The bigger, the better is a commonly held notion on our planet. It seems that we are each on a quest to satiate lifes hunger for more. In an attempt to satisfy this need, things are bought and collections are acquired. Boats, bikes and cars are bought. Huge, walking, talking, spinning, robotic toys are purchased for our kids, who seem to understand from an early age that getting a big, shiny, new toy is better than playing with one that they already have. Yes, having stuff is great, until it falls onto your head from an overcrowded closet shelf. Being able to buy stuff is amazing, until the day comes when you stand in awe at the mass of objects that you have accumulated and say, No More! But what do you do with it all? Where will box after box of stuffed animals, dinner plates, Christmas ornaments and that unused stationary bike go?

It is then that a new quest has begun. This is the quest for self storage units to hold all of your clutter and overflow. Before you find yourself falling into that old pattern of bigger is better, as you go out to rent some self storage units that are as big as your garage and then some, do a little homework to determine what size you really need. In the storing business, size does matter, but bigger is not always better.

There are many sizes available for self storage units . If you have a relatively small amount of stuff to store, 25 sq. ft., or about the size of a hall closet, should suffice. This space will hold small pieces of furniture, such as a chest of drawers or TV stand, a twin size mattress and box spring, and several boxes. It might even hold that unused fish aquarium that has been collecting dust for a year and a half.

If you have a bit more stuff to store, you might choose a 50 sq. ft. space, which is roughly the size of a standard walk in closet. With some organization, these self storage units can hold the contents of a small one bedroom apartment.

You need to go bigger? No problem. Self storage units come in sizes varied enough to meet all of your space saving requirements. Perhaps a 75 sq. ft. space would be more effective. This area is roughly the size of a large walk in closet, like the one in the house that you wish now that you had purchased so you would be able to hold all of your seasonal clothing. These self storage units hold the contents of a standard one bedroom apartment, perhaps a motorcycle or the hockey sticks and goalie net that surely your sons used more than twice.

Still not enough room for all of your things? Then step up to a 100sq.ft. unit, and you will have a space as big as an average sized bedroom to catch and store all of the things you do not want to trip over anymore. This unit will actually hold the contents of a one or two bedroom apartment, including appliances and several miscellaneous boxes.

If you are needing to store a vehicle, such as a car or small boat, some dune buggies, or the contents of a two to three bedroom apartment, you might want to opt for a 150 sq. ft. unit. There should be plenty of room in there, as well, to hold your massive collection of rock albums.

Still not enough room? No worries. If you are packing up an entire 3 or 4 bedroom house worth of contents, there are units to fit your need. Imagine a space as large as a single car garage, approximately 200 to 250 sq. ft. There is plenty of room for stacking, arranging, and even making a path through there for easy access to the old claw foot bathtub that you got from your mother that you swore you would turn into a beautiful garden planter one day.

If you need more room than that, bigger is absolutely better. There are some self storage units that span 300 sq. ft. This space holds the contents of an entire three to four bedroom house, and is as big as one of those extra long garages, like the one in that other house with the big walk in closet that you wish now that you would have bought.

With all of these size options, does not it make it much easier to get out there and clean your garage?

Bogart Car Storage

Storing watercraft can be a valuable convenience for those people who are able to afford it. Some people can store their watercraft at their home or in their garage, but some boats are just too big or people just do not have the room. Some homeowners associations do not allow boats, trailers, car repair, campers, and such to be parked in the driveway or yard. These people will definitely need boat storage for their watercraft.

You might think that states like South Carolina, Florida, California, Texas, Maine and other coastal states would be the only ones that offered boat storage . But you will find that many inland states like Missouri, Michigan, Colorado, and Utah also have a need for places to store their watercraft. Watercraft storing is usually located near or close to a body of water. That body of water may be an ocean, a lake, a river, or other waterway that can handle a boat.

Another item that is becoming popular to store at a place that offers boat storage is personal watercraft. Personal watercraft is usually a one or two person craft that is ridden on top of the waves. The handles of this vehicle look like motorcycles handle bars and you sit when riding it on the water. Why is personal watercraft so popular? They do not cost as much as regular sized boats and they take a lot less gas. They still get you out on the water and enjoying the sunshine and the breeze blowing through your hair. Personal watercraft can also be hauled or towed around without much effort and they are easy to store.

