It’s something of a dilemma, but a Storage Facility Fire is an issue which has unfortunately faced many individual and corporate renters of self-storage units over the years.
What Happens After a Storage Facility Fire? A Real Story:
A would-be thief using a blowtorch while attempting to gain entry at a storage facility on the northwest side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2015 failed to achieve access – but managed to set off a fire which gutted the unit, and spread to several of its neighboring units at the site on 77th and Douglas.
Besides the actual damage caused by smoke and flames during the storage facility fire, renters affected by the incident faced additional difficulties as the management at the facility demanded payment of the next month’s lease before granting access to what was left of the units – and to what was left of their belongings, after many items were simply thrown into dumpsters by the staff, without inspection.
Several victims interviewed by a local TV station admitted to having lost irreplaceable items. And it’s not just fire.
Flooding of units and other “maintenance” issues, burglary due to lax or absent security, or damage due to faulty or non-existent environmental controls have all contributed to catastrophic damage at storage facilities – and subsequent losses to those who entrusted their belongings to the management at these facilities – in other places and at other times.
The irony is that the impact of all of these losses could have been severely reduced – or even eliminated, entirely – if the people concerned had initially taken out a comprehensive policy of insurance, in respect of their property held in self-storage.
That’s “comprehensive” – not “as offered by the storage facility when signing contract”, since these in-house policies tend to be over-priced, lacking in actual coverage, and riddled with loopholes and wiggle room enabling the facility to avoid having to pay out on substantial claims.
What You Should Do to Avoid Total Loss in a Storage Facility Fire
We recommend that you take out an independent self-storage insurance policy from a reputable third-party provider. The SnapNsure™ Contents Program will cost you far less than any storage company policy, offer better coverage (see what’s covered), and includes the unique benefit of “named storm” coverage against extreme weather events.
The SnapNsure™ Contents Program maintains coverage on a pay-with-storage, month to month basis, and begins as soon as you’ve paid your first month’s premium, and your signed application is received online by the company. So you can actually purchase and start a policy with your smartphone, right at the self-storage facility.
Contact SnapNsure™ today, to learn more.
