How much do storage units cost in Sydney, Australia?

Introduction

Everybody knows that Australia has lots of space. If you live in the centre of the country and have a large garden, the last thing you’ll be Googling is the price of local storage.

In Sydney, it’s a slightly different story. The population is growing every year and has already topped 5 million people. In areas like Wolli Creek and Chippendale, the population density is over 15,000 per square kilometre.

It is safe to say that space is at a premium.

Many people are attracted to the idea of a rented self storage unit where they can stash all those things that are taking up space around the home.

Often, however, when starting a self storage rental contract, you have no idea how long it will last. It’s hard to pinpoint the day when you want to retrieve your goods from storage.

As a result, having a clear idea of the up-front and monthly fees you will pay for storage is important.

In this post, we will look at the many factors that affect self storage prices in Sydney – so that you can decide on the best strategy for you.

Factors influencing storage unit costs

When checking out self storage options in Sydney, you will probably quickly see that no two centres are exactly alike. Their prices will probably differ too. There are some of the things that can affect the price you pay:

Unit size and dimensions

Self storage units are secure, lockable boxes that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The larger the unit, the higher the price. However, certain economies that can be made when hiring a larger unit – as we will explain later.

Rental duration

Naturally, the longer you rent a self storage unit in Sydney, the higher the total cost.

Location and accessibility

Self storage centres are businesses – and they have bills to pay. As these bills tend to be higher for centres based in a city centre, they will generally charge more for their services than a similar site in the suburbs.

Indoor vs. outdoor units

Self storage facilities fall into two categories. The more affordable option tends to be self-contained shipping containers placed outside. As these are weatherproof, they need no further cover. The second type of storage centre is more like converted warehouse building with central corridors and private lockable rooms on either side. As these are more expensive to build, their rental prices tend to be higher.

Type of storage unit

If you are choosing the converted warehouse type of storage unit, it may come with the option of climate control. This will usually nudge the price up.

Security and safety features

Some self storage centres have basic security features, while others pull out all the stops. If your self storage centre looks like a gated prison compound with the kind of perimeter fencing an Alcatraz escapee would frown at, the rental price for your storage unit is likely to be a touch higher than less secure centres.

Common cost considerations and extra fees

It is usually quite easy to find out that a particular centre will charge X many dollars per month for renting a unit of a certain size.

While this can help provide a comparison, it may not paint the full picture. Other fees sometimes need to be factored in. These include:

Deposits and upfront costs

Check if your self storage centre requires you to pay a deposit when signing up for your unit – or if they need a month or two’s rent in advance. Some do, some don’t.

Insurance requirements

If your goods are valuable, you will want them to be insured. Occasionally, self storage centres include insurance in their price – but this is not common. Shop around to find the best cover for your possessions.

Administrative fees

When first enquiring, ask if there are any administrative fees. If these are suddenly slapped onto your final bill, it will be a nasty surprise.

Access hours and cost implications

This is sometimes overlooked when assessing the total cost of a self storage centre. If your centre is only open during standard working hours, you may need to take time off work to access your goods. Similarly, a trader who wants to access his unit for tools at seven in the morning will need to wait until the centre opens. The indirect cost of this inconvenience should be factored in.

Add-on services that may influence the price

Locking your goods away in storage often comes with other considerations. Here are four ways in which your wallet might find itself suddenly slimmer.

Van hire

If you need to rent a vehicle for a morning or afternoon to move your belongings into storage, remember to add that cost to your calculations. In Sydney, expect to pay around $100 a day for a basic cargo van.

Packing materials and supplies

The correct packing materials, such as cardboard boxes and bubble wrap, will ensure your goods are properly protected.

Collection and delivery services

Removals services can be expensive if you use a well-established, professional firm. Happy-go-lucky, man-with-van-type operations will naturally be cheaper. Budget anything from $300 to $2,000 or more for your move.

Digital booking and account access

You are unlikely to incur extra fees for managing your account online, but it is always a good idea to ask.

Money-saving tips for renting storage

Self storage prices in Sydney can be nudged downwards with a little creativity and careful planning. Here are some ways to reduce the total price you pay.

Carefully declutter first to minimise the space you need

Why pay for storage of items that belong in the rubbish bin? Many people who rent self storage spaces have no idea how long their goods will be in storage; if it turns out to be 10 years, you will likely regret paying to store 200 DVDs that are worth the price of half a Twix. The City of Sydney will take away some bulky items for free.

Consider splitting a unit with someone

As previously mentioned, larger units are better value than smaller ones. A 30 cubic metre unit, for example, is usually cheaper than two 15 cubic metre units. The savings can be substantial – as much as 40%. If you can rent a larger unit and split the storage space and cost with a friend, you’re both onto a winner.

Keep your eyes peeled for special offers

Storage centres sometimes have seasonal discounts or special deals that can help reduce the total price of your rental.

Pack and stack items effectively

Lots of small boxes tend to be much easier to work with than larger ones weighing 50kg. Whatever you are packing, we recommend using smaller boxes that weigh no more than around 10kg each when full and taking time to pack and stack them correctly.

How to choose the right storage unit

Now that you have a clearer idea of the costs of renting storage units in Sydney and some tips on reducing the price, it’s time to decide where to store your stuff. These four pointers may help.

1/ Accurately assess your storage needs

People often book a much bigger unit than they need, forgetting that they can stack things and even place boxes full of books, for example, inside wardrobes you have stored. A ruler, pencil and some graph paper can help you work out the correct size for you.

2/ Weigh up cost versus security

Some budget self storage centres have sub-par security measures – which may be fine if you are storing low-value items. You need to consider how important security is to you and how much you are prepared to pay for it.

3/ Proximity and convenience

This is probably the most important consideration when deciding which centre to choose. If your self storage unit is 100 km away but $5 a month cheaper to rent than one just down the road, it’s probably not such a great deal once fuel and inconvenience have been factored in.

4/ Read the fine print

To help you make a like-for-like comparison, ask to see the contract’s small print. You may find some things that add to the total cost or create some other issue that you would prefer to walk away from.

Conclusion

Choosing a self storage centre in Sydney requires a little time and planning. As we have discussed, there are many different factors that affect the total price you pay.

These include everything from the size of the unit you are hiring to the hidden costs of potential inconvenience if your centre is some distance away. Additionally, elements such as removal costs and packaging also need to be assessed.

Investigating all of these will help you to understand the pros and cons of each centre you are considering. Your question, perhaps, should not be “How much is storage in Sydney?” but “How much is the right storage for me in Sydney?”

Evaluating the total value of the centres you are considering – including the level of services and convenience they offer – will help you arrive at the right choice.

TITAN Containers has been in the self storage space for decades and always recommends that you start your search for the perfect centre as soon as possible.

Not only will this enable you to evaluate which is the best for you, but it may also help ensure that the unit you are looking for is available at the date you need.

We look forward to hearing from you if you have any further questions.