Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about self-storage in St. Charles.
View some of our most frequently asked questions below.
Do you have a storage unit near me?
Fountain Lakes Storage is part of the family owned and operated – Otto Self Storage. We have locations in St. Charles, South County, Farmington, and Ste. Genevieve. Our tenants drop by our facilities on a regular basis — to store seasonal sports gear, dig out Christmas decorations, or re-stock inventory needed for their business. Having a storage unit nearby helps them quickly get in and out whenever they need to.
What type and size storage unit do I need?
This is a great question! It’s important to consider what you’re storing and how often you may need to access it. For example, if you’re using a storage unit to store business inventory or important documents, you may need a slightly larger unit in order to set it up more like a storeroom with shelving and pathways to gain easy access. On the other hand, if you need a storage unit for long-term storage or for items you don’t access often, you can really pack in a lot into a smaller storage unit.
Need more help? We’re happy to talk through sizing over the phone, or even better, in person. Customers can get an idea of sizing best by stopping by. Please feel free to stop by our convenient location and our friendly and experienced staff will be happy to show you the various unit sizes available and offer you storage tips to help you save space and money.
How much does a storage unit cost?
We offer different storage unit sizes, so prices will vary depending on which unit you choose that best fits your needs. Our website lists our various sizes of storage units and what each unit costs per month. You’ll see from our Rates page that we offer some great online specials!
We try to keep our prices as low as we can without sacrificing quality. We also price-match our competition when you bring proof of their current rates — and you’ll be surprised how much more affordable our rates are if you’re willing to drive just a few extra miles. Here, you’ll still find all the same (if not more) features and amenities like at the big-box chains, just at a lower price.
Do I need to pay a deposit or other fees?
To help you save even more, you can rent a storage unit with no reservation fee, no credit card, and no long-term contracts — which all adds up to NO hassle. You can also rent month-to-month.
I’m self-employed. How can Otto Self Storage support my business needs?
As the owners of several storage facilities, we’re also self-employed — so we totally understand what you need in business storage solutions. We know that safely storing business assets, including inventory, documents, equipment, supplies, and more, is both a value and a challenge — and deep down, you know it, too. Whether you’re operating out of your home or car, and are drowning in stuff, then renting a storage unit can be one of the quickest, easiest, sure-fire ways to immediately start saving money (and your sanity).
We’ve dedicated an entire section of our website to Business Storage. Check out our Business Storage Basics and Benefits sections for helpful information.
Do I need insurance for my storage unit?
If you’re storing personal belongings, then we recommend that you contact your insurance agent to see if your homeowner’s or renter’s policy covers your storage unit contents. There’s a pretty good chance that your policy already does. But if it doesn’t, we can help you find an inexpensive policy to suit your needs.
If you’re storing items for your business, your business insurance may cover items in storage – just be sure to check with your agent. Also, a helpful reminder that you can write off your business storage unit on your business taxes. Instead of classifying it as a business deduction like you would any dedicated workspace at home, you should classify it as “rent” — since technically it is leased space. It’s also a good idea to take photos of your business storage unit for each tax year. After all, you should make sure you enjoy the full tax deduction you legally deserve. Please consult your tax professional for advice.
Read more about our thoughts on storage unit insurance in this blog post.
Are the facilities clean?
We pride ourselves on keeping our storage facilities sparkling clean. In fact, so many of our customer reviews mention our cleanliness, referring to our facilities as “immaculate,” “spotless,” and “extremely clean and bright.”
Do you have social media so I can stay connected?
Yes! Follow Fountain Lakes Storage (or any of our other locations) on Facebook and Instagram for storage tips and more. And, of course, you can always check our website for additional information and resources.
How do I pay my self-storage rent every month?
We offer several convenient ways to pay for your monthly self-storage needs: pay in advance when you sign up for a storage unit, set-up automatic payments with a credit card, mail or drop off a check, pay online in your personal tenant portal, or stop by the office anytime for the manager on-site to process your payment.
What kind of security should I look for?
We’ve installed high-definition security cameras around our storage facility for 24-hour surveillance. Our facility requires a security code for entry and offers ample security lighting.
We also have on-site management to help keep an eye on things. What exactly does this mean? Every day, we conduct morning and afternoon property walk-throughs to monitor activity, including thorough lock checks. If we see that your unit has been locked incorrectly, we’ll contact you.
Don’t take our word for it, though. Our five-star reviewer Amanda says about our Fountain Lakes Storage location: “I would not choose any other storage facility to hold my belongings. They are very clean and it is always nice and cold when I go in there. One time I even locked my lock wrong and they called me to let me know. Everyone there is very sweet and helpful!”
I’m ready to get started. How do I rent a storage unit?
For great customer service, the easiest way to rent a storage unit is to call our offices or stop in today. You can also reserve a storage unit online. Visit our locations page to select your location and get storage unit sizes and rates.
Should I consider climate-controlled storage?
Given that we live in a part of the country where the summers are hot and muggy, and winter days can get down to 25 degrees, renting a climate-controlled unit should be an important factor in your search for self-storage in Missouri. Additionally, if you need to store items that are temperature-sensitive like furniture, electronics, artwork, photographs, or important documents, then you’ll definitely want to rent a climate-controlled self-storage unit. The good news? Every single one of our storage units at our Fountain Lakes Storage location is temperature-controlled!
Should I look for a 100% ground-floor storage facility?
As convenient as a storage unit can be, you still want to make moving your items in and out of your storage unit as comfortable as possible. All of our storage units are on the ground level, which means you won’t have to worry about moving heavy items up and down the stairs or using an elevator. And, honestly, this has been such a huge hit for our customers and the moving companies that we work with!
This is particularly beneficial for those managing a handicap (we also offer handicap-accessible units), are not especially strong, or are prone to tripping and falling. Lugging a TV, couch, or other heavy items up or down several flights of stairs (or even getting them in and out of an elevator) can be a taxing venture, but our ground-level storage units and wide loading zone entry and corridors will make it easy to load and store your things.
What if I need storage supplies or forgot something?
We’ve got you covered! Just visit our office to purchase boxes, tape, additional storage unit locks, and other small moving supplies. We also have courtesy dollies and hand carts available.
What do customers say about your storage business?
As a local family-owned business, the level of customer service we provide is a direct reflection on our family. We take every opportunity to go the extra mile to keep earning the good faith our tenants put in us by entrusting their belongings to our care.
We also appreciate that our tenants take time out of their busy schedules to give us 5-star reviews and recommend us to others. You can check out our latest customer reviews on our Reviews page.
We also offer a customer referral program that serves as an additional tenant endorsement of our facility’s amenities and services. This program’s kickback changes from time to time, so please contact our on-site manager for information about our current offer.
How do I keep aware of your current specials?
Please call us and we’ll provide you with the latest specials and get you into the right storage unit for the right price! They’re also typically listed on the unit offerings on our “Rent Now:” page.
Is Otto Self Storage a run-of-the-mill chain storage business?
No, we are a locally owned and operated, family-owned business. After many years in the storage industry, we now manage a family of four storage locations! These facilities and our tenants mean everything to us, and we’re so happy we can offer clean, secure, convenient, all-one-level storage facilities to serve your storage needs. We will always go the extra mile for you!