Storing boats take more work than you think and many places that offer to store boats can charge a high rental fee. The areas can either be wet or dry docked and typically the dry dock areas will cost more then the wet areas. Your boat will last longer if you are able to take it out of the water when you are not using it. Taking it out of the water allows the hull to dry and the motor to be flushed and cleaned. There is also a pump in most boats called a bilge pump that pumps water and fluids out of the bottom cavity of the vessel. This pump is important and helps to stabilize your boat. Storing your boat out of the water also allows you to check the bottom of the boat for any mussels, or damage that could have occurred while in the water. Some states have strict laws on the removal of bi-valves from your boat to prevent the spread of unwanted and sometimes invasive pests. It is recommended that you spray the outside of your boat with warm soapy water, like you can find at a do-it-yourself carwash. This can help eliminate the spread of many water creatures that might attach to your boat.

Boat storage is available out there in many forms. Check the Internet or your local yellow pages to see if someone near you has areas to store your watercraft. Some homes located on the water offer boat storage along with your home or condo purchase as an added benefit. If you are into the boating lifestyle you should check into this type of living situation. You will have a beautiful view and be close to your favorite hobby.

Athens Storage

There comes a time in a parents life in which the kids have moved out and you want a place that you and your spouse can start the next chapter of your life. It is a sad day for you and your family but you know it is for the better. Who is to say that the next house will not bring you new memories to add to what you have had in your past thus far?

No one enjoys the idea of packing up their belongings and trying to find a way to pack everything into a moving van or multiple vehicles. You also have to decide whether or not the new place will have enough room for all of your items to fit. Remember you are condensing the size of your home down in order for it to just be you and your spouse. Do you need three couches and as many chairs around your dining room table now?

People rack their brain wondering if they would like to keep their items longer in their possession or attempt go give or sell them away because they do not have the space. Everyone is different in their thinking. For some people it is easier to use furniture storage to place their bigger items into.

Furniture storage is just like most of the other types of storing. Depending on the type of items you were storing and how valuable they were, you would want to ensure that space is temperature controlled. You do not want to store them in the same environment as a garage if you are worrying about their long term condition. Some places actually do a great job controlling the humidity within the units so your items do not become warped from condensation.

With furniture storage , you have to ensure that you pick the correct facility that will take good care of your items. Some places have great security that will ensure that your belongings are protected. Some places have door alarms on top of their security gate, because they want you to know if someone is breaking into your space. That is a great feature to have especially when you are concerned about how expensive your items are. You invested money into your items and you want to make sure that they will not be harmed.

When you are going around looking for a good furniture storage establishment, take the time to do some research and find the best fit for what you are looking for. There are many facilities that offer furniture storage . In your area, it is certain that many offer great specials to grab your attention to get your business. Be careful and ask many questions. You do not want to be locked into a long contract when you only need to have the space for a couple of months.

Moving sometimes is extremely hard and difficult. Who wants to take the time to pack up all of their belongings that have their own special places within your home? It is especially hard to determine which large pieces you can do without and if you want to put them into a storing facility. If it is not worth your monthly contribution, then you should find someone to take them off our hands.

Pompano Beach Furniture Storage

It is road trip time! Some teenagers cringe when they hear that phrase coming from their parents. No one wants to be stuck in a vehicle for a long time with their parents especially when their parents are not cool. Many families cope with the idea of being with each other for hours at a time by having a couple of different forms of entertainment while traveling. Some families have an awesome method of transportation to get them from home to their destination spot.

After convincing the kids that this will be coolest family outing they have ever been on you have to get them to pack. You pack food, clothes and do not forget the sun block for when you are on the beach. You start loading your home on wheels and as you look around at your road ship, and you are very content about the road trip you are about to take your family on. Everyone files into the vehicle of entertainment and you go to start the engine. It does not turn. You have a look of bewilderment as you try to struggle to get the engine to turn over to get you and your family on the road. You then realize that maybe the harsh winter season took its toll on vehicle. You investment of thousands of dollars is now without an engine. You sigh and realize you should have used RV storage .

RV storage gives you a way store your recreational vehicle during times of non-use. You can have your vehicle protected against the elements that can cause major harm to it. There are many different facilities that have this type of service available for you to use. You just have to pick the right one for your needs.

When you are looking to store, you have to understand that you are looking for a place that can house your large vehicle. So you do not want to have a place that does not have wide aisles for you to drive your vehicle down or an opening in their gate large enough for it pass through. Depending on the area in which you live, you have to determine whether or not you want to store your vehicle with outside parking or inside storing.

