Extra Space Storage

NOT SAFE PLACE! — Got items stolen
I had a small unit there for the last four years without an incident till this last March that I came back to move out and found that all the items at the front side of the room were stolen.
There were not signs of forced entry and the lock was still there. The management refused to check the security camera video arguing that they erase all after 2 months… WTF!??
Police is investigating now and preliminary hypothesis is that this is an insider job because the master key of the lock could been used. I made the mistake of purchasing the lock they sell under their own brand.
Please stay away of this place. Staff is rude, and they were very different and not helpful when the incidence happened. I will update this review as soon as police updates on the investigation.
Other issues are:
— They start with low rent fee, but they increase a lot year by year… not worth it.
— It looks somewhat safe from the outside… little bit cheap in the inside.

Five stars for the gentleman who helped me in the office (I believe his name was Graham or Grant). He spent half an hour on the phone with me trying to untangle a billing mix up (not their fault but a combination of my bank canceling my debit card to send a new chip card and mine for never updating my contact info properly) and was able to get things back to where they were! I’ve had a unit here for 5 years or so and glad to say I have no reasons to leave. Thank you for taking the time and helping out and being patient and cordial all the way through.

Quick/​easy and Graeme was the best. He is very knowledgeable and a perfect gentleman to work with.

I think this is my first review, but please know it’s trustworthy. (I have more to write soon from my engagement weekend; hope to get to those soon.)
Started at Extra Space Storage (ESS) in summer 2013 for a small unit for around $ 42/​month. Every 9 – 12 months they seem to hike their fees. I called them on the phone on it and they offered me the consolation that what i’m getting currently – a 40% increase at $ 59/​month – is still cheaper than what they offer new customers, which means nothing to me.
Most businesses would value loyalty and at worst keep the price the same or add some perks; it’s the exact opposite at ESS.
Their reason? They do assessments of property values, etc. every 9 – 12 months and things go up, so my price goes up. I love the East Bay dearly, but there’s no way West San Leandro property increases at rates of 20%/year. If so, someone should let Vicne Vaughn’s character from True Detective know and to stop wasting his time in Vinci and come up this way to make some clean real estate money.
I suppose people don’t often get storage facilities for short-​term plans, and it’s a pretty big hassle to move ones stuff to another when you’re disgruntled with rates, service, or what have you. So why would they choose to reward loyalty when it’s such an inconvenience to change? I’ll be braving the inconvenience to find somewhere else. You should avoid it ESS altogether in the first place.

Had a couple of mix ups but they made everything right! Very courteous, clean, professional, and the pricing was fair. I would recommend them!

It is very good. Just try it!!!

Great value & a helpful staff. What more do you need?

The team at Extra Space Storage was very pleasant from my phone reservation to walking through the door. They made sure that my accommodations were met, and walked me through the step by step process of how to utilize their facility. Their prices were reasonable as well, especially after researching many different storage facilities between Oakland and San Leandro.

I’ve found myself having to move a long distance away for work with not a lot of time to get my life here in the Bay Area put away so I can head down to Southern California for work. I needed to get my things in storage ASAP and found Extra Space Storage to be more than accommodating to my tight time frame. I was able to reserve a unit online with a very quick phone follow up by Jerry and an appointment to come in the next day and take look at the storage unit I had reserved. He showed me the unit the next day and also showed me a couple other units in case I found a smaller unit that might be suitable and cost effective. I was in and out with a unit to store my things for a short while in less than an hour. The only stumble so far is a platform cart with a stuck wheel that I’ve had to deal with the past few days.

We just got an upstairs unit and I have no problems so far.
I got a follow up call almost immediately after reserving from AJ one of the managers. He was also there the morning of our move in and was extremely helpful. Definitely knew his stuff. Since I haven’t really had any problems yet, I would say the only thing that was a bummer was the $ 13 for insurance a month. When you’re only getting a tiny space, that almost a 50% increase of what you were planning on paying.
I’m worried about these rent price increases as well, so I’ll check in with an update in a couple months.

All you need to know comes straight from the CEO’s mouth:
«ExtraSpace has ‘probably been the most aggressive’ major self-​storage operator when it comes to rent increases. ExtraSpace uses what you could call a ‘5−9−9−9 system’. After a customer has been with ExtraSpace for five months, his or her rent is hiked. That’s followed by rent increases at subsequent nine-​month marks. On average, about 50,000 ExtraSpace customers are hit with a 9 percent rent increase every month.» (Remarks by Spencer Kirk, Extra Space CEO, at the 2013 NAREIT investor forum as quoted in The Storage Facilitator post, June 20, 2013.)
Conveniently no one mentioned that insurance is required to rent there or that they will increase the rent with 30 days notice at 6 months and then every 9 months after that supposedly based on market rates, vacancies, etc. However, the district manager said he’s never seen a rate decrease so really that’s all bs and they just want to extract more and more money out of you. My first increase was 17%. Needless to say I’ll be looking for a new facility soon. Neither the facility manager or the district manager could do anything other than offer a 2 month credit for the difference in the price change. ESS is a Utah based real estate investment trust with zero customer service concerns at the corporate level.
The facility itself seems clean and nice enough The local staff did request a rate change, but was denied by corporate. My complaint on the main website was responded to the same day by the district manager and he explained all their policies clearly and was pleasant to deal with, but it’s a conversation that should have happened 5 months ago when I moved in, not now when I’m already there.
If you’re just going to use the space short term they may be okay, but if you are looking for a longer term rental, look elsewhere!

