It may be annoying to have to stop and dig the code out of your wallet, but it keeps out the riffraff. If it is propped open so people can freely drive in and out, it is of no value. Make sure the gate is working and in use before signing on. It also helps to have managers who live on the property, Ross says. But it is a deterrent to thieves who never know when someone is going to be around, even in the middle of the night when the place is closed.
Lighting is important, too.
The facility should be well lit, inside and out. Civility Hunt and Ross say self-storage facility owners are pushing to improve professionalism in the industry. Hold them to it from your first inquiry. Most people who are moving are already under extreme stress, he says. A sloppy ship is not a happy ship.