With outside RV storage , your vehicle is still susceptible to the elements. There are some places in the nation in which there are no extreme weather changes and it might be ok to store your vehicle outside. Make you sure you have it completely secure and take anything out of it that has any value.

With inside RV storage , you have to find a place that has huge spaces. You are looking at a space that should accommodate the full size of your recreational vehicle. Most places recommend you rent a 15x50 space or larger. Once again, the actual size depends on how big your vehicle is. There are some places who even entertain the idea of having a condominium for your vehicle. If you are going to store for a long time and it is worth the price for you to so, that might be a viable option.

As you can see, there are many different methods to RV storage . There is outside, inside, and permanent condominium storing for your recreational vehicle. Make sure you have your license and registration handy no matter where you store. They will be looking for that.

Miramar Storage

The phrase wine storage conjures up many different images to many different people. Some people like to simply keep a few bottles on hand for a special occasion or in case company unexpectedly drops by. Others like to have a glass or two every night with dinner or to wind down after a hard day at the office. Still other folks enjoy concocting their own wine, experimenting with different fruits and methods. And then there are always investors that purchase this nectar of the gods in bulk in hopes of a large return on their money in the future. Whatever the reason or the quantity, people need some place to put their wine.

A little thought and some care needs to be put into taking care of wine. Laying a few attractive bottles on the kitchen counter in a cute display rack or placing a couple of favorite bottles in the family refrigerator will be fine for a short while. But eventually the counter space is needed and the milk jug will usually take precedence in the fridge. Many newer homes come with built in cabinet space or a small beverage refrigerator specifically intended for adult and children drinks alike. Another option is to do some minor remodeling on an existing kitchen. An example of an easy Do It Yourself project is to remove an old appliance like a trash compactor from the 1970s and replace it with a more stylish wine rack from the twenty-first century.

The box has become a popular replacement for the traditional bottle over the last several years. This container usually holds about four bottles of wine, and has an easy to pour spout. This allows the connoisseur to drink the beverage at their own pace, without the hassles of the traditional cork. And it alleviates the age old problem of whether to finish the entire bottle in one sitting or hoping it will still taste okay the next time wine is being served. The box will keep the beverage fresh and tasty for up to six weeks, unlike an uncorked bottle.

Vintners usually have a designated area set aside for their wine storage . Oftentimes wine making begins as a simple hobby, but grows into an actual business. Obviously the accommodations must grow along with the size of the hobby.

Another sector of people that needs wine storage is the investors. They often purchase their investment in bulk and stow it away for several years. This is because a young wine is far less expensive, and it becomes more valuable as it ages. Many collectors allow the wine to rest for several years, then sell half of the collection and drink the other half. The problem of course is where to put the wine during this process.

It is usually difficult to find a house with a ready made wine cellar, and building one into an existing home can be cost prohibitive or even unrealistic. This is why many offsite facilities now have the capability of wine storage . These locations utilize state of the art technology. The temperature and humidity are controlled very carefully, and the security is top notched. Professionals are on hand that have had specific training and are experts when it comes to wine. The convenience, service, and security are of the utmost importance.

Proper wine storage is always important. It makes no difference as to the reason for the need!

Miami Storage

Storing a vehicle can be the best thing you ever did for your sanity. Many a relationship has had words about his classic car or the anniversary car gift that she cannot get rid of. Storing your car can sometimes cause less stress on a relationship. So, depending on what your situation is you might be in the market for car storage . Car storage is usually something that the rental facility has as an added feature to their regular rentals. If the original property was not laid out for parking then many site managers will re-evaluate their property to accommodate parking for vehicles. This is added revenue for many rental sites as it is literally renting unused space, unlike the rental units that are expected to have a certain intake of rent.

Besides storing vehicles, many sites also will have rental parking spaces for recreational vehicles. Many states that have a cooler climate will have a larger demand for this type of parking because travel tends to slow down in the cooler and colder months. Many sites will charge customers by the foot since many recreational vehicles do not come in standard sizes. For a little bit more money, you can rent a covered parking area for your recreational vehicle. This provides more protection from the elements and many owners will purchase a large cover for the RV so that extra protection is gained.

Car storage can be short term or long term depending on the needs of the individual car owner.

