See this?
This was the disaster that arose from not getting a proper storage unit.
You see, I used to store some of my collectibles in a commercial unit (for shops and retail) at a mixed development in Geylang. There was a good reason: the rates were much cheaper.
But that also meant it wasn’t optimal for use as a storage space.
Then a disaster struck (as you can see from the pictures).
My landlord was really kind about it and tried his best – but the building management, DP Property and Facilities Management Pte Ltd, has been less than competent or professional in the handling of it. Out of respect to my landlords, I’m not saying which building it is. Suffice to say, that’s about $10,000 worth of damage – certainly a lot less than what I had “saved” by not getting a proper storage unit.
Fortunately, many kind friends came to my aid – letting me use their own spaces to store my items, holding emotional space for me through this, and assisting me throughout this ordeal. To all of you – Jian, Zak, Aqilah, Desmond, Shirly, Adrian – thank you for your support through this crisis.
So where am I at now? Storefriendly.
I was in a really bad place when I began my journey renting a unit – my collectibles were all over the place (across several locations), they were damaged, and I had to make decisions about the size and location of the storage unit.
The folk at Storefriendly were really kind and helpful about it. Props to Eugene, Kelvin, and Bazly – who helped me to move in really quickly, hand-held me through the process, and gave me the peace of mind needed to make sure that all my belongings were safe and secure. Thanks guys.
And you know – I’ve come away with some lessons learnt about storage units. Here are my takeaways!
- Peace of mind trumps cost
Probably my biggest lesson learnt here. In trying to save a few hundred dollars, I ended up having to spend (or lose, depending on your perspective) a few thousand dollars. Yes, a proper storage unit like Storefriendly may cost a bit more, but it’s the intangibles that have made all the different for me.
- Neighbours are important
One of the reasons why the DP Property and Facilities Management disaster happened was because of a rather unsavoury neighbour. Most of my neighbours in the old building are nice folk. But all it takes is one person to cause a disaster.
If you’ve seen the signs at Storefriendly, there’s some gatekeeping as to the type of tenants that surround you. No smoking, no illegal goods, no fire hazards. Yes, they may lose a few customers as a result, but if it keeps my collectibles safe – then I’m all for it.
- Location, location, location
My current Storefriendly unit is near the MRT (eh, not disclosing which branch I’m at for privacy reasons). Close enough that I can walk over and grab a bite before coming, and close enough that it’s actually quite convenient to get to.
It’s also in a more respectable part of town – so I know that inebriated people won’t be stumbling into the building in the middle of night and endangering my belongings while I’m asleep.
- Don’t overlook security
I know that security may seem a little overrated – this is Singapore, what could happen?
As you can see from my disaster – plenty. The security wasn’t great at my old place, and I would occasionally hear tales of undesirable activity happening in the building. There was no passcode, and I am not even sure if their CCTVs work.
Like I said, it’s a small thing. But at least I know Storefriendly has better security – passcodes, security guards, CCTVs. I know someone is looking after the place.
- Accessibility all day
Even though there’s security, I have access to my unit 24/7 at Storefriendly. This is huge for me, because I didn’t have this luxury at my old place. I had to abide by shopping mall opening hours (9am to 10pm) or face some long lecture just to get into my old place.
Balancing security with convenience isn’t always easy, but I’m happy with the mix of both here.
- Friendly building management
As I’ve mentioned, the Storefriendly folk have been absolutely lovely to work with and completely straightforward. This means that going down is always a good experience for me, and I don’t dread going to my storage unit.
If you’ve ever had to deal with awful management agents, you’ll know what I mean.
So if you’re considering a storage unit, I’d recommend Storefriendly. They’ve got locations at:
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