If you live in an apartment or condo, you may have access to storage space in a basement or attic; however, this space may be shared with other tenants or residents. In this situation, you can still store your belongings, but you'll need to contend with security issues and avoid storing anything extremely valuable or sentimental.

Keep It Locked

When storing items in a communal storage facility, make sure you use containers that can be locked, especially if the area or storage cubicle you have access to is not totally secure. You'll still want to use airtight containers to store belongings such as clothing, books, papers, memorabilia, and so on, but you'll also want to take additional security precautions. For example, use containers that are opaque (not clear or see-through) and don't visibly label your containers. Instead, number them and keep the list of the contents of each numbered container to yourself. If someone happens to break into the communal storage space, you don't want to make it easier for them to find valuable items to steal or damage.

Larger and Valuable Items

If you'll be storing larger items, such as sports equipment (bikes, skis, and so on), make sure you lock these items up separately. Somehow attach or bolt the locks to a wall, floor, or ceiling. Take steps to ensure that these larger and more expensive items are not readily visible to someone casually peeking into the storage facility.

When placing boxes, plastic storage containers, or other items in your basement or attic, never store them directly on the floor. Insert plastic or wooden pallets on the floor below your items. This will raise your items up slightly as a precaution against flooding. If possible, try not to store items too close to a window or washing machine to protect against water.

Safes and Safety-Deposit Boxes

For the ultimate protection of valuable or important papers, documents, jewelry, and other small belongings, you may want to invest in a safe, which can be bolted to a wall or floor, making it extremely difficult to steal. A good safe is also fireproof and waterproof. If you have just a small number of important documents, you can always rent a safe-deposit box at a local bank or financial institution.