Long-term reasons:
Leaving the country
Moving to the city
Being deployed in the military
Restoring an older vehicle
Estate of person in probate
Driving the company car
Homeowners association rules
Seasonal weather

Short-term reasons:
Remodeling home
Extended vacation
Waiting for teenager to get license
Waiting to sell a car

Many people out there like to collect cars and then find themselves out of room to store them in. Most houses will only have a two-car garage at best and some homes do not have garages. Of course if you are able to spend a little money, you can extend your current garage or build another garage close to your residence. Some big time collectors have large warehouses to store their precious vehicles in. These types of rental areas provide protection from the elements and added security.

Space equals money so if your facility can utilize all the space on your property, then you will be gaining the most revenue from your space. Car storage is great to offer your customers because it does not take much upkeep at all to maintain. Making sure the parking areas area clearly marked and the driveway is clean and hole free is about it for maintenance.

Are you someone that is looking for car storage now or in the future? The same important factors apply when looking to store your vehicle as looking for a rental unit. You want to make sure the facility is convenient and looks clean and secure from the outside. Ask the manager of the site to give you a tour and have them point out some of the features and benefits of the property. This will help you make your decision on where you will want to store your car. Doing a little shopping around can save you a some money, but convenience is usually the most important factor in this type of decision.

Miami RV Storage

All across the country, storage is being constructed more today than any other period in history. These facilities are constructed with various materials in different shapes and sizes, although small metal buildings are the most common. A quick look at a design of a metal building explains why.

A typical metal storage building has four factors that make it a common choice for this type of application. First are the soft costs of the project. Because metal buildings are pre-engineered the design time is cut drastically. Basically, the plans are complete from the start of the project. The engineer has to make certain modifications to the plan for the specific site. Having plans like these allow engineers to sell their plans multiple times to turn the profit so the cost is split up.

The second factor is location. Metal buildings for this application are smaller and lighter. This allows for metal buildings to be erected in locations that typically are less desirable to other forms of business. Less desirable land is cheaper and allows for fewer ordinances for the governing councils.

The third factor is the foundation, this typically consists of nothing more than a concrete slab on grade. This helps create less preparation time for the site or development in turn it costs less and has less of an impact on the environment. How is this better for the environment? First, the site needs to be graded to a particular elevation. Then utilities are brought onto the site and forms for the concrete are erected. Sounds like your typical building project dirty, loud and ugly. This is true, but when you have to do less of this type of work you do not have to worry as much about sediment runoff and pollution released from heavy machines as well as noise. Some larger facilities will have concrete footings or piers under the slab in lieu of concrete slabs on grade.

The fourth factor is the framing. This typically consists of structural metal studs. Some larger facilities have structural girt in lieu of structural metal studs. When the design is finalized a shop can pre-fabricate the walls and ship them the site for erection. Using pre-fabricated metal panels can cost more than just erecting the studs on site, but this allows for quicker erection times that save labor costs. This also allows less experienced contractors to be utilized instead of more experienced contractors. More experienced contractors typically demand higher wages, but can deliver the buildings faster and closer to budget. After the erections of the storage walls are completed the roof is ready to be constructed. Metal building can have multiple pitches or single sloped roofs. Single sloped roofs use less material, but have lower degree of slope for water drainage. A mono-pitch roof uses purlins to form the slope as well as framing to attach the metal roof.  The metal roof is typically a standing seam roof that is powder coated with the customers desired colors. At the same time the metal roof panel is being installed the walls are lined with a mini-rib metal panel for the interior. The storage exterior is lined with R-panel.

Hopefully this look into the construction of storage can help you understand some of the basics. Stop by your local site for a tour, there is more to it than you think.

Miami Car Storage

No matter where you look, you can find affordable self storage anywhere. You can find facilities in your area, by searching on the Internet, in the newspaper, or through word of mouth. When you look for a storing facility, you can find a lot of great offers and some great looking facilities. You have to be sure you are getting what you are bargaining for.

When you are researching on-line, you can go to many different places. You can go to many different search engines to get the biggest searches for affordable self storage . Most websites you visit will send you directly to an actually facility. When you are searching for that best facility, most of the time, you will need to search by your zip code or state. This will allow you to see all the different facilities that are in your area. The Internet is very biased when it comes to searches. When trying to find storing facilities through search engines, you will always get the website that has been hit the most. Of course, most facilities use all kinds of advertising to get their name out there and first on many search engines.

When it comes to best bang for you buck, you have to determine what you can live with or without. Most facilities will offer you a lot of different amenities for your dollar, but you have to realize those great amenities are what drive the cost up. Whether it is their climate controlled gates or their millions of cameras looking for those dastardly characters lurking around to confiscate your items, you have to understand what you are paying for. When it comes to needing affordable self storage , you have to ask yourself, if you care if your items are located within the walls of Fort Knox, or can they be stored at this facility down the street? When you are scouring around looking for somewhere to store, the facilities that you do not see fenced in are still great facilities, just without all the bells and whistles.

