Hi All.

I am considering renting a storage unit to make working on my projects easier.
At present, my workshop is filled to overflowing with display items, and sets to be restored.

I would like to hear from others as to the pros and cons of storage units for holding the overflow of their collection.

Wayne.

I faced this situation back in 2013. I needed both working space and storage. I looked into storage units within a reasonable distance from my house but found the rent was extortionate and the security minimal. With some there were access time restrictions, too. Then I looked into renting factory space and that eventually led to my buying a newly constructed 78 sqm storage unit that is part of a factory complex. I had never seen a buy-able storage unit before in my neck of the woods, so I jumped at it.

Storage units is a growth industry, in Sydney at least. They are going up all over the place because it's money for jam. I have been letter-boxed a few times recently about buy-able storage units being constructed. A mate in the building industry told me that there is great demand for those by tradies who need secure space to store their tools and materials and with room to park a ute.

Expensive in Sydney and out of Sydney it's cheaper
I used storage units for years and it's very costly month after month.
I still have one ,but I share it with a friend and it's in Thornleigh.
I always feel your better off buying a shed or a container.
A guy I know who seems to aways find the cheap answers to everything needed storage and he is tight as a fishes bum! He told me he bought a container unit out at the docks and stored all his stuff in it for free for 1year and than sold the container off again .
Apparently this goes on out at the docks all the time.
They sell you a container and give you a year to fill it.

Pete

I used to use Kennards at Gladesville (was originally Millers, which Kennards bought out). Mine was only 10 square metres though it did cost around $300 a month. When one is the largest storage company one can charge what ever they like I suppose.

The trade off is that the security was excellent, with cameras and swipe access everywhere and my lot was on the top floor, which had the least amount of traffic, therefore a little more secure than the ground floor where the toilets and drink machines were. The other good thing was 24 hour access. Because of the electronic security you are able to just head in and go to your lot at any time of the day without reporting to the office for a pass key, which is a requirement at some of the competing firms, such as Storage King at Lane Cove.

I used my lot for storing radios, working on radios, storing valves and other spares and storing camping gear. It became uneconomical once I changed jobs and some space 'became available' at work for this stuff.

I rented one back in 2005 at Millers/Kennards at Campbelltown and it was in my opinion quite expensive. Here's the costs:

52.00 = boxes
1470.00 = 6 months rent
-73.50 = 5% discount
30.00 = refundable deposit
13.00 = padlock med sec brass 40mm

after the 6 months, the next bill

1399.50 = another 6 months.

Soon after, I closed it and got a refund for the unused time.

That, of course, was 14 years ago.


The only thing I recall of the security arrangements is that you had to enter your secret pin number before driving in.

Even though I paid for the padlock, I don't know what happened to it once I left.

I still have one ,but I share it with a friend and it's in Thornleigh.

Speaking of Thornleigh, here's the mob who letter-boxed me recently:

https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-industrial+warehouse-nsw-thornleigh-502968198

Hi G, I lived at Thornleigh for 12 years prior to moving to the northern beaches but I don't know that mob?
There was another storage place on Sefton Rd , perhaps it's them with a new name and owner I'm not sure.
All the best pete

I have found this interesting reading.
I thought it was only me with storage difficulties. Being on an age pension now there is no way I can consider a storage unit..My space is compromised further with two classic cars a 1969 Hillman Hunter which is on full rego and my daily drive and my latest acquisition 1974 Mercedes 280SE which needs quite a bit of sorting out. So the radios are having a bit of rest at the moment.

Jimb
I would have the original wheels magazine with the Hilman in it..do you have it?
I have boxes of them from the 50s 6os.
I have sports car world, wheels, modern motor, two wheels.
Because I was right into classic cars and motorcycles for most of my life ,I gave up riding 4 years ago when my daughter was born.
I also use to own a 1958 Buchanan cobra, it was a Australian built car of which they only built 7 and mine was number 6 built in 1958
They ran all types of under gear on them from triumph and a 4 cylinder.
I was going to put a very earl Alfa twin Cam in mine ,, which is similar to lotus twin that was used in many 6os sports cars. It was a very interesting car.
All gone now.
Pete

Hi Pete.
No I dont have the article. I have also been trying to give cars up. It must be similar to smoking.
I just get over one and end up with another. I am a member of three car clubs. However it beats staring at the ceiling and catching flies.
Regards Jim.

GTC's post and link reminded me of something. Always aim to store items efficiently to get the best value from a storage lot. In the linked photo there is a car with a loft above it. In my lot I had two rows of Namco shelving each down opposing sides of the room and on this I had three large benchtops made of 40mm thick chipboard - which is as heavy as can be but...

On this makeshift loft I stored items that I didn't use a lot. These were pushed to the back. The camping gear was also 'upstairs' but at the front where I could reach it. Tents, gazebos, barbeque, camp fridge, chairs, etc.

Under that was the shelving which radios I owned but not yet fit for display were stored, along with spares and tools. At the front near the door I had a workbench for fixing radios and anything else that needed work done. Being an electrician, I was able to 'find' a power source though most storage places do offer to install GPOs for a fee.

The bottom line was that I made sure I used the cubic meters, not just the square meters. This was another advantage of being on the top floor. The roof was a lot higher than on the lower levels.

UPDATE: I can't see any fire protection in that building. I would have thought that would have been a requirement for such a facility.

Hi Jim,
Cars got to costly for me to play with now..
I will look tomorrow for the magazine, I actually have them all piled up in the lounge room .
Pete

I can't see any fire protection in that building. I would have thought that would have been a requirement for such a facility.

Those images are artist's impression drawings, not photos. I expect the real thing has some sort of fire detection system.

One would hope so. In that corridor I'd expect to see it all - smoke detectors, fire hose reels, extinguishers and exit lights. I'm a building manager so I guess it's easier for me to see these things 'missing'.

Pete.
I have had the Hunter for a number of years it is my every day drive on full rego. I was not looking for another car although I am a member of 3 car clubs. Out of the blue I received a phone call and was offered the Merc 280SE free of charge and it is quite a nice car so what can you do! It is so nice to drive, has a few electrical issues which I am working my way through. I have put it on club registration so I can use it for 60 days plus club events.
Regards Jim.