A-1 Self Storage is dedicated to providing you with the best in customer service. Below are the answers to many of the most common questions. If your questions are not answered here, please feel free to contact the location nearest you and speak to one of our self storage experts.
Q: When can I get to my belongings?
A: We offer the longest access hours in the market. Some of our locations also offer convenient 24 hour access on select units. Please contact the location directly to verify your access hours.
Q: Do you have a pest control maintenance schedule?
A: Yes, we schedule monthly, professional pest control services at all of our locations for your peace of mind.
Q: How long do I have to sign up?
A: We offer month-to-month rentals with no long term commitment to save you money.
Q: Do you offer a mover?
A: Although we don’t offer a mover, we do offer FREE use of our moving truck at our San Juan Capistrano, CA & Alhambra, CA locations to save you time and money. Please contact the location for full details. We would also be more than happy to recommend a local reliable mover.
Q: How can I make a payment?
A: Payments can be processed by mail, in person, over the phone, through our website or 24 hour self-service kiosks available at select locations. You may also arrange to have payment automatically deducted from your credit card. Please ask your local location about this convenient payment option.
Q: Which locations offer the 24 Hour Rental/Payment kiosk?
A: Our self-service kiosks are open 24/7 for your convenience to rent a space or make a payment at the following locations: Chula Vista, Concord, Cypress, Huntington Beach, La Habra, La Mesa – Spring St., Lake Forest, North Hollywood – Vanowen St., Oakland, San Diego – Kearny Mesa, San Diego – Morena, San Jose – Baroni Ave, San Jose – Old Oakland Rd, Torrance and Vista.
Q: What sizes do you have and how much do they cost?
A: We have a wide variety of unit sizes to meet your needs and save you money. Unit sizes and prices vary by location. Please contact a location near you for available sizes and prices, or click here for our Size Guide.
Q: How do I calculate how much storage space to rent?
A: Our expert staff can assist you in determining the right size unit to save you money. Just give us a brief description of what will be stored and we’ll help you determine how much space is needed.
Q: What forms of credit card payment do you accept?
A: We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Please ask about our convenient credit card auto-pay program!
Q: Do you sell Locks, Packing and Moving supplies?
A: Yes, for your peace of mind we sell high security locks! We also offer boxes and moving supplies for your one-stop shopping convenience.
Q: Do you have outdoor storage for boats, RVs and other vehicles?
A: Yes, we have space for Boats, RVs, Commercial Vehicles, Trucks and Cars at our Cypress, El Cajon, Fashion Valley, Huntington Beach, La Mesa – Spring Street, Mission Valley, Oceanside and Vista locations. Please contact the location nearest you for availability and vehicle size limits.
Q: How much notice must be given when I move out?
A: We require a 10 day written notice to move out. Full details on the vacating policy will be provided for you at the time of move-in.
Q: When do you have auctions?
A: Typically, we have auctions once a month at each store.
A: How do auctions work?
Q: The auctioneer will open the unit door in front of the crowd. From the doorway, you will get to look inside the unit. You can’t enter the unit or touch anything in the unit. The auctioneer will then start the bidding. If you buy unit, it is cash only at the time of sale. You are bidding to purchase everything in the unit. Units range in size from 20 square feet to 400 square feet. Prices range from a dollar to hundreds, or even thousands of dollars. Once you purchase a unit, you have 24 hours to completely empty the unit and remove everything in it from the property.
Q: Which locations offer E-Waste Recycling?
A: Participating Green Spot Drop-Off Locations include: San Diego – Fashion Valley, San Diego – Mission Valley & San Diego – Mira Mesa.
Q: What are some examples of E-Waste items that are acceptable for drop-off?
A: Some of the most commonly accepted and collected items include cell phones, computers, monitors, printers, scanners, ink & toner cartridges, small appliances and electronic components. It is illegal to throw these items in the trash and need to be properly recycled and re-purposed by State law. Items collected will not end up in landfills. They may be donated in working and non-working condition.
Q: How can I apply for a job at A-1 Self Storage?
A: We recommend you check your local Craigslist, as well as our Employment Opportunities section on our blog for current job postings.
Re-purpose your household items for a more organized home! Get organized with these easily re-purposed items that you probably already have. These quick and easy tips will have you organized in no time.
Binder Clip Cord Organizer – With so many new tech gadgets these days, wires and cords can make your home office desk look cluttered. To keep the cords from getting tangled, attach binder clips to the edge of your desk and place the cords through the clips. This will help you eliminate having to spend five minutes trying to untangle the cords.
Dish-Rack Coloring Station – Organize your kids craft supplies in a dish rack. Coloring books and paper stay put in the grates. While the silverware tray Holds crafting tools, including colored pencils and scissors.
Shoe Organizer – An over-the-door shoe organizer is a great way to corral your child’s art supplies. The see-through pockets eliminate digging through endless amount of drawers when it’s arts and crafts time. The shoe organizer takes up less space as well.
Reuse Kleenex Boxes as Bag Dispensers – Stuff plastic or small reusable grocery bags into an empty tissue box for a neat and tidy dispenser. This is easily transferable and could simply be tossed into the backseat or the trunk of your car so you always have bags with you when you go grocery shopping.
