Stuff under the bed and cramming? Hence last year. Lai Chi Kok has become a storage paradise; every street appears to be shouting about fresh household storage or lockers. There is wide variation with more options than late-night dessert stores following payday. Too many choices cause heads to whirl.
Let’s not spin around the details; size counts. One facility might have you crammed between boxes like you’re in a maze; another spares enough area to swing a golf club (though you most certainly shouldn’t). Look over your mountain of material and be honest. Are leftovers from a market booth still fruit-smelling, or are you stashing old tea sets nobody can touch? Match the area to the stack.
Security is something everyone professes to have. But exactly what does “safe” mean? A few units flash elegant biometrics, lights flickering, cameras running. Others simply have an unhappy caregiver and a faded lock. Be not shy; ask strange questions. Other than myself, who has keys? Will you know whether someone visits your box at midnight? Is “premium protection” only talk, or are they looking out for your sporting equipment as if it were crown jewels? Choose the degree of peace of mind required.
The temperature now is the focus. In Hong Kong, humidity is not joking business. Like cats and baths, cardboard and damp air are terrible news taken together. Some locations include air-con or humidity control, but generally for a little extra money. If you keep gadgets, paper, or anything you don’t want smelling like moist socks, could be a good deal. Ignore this; those treasured family pictures could be historical relics.
Let’s speak in terms of bucks. Not a second mortgage; you want room. Compare everything: monthly prices, move-in incentives, and be careful not to let clever fine print go by you. Paid ahead or registered on just the “right” day will result in discounts. They love to show up out of thin air—hidden admin costs, insurance pitches, cleaning expenses. Go through the contract as though you were searching for buried gold.
Facilities are not all built equally. There are certain areas with handy shining elevators and trolleys. Others welcome you with stairs sufficient to curse every journey. Some let you in almost around-the-clock, ideal for night drinkers. Others arrive early; so, choose depending on how often you will really show up.
And later—location, location, location. Although tucked-out-of-sight locations may offer low rent, this is not consolation when you are hauling a suitcase in a rain shower. You have found the jackpot if you can just drive up outside or are close to the MTR. Remember: convenience can save your back on hot afternoons.
Every neighborhood is full of gossip. Talk to people who live here. They will spill about power outages, squeaky pipes, or the moment someone’s possessions floated in a sudden flood. Though word-of-mouth counts more, flyer promises are good.
In Lai Chi Kok, then, storage space is like an additional room you never knew you needed. If you don’t need frills, choose smart; keep the excess of life close but out of the way. You might even find a small adventure in organizing your mess.
