Hey, it’s Sarah from Accent Self Storage. I’m the one who probably emailed you your rental agreement. I’ve been doing this job for eight years now, and let me tell you – I have seen some things.
People do weird stuff when they get a storage unit. It’s like that empty space suddenly becomes a black hole for “I don’t know what to do with these” items.
So here’s the real deal, from someone who has literally had to make the “I’m sorry, but your unit has been destroyed” phone call.
The “You’ll Get Kicked Out Immediately” Stuff
Let’s start with the obvious no-gos. If you store these, we will find out, and we will terminate your lease. No warnings.
- Anything flammable. I had a guy last month try to store five gas cans “for emergencies.” When we found them during a routine check? Yeah, that was an awkward conversation. Gas, propane, kerosene – if it fuels something, it doesn’t belong here. We’re not trying to be difficult – we just don’t want the entire facility to burn down because of one person’s poor judgment.
- Living things. I wish this went without saying, but we once found someone had set up a litter box and food bowls for their cat in a unit. In July. In Texas. Some people shouldn’t own pets. Obviously, people can’t live here either, no matter how bad the fight with your spouse is.
- Weapons and explosives. Fireworks, ammunition, anything that goes boom. This isn’t a military bunker; it’s where you keep your extra couch.
The “You’ll Be Sorry Later” Category
This stuff won’t get you kicked out immediately, but it will ruin your life when you come back to retrieve it.
- Food of any kind. Listen to me on this one. That Costco-sized bag of rice? The canned goods you’re “rotating”? The forgotten protein bars in the bottom of a box? You’re not just storing food. You’re opening a five-star restaurant for every mouse, rat, and insect in the neighborhood. They will chew through drywall, through boxes, through your grandmother’s quilt to get to it. I’ve seen mice nests in sofa cushions that looked like they had better interior design than my first apartment.
- Important documents you might need. Your passport, birth certificate, marriage license, house deed – keep that stuff at home. We had a customer who stored their passport, then got a last-minute opportunity to go to Paris. They spent their would-be vacation day digging through 50 boxes in a 95-degree unit instead of seeing the Eiffel Tower. Don’t be that person.
- Anything wet or damp. That tent from your rainy camping trip? The box of clothes from the flood in your basement? If it’s not bone-dry, it will become a science experiment. Mold spreads faster than gossip in a small town. I opened a unit once where someone had stored a slightly damp rug – the entire contents were covered in black mold. The smell hit me like a physical wall. We had to condemn everything.
The Sentimental Stuff That Should Stay With You
This one breaks my heart every time.
Your family photo albums. Your child’s first drawing. Your grandfather’s watch. The quilt your great-grandmother made.
Look, our facility at Accent Self Storage is secure. We’ve got great security, climate-controlled units, the works. But we’re not a museum, and we’re not a bank vault. These items are priceless. They belong where you can see them and love them, not in a 10×10 room behind a roll-up door.
I’ve had to watch people sift through water-damaged photos after a rare plumbing issue. I’ve seen the look on someone’s face when they realize the box with all their childhood memories got misplaced during a move. Keep your treasures close.
The Bottom Line
Here’s what it comes down to: we’re not just renting you space. We’re trusting you to be a good neighbor to everyone else here. When one person stores food, we all get pests. When one person stores flammable liquids, we all face risk.
We’re real people here at Accent Self Storage. I answer the phones, Mark does the maintenance, and Carlos manages the property. We care about this place, and we care about your stuff.
If you’re ever looking at something and thinking “Hmm, I wonder…” just give me a call. Seriously. I’d rather answer what you think is a silly question than have to make that awful “your unit had a problem” call.
Now go forth and store smart. Your future self will thank you.
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