DON“T DO IT!
Pros: Easy to get in and out of… even for the creepy guy in the unmarked, white van with no windows, that just follows in random people to store his child remnants.
Cons (which they are): Continuing nuisance rent increases. If this is how they treat loyal customers they no longer need my business. After checking with other rental companies in the area the going rate for my unit was much less.
Oh, don’t use their online system to vacate. You’ll be paying the full amount for the month, no matter when you move out. They won’t return any money to you because you’ve already prepaid. Of course they state it’s in the contract, but what they don’t tell you and in the fine print (which the human eye can’t detect, is that they want your first born and when you die they own your organs and mineral rights to any land you may have available.
Just as another past patron noted before:
*****THEY HAVE A VERY POOR BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF MAYBE FOR THE FIRST 2 – 3 MONTHS. AFTER THAT, FORGET ABOUT THEM, THEY WANT YOUR MONEY AND WILL SAY ANYTHING TO KEEP YOU PAYING HIGH RATES.
Don’t make the mistake many others have– find a local place and read the reviews. Don’t be fooled by these people just because they sound «nice».

Wow. I am surprised to see 3 stars. I encountered nothing but nice and courteous staff who really wanted to help me get settled. Ernest showed me the unit and was extremely polite. He carried my moving boxes out to the car and gave me a discount due to some errors on my account. What a nice way to start my move!

I just started renting from this storage facility. Pricing seems to be one of the best around the Bay Area, and I certainly enjoy my first month free with online reservation! Reservation and move in worked out well. Was so glad they have a fork lift there to move my palettes close to the elevator. Staff was super nice in person as well as on the phone whenever I called with a question. Would definitely recommend this place.

THE PREDATORY LENDERS OF THE STORAGE INDUSTRY, I found out sadly.
PROS: clean, and well-​lit.
NEGATIVES: They raise your rent twice a year, so after 1 year my rate went from $ 179 to $ 220, which is a WHOPPING 23% raise.
They have this guy running the place who using his calm voice only to overcharge you and try to make you believe that other storage companies raise rates like that, saying it is an industry standard. He got me to pay for another month by waiting for a supposed rate increase appeal, which of course was rejected. They make their money by having people move in and out quickly it seems. NOT a good way to have any loyal customers beyond GANGBANGERS storing contraband temporarily.
THEY HAVE A VERY POOR BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF MAYBE FOR 2 – 3 MONTHS. AFTER THAT, FORGET ABOUT THEM, THEY WANT YOUR MONEY AND WILL SAY ANYTHING TO KEEP YOU PAYING HIGH RATES.
Don’t make the mistake I did– find a local place and read the reviews. Don’t be fooled by these people just because they sound «nice».

Beware: That seemingly low rate they give you is only good for six months. Also keep in mind that their building interiors are mostly plywood, particle board, 2x4s and sheetrock and there is no fire suppression system, fire or smoke detection or fire alarms installed. If a fire breaks out, a hand held fire extinguisher is their only defense (if someone is there to use it).

The staff is very helpful and nice. While there are no guarantees, the facility appears safe and well kept. However, after just ~6 months, I got a 10% rent increase without prior notice and it appears from a previous review that I should be expecting another in a few more months. When I contact the local office to ask about the increase, they could give little information. If the next rent increase is similar in size, I may have to start looking around for an alternative.

The complex is clean and well lit. There are security cameras in place so that it appears that your items are secure against theft or you should at least be comforted that any thieves would be caught. The staff on the other hand is awful. One manager named Carol was notified of the passing of a family member and when I went to close out his account, she avoided my calls and then tried to charge me for an additional month when she prevented me from moving the items before the next billing cycle. Her replacement is just as bad. I told her that water was leaking from the roof into the building and she told me that she does not work on Sundays and would not do anything about it until Monday even though there was a big puddle in the middle of the hall. You can see this on youtube. The videos are under

clean and dry. open late. professional staff. cheapest around. what more could u ask?!

I previously reviewed this storage rental, and now that I’ve closed out, am giving it a second rec. The staff were wonderful and the space was clean, well-​lighted, easy to navigate. They did raise the rates slightly twice during the 15 months I was there, and if you already have renters’ or homeowners’ insurance you may not need the insurance they want to add on – it’s optional but they push it. But still, as self-​storage goes, it’s a good one.