24-hour surveillance cameras, and if there is on site foot patrol. ?If you want to opt for fancier security, you can also find facilities in which units have their own individual alarm systems.
Storage FAQ's
Do I need insurance for my storage unit?
We recommend that you get insurance for your belongings because the contents of the units are not insured through storage facilities.
Will the company have access to my space?
No, no one in the storage facilities has access to your space unless you specifically ask them or give them the right to do so. For example, you may want them to have access to your unit for things you may want delivered directly to your unit.
What are the prices of the storage spaces? Are prices based on the square footage of the storage space?
Generally the prices of storage units in Houston vary based on the size of the storage unit and the location of the unit in the facility. Prices range between 14.0 and 394.0, but representatives can better assist you once they have the details of your storage needs.
Do you have advice on how to pack my storage space?
Yes, storage managers can provide you with tips and techniques on how to most efficiently utilize your storage space. Their hope is that you can have easy access to your items and that your storage space is worth every penny of your money.
What security measures are taken to protect the storage units?
Security is every storage operator's priority. Speak with the storage manager of a facility of your liking in Houston to find out what security measures they take to protect your belongings.
Do you provide your customers with movers?
No, storage facilities do not provide movers. However, managers and team members would be happy to provide you with a list of reliable and reasonably priced movers in Houston. See our resource guide for movers in Houston.
What if I need more or less space after I move in?
Once you move in and feel that you need to move into a smaller or bigger space, storage facilities are happy to accommodate your move. Before renting a space, it is recommended that you speak to a storage facility representative to help you find the best sized unit for your needs. If things change through the course of your lease, they will help make the transition to your next unit as efficient and simple as possible. We also have a size guide that may answer some preliminary questions you may have.
What storage space sizes are available?
In Houston, there are 383 storage facilities, with a total of 394 storage units. Storage unit sizes generally range from 4' X 4' to 14' X 50'. Call one of your local facilities to have a representative find what size unit is best for you.
Do you have different policies and prices for students or active military members?
Students and active military members are clients that have unique needs because of the nature of their schedules. Most storage facilities in Houston offer discounts to students, and discounts and different policies for active military members. Please call your local facility or see our students and active military members pages to get detailed and updated information.
Will I receive a monthly invoice?
Most storage companies in Houston only provide invoices upon request.
How do I know what size storage I need?
Storage managers would be happy to help you determine which size unit is best for you so that you're not paying for a 14' X 50' unit when you really need a 4' X 4' unit. Please reference our size guide for more information.
Can I rent climate-controlled spaces in Houston?
Yes, climate-controlled spaces are available in Houston due to the varying weather. Temperatures range from 39.2 to 53.6, which can dramatically affect things in your storage unit. For storing items such as wine, wooden items, electronics, metals, artwork, etc. storage facilities recommend that you rent a climate-controlled unit. For questions and more details, please contact a local facility.
Do you have pest control?
Most facilities in Houston schedule professional pest control services every month, and twice a month during summer months.
If I lose my key, can you provide another one?
No, storage facility employees do not have copies of the keys used for the units. If you lose your key, check with the facility for lock cutting fees. They may also be able to sell another lock and key to you.
Do you sell boxes and moving supplies?
Yes, most storage facilities sell boxes of various sizes, tape, bubble wrap, labels, and other items for your packing and moving needs.
How long is the lease and what are its terms?
Storage companies in Houston offer a month-to-month lease. If for some reason you would like to cancel your lease during a particular month, please contact one of the facility managers to assist you.
Do you accept deliveries for customers?
Most storage facilities in Houston accept deliveries for their customers so that they don't have to go through the process of moving every time they need something to be placed in their storage units. They will keep your items in the office and will inform you when they arrive so that you can place them in your storage unit at your convenience.
Should I rent a drive-up or interior storage unit?
Drive-up storage units are typically more expensive and not as clean as interior units. Drive-up units are more exposed to the elements (water, dust, etc.) and are therefore not as clean as interior units. Interior units, on the other hand, have a much better climate. Essentially, the desire to rent a drive-up unit comes from clients thinking that they will be visiting their unit very frequently, which is surprisingly not the case. Most people don't come to their units as often as they think they will, so given the cost and cleanliness issues, it's better to rent an interior storage unit.
