What To Expect Your First Time

What to Expect Your First Time

It’s your first time renting a storage unit and you want everything to go right. Problem is – you’ve never
done this before and you are not really sure what is involved. Here’s some advice from someone on the
inside…..
Before you arrive at the storage facility it’s a good idea to ask what methods of payment they accept.
Also ask if you are eligible for any discounts (senior, student, etc.) and be prepared to show id as proof
of eligibility. At the least you will have to pay for your first month’s rent and buy a lock for your unit. If
the facility you chose requires a damage deposit, admin fee, charges for a gate fob or supplies the lock
the amount will vary. Either way you have to pay for the use of the unit in advance. Read More

How To Pick A Moving Company

The deal is done and you are all ready to move. But how do you hire a moving company? Call the first one in the book? Throw a dart? Rock – paper – scissors? Here are some tips that may help.

#1 – Hire Local. Anytime you can use a local company, you are hiring someone that lives in the same city as you, and has the same spirit of community. They appreciate your support and do not want to have a bad reputation where they live.

#2 – Ask for References. A reputable company will not even hesitate here. They are proud of their work and will promptly provide a list of past customers for you to phone. Take advantage of this. Ask the references questions and note their answers. Also check for online reviews for added assurance and if your items are moving to a storage facility, ensure that your moving company and storage place have worked together in the past. Movers don’t often see repeat business from house moves, so if they leave a good impression – they earned it.  Read More

Storage Size Guide

Self-Storage was developed to help people and businesses who are going through a transition. Whether you are moving, downsizing or expanding here is how to pick the right size storage space.

5×10 Unit (50 sq. ft.)

For Residential Use: This size is ideal for storing the contents of a dorm room or bachelor apartment, including a number of boxes, small mattress set, chairs and a bookshelf. This size is also great for storing seasonal sporting equipment, bicycles or even a motorcycle. For Businesses and Community Organizations: this is a good size for storing things you don’t need on a regular basis like older files, spare office furniture or seasonal items. A storage space this size can hold about 80 file boxes and still give you a little room to maneuver.  Read More

How Self-Storage Can Help in an Emergency

Flood, tornado, hail and other natural disasters can affect a home owner at any time and most often without warning.

Before disaster strikes, know what your options are. Knowing where you can go for quick secure storage is important. If you have roof damage from a tornado, or a fire or flood at home, your belongings can be kept safe and close by in portable storage containers. This convenient easy access helps minimize stress while repairs to your home are underway. Should you or the restoration companies need things completely removed from the site a portable containers can be safely moved back to our secure storage yard. Read More

Portable Storage: Make Construction & Renovations Easier

Its feels like winter has been here forever, but spring is just around the corner! With the warm weather, we get the itch to start renovation projects. Sometimes it’s just a coat of paint, or you may have an entire room to renovate! Read More

Small Business Profile: Cilantro & Chive

Rieley Kay started Cilantro Catering in 2009, doing functions for family and friends. It was always part of their plan to expand into a restaurant as well as catering. An opportunity in Ponoka sped up this part of the plan exponentially.

The first restaurant was in Ponoka. It opened in February 2012, with 5 employees. But within a couple of years the building was sold and Cilantro and Chive’s lease came to an end. Unable to find another suitable location in Ponoka, December 15 2015 they moved to their current location in Lacombe. In the past, this spot has been a bus depot, a bike shop, a train store, antique shop and a general store. Read More

Make Renovations Easier with Self Storage

Is it time to spruce up your home? Are you planning to renovate the kitchen or basement? If you are, you are not alone. Over 50% of Canadian homeowners plan to do some sort of renovations in the next couple of years.

Almost everyone dreams of a renewed living space. But, almost no one talks about the stress of renovating — the dust, the delays, the trades people coming and going, the spilled or splattered paint. . . .Don’t let these things stop you from improving your living space, but give serious thought to minimizing the hassles of remodeling. One underutilized tool that can ease the pain of renovating is self-storage. Whether it’s a quick paint job, a major kitchen update or an addition to the home, self-storage is a low cost way to solve some challenges home renovators face. Read More

How Self-Storage Can Help an Expanding Family

Is your family expanding? Space in your home becomes scarce when you are expecting a new addition to the family, or you are in a blended family situation. Ideally, it would be nice to move into a larger home, but is your budget ready for that? If it is, great! If it isn’t, self-storage could be the solution. Self-storage is a cost effective way to maximize the space in your home.

Do you have a bedroom in your home that looks like a storage locker? Maybe it’s time you put those treasures into self-storage, so you have room for the new people coming into your life. What is the cost savings of using a storage unit versus moving from a 3-bedroom home to a 4-bedroom home? On average, that extra bedroom would increase your mortgage by $200/month versus a 5×10 storage locker which averages about $65/month. Moving from a 3-bedroom home to a 4-bedroom with a garage increases your mortgage by $300/month versus a 10×10 storage unit averaging about $100/month. Read More

Small Business Profile: Lacombe Community Market

One of the things that interests me with my job is the different people that come and go. What kinds of business people do we have storing with us?

One business that grabs my attention is Wendy Buyar who runs the Lacombe Community Market. Read More

Our Favourite Canada Day Memories

Canada Day is the day to show your Canadian pride! Our staff at Storage Group Alberta wrote about their ideal or most memorable Canada Day celebrations. Read More