Extra Space Storage

Other than not being told in advance about Insurance, everything went smooth in the rental. Paul was terrific to deal with, and took care of everything in a timely fashion. I wish there was 24 hour access, but other than that I am very pleased with the facility and service I have received.

We recently needed a storage space for some seasonal items and we looked at several local companies. We were most concerned about affordability, location of the unit (we prefer exterior access) and access times. The folks at Extra Space called us back promptly, assisted us in selecting the unit that would best meet our needs and they provided a very reasonable rate and first month free. Upon arrival, check in was simple and fast. The unit was exactly as we anticipated and clean. We are very happy we went with Extra Space!

Rats, rats, rats, was the reason that I moved out recently. (That after some of my grandmother’s irreplacable antique furniture was already stolen from there a few years ago.) Within 2 weeks of the last time I was in the unit it smelled worse than a pet shop, rat droppings and rat urine everywhere — eventually finding rats nests. Probably near a hundred droppings on a single chair — not to mention the urine and the urine smell — hard to get out of anything. It could have been a horror movie. I bought a gas mask to clean it out (after looking online about possible diseases from rat urine and droppings) — with no help offered from management — they denied any responsibility and after the fact gave me rat poision for the unit. He didn’t want to go in there himself — yet implied this was no big deal and that this is what one has to expect with storage units. If you get a unit — don’t think as I did that the rat poision containers outside the units will be enough — get continuous poision for each unit. I asked why they did not advise everyone of this ahead of time so this wouldn’t happen — he said they wouldn’t be able to rent units if they were up front about the rat risk. I took me months to move out because these were larger units. This location is right by the railroad tracks — which from what I am told is prone to the presence of rats — because of grain traveling on freight cars. I had been there for years, paid tens of thousands of dollars — when I treid to sort papers from the boxes is when the worst infestation came. The manager said he advises against storing in cardboard boxes because rats eat that — even though the corporation sells cardboard boxes on site — and he never told me that in the years before the rats. Not that I would have had a choice. These were boxes packed years before, many by relatives. Previously I had antique tables and furniture stolen from that location. In the big units — there is access from nearby units for people to be able to climb into your units and case your possessions. I am convinced this was how the theft was done — all they have to do is break in — then move your possessions to another unit and take it out later. When you call your have to go through the corporate phone tree every time — even if calling local management — frustrating. The cost of the units increases the longer you stay there. I was eventually paying almost twice what a new person would but with so many possessions and so little time — I felt stuck. But the rats were the last straw! Oh, and they advertise a rewards program for giving them reviews and ratings — I of course wonder if that is only for good ratings — or if people assume it is, thus wonder if overall the ratings you see can be expected to be inflated positively, so renter beware!

If you decided to check these guys out on Unilocal before signing up for a storage unit, well, congratulations. You may still have time to save yourself some money and frustration.
I’ve used several storage places in Memphis over the years. The last time I moved I shopped around online and found that Extra Space had the lowest price. Or so it seemed. Expect some gotcha charges and add ons before you even get moved in (mandatory insurance? Bullshit!). That in and of itself is not so unusual. You can also expect maximum rent hikes as often as they can legally get away with, too.
The $ 79 bargain unit I found online 24 months ago? Its now a $ 104/​mo unit due to the aforementioned add-​ons and rent hikes. That’s their scam– quote a low price online, tack on some gotcha charges once you’ve pulled up in the uhaul and jack up the rent as much and as often as the law will allow. After all, if you’re out of state then what are ya gonna do about it?