Now, by saying this you might be thinking that you are making your items susceptible to theft and robbery. Well you will always take that chance. Even in the facilities that have a gate, if the person is sneaky enough they can drive right in behind you, wait until you leave and then break into your space. There is nothing out there, in terms of security that can keep every single person who is willing to break the law out of that facility. With most affordable self storage , you have to invest in a better lock that is better enabled to withstand most lock cutters. You can also make sure where you are storing your belongings is in a particular nice neighborhood that does not have a high theft rate.

The long and the short of it is this. You can find affordable self storage anywhere. What you had to do is do some hunting and looking around. You can find places that offer great specials and your monthly costs will be low for high security. On the other hand, you can find great low cost facilities that might not have all the great amenities, but will save you a dollar or two. It is a tough decision that you have to make.

Big Coppitt Key Storage

If you take a drive around the downtown areas of most major cities, you most likely will see cars parked in the backyard or in the driveways that do not function. These are cars that once were able to transport their owners from point A to point B without any troubles. Now they are a former shell of what they used to be. Back in their glory, those cars used to have their owners flaunt them around to show their rides off to their friends, attempting to gain status in their circles. Now they are just collecting dust, rodents and rust.

Why do people just leave their cars to die like that? Most people cannot afford to have their car towed to a place to get rid of it or place it somewhere for the time being. Maybe most people can afford it, they just do not want to put more time and money into that car. Maybe if they invested more time and money into the care when it was running, they would not have to worry about it taking up space on their property.

Not everyone with cars sitting on the property, have it sitting there because they want to get rid of it. Some people have hobbies trying to restore older vehicles. They put their extra time and money into these seasoned beasts to one day restore them to their old glory. Most people who restore these classic vehicles place them in their garages for safekeeping until they can work on them. Not everyone has the option of  having a garage or having enough space in their garage. That is why some people turn to Automobile Storage to keep their priceless treasure safe until they can get it up and running.

Of course, there are other reasons to use Automobile Storage than just what you have heard above. For those people in armed services that do not wish to have their car broken into or stolen, they place it in Automobile Storage . They can then rely on the facilities great security and other amenities to keep their property safe. They would not want to return from war and see that their car has been vandalized.

When it comes to Automobile Storage , you do not just pay your monthly bill and put your car into the space. Most facilities have criteria that you must meet in order to store your vehicle in their building. Some facilities ask that the vehicle be in full working order and is not filled with gas when you store it. This prevents people from storing their vehicle that is not worth a penny and leaving it there for the property manager to deal with. Some facilities say that you have to park it in a parking space designated for Automobile Storage . Do not worry though. Most facilities have a gate in which anyone attempting to steal your vehicle would have to get through in order to take it from the property. So, before you are ready to store your vehicle, make sure that you completely understand what is required of you.

As you see, you have an option to put your vehicle somewhere other than your driveway or garage. You can now use those spaces for you own personal uses and put your vehicle into a rental facility.

Key West Storage

There are rental facilities everywhere it seems. Some people wonder where they find self storage . If you walk out of the door, get into your car and drive a couple of miles in any of the four directions, you are bound to run right into one. There are facilities everywhere. When you are driving down the highway next time, look to your left and to your right and you will see many facilities lined up in prime view.

Why are you trying to find self storage ? Most people use this service when they are attempting to make their homes less cluttered. They want to give their homes the appearance of being open and free. Some people just need a place to park their vehicle for the winter. There are many reasons to need this service. You just have to determine your need for the service.

You can use the vast Internet for your guide to find self storage . No matter what search engine you use, you will find over 10 million hits with some reference to the rental industry. With it being one of the fastest growing businesses in America right now, it makes sense that there are that many website links to it. Make it a point during your search, that you identify if the location is convenient to you, so that it would not cause a major detour in your day to get there. When trying to find self storage , there are some things you might want to consider.

One thing that most people think about first is the price. While price is very important, is that all that you care about? Hopefully, the answer is no. Now, do not get this message wrong or confused. The price is important to the final decision, but you need to find out what you are getting for the price, which leads us to the next point. Are you seeing the value in where you are storing? When seeking out rental facilities, it is good to know what you are paying for. As we all know, there is a rental facility once every five to ten miles in one direction. What makes one facility better than the one down the street? That is up for you to ask.

