Island Storage is making life easier

Think how much cleaner your home would look without the clutter.

Old magazines and newspapers can be discarded, but seasonal clothing and sports equipment, and necessary, but rarely used tools take up room you might prefer to otherwise occupy.

Then you have unwieldy lawn furniture, the belongings of adult children waiting to secure larger independent space and that inventory for your hobby cum part-time career. Each could be situated elsewhere until you, they or good weather guests require it.

Consider the 16,000 sq ft of Island Self-Storage Limited.

The five-month-new facility has been purpose-built for the homeowner drowning in material things with which he or she cannot part; for the older couple downsizing in accommodation, but wanting to retain family heirlooms and for the business in transition to smaller or under-construction premises.

“We are a 24hr operation… [with] digital CCTV monitoring… gate control [and] a security box implemented at each entrance point,” manager Shawn Gravito said.

Clients will find that any questions, queries or difficulties outside of normal office hours are addressed by a live voice on the other end of an afterhours line.

Mr. Gravito noted the facility’s proximity to a residential neighbourhood, its well-lit parking bays, unique customer identification access codes, illuminated corridors and individual lock and key sets.

He said:  “Each unit is connected through a series of hallways… It’s similar to a garage side by side with another garage.”

An advanced dehumidification and temperature control system guards against mould and mildew, while diesel generator emergency power backup ensures the maintenance of an ideal environment for your possessions.

Six sizes of self storage unit are available from the 5ft by 5ft by 8ft at $145 per month to the currently rented 10ft by 30ft by 8ft. Check the website at www.islandselfstorage.bm and click ‘What Fits’ for a view, in each case, of a bundled room of furniture.

Wine

The connoisseur who carefully guards his or her wine collection also has a place in an exclusive-to-wine personal storehouse.

The wine cellar features a private entrance, its own gate code and state-of-the-art surveillance. The room is set at 60 per cent humidity and 58 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal protection of the stores.

Four different sizes of wine locker can be reserved for personal use. The smallest 2ft by 2ft by 4ft, which rents for $69 a month, accommodates approximately 15 cases. The largest wine locker measures 3ft by 3ft by 8ft, rents for $269 a month and accommodates approximately 90 cases.

An on-site office, and a retail store open to the general public operate from 9am till 6pm weekdays and 9am till 1pm Saturdays.

“I do periodic walk-arounds of the facility,” the manager said, “and in addition have a display monitor at my desk. Also, within the retail store, there’s a monitor… people realize when they come in… they’re being watched through security.”

The retail store sells packaging materials — bubble wrap, boxes, box cutters, tape, markers and glassware wrapping kits, as well as mattress, chair and couch covers.

Island Self Storage is located on the first floor at 2 Mill Reach Lane, Pembroke. FedEx occupies the ground floor. The Bermuda Hospitals Board has its own storage facility on the second floor with also-controlled elevator access.