What should I look at in a moving company’s storage vault containers?

Begin with a walk through the storage area. Open several vaults and look inside for damp, mould, pests, dust and damage to floors or walls. Check door seals and locks. Examine how containers are stacked and moved, and whether the forklift or lift gear is in good order. Look for signs of leaks around the roof and base, which may not show until a heavy rain.

Next, match the physical to the paper. Every occupied vault should map to a customer account with a start date, a rate and a payment record. Ask the seller to tally full, empty and reserved vaults and compare it with what you see. Vaults with no clear account, or customers who stopped paying long ago, raise questions about what the company is holding and for whom.

Then ask about the building and the process. Who owns the property or holds the lease, and can it transfer? How does the company handle unpaid accounts, and what is its written practice for contents left behind? What security exists: cameras, alarms, access logs and insurance for stored goods? Ask about claims for damage or loss and how they were resolved. Ask your insurer what coverage they expect and your lawyer about the customer agreements, the lease and what happens to goods in storage at closing.

Key takeaways

• Open several vaults and check for damp, pests and damage.
• Match every full vault to a customer account and a payment record.
• Ask about security, claims and how unpaid accounts are handled.
• Read the lease or title for the storage building.