Questions
The things people ask before they rent.
Answered plainly, including the ones with awkward answers. If what you want is not here, call (888) 851-5605 and ask a person.
Renting
- How much does a storage unit cost?
- Storage units start at $79 a month and run to about $550 for the largest, and every price on this site is read from our reservation system every hour, so what you see is what you pay. The same size can cost different money in different buildings, which is why the price list shows the building on every row.
- How do I reserve a unit?
- Reserve online and the unit is held for you, or call the office and we will do it with you on the phone. Reserving costs nothing and does not commit you: you pay when you move in, and you can change the size before you do.
- Is there a deposit?
- No deposit to hold a unit. You pay your first month when you move in.
- What do I need to bring to rent?
- A government-issued photo ID and a way to pay. Bring your own lock, or buy one at the office. We recommend a disc lock rather than a padlock, because a disc lock has almost nothing for a bolt cutter to get around.
- Am I tied into a contract?
- No. Rentals are month to month. Give us notice when you are leaving, clear the unit and take your lock off, and that is the end of it.
- Can I change to a different size later?
- Yes, and people do it often. If you are rattling around in something too big, or you cannot shut the door, tell the office and we will move you to a size that fits, subject to what is free at the time.
Choosing a size
- What size do I need?
- As a rough guide: a 5x5 takes a walk-in closet, a 5x10 a studio, a 10x10 about a one-bedroom apartment, and a 10x20 a three-bedroom house. That is standard guidance rather than a measurement of your things, so tell us what you are storing and someone here will size it with you. Nobody in this office works on commission, so there is nothing in it for us to sell you space you do not need.
- What is the difference between climate-controlled and drive-up?
- A climate-controlled unit is inside a heated and cooled building, so the temperature and the humidity stay in a band all year. That matters for wood, leather, electronics, photographs, instruments and anything staying more than a season. A drive-up unit lets you back a vehicle to the door, which is easier for loading and cheaper, and is fine for tools, bikes, building materials and short stays in mild weather. Ask the office which buildings have which, because it varies.
- Do you have climate-controlled storage in East Hampton?
- Yes. The 265 West High Street site is climate-controlled, across two buildings, and it is where most of our unit sizes are.
Vehicles and boats
- Do you store cars, boats and motorcycles?
- Yes, at 264 Freestone Ave in Portland, which runs as Portland Auto, Boat and RV Storage. Heated indoor bays for cars, indoor space for boats on trailers up to about forty-five feet, and smaller spaces for motorcycles and personal watercraft. There are also gated outdoor vehicle spaces in East Hampton and in Portland.
- Do you take RVs and campers?
- We do, in the deep indoor bays at Freestone Avenue. RV spaces are not listed with a price online, so call and we will tell you what is free and what it costs.
- Is a vehicle space the same as a storage unit?
- No, and the price is different. A vehicle space is sized and priced for what goes in it, and the vehicle pages on this site quote them separately from the storage units.
Access and hours
- What are your office hours?
- Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and Saturday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Closed Sunday. The same office covers all three buildings.
- Can I get in outside office hours?
- 24 hour access is available on approval. Ask the office. Day to day you come and go on your own gate code without speaking to anybody.
- Can I look around before I rent?
- Yes, and you should. Come during office hours and we will walk you to the size you are considering so you can see it rather than picture it.
Where we are
- Where are you?
- Three buildings. 265 West High Street in East Hampton, which is the main office and is on Route 66. 529 Glastonbury Turnpike in Portland, on Route 17. And 264 Freestone Ave in Portland, which is the vehicle and boat building.
- Which building will my unit be in?
- You will be told before you arrive, and the same code opens the gate. If you have a preference, say so when you reserve and we will sort it out.
- Do you serve towns outside East Hampton and Portland?
- Plenty of our customers drive in from Middletown, Marlborough, Colchester, Hebron, Glastonbury and Cromwell. We do not have buildings in those towns, and we will tell you which of ours is the near one rather than pretending otherwise.
Looking after your things
- Is my property safe here?
- The site is gated and you enter on your own code, the buildings are covered by cameras, and you hold the only key to your own unit because you fit your own lock. What that does not do is insure your belongings, which is the next question.
- Do I need insurance?
- Your goods are not insured by us. Many homeowner and renter policies cover belongings in storage, sometimes at a reduced limit, so check yours before you assume either way. If it does not cover them, insurance is available to buy and the office can talk you through it.
- What can I not store?
- Nothing perishable, nothing flammable or explosive, no fuel, chemicals or pressurised gas, nothing living, and nothing illegal. Cars and boats want their fuel and batteries dealt with before they go away for a season, which is covered in our guides.
Paying
- How do I pay?
- Online through your tenant account, or at the office. Existing customers sign in from the Account link at the top of any page.
- What happens if I am late?
- Late fees apply and, if an account stays unpaid, access is eventually restricted and the law allows the contents to be sold. Nobody here wants that to happen. If you are in difficulty, ring the office early rather than late, because there is far more we can do about it in week one than in month three.
Still not sure?
Tell us what you are storing and we will tell you the size, whether it wants climate control, and what it costs today. Global Self Storage is one office for all three buildings.