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Storage Units in Oakland

Oakland, CA: Top Things to Know About Storage

Mediterranean Climate

California is nationally recognized, and envied, for its year round, beautiful weather. ?Oakland has a Mediterranean climate, which means hot and dry summers and cool and wet winters. ?The city sees an average of 260 sunny days per year and is ranked number one in climate among U.S. cities. ?Its location gives it the perfect balance because it’s warmer than San Francisco but cooler than San Jose. ?Fog is also common in the area and can affect traffic conditions, but it fades away pretty quickly. ?Weather wise, Oakland seems to be perfect, and not many of its weather conditions can affect storage. ?However, there is a downside to the weather.

In the summer, high temperatures can go up to 104 degrees and the winter low gets down to 24 degrees. ?Given the huge differences in weather, we would recommend that you always store your belongings in climate controlled units so there’s never a danger of something melting, molding, or freezing.

Devilish Winds and the Sea

There’s also a small caveat that comes with Oakland’s beautiful weather: ?Diablo winds. ?These dry and warm offshore winds occur in the fall and raise the danger of fire. ?Fire has previously spread and consumed many homes in the area, so you want to be careful about where you choose your storage facility. ?Even if you choose a facility that’s not in an area susceptible to these fires, you should still be weary of cleanliness issues within your storage unit. ?Your things should be protected by the ash from the fires, but there’s a chance that debris can slip in so you should check what cleanliness measures the storage facility you choose to store at takes. ?Some facilities are very strict about cleanliness and have scheduled cleanings of their sites, which is helpful in cities like Oakland. ?When you’re looking for a facility, ask facility managers about how previous fires have affected their tenants.

Our last piece of advice is to store more inland and away from the ocean if you’re storing things like RVs and electronics. ?If you’re storing near the ocean, there’s a high chance that metal objects will become rusty because of the high salt content of the ocean’s air. ?You’re putting your things in storage to protect them, so don’t put them in a unit that will make them more susceptible to unavoidable damage.

Wine Tasting and Storage

As a resident of Oakland, wine tasting trips to Napa Valley are probably pretty common for you. ?Napa Valley has more than 400 wineries, and a lot of them are world-acclaimed. ?Wine connoisseurs from all over the world visit the area, and so do people who just want to have a relaxing weekend that entails sipping wine and eating cheese.

Wine tasting is a year round activity, so wineries have to be stocked up throughout the year. ?Napa does have its own wine cellars, but they also store their wine in nearby storage facilities that specialize in wine storage. ?Because of the weather and proximity to the ocean, they have to be careful to store in climate controlled units if they are storing in a normal storage facility. ?If you ever need to store your own personal wine, be grateful that you’re living close to America’s wine central—you’ll be able to find a facility that can ensure no damage is done to your precious stash.

Traumatic Traffic

California is known to have the worst traffic in the U.S. ?Some places are worse than others (Los Angeles, for instance), but overall the state’s traffic is pretty terrible. ?In Oakland, rush hour lasts from about 6:45am-9:15am in the mornings, and starts picking up again at 3:30pm and lasts until 7:30pm. ?If you ask the average person in the city about afternoon and evening traffic, you’ll probably hear that rush “hour” actually lasts from 1:25pm to 8:30pm. ?Seven hours of traffic sounds pretty unbelievable, but we can vouch for them—the struggle is real. ?After hearing our traffic report, you should definitely opt for a storage facility that allows for 24-hour access to your unit, no matter how often you go (or don’t go) to get your stuff. ?Getting anywhere on time in California’s traffic is highly unlikely, so if you’re nocturnal and have unlimited access to your unit, you’re more likely to be able to get to your things whenever you want to.

