Self storage is most helpful for people that have a lot of stuff and not enough house storage to keep it. Sometimes attics and basements are not the ideal places to store things either, because they are bogged down in floods or overrun by insect pests. Yet, to place your belongings in a storage unit takes a great deal of trust. Most storage facilities will not cover the loss of your things in the event of a fire, tornado, or hurricane. Still, if there is really nowhere else to go with it, you want your stuff stored somewhere reasonably safe. Here are the different styles of storage units, from most convenient and beneficial to least. 

Pods

A storage pod is transported to your home. You fill it, and then schedule a date and time for the company to collect your pod. Lock the pod so that everything inside is safe and will not fall out on the roads as the pod company's truck rolls along. Your pod is "shelved" and stored in a massive warehouse facility until you need to place something else inside it, or you want to retrieve some or all of your belongings. You may also request that the pod be dropped at a new location if you move and now have room for your stuff. 

Environmentally Controlled Facilities

All of the storage units in these facilities are indoors. That adds an extra layer of security because only people who have a storage unit in that building can enter and leave the facility. That is in addition to the protection provided by the temperate environment that is constant within the building. 

Double Entrance Storage Units

These units are often double the size of most other units. They have one average-sized garage door on one end, and a double-length garage door on an adjoining longer side. It allows you to enter your unit from either direction and store particularly large things that might not otherwise fit through the usual smaller door. 

Single Small Entrance Units

With doors barely wide enough for two people to enter abreast, these units are great if you only need to store a few things. They may be the most commonly available units, but if you need to store a lot more, you may have to pay double the rent (or triple!) to get enough storage space. They are almost always stationary units, located in a row on some remote location.