Protecting Your Valuables
When it comes to protecting your most prized possessions, you have already lined up a self storage unit as the most obvious solution. But let’s be honest, just because they’re tucked away in a secure unit, doesn’t mean they are completely foolproof. This is where the invisibility cloak of self storage insurance swoops in as an extra barrier. In this article we will look at the ins and outs of self storage insurance, why it’s important to have, and how Fort Lytton Self Storage can soothe your spiked anxiety.
The Importance of Self Storage Insurance
After you have packed up your family heirlooms, your guitar collection and your RC race car in your storage unit, you breathe a sigh of relief knowing they are safe, secure and in a climate-controlled unit. But accidents are just that, unforeseen incidents. No one can rip out a crystal ball and predict when a pipe will burst, causing water damage, or when a fire rips through the units. The thought process behind the design of storage unit insurance is driven by protecting your stuff from these calamities. Even though it’s not a physical shield, it will provide you with financial compensation for the things that are damaged, giving you at least a buffer from struggling financially to claw back your ruined stuff.
What Does Self Storage Insurance Cover?
Once you have a pretty good idea of what self storage insurance covers, you will understand why you need it. In general, it covers:
- Theft protection: Even the best of facilities aren’t Alcatraz, so if someone can bypass all the security measures and break into your unit, the cover will help you financially to recover what you lost.
- Fire and water damage: Mother nature is as unpredictable as they come, but at least you know that you have cover to press rewind when your stuff gets in the crosshairs of a flood, fire or even sneaky leaks.
- Vandalism: When someone acts out and decides to go on a vandalism spree, self storage insurance will help right the wrongs and restore those items that you lost.
It is worth noting that many policies might have exclusions on what they cover. It can be anything from collectables, high-valued art or even jewellery. So make sure that you read through those documents and ask the right questions.
Types of Items That Should Be Insured
Your children’s lock of hair from their first haircut might not need to be insured, but certain items definitely require the extra layer of protection. Here are a few categories of items that really need to be insured:
- Electronics: Laptops, tablets, cell phones and all the other fun electronic gadgets that make our lives easier will cost a pretty penny to replace. These are VIPs for coverage.
- Sentimental items: The emotional value behind antiques and family heirlooms are very high, which would be a double whammy when they are lost.
- Furniture: Those leather couches or other high-end furniture could set you back a couple of grand if they are damaged in transit or storage.
- Business inventory: If you are using your storage unit to store products for your business, it just makes sense to keep your inventory protected to make sure that your business keeps running smoothly.
The Process of Obtaining Self Storage Insurance
You might be overcomplicating the whole process of getting self storage insurance in your head, it’s actually very easy. Just to show you how easy it is, here is a simple guide:
- Check with your storage facility: The first place to look for storage insurance starts with the facilities themselves. Many of the storage near me, like Fort Lytton Self Storage, offer their own insurance policies.
- Assess your valuables: Draw up a list of all the goods you want to insure. Make sure that you shut down the estimated value and then peruse the cover options to find one that fits your level of cover.
- Compare policies: The first option might not always be the right fit. So, just as you have compared the pros and cons when you decided between the new PlayStation and Xbox, you must also compare different providers. Look at their features and costs before signing on the dotted line.
- Understanding policy terms: Make sure that you understand the exclusions, limits, deductibles, and above all else – read the fine print! Protecting valuables starts with knowing what is not protected.
Tips for Ensuring Adequate Coverage
- Regular update: keep your inventory list updated by adding new items and removing the old ones.
- Opt for higher coverage limits: if you have some “gems” in your unit, make sure that you opt for a higher coverage. You don’t want to be underinsured.