Storage FAQ's

What storage space sizes are available?
In Oakland, there are 37 storage facilities, with a total of 48 storage units. Storage unit sizes generally range from 1' X 1' to 50' X 60'. Call one of your local facilities to have a representative find what size unit is best for you.
What are the prices of the storage spaces? Are prices based on the square footage of the storage space?
Generally the prices of storage units in Oakland vary based on the size of the storage unit and the location of the unit in the facility. Prices range between 69.0 and 2926.0, but representatives can better assist you once they have the details of your storage needs.
Do you accept deliveries for customers?
Most storage facilities in Oakland accept deliveries for their customers so that they don't have to go through the process of moving every time they need something to be placed in their storage units. They will keep your items in the office and will inform you when they arrive so that you can place them in your storage unit at your convenience.
Do you have different policies and prices for students or active military members?
Students and active military members are clients that have unique needs because of the nature of their schedules. Most storage facilities in Oakland offer discounts to students, and discounts and different policies for active military members. Please call your local facility or see our students and active military members pages to get detailed and updated information.
What security measures are taken to protect the storage units?
Security is every storage operator's priority. Speak with the storage manager of a facility of your liking in Oakland to find out what security measures they take to protect your belongings.
Should I rent a drive-up or interior storage unit?
Drive-up storage units are typically more expensive and not as clean as interior units. Drive-up units are more exposed to the elements (water, dust, etc.) and are therefore not as clean as interior units. Interior units, on the other hand, have a much better climate. Essentially, the desire to rent a drive-up unit comes from clients thinking that they will be visiting their unit very frequently, which is surprisingly not the case. Most people don't come to their units as often as they think they will, so given the cost and cleanliness issues, it's better to rent an interior storage unit.
Will the company have access to my space?
No, no one in the storage facilities has access to your space unless you specifically ask them or give them the right to do so. For example, you may want them to have access to your unit for things you may want delivered directly to your unit.
Do I need insurance for my storage unit?
We recommend that you get insurance for your belongings because the contents of the units are not insured through storage facilities.
Do you have advice on how to pack my storage space?
Yes, storage managers can provide you with tips and techniques on how to most efficiently utilize your storage space. Their hope is that you can have easy access to your items and that your storage space is worth every penny of your money.
What if I need more or less space after I move in?
Once you move in and feel that you need to move into a smaller or bigger space, storage facilities are happy to accommodate your move. Before renting a space, it is recommended that you speak to a storage facility representative to help you find the best sized unit for your needs. If things change through the course of your lease, they will help make the transition to your next unit as efficient and simple as possible. We also have a size guide that may answer some preliminary questions you may have.
Do you sell boxes and moving supplies?
Yes, most storage facilities sell boxes of various sizes, tape, bubble wrap, labels, and other items for your packing and moving needs.
Do you provide your customers with movers?
No, storage facilities do not provide movers. However, managers and team members would be happy to provide you with a list of reliable and reasonably priced movers in Oakland. See our resource guide for movers in Oakland.
Can I rent climate-controlled spaces in Oakland?
Yes, climate-controlled spaces are available in Oakland due to the varying weather. Temperatures range from 32.0 to 68.0, which can dramatically affect things in your storage unit. For storing items such as wine, wooden items, electronics, metals, artwork, etc. storage facilities recommend that you rent a climate-controlled unit. For questions and more details, please contact a local facility.
What access will I have to my belongings?
You have 37 facilities to choose from in Oakland. Access hours range from 8 to 24 hours a day. Please contact your local facility for more specific information about your unit.
Is there anything unique to keep in mind when choosing a storage facility in Oakland?
Some factors to keep in mind when choosing a storage facility in Oakland are: weather, peak rush hour times, items that you will be storing, and location within Oakland.
How long is the lease and what are its terms?
Storage companies in Oakland offer a month-to-month lease. If for some reason you would like to cancel your lease during a particular month, please contact one of the facility managers to assist you.
Do you have pest control?
Most facilities in Oakland schedule professional pest control services every month, and twice a month during summer months.
Will I receive a monthly invoice?
Most storage companies in Oakland only provide invoices upon request.
How do I know what size storage I need?
Storage managers would be happy to help you determine which size unit is best for you so that you're not paying for a 50' X 60' unit when you really need a 1' X 1' unit. Please reference our size guide for more information.
If I lose my key, can you provide another one?
No, storage facility employees do not have copies of the keys used for the units. If you lose your key, check with the facility for lock cutting fees. They may also be able to sell another lock and key to you.
What options do I have for payments? What forms of payment do you accept?
Most storage facilities accept cash, credit cards, or checks. Always ask about autopay, it's faster and much more convenient.

Oakland, CA Military StorageView Hide

Oakland, CA Military Storage

Military personnel and their families can never stay in one place for too long and are required to be able to move with very minimal notice. ?Although you’ve probably learned how to pack light, there are some things you just need storage units for. ?Oakland is home to multiple military bases, and a lot of their inhabitants are not able to keep everything they would like with them in their homes on the base. ?With 30 facilities to choose from in Oakland, military members are bound to be able to find a storage unit that suits their needs. ?If you’re not too sure what to look for in a unit, don’t worry—that’s what we’re here for.