What access will I have to my belongings?
You have 383 facilities to choose from in Houston. Access hours range from 8 to 24 hours a day. Please contact your local facility for more specific information about your unit.
What options do I have for payments? What forms of payment do you accept?
Most storage facilities accept cash, credit cards, or checks. Always ask about autopay, it's faster and much more convenient.
Is there anything unique to keep in mind when choosing a storage facility in Houston?
Some factors to keep in mind when choosing a storage facility in Houston are: weather, peak rush hour times, items that you will be storing, and location within Houston.
Houston, TX Military StorageView
Houston, TX Military Storage
Houston is one of the largest cities in the U.S., and has a huge military population. ?When you think of self storage, the first thing that comes to mind is storing personal items like old mattresses, or possibly family pictures. ?You wouldn’t think that military personnel would need storage space, but you’d be surprised. ?Soldiers come to train from all over the U.S., and all of them obviously need to bring most of their belongings along because they don’t know how long they’ll be away from home. ?But obviously, having a crowded room can be a nuisance. ??Let’s take a look at what solutions the self-storage industry has waiting for you.
What to Store and How to Store It
Houston has two large military bases in its immediate vicinity. The Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base has a total of 924 military personnel on its base. ?On the contrary, the Texas Army National Guard doesn’t have as many people living on the base, but it has a total of 19,000 soldiers that are constantly coming to receive training. ?Whether soldiers are permanently living on the base, or coming to train for the National Guard, they need to have a stable place to put their belongings for the duration of their stay, and using self storage is the best way to go about doing something like that.
Trying to figure out what to place in a storage unit can be a little tricky if you haven’t done it before. ??If you want to store things that you will need constantly, find a facility that allows you to have 24-hour access to your storage unit. ?Something that makes storing things in Houston difficult is its harsh weather. ?Houston has cold winters and extremely hot and humid summers. ?But don’t let that scare you, you can still store temperature sensitive things such as medicine in your unit because almost every unit in Houston’s 473 storage facilities allows you to store in climate controlled units. ?Whether you’re storing alcohol to drink on your night off or weapons that you’ll need during training, you won’t have to worry about heat causing damage to your belongings.
You might also want to consider putting your car in storage if you’re going to be away for long periods of time, whether it be for war or for vacation. ?Being in Houston, you don’t have to worry about things like sea salt ruining the paint on your car, but you might want to consider storing it in an indoor unit because of the weather. ?You also have the option of keeping your car in an outdoor unit to let your car get some vitamin D, but we will leave that up to your discretion.
Off to War
If you find yourself being suddenly shipped off to war, we doubt that the first thing you’ll think of is making sure your online bill pay is set up to make automatic payments for your storage unit. ?The government has been gracious enough to ensure that storage facilities will not auction off the contents of your unit if you default on your payments while you’re away. ?If you ask us, it’s the least they can do in exchange for you risking your lives for us.
Storage facilities also offer discounts to active military members, making it easier to afford long term. ?Even if you’re traveling within the U.S. and you decide to leave your things in one place for a while, it’ll be easier on your wallet.
Safety and Surveillance
Being in the military, safety is probably a huge concern for you. ?Hopefully local storage facilities can live up to your standards. Star Choice, a storage facility just 3.5 miles away from the Texas Army National Guard, is a fully fenced facility, has electronic gate entry, and 24-hour surveillance cameras. ?The cherry on top is that it also has alarm systems for its individual storage units, which is not as common as we would like it to be. ?Some storage facilities will even let you store guns and other weapons, so making sure no one can get their hands on that stuff is of the utmost important. ?Be sure to see to it that the facility you’re storing in is well equipped for your special needs.
Houston, TX University StorageView
Houston, TX University Storage
During your college years, you’re bound to be moving around a lot. ?Not only is it a tiring and stressful process, but it’s also expensive. ?Houston is a pretty big city (the fourth largest city in the nation to be exact) so it’s kind of hard to get around it, especially if you’re lugging around the stuff you keep in your dorm room. ?There’s actually a pretty simple solution to all of your problems right here under your nose. ?We would recommend that you put your stuff in self storage. ?If you don’t exactly know what we mean by that, here are some tips to help make your life a little easier, and to save some money while you’re at it.