Does that facility have any hidden fees that they decide to spring up on you at the last minute? Who wants to pay for you to be entered into the system or to do your paperwork? You have to believe that you are making a good decision based off what you are hearing the associate tell you. It is good to do research online, but actually talking to a person can give you so much more at times.

Why are you trying to find self storage ? Make sure your reason is valid. Stop to think about it. Do not call around looking for free when you know you will have to pay something to store your belongings there. Do not go into it expecting a certain amount of money only to be disappointed. Keep an open mind and realize the value in what you are paying for. Do not put your belongings in facility in which you feel uncomfortable. You are storing things for a reason. If you did not care what happened to them, why are you wasting money on storing them?

Dania Beach Storage

Customers sign a lengthy lease whenever they rent a new self storage space. It is usually long and full of legalese that the facility manager will go over with them, step by step. But many facility managers also give new tenants an easy to read cheat sheet that contains some important suggestions and answers many frequently asked questions about this particular self storage site and its policies. And, most importantly, this reference sheet is written in the terms of a layman, so non lawyers can understand what it says!

With just a quick glance at the reference sheet the customer will be able to see the exact address and telephone number of their new self storage site. Their unit number and any gate codes or access codes that they will need are also listed in bold letters. This is important information for the new renter to give to a professional moving company or family and friends that are going to be helping. This information will also be needed in later months when the tenant needs to pay his bill, or if he has a question for the facility manager.

The office hours as well as the hours that the tenant can access his unit appear on this reference sheet. Oftentimes the cheat sheet will stress that management lives on the property for security reasons ONLY, and they are NOT to be disturbed outside of the regular office hours. Holiday hours for both the office and unit accessibility are also outlined.

The cheat sheet will tell the new tenant the exact amount of rental money that is due, and on what date it is due every month. It lets the renter know the different ways in which a payment can be made, whether in person, or via snail mail, or over the telephone, etc. It will often give details as to where a drop box is located or how they can use a kiosk machine to make a payment after office hours. Automatic billing or paying online at the website of the self storage site have both become very popular payment options over the years, since both of these options are easier and less stressful for the customer and the facility manager. 

And the cheat sheet reminds the customer of the different types of payment that are accepted for rent such as cash, check, money order, credit or debit card. It also explains how a fee for insufficient funds, plus a late fee, will be added to an account if a check used for payment happens to bounce.

The reference sheet also has other pertinent information. It goes over many of the basic rules of the facility. This includes things like the speed limit in the area and the policy for parking cars or storing containers overnight. It will advise the customer not to simply follow another car through the access controlled gate if they happen to forget their own PIN number. Piggy backing into the area will usually result in the tenant being stuck behind the gate when it is time to leave.

The cheat sheet will explain to the customer how to go about using the free dollies and carts that are provided, as well as the stipulations for using the dumpster. How to go about changing an address or a telephone number or an email address is also covered. And it will emphasize how live animals, toxic materials, and odor producing items are never permitted in a self storage space.  

The lease agreement is the legal document that all rental customers need to peruse, but a reference sheet can be a quick an easy guide for a self storage tenant.

Basalt Storage

Storage Concierge is your premier Storage , Storage Unit , Car Storage , RV Storage , Furniture Storage , Boat Storage , Yacht Storage and Self Storage finder .

August 2005 Property Management Blog Archive

When in search for self storage it is important that if it is need it in the near future it should be reserved or rented as soon as possible. Currently, renting is in its busy season that began in early March and it is very unlikely during this time that facilities will have units available. There are many reasons why self storage is so limited right now. The number one reason is because the climate is getting warmer in the United States regardless of the state one is located. Thinking about it, it seems if during the warmer months people tend to do a lot of necessary spring cleaning. This includes redecorating, un-cluttering and reorganizing from the cold and winter months. The prevalence of garage sales also increase which may also lead to an increase in the unavailability of rental facilities. Another factor that may play a large role this year in the unavailability of self storage is the current economic situation. It is evident that foreclosure is a major problem in 2008 in the United States. Many citizens are unable to pay their mortgages and the interest rates have increased significantly. What situation does that put homeowners in? Many choose to either attempt to sell their homes within the housing market that is also difficult goal to accomplish or move and let their homes be foreclosed and move into something they could rent out rather than own. Many are moving into apartments and rented homes that are smaller and are more affordable. By moving into a smaller space, excess furniture and items will need to be either stored in a self storage unit or in another safe place. The increase in gas prices may also be another factor in the reason why facilities are practically rented out. Gas is almost at 4 dollars per gallon all over the United States and many people have turned to public transportation in order to save money. It costs almost 50 dollare to fill up a small car today.

