Your self-storage company may request proof of insurance before renting space. Insurance is not something to be overlooked and can give you peace-of-mind when storing your personal belongings.

Emergencies that insurance can cover include:

• Fire
• Flood
• Rodent/insect infestation
• Theft

Storage facilities do not insure your possessions or take responsibility for their safety. Some rental companies may offer insurance for an additional fee, and sometimes purchasing this insurance is required. Most basic insurance provided by a rental company only covers a fraction of your belonging’s value.

Purchasing storage insurance

Instead of relying on the minimum insurance provided by your storage facility, request coverage from your home insurance policy. Some homeowner’s insurance policies cover items in storage, and many offer the option of purchasing additional insurance.

Before storing items, make an inventory of everything you need covered under your storage insurance policy. Because you may be picking up or dropping off items at your storage unit, ask your insurance company how to submit changes to your inventory.