Life-Changing Rules for Well Organised Storage

Posted on: 23 February 2017

Start-up businesses should plan for eventualities such as critical data loss because of a myriad of factors like sabotage, hurricanes, floods, theft and power outage. With advancement in technology, most businesses are quickly shifting towards cloud-based solutions for data storage and backup. However, as a shrewd business owner, you should always stick to the adage "old is gold". In this sense, physical storage of your documents in an off-site unit is as essential as cloud solutions. This article gives start-up business owners some valuable tips on storage of critical documents.

Is On-Site Storage Adequate? -- Most businesses produce paper-based documents by the thousands on a weekly basis, even with the new trend towards paperless transactions. Payment vouchers, contracts, copies of letters and other correspondences are just some of the physical documents that will soon accumulate and cause clutter in your office. For a business that prides itself on professionalism, clutter in your office does not scream excellence or professionalism. Storing your documents at a secure off-site location can help de-clutter your office and give it that professional appeal.   

Consider Round-the-Clock Access -- Sometimes you might want to retrieve an old document from your storage unit on short notice. You do not want a facility that has restrictions on the time of accessing your unit. Consider a company that offers you a key card that you can swipe at any time of the day to give you access to your storage unit.  

Insurance Coverage for Your Belongings -- When you rent a storage unit for your belongings, also ensure that the insurance policy covers the items. It is imperative for you to insure your items against human and natural disasters such as floods, fires, theft and vandalism. Sometimes, renters already have their units covered by an insurance policy. However, go through the finer details with the renter to ascertain the nature of the insurance coverage. If not, you had better take a policy that suits your requirements and specifications.

Safety and Security Measures -- Have the landlord take you around the storage facility to assess the security measures in place. Check out and inquire about steps to prevent burglary, fires and flooding. Red flags include unauthorized entry to the storage site, the absence of video surveillance cameras and poor lighting of the whole area. Some renters allow you to choose the type of locking mechanism that you prefer for your unit. Security experts recommend that you choose a lock that is difficult to breach, such as a cylinder lock.