When rental areas are so limited it is essential that one rents in early March. After about Mid-May one would be lucky to find a unit anywhere. How does one go about reserving a unit? Most facilities take pre-payment of anywhere between 10 and 25 dollars. This pre-payment is likely to be applied to the total balance once one comes into the office. Other facilities may require a credit or debit card called a non prepayment hold. This is like a hotel reservation in which the card does not get charged, but it holds the unit for an extended amount of time. By reserving a unit in advanced the customer has a unit guaranteed for them, and whatever special that may have been quoted to them guaranteed. After reserving the unit, the customer would need to go into the office with picture identification on the date that was agreed upon. The unit will be guaranteed and the customer will be able to get a unit without any worries. Without reserving a unit the customer is faced with the chance of not getting a self storage unit or being put on a long waiting list.

In the summer months climate controlled units typically fill up the fastest. Most people store electronics, computer parts, leather furniture and antiques in climate controlled units. These units are popular in states like Arizona, Texas, and other southern states where the temperature is significantly warmer in the summer months.

Oakland Storage

Storage Concierge is your premier Storage , Storage Unit , Car Storage , RV Storage , Furniture Storage , Boat Storage , Yacht Storage and Self Storage finder .

August 2005 Secret Shopping Blog Archive

Everything is bigger in Texas. That is what the saying is in the south. Well getting a rental space in Texas is very easy to do and not a big hassle. There are facilities in plenty in the lone star state. Texas is also the state with the largest rental organization in the country. This Texas Self Storage organization, has more than 3000 facilities under its banner. That number is unmatched by any other association in the country. With over 51k facilities in the country, Texas has 1 out of every 17 facilities located within its borders. If you take a moment to think about it, that is impressive. Texas has the second largest land area in the country over California by almost 100,000 square miles. California has more people located within its borders than Texas by over 13 million people. You would think that California would have more facilities.

Who are all these Texas Self Storage groups? They provides a great opportunity for property owners to share best practices, and improve on their own businesses. Their entire mission is to improve leadership, give opportunities to grow in your own business and to promote the code of ethics.

Why would someone want to join a Texas Self Storage group? There are many benefits of membership to an association for the property owners. One of the benefits includes a reference manual with details on state and federal statutes that speak about renting spaces in Texas, as well as,  step by step produces on foreclosures and evictions.

Other benefits include standardized forms so no one company has to try to create a form on their own. Texas Self Storage organizations allow property owners to save his or her company thousands of dollars in fees because they check and double check to ensure the rules are being followed. They review state and federal property ownership and rental contracts so that no one in the association is sued. Also, members have the pleasure of receiving a newsletter that gives you updates in the rental world and helpful tips on how to grow your business.

There seem to be many more benefits than what was listed above, so how do you join? You can look online for an application. Make sure that it clearly details the dues needed to join and how everything works. You have to make the decision whether or not this venture would benefit you and your company. It seems that over 3000 other property owners believed that joining the association was a good idea. You could also talk to fellow property owners and ask if they are members of any association and if they find it beneficial.

Some of the Texas Self Storage groups and organizations have been around for over twenty years now helping out the industry and trying to improve it. It looks like they bring a lot to the table in terms of training and organization of important federal and state documents. They do not look for any one company to fail and give you many tools to be successful. Some groups also have memberships for those companies that assist the industry and supply products and services to the facilities. By being the largest storing industry in the country with as many members as it has, it seems like everything really is bigger in Texas.

Oakland Boat Storage

Storage Concierge is your premier Storage , Storage Unit , Car Storage , RV Storage , Furniture Storage , Boat Storage , Yacht Storage and Self Storage finder.

October 2005 Self Storage Blog Archive

Self storage is a service that many people use on a day-to-day basis. It is a convenient way to store your belongings in a location other than your house to save space. Some people use it in order to store their companys documents because office space is expensive and can be used for something other than storing boxes. So is it better to find and a storing facility for that reason. But what all goes into renting a space?