Why Would a Student Need to Use Self Storage?
In Houston, there are thousands of college students. ?Houston is home to three major universities with extremely high enrollment rates. ?Check this out: ?the University of Houston has an enrollment of 32,915, Sam Houston State University has an enrollment of 16,819, and Rice University has an enrollment of 3,926. ?That’s over 50,000 students coming to universities with all of their belongings! ?First of all, find a storage unit as soon as you can so you’re not stuck sleeping next to your mountain bike. ?Luckily, Houston also has a plethora of storage facilities that can accommodate all of its inhabitants’ needs—473 to be exact. ?Instead of moving your things back home at the end of every school year, move them into a storage facility near your university so you don’t have to break your bank with ridiculous moving costs over the span of four years. ?The cost of your books can do that for you. ?But be weary, Houston is known for its horrible humidity, so you don’t want to come back to a moldy storage unit after a relaxing summer. ?There’s a solution to that as well: climate controlled storage units. ?Given the severity of the weather, most storage facilities in Houston have the option for climate control in all of their units. ?Consider storing your things at Public Storage, which is only 5.3 miles away from the University of Houston.
Speaking of breaking the bank, be sure to ask about student discounts and back to school specials when looking around for a storage facility. ?You should also ask about possibly sharing a storage unit with someone. ?Who knows? ?Maybe you and your roommate can share more than your dorm room.
The Important Stuff
There are a few things that you should be sure to look for when considering a storage facility. ?The first, and possibly the most obvious one is safety. ?Most storage facilities take great measures to ensure the safety of their tenants’ belongings. ?You will find that there are places that have 24-hour surveillance cameras, foot patrol, gated entry to the facility, and managers that live on site. ?The crime rate in Houston is surprisingly high; it’s safer than only 4% of cities in the U.S. ?We don’t want to scare you, but we would rather have you be safe than sorry when it comes to storing your things.
Another thing to consider is storing at a facility that allows for 24-hour access to your unit. ?You’re up late studying and you have a sudden urge to go through your collection of Yu Gi Oh cards for inspiration? ?Well you can actually do that if you have 24-hour access to it.
Lastly, you need to figure out how to make your payments. ?Chances are that during your midterms and finals, you’ll be so in over your head with studying that you’ll forget to pay rent for your storage unit. ?You can easily avoid this by finding a facility that offers online bill pay, which you can probably set to automatic payments. ?You should also look into lease terms. ?Most facilities in Houston, and storage facilities in general, have month-to-month leases, so if you only want to store your things over the summer or while you’re studying abroad, you don’t have to waste your money signing a lease for the whole year. ?Isn’t self storage amazing?
Houston, TX RV and Boat StorageView
Houston, TX RV and Boat Storage
We’re not sure about you, but we definitely look forward to Houston’s hot and humid summer sunshine so we can bust out our boats and RVs for some quality bonding time with nature. ?As exciting as these trips are, they require a lot of preplanning. ?What’s even more horrifying is trying to drive an RV or a car with a boat attached to it through downtown. ?It’s painful on so many levels. ?A quick fix to this mess is to simply find a self storage unit on the outskirts of downtown, or right next to nice RV camp, to make these trips faster, more convenient, and of course, more relaxing.
Protect your Sweetheart
Don’t be ashamed to admit that your RV only comes second to your boat; we all already know it. ?When looking for a good storage facility for your belongings, one of the most important things to consider is security. ?For something as beloved as your boat (or your RV), you want to ensure that top security measures are taken. ?This means that you need to find a facility that has great lighting, locking mechanisms that protect the facility as a whole and its individual units, surveillance cameras (preferably ones that do 24-hour surveillance), and guards. ?None of this is hard to do, you just have to take a quick look at the storage facilities available in Houston, and you have dozens if not hundreds to choose from depending on your preferred location. ?Which brings us to another thing—location! ?Houston can be a little scary with a whopping 105,990 annual property crimes per year. ??Although storage facilities in the heart of Houston are very safe and well guarded, you may want to consider storing something as expensive as your boat a little farther from downtown. ?Besides, it’ll be more convenient to store it near your favorite campground anyway.