Military Presence in Oakland

There are three military bases in Oakland, the largest of which is Travis Air Force Base. ?This base is 47 miles north of Oakland and is home to 3,770 civilians, 7,200 active U.S. Air Force military personnel, and 4,000 Air Force reservists. ?It also has an Air Force Medical Center, which accommodates 256 people at a time. ?The base has limited military base lodging and priority is given to those with official government orders and personnel on active duty. ?Family dwellings and temporary lodging facilities are available for military personnel and their families if they have made prior reservations.

With all of these people living on the base, and a fully equipped medical center, it’s hard to make room for storage space for the residents of the base. ?Military members and their families would be much better off finding a nearby storage facility to store their extra belongings. ?If you live on this base and are looking for a local storage facility, check out American Self Storage, which is only 1.2 miles away from the base. ?This facility takes some pretty intense security measures to keep your belongings safe, and also offers military and senior discounts, extended hours, and special payment options for Air Force members. ?Word is that the nearby Jelly Belly Candy Company and Budweiser Brewery might store here too but we can’t disclose too much!

Special Needs

Sometimes you need to store things that require special accommodations. ?For instance, when the Air Force Medical Center needs to store things like medicine, they need to be sure to store it in climate controlled units so it doesn’t get ruined before it even gets to a patient.

Military personnel are also big on storing guns. ?First of all, not all storage facilities allow for gun storage, so be sure to check on that. ?You also have to look into the special rules of storing guns, such as the possibility of storing guns with a friend or family member, storing guns and their ammunition separately, and a number of other things. ?Ask the storage facility manager for more safety tips so you don’t end up doing something illegal. ?Also consider renting a locker unit if you don’t have a lot to store and want something more cost efficient.

Another thing to consider when looking for a storage facility is if they allow you to have 24-hour access to your unit. ?Certain facilities don’t allow this, which can make things a little complicated for military personnel. ?Although this may not seem like a big deal, it can seriously impact your storage use and make your life more difficult. ?You don’t have the typical nine to five schedule, so you’ll need to be able to access your unit after hours.

Storage Safety

If you’re storing something like guns, you want to be very careful, especially in a city like Oakland. ?Oakland has a very high crime rate; its annual violent crimes are 7,033 and annual property crimes amount to 24,944. ?With statistics so high, it’s no wonder that storage facilities take strict security measures to protect their tenants’ belongings. ?The average storage facility in Oakland has an on site manager, keypad gate entry and exit, fenced grounds, security cameras, and is well lit to ward off crooks from afar. ?If you’re deployed overseas or temporarily assigned to another city or state, you won’t have to be concerned that your belongings are in danger of being stolen.

Oakland, CA University StorageView Hide

Oakland, CA University Storage

When you’re lucky enough to attend a university in Oakland, you know you’ll need a lot of storage space. ?Although college students work hard, they generally play harder. ?If you’re moving to Oakland for school, you’ll be bringing more than just your books. ?There’s so much to do in the city and its surrounding areas, so you’ll need a storage unit to accommodate the things necessary for your extracurricular and recreational activities. ?And of course, you’ll need room for stuff for school too.

Scary Stuff

Let’s start with one of the most important things to consider when finding a storage facility in the area—security. ?Oakland has an overwhelmingly high crime rate. ?It’s safer than one percent of the cities in the U.S. and has an annual property crime of 24,944. ?Universities are generally pretty safe, but you don’t want to risk keeping your valuables in your dorm room if there’s a chance they will be stolen. ?On campus housing generally doesn't have much security, especially when it comes to protecting property. ?Look for a storage facility that offers high security. ?What we mean by that is a facility that offers 24-hour video surveillance, gated and well lit grounds, and on site managers. ?You’ll be able to find places that offer higher security than that as well, but those are just the basics that we would recommend you have. ?The last thing you want is your artwork being stolen in the middle of the night.

What Students are Storing

The University of California, Berkeley is just 5.5 miles north of the heart of the Oakland. ?The university spans across 1,232 acres, has an undergraduate enrollment of 27,126 students and a graduate enrollment of 10,455. ?That’s almost 40,000 students competing for storage units! ?Not to mention they also have over 1,000 student organizations on campus. ?UC Berkeley is not known to be a commuter school, so most of the students that attend the university live on or around campus. ?It’s the number one public university and ranked third globally, so there are people from all over the world attending its programs. ?Now if you consider everything we just told you, you’ll see that this massive student population is bound to take over all of Oakland’s 30 storage facilities.

