Forward Storage
Self-storage facility in Waterloo, Iowa
Google rating
3.9
Ratings counted
48
Are 1 or 2 star
25.0%Well above typical
The rating breakdown
12 of the 48 ratings in Google’s published star breakdown for Forward Storage are one or two star.
Worked out from 48 ratings. That is enough to publish but few enough that one more review moves it noticeably, so read it as a hint rather than a measurement.
Against other listings in Waterloo
23.9 percentage points higher than the middle of the 14 listings in Waterloo we can publish a rate for.
Google’s published star breakdown
| Rating | Distribution | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 star | 27 | 56.3% | |
| 4 star | 9 | 18.8% | |
| 3 star | 0 | 0% | |
| 2 star | 5 | 10.4% | |
| 1 star | 7 | 14.6% |
Counts as published by Google in its star breakdown, not the reviews we have read. Google also publishes a review count, which does not always match this total. Each row is rounded on its own, so the shares need not add to exactly 100%.
- 0–5%
- 7,048
- 5–10%
- 1,993
- 10–20%
- 1,265
- 20%+
- 454
The marker is Forward Storage at 25.0%. The typical mover among the 10,760 we can publish a rate for sits at 3.0%.
Every company with at least 20 ratings in Google’s published star breakdown. Rates come from those breakdowns, not from the reviews we have read.
What the complaints say
Moving goes wrong in a small number of specific ways. These are the ones reviewers describe in the low-star reviews we have read for Forward Storage, counted by matching the words they used.
- Damage to belongings3 · 33%
- Price rose after the quote1 · 11%
- Items missing or never delivered1 · 11%
Counted across the 9 one and two star reviews we have read for Forward Storage. A review can describe more than one problem, so these do not add to 100%. Each share is rounded on its own.
In their own words
We have rented this space for 3 years. Haven't seen bug problems. Fenced. We have had good luck with it. Update 04.2026 - UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP. Several instances of gate issues leaving the property unsecured. Many people had units broken into and we had a $500. bike stolen. We've received erroneous alerts that we didn't pay our bill and a lock was placed on our unit. Wasted my time calling to see why the first time.
Hi Julie, we really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with us! It's wonderful to hear that you've had a positive and secure experience over the years. We're always here to keep your storage needs met! Thank you for being with us!
Jeremy and Luis were awesome. Both of them have helped me out tremendously with my storage needs and rushed timing. (Edit 1/9/2026 - They never answer the phone or call me back from my voicemail I left them days ago about over charging me by $39, and the fact that we have seen the gate wide open with no one in sight a few times now is very alarming. Please do better as we are trusting you all with our belongings.
Thank you, Kane, for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that Jeremy and Luis provided exceptional service to meet your storage needs. Your appreciation means a lot to us!
Due to the lack of timely response from the company regarding the repair of my door, which prevented me from securing my unit, I unfortunately experienced the theft of nearly all my possessions. And by timely, I mean from middle of July to December 13th. This, combined with their reluctance to cooperate with law enforcement in their investigation, should provide you with clear insight into how they regard their paying customers.
We appreciate your feedback and take all concerns seriously. Our team has made every effort to address this issue. We're committed to ensuring the best possible service for all our customers.
A year ago, I moved all of my belongings into this storage facility. My job transferred and I was looking for a permanent home. My unit has been broken into three times and almost all of my valuable possessions are gone. Management has been …
Hi there, we sincerely regret the inconvenience you faced. We understand the importance of security, and we're deeply sorry for any distress caused. Your feedback is valuable, and we'll strive to address these issues promptly.
Not real happy been there since October of 2024. And since then I've had to fight these people to fix my door it keeps coming off the track and manager kept saying the door was fine. Well I have pictures plus he was gonna put a handle on …
Thank you for your feedback. Our team has addressed the door concerns multiple times and recommended a transfer to avoid further issues. To make things easier, we've arranged for movers to assist with the transfer at no cost.
Have been unable to open the gate using the code we have been given all summer. If we’re lucky, the gate is left wide open sometimes and we can just waltz right in. Made calls and if they answer, we still don’t get any assistance.
We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the gate access issue. The door has since been fixed, and we appreciate your patience. If you have any further concerns, feel free to reach out to us directly. Thank you!
I stored one couch in the storage it was a very expensive couch. The storage unit was so infested with mice that there was an unbearable amount of droppings and smell of urine to the point I now have to dispose of my couch.
We're sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating that must have been. We take concerns like this very seriously. During your tenancy, we did not receive any reports of rodent activity or damage in your unit.
This place has no security and units get broken into constantly. Do not rent here and if you are there now GET OUT ASAP!!!!
We regret to hear about your experience. Your safety and satisfaction are crucial to us. Please reach out directly so we can address your concerns and improve our services. Thank you for your feedback.
What satisfied customers point to
The same method, applied to the four and five star reviews. Most movers are praised for the same handful of things, so what is missing here is often as telling as what is present.
- Professional and courteous6 · 46%
- Price matched the quote1 · 8%
- Worked hard and fast1 · 8%
Counted across the 13 four and five star reviews we have read for Forward Storage. A review can mention more than one thing.
In their own words
What a great company with great representatives. Lisa was the rep i was lucky enough to speak with. She was extremely professional and helped in any way possible. Forward storage and Lisa are getting 5 stars because of the way they worked with me to keep my possessions in my possession. And thats what matters. Thanks. Highly recommended!!
Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Blake! We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience with Lisa and our team. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your recommendation!
Clean, easy access, fair pricing, and management is on top of things. Great spot for storage!
Thank you, Alec, for your wonderful feedback! We're glad you found our facility clean and accessible. We strive to maintain fair pricing and excellent management. Your support means a lot to us!
I have a storage unit at the Waterloo location in Iowa, and they have always been very helpful, easygoing, and knowledgeable. Today, I’d forgotten both codes to access said storage unit, but Lisa made my experience easy & was very friendly. She made sure I had both codes and was very polite throughout the entire process. Thanks so much Lisa!
Thank you for your wonderful review, Shyánna! We're thrilled to hear that Lisa provided you with excellent service. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your kind words about our team.
Very simple to get signed up and up and running with a storage space. Pricing is very fair and my customer service rep Luis Plata was very helpful and professional. Need more customer reps like him.
Hi there! We're so happy you found our sign-up process straightforward and the pricing reasonable. It's fantastic to hear that our team member, Luis, left such a positive impression on you. We strive for great service, and feedback like yours shows us we're on the right track.
What Google’s own summary highlights
Google surfaces topics it finds across a business’s reviews. They skew positive across every mover we hold, so treat them as a summary of what this company is praised for rather than a balanced picture.
- rent3
- polite staff3
- storage space3
- phone call2
- pricing2
- codes2
- secure storage2
- truck storage2
- door2
- lighting2
What the company says about itself
Taken from Forward Storage’s own website. These are statements the business makes, not things we have verified — we have no way to check them, and neither claim nor absence should be read as a finding.
- Advertises 24/7 availabilitysays on their website
Show the text this came from
“…you make room for what matters most. 24/7 Security Gated access, surveillance cam”Raw text captured from the page, including any surrounding navigation.
Where else this company appears
Pages elsewhere that name this business. Matched on name and location, so a listing here is a lead worth checking rather than a confirmed identity.
- yelp.comreviews
- superpages.comdirectory