Egg Cartons and Cupcake Liners – You can use two common items to organize your junk drawer or even office drawer. Egg cartons and cupcake liners can be used as a way to organize miscellaneous items in a messy drawer.
Old Picture Frame for Jewelry – Don’t let your favorite necklaces get in a tangle. You can transform a picture frame into a perfect jewelry organizer. All you need are a few nails and chicken wire, and you are all set. This turns into a beautiful display for your jewelry!
Do you re-purpose any of your old household items? Let us know if you have any tips and tricks you would like to share. We would love to hear!
Is your garage a full of clutter? The garage tends to be the place where we toss our dirty shoes and pile mass amounts of yard tools on top of each other. Cleaning your garage can be a very tedious and a time consuming task, especially if you have been using your garage space as place to throw excess stuff you don’t want in your home. To make the process of organizing your garage efficiently it’s advised that you go through and get rid of what you don’t need. Listed below are tips to help you get your garage in order.
Pegboards. An easy way to organize your tools is to place pegboards with hooks on at least one wall. Do you have trouble locating your tools in your garage? Using a pegboard rather than a toolbox, you can keep items that are used commonly used in plain sight.
Wall-Mounted Tool Racks. Tool racks are extremely useful for hanging garden tools, such as rakes, shovels, hoes and even bikes. This is a great way to make more ground space in your garage as well as keeping it organized. If you don’t want invest in wall mounted tool racks, it’s okay because we have another solution. You can create your own wooden shovel Rack. It is strong and sturdy therefore designed for heavier yard tools.
Make Your Own Mud Room. If you don’t have a mud room don’t worry! If you have space near the entryway this would be an excellent place to create a mud room area. You can use shoe organizers, plastic bins, or baskets, and a few hooks and shelves. Using these items listed will help you create a space where all of your coats and jackets as well as muddy shoes and other items can be stored. You can even add in a little bench with a shoe cubby, and you are all set!
Re-purposed Kitchen Jars. Start saving those jars! Extra jars you have laying around your house are a perfect use for any small items that tend to get lost in the garage. You can use these jars to store miscellaneous screws and nails you have.
Bungee Cord Ball Storage. Use bungee cords to easily store sports balls. If your garage is filled with random sports balls scattered on the ground this is an excellent way to keep them accessible and organized.
Looking at your garage can feel extremely overwhelming especially
when it is unorganized. No one wants to spend twenty minutes looking for there gardening tool. If you follow these tips its guaranteed that your garage will be looking great in no time!
Houseplants are an often overlooked item on many spring cleaning checklists! While planning your to-do list this year, remember to include your indoor plants. Regular maintenance helps to reduce the chance of a bug infestation or disease, keeping your houseplants healthy & happy for years to come!
Remove Old Leaves. Remove any yellowing or dead leaves from your plants. This helps prevent disease and encourages new growth.
Dust Leaves. Removing collected dust from leaves helps plants get the light exposure they need for growth. For smooth leaves, wiping the dust off with a clean damp cloth generally works best. For hairy leaves, such as African violets, dusting with a clean soft paintbrush or toothbrush is recommended. Finer foliage leaves, such as ferns, do best when cleaned with a gentle spray of water.
Add Additional Soil. Take this opportunity to check the soil level in your containers. Add additional potting mix to any pots where the soil levels have decreased.
Fertilize. Spring is usually a time of growth for most houseplants. Take this opportunity to fertilize your plants to provide the nutrients they need for growth! Read your plant labels carefully to ensure that you use the correct fertilizer.
Give your houseplants a little TLC this spring, and you’ll reap the benefits all year long! Do you have any extra tips to share? Please be sure to leave us a comment below.
Can you believe it, spring break is just around the corner! I’m sure you’ve already planned every detail of the trip all that’s left is to worry about what to bring? If you are like me I tend to over-pack and end up bringing way more clothes than needed. Below we will provide you with simple packing guidelines to pack effectively. You will be ready in no time for your spring break vacation.
Roll Your Clothes, Don’t Fold – By rolling your clothes you will not only will save your space but it also helps prevent creases in your clothing! Roll your t- shirts, shorts and stick them side by side in your suitcase. You can also invest in travel compression bags, that increase luggage space.
Be Realistic – Don’t forget you are just going on vacation, not moving. Leave your laptop and other unnecessary items at home. You also don’t need every pair of shoes you own. Bring a few neutral pairs and you will be just fine!
Utilize Your Carry On – If you are bringing a carry on or a tote to keep next you in the car, utilize the space! If needed you can stick a few pairs of shoes in their as well as your cosmetic bag.
Pack Outside Your Suitcase – Before piling everything into your suitcase collect everything you have in mind, also it’s a good idea to plan your outfits ahead! Place all the items around your suitcase so then you can start limiting certain items. If you are trying to pack lightly you should focus more on neutral colors. The more versatile, the easier to mix and match your outfit.
Follow these simple tips to help you pack stress-free! Leave us a comment and share some your handy tricks when packing for a vacation getaway. You’ll be soaking up the sun in no time!
Frequently Asked Questions
