Self-storage (sometimes called mini-storage or self-service storage) is the rental of individual storage units (or rooms), typically on a monthly basis, ranging in size from small lockers to large garage-size units, where the customer (or tenant) maintains care, custody, and control by moving/packing the contents on a self-service basis, controlling access to the unit (e.g. key and any access code/s), and insuring the contents (see Will I need insurance? below). About 1- in-10 households rent self-storage in the U.S., along with millions of businesses, and there are an estimated 50,000 self-storage facilities across the country.

“Climate control” means the environment within the self-storage facility is monitored and controlled by heating, cooling, and/or dehumidifying the air in an effort to maintain a certain temperature range and reasonable humidity level. In the Northeast, for example, heat and air conditioning are used to maintain a climate controlled environment year-round, while air conditioning and humidity control are used in the South. In a climate controlled environment, a self-storage facility seeks to reduce the risk of temperature and humidity related damage to stored property that sometimes can occur in non-climate controlled storage facilities. For more details, please read our Rental Agreement.

Whatever you want…it’s your space! Of course, you can’t store anything illegal, hazardous, combustible, etc., but, unlike a bonded warehouse, you can store and remove things whenever you feel like it, without having to inventory anything, and without paying extra fees. Household renters store everything from seasonal items to prized collections, while businesses store everything from extra inventory to business records. Because Boston Seaport Self Storage is an indoor facility, vehicles can NOT be stored, but you can store small household and yard equipment if the fluids are drained.

It all depends… on not only how much you will be storing, but also how well you pack the unit, whether you’ll need access to your belongings, whether you plan to add more things later, etc. Call us anytime to help you figure out what size unit you will need, but check out our unit sizes & prices and try using our handy online size calculator to get started. Keep in mind our units have 10’ of clearance, so you can stack pretty high to save space! If you already have a storage unit, but need a different size, you can use our kiosk or stop by the rental office to easily transfer into another unit.

NO. For added protection and peace of mind, our units feature removable cylinder locks with anti-pick pins that can’t be cut with bolt cutters like traditional padlocks. A cylinder lock is included with every new rental, keyed-alike cylinder locks are available if you rent multiple units, and each lock includes three keys – you lock it, you keep the key! We also sell a variety of padlocks for rental trucks and other off-site use in our retail center.

Maybe…it depends if you have your own insurance coverage and whether it carries over to our facility. Unlike a moving company or bonded warehouse, self-storage facilities do NOT insure the contents of a storage unit (since they don’t have care, custody, and control – see What is self-storage? above). However, Boston Seaport Self Storage wants all of our customers to have the right protection “just in case”, so we offer the BADER COMPANY tenant insurance program, which gives you the option of purchasing a protection plan that’s right for you or providing proof of coverage if you already have insurance. Please contact our Rental Office for more details about our tenant insurance program.

Whether you rent/reserve online, use our kiosk, or rent in person, you’ll need photo ID, proof of insurance (unless you participate in our tenant insurance program), and your initial payment (cash/check/credit card). If you’re in the U.S. Military, please present your ID so we can document it and ensure you get our 10% military discount. All of our customers are required to sign a monthly Rental Agreement at the time of move-in.

The key to self-storage is that it’s self-service, which means you’re responsible for packing your belongings and moving them into storage, but, if you need assistance, we offer U-Haul rentals and we’ve lined up some professional moving companies that can help (please contact our Rental Office). And once you or your movers arrive at Boston Seaport Self Storage, you’ll find two convenient loading areas with complimentary carts and dollies to make your move-in easy. We also carry a full line of moving and packing supplies, including specialty items like gloves, furniture pads, tie-downs, and even flashlights to make moving more manageable. If you have a package or delivery coming, just let the Rental Office know and we’ll make arrangements to receive it until you’re able to put it into your storage unit.

Access hours are the hours you can access the self-storage facility and use your storage unit (6:00 am to 10:00 pm, 365 days a year), while office hours are the hours management staff is on-site in the rental office (open daily – closed only on major holidays). Please note that you can also use our kiosk from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, 365 days a year.

If you forget your access code, use our kiosk, to look it up, call us anytime, or stop by during office hours. We also offer key fobs for an additional monthly fee (ask for details). If you lose your key, your cylinder lock will need to be removed (drilled) and replaced, which can only be done by a professional locksmith through the Rental Office with advance notice (fees apply).