Are you looking for a storage unit? If so, there are several things that you absolutely need to know first and as someone who owns a self-storage business in Costa Rica, I believe I can help...
1. How long has the storage provider been in business?
If the company is less than a year or two old placing several thousands of dollars worth of your goods there could be a chancy proposition. It is difficult to open and then maintain a business in Costa Rica. There are numerous licenses you must obtain. If the people you are dealing with don't have a "Patente" be wary of them. The city government, "The Municipalidad" can come in and shut them down without any prior notice. If they don't have a hardwired phone line coming into the business I'd be wary. It's a lot easier to get a cell phone and a number for it than a hard wired phone line.
2.
Did you know that storing your personal items in someone's garage is iffy at best? Let's say you get a "Good Deal" and are allowed to store a household full of furniture and appliances in someone's garage. You pay the owner and in three months you come back to retrieve your items. The owner says, Nope that stuff is all mine now. You don't have a leg to stand on. It's his garage, so the stuff could be legally construed as being his as well. It happens folks. The law here is based on Napoleonic Law. It is not the same as the law in the US.3. You have stored your things in someone's home or garage or it could be a warehouse. You come back in three months and your stuff is gone. Unless you have taken out a insurance policy on your things through INS which is the Costa Rican national Insurance company, you are out of luck. One of the most prevalent scams in Costa Rica is to hire a guard to watch your house while you are off on a trip somewhere. Many times the guard calls his buddies and while you're gone they empty out the contents of your house.
Storing cars and other vehicles can pose a problem. The weather extremes is one and the other is where is the vehicle stored. Out in the sunshine for several months can be tough on the tires and the paint job. If it is the rainy season, mildew can be a problem of significant proportions. Also the always potential of theft of parts or the whole vehicle can be a problem. We always recommend parking the vehicle inside of a "Bodega," Spanish for warehouse, that way you are covered from the elements and the possibility of petty or grand theft. Vehicles are stolen here all the time and 99% of the time they are not recovered. It is common knowledge the parts of a car will yield more money than buying the vehicle was to begin with. Costa Rica is a dry and consequently dusty place to be. If you prepare for it properly you will be well served in protecting your valuable items from the dust. Covering things up always pays dividends.
I hope that this brief article has given you some Costa Rica storage tips that will help you find the best unit for your needs. Not all self-storage units in Costa Rica are created equal, so choose wisely.
Self-Storage Tips - 3 Important Things to Know Before Choosing a Storage Company