How to Store Your Vehicle
Who knew that was even a thing? Due to Houston’s severe weather conditions, we would advise that you be a little careful in deciding how to store your vehicles. ?Unfortunately, storing your vehicle is not as simple as driving it up to a storage unit and closing the door. ?You need to make sure the toilet in your RV is filled with RV anti-freeze and do all sorts of crazy things! ?But not to worry, storage facility managers and staff are happy to help you prepare your RV for hibernation. ?You might want to consider a place like Affordable Storage, which focuses on storage needs of boat, RV, car, and trailer owners. ?They are also located just ten miles away from Houston West RV Park, which is known for its two acre fishing pond and amenities such as free Wi-Fi and hot tubs. ?These aren’t exactly things you generally find in the wild, but hey, it's 2016.
Leasing and Access
Don't let the term “lease” freak you out. ?Most storage facilities offer, and often recommend, month-to-month leases. ?When you’re storing something like a boat, you know that you’ll be storing for months at a time, and using it in the same manner. ?You want to be able to have the flexibility of not being bound into a year long contract, so be sure to ask about leasing options when you’re looking around for a facility that fits your needs. ?The best part is that Houston has 473 facilities that you can choose from, and you won’t have to be worried about your timings clashing with the massive population of college students in the area because they’ll be heavily using storage units while you’re out at sea (or in or around a huge lake).
Having easy access to your unit is also a huge plus. ?If you’re an early bird or a night owl, you may be traveling at odd times. ?You don’t want to have to put the timings of your trip on hold to wait for your storage facility to open at 8 AM. ?Find a facility that has 24-hour access so the clock doesn’t infringe on your vacation. ?Having to miss the sunrise because you need to wait for the facility to open is tragic in our books.
Helpful Storage Resources
Charity
Charity Storage
Charity Storage utilizes existing storage facility operations, namely storage units and auctions, to raise money to benefit the community. Charity Storage is a promotional outreach program that depends on the support of the self storage industry, the Self Storage Association, and millions of North American self storage tenants and neighboring communities.
The Harbor Ministries
Harbor Ministries provides those in need with furniture, clothes, tools, vehicles, etc. and are willing to schedule free pickups of your donations.
Houston Furniture Bank
This organization collects furniture donations and provides the needy with these items.
Charities of Houston
This charity accepts donations of vehicles, electronics, furniture, clothing, and other household items; all proceeds from the donations are given to families in need.
The Harbor Ministries
Harbor Ministries provides those in need with furniture, clothes, tools, vehicles, etc. and are willing to schedule free pickups of your donations.
Houston Furniture Bank
This organization collects furniture donations and provides the needy with these items.
Charities of Houston
This charity accepts donations of vehicles, electronics, furniture, clothing, and other household items; all proceeds from the donations are given to families in need.
Moving Company
H-Town Movers
H-Town Movers provides moving services for local, long distance, and international moves, packing services, assembling and disassembling services, and insurance protection.
Cheap-Cheap Moving
Cheap-Cheap Moving offers moving for commercial, residential and office moving and they have some of the best prices in the area.
Top Movers
Top Movers help with local, long distance, and commercial moving.
H-Town Movers
H-Town Movers provides moving services for local, long distance, and international moves, packing services, assembling and disassembling services, and insurance protection.
Cheap-Cheap Moving
Cheap-Cheap Moving offers moving for commercial, residential and office moving and they have some of the best prices in the area.
Top Movers
Top Movers help with local, long distance, and commercial moving.
Recycling
South Post Oak Recycling Center
This recycling center recycles scrap metal and electronics, and offers cash in exchange for your scraps.
Greenstar Recycling
Greenstar Recycling is an international recycling company that recycles all products.
C&D Scrap Metal
This center pays you for old appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators, copper, lead, stainless steel, and exotic metals.
South Post Oak Recycling Center
This recycling center recycles scrap metal and electronics, and offers cash in exchange for your scraps.