A typical dorm room is about 114 square feet in size, and there are usually two to three students sharing a room. ?If you ask us, the only things the average student can probably bring to college with him/her are some clothes and a few books. ?The students at UC Berkeley are heavily involved in extracurricular activities that generally require extra stuff. ?The thing that really caught our interest was the school’s hang gliding club. ?All of those students have got to be putting their hang gliding equipment in storage units; those things are virtually impossible to fit into a dorm room. ?UC Berkeley is also just over the San Francisco Bay, meaning that many students do a lot of biking, surfing, and other water sports that require some heavy duty equipment. ?Even if students that attend this school pack light, they are so heavily involved in these recreational activities that they absolutely need storage units to store their things.

Storage Perks for Students

If you’re a student in need of a storage unit, and you attend UC Berkeley or any of the other 15 colleges in Oakland, consider storing your things at Central Self Storage or Berkeley Self Storage. ?Both of these facilities are within two miles of campus and often deal with the surrounding student population, so they’ll know exactly what you’ll need. ?If you feel like you can’t afford storage (trust us, you probably can), then ask about student discounts, back to school specials, or sharing a unit with a friend.

Also be sure to ask about month-to-month leases. ?Most storage facilities offer them, which is great for when you go to study abroad or only want to leave your things in storage while you’re home for the summer. ?And lastly, you’ll want a storage facility that offers 24-hour access to your unit. ?Summer nights in Oakland are really nice, so it’s nice to know that you can grab your surfboard and catch some waves after a hard night of studying.

Oakland, CA RV and Boat StorageView Hide

Oakland, CA RV and Boat Storage

People lucky enough to live in Oakland have the luxury of using their boat or RV almost year round. ?It may seem like it’s a lot faster to leave for a boat ride or RV vacation if your vehicles are on your driveway, but you might be surprised at how much more convenient it is to put your vehicles in a storage unit. ?Your vehicles will be safe, clean, and will still remain easily accessible despite them being away from home. ?If the thought of this makes you somewhat anxious, keep reading and we will address your concerns.

Cleanliness

When you keep your boat or your RV out on your front yard, it’s bound to get dirty. ?You’re probably thinking that it’s nothing a quick wash can’t take care of, which is true in some ways, but there are other things to consider as well. ?Oakland is a city that is right next to the Pacific Ocean, meaning that your RV can be susceptible to rust due to high salt content of the ocean air. ?The first thing that comes to mind is that this can also happen to your car, which it can, but your car is being used daily, whereas your RV is sitting on your driveway collecting salt, so to speak. ?The value of your RV is depreciating before your eyes and you don’t even know it! ?A great way to avoid something like this is to put your RV into storage. ?You can easily find a storage facility near you that specializes in RV and boat storage, and they can help you with all of your storage needs.

Safety

Oakland has a very high crime rate; its annual property crime is 24,944. ?If your beautiful boat or RV is out in your front yard, chances are it will become a target of a crime at some point. ?Your RV will definitely be much safer in a storage unit, not just because it will be indoors, but because of the strict security measures that storage facilities take to protect your belongings. ?Some security measures that are becoming common practice in the storage industry are: ?24-hour video surveillance, on site managers, gated grounds, and well lit facilities. ?You can also find facilities that have alarms on individual units, but that’s a fairly new thing so be sure to ask about it if you’re interested.

Putting your vehicle in storage will also protect it from the weather and possible accidents. ?You don’t want the neighborhood kids to break a window while they’re playing football on the street where your RV is parked. ?Replacing that window will definitely be more expensive than paying for a month of storage.

Traffic and other Storage Concerns

Anyone who lives in Oakland, or any part of California for that matter, knows how terrible traffic is. ?Everyone’s lives would be so much easier if there were fewer cars on the road, especially huge RVs that move slower and take up more space than the average car. ?We would recommend storing your vehicles closer to where you’ll be using them.

Anthony Chabot Regional Park is a beautiful RV park located just 20 minutes away from downtown Oakland. ?It is 3,314 acres, has 70 miles of hiking and riding trails, and is open year round. ?It’s also one of the rare parks that has a marksmanship range, which is just a fancy way of saying shooting and archery range. ?If this is a park that you go to often, you probably end up taking bikes, guns, and your bow and arrow every time you head up there. ?Even if you can rent those things at the park, it’s nice to have your own without having to bring them across town with you every time. ?To simplify your getaways, you can store your vehicles and other RV camp oriented things at StoragePRO Self Storage. ?This storage facility is very close to the park, it’s conveniently located so you can avoid traffic (you can easily get to it by getting on the I-238 or I-880), and they specialize in vehicle storage.

When storing things like guns, be careful to find a unit that is climate controlled so Oakland’s heat and proximity to the ocean don’t affect them. ?Also consider finding a facility that allows for 24-hour access to your unit so you can come and go as you please.

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