Choosing a self-storage business often comes down to three factors: competitive pricing, strong security, and true 24/7 access. Business owners are wise to remove every obstacle for those who are searching for a new place to store their items. Cleanliness is a significant factor in selecting a good self-storage facility because people know that if it’s clean, there will be a lower risk of pests and rodents gaining access to their items.
As we move into the fall with slightly cooler weather, pests and rodents can become a greater issue at self-storage businesses. Keep in mind that rodents are always looking for the perfect place to nest, but cooler temperatures drive them into interior spaces in preparation for winter. There are steps that business owners can take proactively to prevent pests, and there are additional measures that can be recommended to clients to further address unwelcome guests in a storage unit.
Business owners:
- Conduct monthly pest inspections and pest control abatement.
- Monitor units for food storage.
- Educate clients on proper storage techniques.
Self-storage tenants:
- Never store food in a storage unit. Even sealed containers or packages attract pests and rodents. Storing food is generally prohibited in the contract at any self-storage facility.
- Store items off the floor. Ask the self-storage business owner about shelving available for use or rent, and keep all items directly off the floor.
- Store items in airtight plastic containers. Avoid using cardboard boxes in all situations, as cardboard is attractive to cockroaches, and rodents can easily chew through it.
- Wrap furniture in plastic and elevate. Rodents love to burrow into furniture and will gladly chew through your grandmother’s favorite chair to create a nice, cozy spot to live. Use cinder blocks or other heavy items to lift furniture legs off the ground. The goal is to make a less hospitable, more challenging space for rodents to live.
- Use rodent bait in storage units. Choose a bait that will drive rodents out of the unit to seek water.
- Regularly inspect your unit. This is not the time to store your items and forget them. It’s important to regularly inspect the unit and refill bait traps in order to keep rodents and other pests away.
This article provides some Florida-specific information as well as a point of contact for self-storage businesses needing pest control.
Pest control at both the business level and the tenant level is essential in self-storage. Rodents and pests can easily be brought into self-storage in items that are stored. It is necessary to educate tenants so that they are not contributing to the problem, but actively working with management to store items properly and fight rodent and pest infestations.
At Coastal Storage, we work with self-storage business owners to be the best in the business. We partner with investors to find new properties, and we work with entrepreneurs to run their business well. Call our team of experts today at 904-591-0140 to work with us.