Greenstar Recycling
Greenstar Recycling is an international recycling company that recycles all products.
C&D Scrap Metal
This center pays you for old appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators, copper, lead, stainless steel, and exotic metals.
Secure RV & Self Storage is helping you find friendly locations in areas we do not serve.
The following facilities are NOT associated with Secure RV & Self Storage! Terms and Conditions.
Mangum Storage
3735 Mangum Road
Houston, TX 77092
Ruland Road Storage
9021 Ruland Rd
Houston, TX 77055
Market Street Storage
12979 Market Street Rd
Houston, TX 77015
Perrin Cloverleaf Storage
13930 Bandera
Houston, TX 77015
Inwood Storage
8235 Antoine Dr
Houston, Tx 77088
249 Easy Self Storage
11901 state highway 249
Houston, TX 77086
LockTite Storage Channelview
16660 Wallisville Rd
Houston, TX 77049
BEST PRICE*29*WEB ONLY
Right Move Storage-Bellaire / Mr.Storage
12610 Bellaire Boulevard
Houston, TX 77072
BEST PRICE*33*WEB ONLY
LockTite Storage Pasadena
5035 Burke Rd
Pasadena, TX 77504
BEST PRICE*74*WEB ONLY
LockTite Storage Deer Park
4013 Center Street
Deer Park, TX 77536
BEST PRICE*39*WEB ONLY
LockTite Storage Pearland
4000 Bailey Ave
Manvel, TX 77578
BEST PRICE*269*WEB ONLY
LockTite Storage La Porte
2619 Underwood Road
La Porte, TX 77571
BEST PRICE*79*WEB ONLY
Willowbrook Self Storage
9250 Mills Rd
Houston, TX 77070
BEST PRICE*29*WEB ONLYPerry Road Storage
13635 Perry Road
Houston, TX 77070
Huffmeister Road Boat Storage
13294 Schmidt St
Cypress, TX 77429
Aldine Self Storage
21667 Aldine Westfield Road
Houston, TX 77338
Kleinwood Storage
4910 Louetta Rd
Spring, TX 77379
A Low Cost Self Storage
1600 Mabry St
Baytown, TX 77520
Mangum Storage
3735 Mangum Road, Houston,TX 77092, USA
Houston, TX 77092
Ruland Road Storage
9021 Ruland Rd, Houston,TX 77055, USA
Houston, TX 77055
Market Street Storage
12979 Market Street Rd, Houston,TX 77015, USA
Houston, TX 77015
Perrin Cloverleaf Storage
13930 Bandera, Houston,TX 77015, USA
Houston, TX 77015
Inwood Storage
8235 Antoine Dr, Houston,Tx 77088, USA
Houston, Tx 77088
249 Easy Self Storage
11901 state highway 249, Houston,TX 77086, USA
Houston, TX 77086
LockTite Storage Channelview
16660 Wallisville Rd, Channelview,TX 77049, USA
Houston, TX 77049
Right Move Storage-Bellaire / Mr.Storage
12610 Bellaire Boulevard, Houston,TX 77072, USA
Houston, TX 77072
LockTite Storage Pasadena
5035 Burke Rd, Pasadena,TX 77504, USA
Pasadena, TX 77504
LockTite Storage Deer Park
4013 Center Street, Deer Park,TX 77536, USA
Deer Park, TX 77536
LockTite Storage Pearland
4000 Bailey Ave, Manvel,TX 77578, USA
Manvel, TX 77578
LockTite Storage La Porte
2619 Underwood Road, La Porte,TX 77571-9477, USA
La Porte, TX 77571
Willowbrook Self Storage
9250 Mills Rd, Houston,TX 77070, USA
Houston, TX 77070
Perry Road Storage
13635 Perry Road, Houston,TX 77070, USA
Houston, TX 77070
Huffmeister Road Boat Storage
13294 Schmidt St, Cypress,TX 77429, USA
Cypress, TX 77429
Aldine Self Storage
21667 Aldine Westfield Road, Houston,TX 77338, USA
Houston, TX 77338
Kleinwood Storage
4910 Louetta Rd, Spring,TX 77379, USA
Spring, TX 77379
