Stuffing stuff under the bed stopped working years ago. Welcome to Lai Chi Kok, where after dark storage options proliferate as rapidly as food booths. After a few blocks, you will find a procession of “storage for rent” and “temperature-controlled” choices, each one asserting they are the solution. Makes one feel as though there is too much to choose from.

Let me say plain forwardly: size is everything here. Every storage facility does things somewhat differently. Some are close enough to make you feel as though your boxes are hiding-and-seeking. Others let your pots, winter clothing, and even spare tires spread out as though they were on vacation. Consider exactly what you need to store away. delicate antiques unable of withstanding sunlight? Or cartons of market products from last year still smelling like a sweet market? Never believe one place will solve every problem.

Security follows then. Many promises, occasional lack of clarity. Is it locks based on fingerprints, guards, a squeaky front door and the owner peering over his newspaper? There are certain places with fancy alarms and flash humming cameras. Others leave your stuff behind just a steel latch. Ask them without delay. In the dead of night, who else can reach your floor? Should someone open your unit, are you notified? If you ask about your old rugby kit, will they blink? For many, this is the determining point.

Now comes the sticky guest from Hong Kong: humidity. It enjoys destroying records and melting cardboard into nothing. A few businesses impose additional fees for air-cons or dehumidifiers. If you are worried about a stack of priceless letters or wilting electronics, that is well spent money. Ignore this and you run the danger of having a moldy, stench reunion with your stuff.

Clearly, money matters. Nobody wants to pay a fortune parking a few boxes. Exact comparison of rates is important. Prepayment sometimes results in cash savings. Strange offers abound, such “move in on a Monday, two weeks free.” Look for deposit gimmicks and hidden expenses; those small charges love to sneak up when you least expect them. Go through every word of that contract.

The communal areas can astound you. Some storage firms set out lifts, trolleys, and clear signposts. Others have you struggle with a half-hearted “good luck” and high stairs. A few allow the night owls all-night access. Before spending more, decide whether you desire that independence or not mind after-hours lockdowns.

Location: overused word, but it makes all the difference. Every wet season will try your tolerance if the subterranean path of your facility is a small one. Look for one close to a MTR exit or that will facilitate loading—great benefit for your back and your patience. Besides, consider city traffic. You want not to be dodging scooters while carrying a lopsided lampshade.

Word moves quickly in a local context. For the stories you won’t find in the commercials, ask your neighbors or nearby stores. Because their location was above the waterline, one person’s vintage clock avoided calamity during floods. Another reports odd disclosures and token apologies. Actual stories stick in your head.

In Lai Chi Kok, space really does count. Select a configuration that will work for your peace of mind, belongings, and budget. If you only need practicality, skip the glitz. Choose somewhere that keeps your belongings secure, easily accessible, and—perhaps just maybe—adds a small experience to guard your memories.