Trying to pick a city in Arizona is like trying to pick a dog. What looks good on the internet might be a terrible fit for your actual life.
I’m Mike. My dad and I own a couple of storage places here. That’s my real life. I’m not a blogger. I’m just a guy who talks to people all day who are moving here, and I’ve heard all the stories.
So, let’s forget the sales pitch. Here’s the truth.
Phoenix: For People Who Hate Being Bored
It’s huge. It’s a concrete pancake that just keeps spreading. I live in a part of Phoenix called Ahwatukee. It’s fine. It’s… suburban.
You’ll know you belong here if you get a kick out of having a million choices. You want to go to a top-tier sushi place, then see a Suns game, all in the same night. You’re cool with the fact that your best friend lives in Peoria and seeing them requires a calendar invite.
But the summer, dude. The summer is no joke. It’s not just hot. It’s oppressive. Your car becomes a metal torture chamber. You’ll start doing your grocery shopping at 9 PM just to avoid the sun. It breaks people. I’ve seen it.
And here’s a weirdly specific reason people come to us for storage here: garages are death traps. I had a customer, a sweet older lady, who stored her late husband’s military uniforms in her garage. The heat and dust destroyed them. She was heartbroken. Now, she keeps her photo albums and her husband’s important stuff in one of our climate-controlled units. It’s not about “junk.” It’s about protecting the things that matter.
Tucson: For People Who Think Phoenix is a Drag
Tucson has its own thing going on. It’s slower. It’s funkier. The food is legitimately better. It feels like a real community, not a bunch of suburbs stacked together.
You’ll fit in here if you like character over convenience. You’d rather go to a dive bar with live music than a fancy club. You’re okay with things being a little bit dusty and a little bit old.
The downside? It’s an island. The drive to Phoenix feels eternal. And the job market can be tough. It’s not a place you move to for a corporate career. It’s a place you move to for a life.
My buddy Juan runs a tile business down there. His garage is his workshop. So where does he put his kids’ bikes and his camping gear? In a 10×10 with us. It’s his extra garage. For a lot of Tucson folks, that’s all we are—a little more breathing room.
Flagstaff: For People Who Thought They Hated Arizona
The first time you drive up to Flagstaff in July, you’ll roll down your window and gasp. The air is thin and cold. It smells like pine trees. It’s a completely different state.
You’ll love it if you’re the outdoorsy type. I mean, really outdoorsy. If your idea of a good time involves strapping planks to your feet and hurling yourself down a mountain, this is your spot.
But let me be clear: you trade problems. You trade hellish summers for brutal winters. You trade Phoenix’s traffic for ski traffic. And it’s expensive. Like, “how can a studio apartment cost this much?” expensive.
We have a guy, Dave, who’s a rafting guide. His entire life is geared. In October, he brings his kayak and camping stuff to his unit and takes his skis home. In April, he swaps. His unit is his seasonal gear closet. It’s the only way his lifestyle works.
So, what’s the answer?
I don’t know. But I’ll tell you what I tell everyone who comes into my office looking lost: Rent for a year first.
Don’t buy a house in a place you’ve only visited for a weekend. Get an apartment. Live in the city. Feel the rhythm of the place during the worst season.
And during that crazy, messy moving time? That’s where we come in. A storage unit isn’t a long-term commitment. It’s a pressure valve. It’s the place you put half your stuff so you’re not tripping over boxes for six months while you figure out if you even like it here.
You’re not just picking a house. You’re picking your life. We’re just here to help you hold onto your stuff while you figure it out.
Hope this was better. This is just me, Mike, talking. No robot stuff.
0 Comments