If you take the time go search for self storage in your area, you will be surprised at the number of available companies that provide this service. It is a fast and growing business that people are taking an interest in, but it is highly competitive. One search revealed more than thirty three facilities within a ten-mile radius. That zip code searched, only showed a population of 25,000 within that same ten-mile radius. If you take a second to think about that number, you will find three facilities within one mile in each direction you go. That is crazy. In another area that was searched, the city had over 2 million people within this city and its outer limits came up with a 330-facility results. That is a ridiculous amount of facilities in that area.

With the outrageous number of self storage places out there, where do you choose to put your belongings? That part is up to you as a customer. Many people have different needs and reasons for needing somewhere to place their belongings. Someone might need the service because they are doing a remodel that involved clearing that room or rooms out. Not everyone has a garage or a portion of the house to put those belongings. That is why they turn to your company for help. Some people are looking for price or a convenient location. For this person only needing this service because of a remodel, they might need a cheap price (so they can put most of their costs to the remodel) and a convenient location (so they can quickly go and access their belongings). There are plenty of people out there who look beyond the typical lowering price points out there. Some people are looking for a value.

With so much competition out there in self storage, the owners have to be smart and innovative in order to keep their facilities full. When people are thinking about where to put their belongings, all owners would like to the customer to think about their facility. Most companies tell you about their great security and how they have 10 or more security cameras and their security access gate in order to show you the value of where you are trying to store. In addition, this is a great way to show you how secure your belongings would be. Some companies have a one-dollar move in special to where they only charge the customer a buck for the first month and then the regular price their after. There are companies out there that spend thousands in advertising trying to through out there what they can do for you as a customer. It is definitely not easy to decide where you want to put your belongings.

There are people out there who have great experience in deciding where to put their belongings. In self storage, you have to first realize your needs for the store room and then find a facility that is accommodating to those needs. You should not just look at pricing for your final answer. Is the place convenient to where you need it to be, can you just stop by quickly on your way back from work? Are your belongings safe and secure at the facility? Do you feel the people that run the facility are helpful and will be there if you need their help?  These are all questions that you need to pose to yourself when you are deciding where to put your belongings in self storage.

Property Management

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December 2005 Secret Shopping Blog Archive

Yacht Storage

Self Storage Article Directory - Self Storage Advertising and Marketing

Ring, ring, ring. There is that phone ringing again. Someone is calling your facility because they need your help in deciding where to put their belongings. You reach for the phone, but you must realize that them wanting to rent from you is a huge task to take on. You could be the difference between them renting at your self storage place or the one down the street. Well, here you go. Pick up the phone. You are now on stage.

It must be nerve racking to know that your presentation could actually mean the difference between a rental or not. Wow, the pressure. Of course, you are well trained, the pressure cannot shake a confident self storage specialist. Unfortunately, for some that is not true. For other, those seasoned veterans, selling someone one renting with them is no big deal. So what do you do in order to get the caller to come down and rent from you? There are many different techniques out there.

When the phone rings and you are on stage, what is the first thing that you say? Usually, with a warm smile, thank the caller for calling your facility. That is the easy part. Anyone can memorize where they work. What is said after the greeting is important. So you thank the caller for calling you and asking the caller how you can help them, then what? One great thing that some self storage managers do is that they ask for the name of the caller after the caller states their request. By asking for their name, you are trying to build that friendly relationship with the customer. Most people will do anything for their friends and some managers attempt to be that smart rental friend. From there, there are many variations of presentations.

While you are holding the phone and listing to the caller what is going through your mind? Are you thinking about just giving out the price so you can get off of the phone, when are you off of work or are you thinking what will it take to get this caller to rent from my facility? That latter is the thought that should be running through your head while on the phone with the caller. Some people call just to get the price while some are looking for a great value in their renting of self storage. You have to understand what their needs are and how you can take care of those needs. The call if you really truly think about it can be as simple as riding a bike. You ask the caller what size they are looking for when they need it and do they know where the facility is located. After you get those answers, you sell your facility and then go over any information regarding costs that they need to know. Here is the hard part for most people. The next thing you should really do is invite them down to your facility. That is it. Sometimes it is just that simple to get the caller to your facility.

In self storage, you do not have to over complicate things. When the phone rings you are on stage for your facility but you need to focus on what the caller wants. Satisfy their needs, ask for the sale, invite them down and take their money. When the phone rings, you should be confident in what you have to offer. Believe in your product and it will shine through in your presentation.

Property Managers

Tennessee RV Storage

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January 2006 Secret Shopping Blog Archive

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Self Storage Article Directory - Self Storage Vendors