» Budget Self Storage

Kay Johnson, mild mannered grandmother and PhoneSmart blog editor shares a family experience with self storage.

Welcome to our blog, an insider diary of the self storage industry.

My son Jacob, former Airborne Ranger and DEA agent is a really big scary looking guy. He wants what he wants and does not like to feel that he is getting a runaround. When he needed a storage unit he called the most expert person he knew, his mom (that’s me).

I filled him in on possible features and amenities and gave him some advise on pricing, climate control vs. standard, locks, pest control, cleanliness and security. He listened intently and I could see the former Airborne Ranger developing strategies, tactics and putting together the reconnaissance mission and getting ready to deploy. (This is the way he deals with every thing except my daughter in law, who is his General) I asked him to remember that I am a person who gives information about storage facilities and to be gentle with the store managers who are only making a living like everybody else and not subjects to be captured or conquered.

The first thing he did, of course was create the commando checklist. He always wants at least 50 things on the checklist but I convinced him that 7 to 10 essential questions would serve just as well. (See, I am looking out for storage facility managers all the way). He spent 3 days calling and grilling every manager of self storage inTexas. Then he chose 10 and went for the site visits.

I can see him now in the outfit he put together to wear when shopping for a car; mirror reflective sun glasses, combat boots, camouflage pants and sweatband, his favorite cap with a death head decal, and a torn black tee shirt that reads “bad as I look”. I hate for you to think that my baby invokes fear in people so just remember that when his wife says “This is the way I want it” he ducks his head and softly replies “yes, dear”.

He related his experiences to me in a tongue in cheek style that I have come to appreciate. One of the memorable stores boasted of monthly pest control. He said that consisted of 2 mousetraps in each unit surrounded by a collection of droppings and one that contained a “catch”. He took the trap with it’s prize dropped it on the manger’s counter and asked if they would skin it for him.

He did have to report that are a many storage facilities that are clean and well kept with staff eager to present the best features of their stores and to answer all of his questions with courtesy and professionalism. Many of them were “on-site” managers and were proud of the facility and how they cared for it. I had laughingly warned him about facilities out in the country that were pole barns with chicken wire between the units. He said there were not many of them. I did not ask for details.

Almost everything he told me made me proud to be a part of the self storage industry. He was in a bind to place his family’s possessions in a clean, secure well-maintained place. He wanted to be sure that the people he entrusted with these things were trustworthy and responsible. He related that the experience was much more comfortable than trying to buy a car and he did not have to assume “stern posture” with anyone. (No one wants to see his stern posture but if ever shows it to you just tell him his mother would be ashamed he would cave).

He will tell the story to everyone he knows including the dead mouse and the nice lady at the facility he chose who offered him coffee and chocolate chip cookies.

Yesterday I decided to call around and price some running shoes. I called a store that specializes in running shoes and I asked if they carried the Brooks Beast running shoe. The store clerk stated “yes and that and they were on sale for only $99.99”. My response was “that’s not a bad price but I think I’ll shop around”. The Brooks Beast is very seldom on sale and usually retails for $120.00 a pair. Needless to say I was in the buying mode, but just wanted to shop around a little more. The next thing I hear is “and we price match too so if you find a cheaper price I can honor it”. I blurted out really; ok that’s not a bad idea. Wondering if I could find the shoe in my size (at $99.99 I could care less about color). I decided to take the store clerks advice and shop around for a better price.

The store clerk was “HUNG BY THE TONGUE” the clerk had me at the sale price of $99.99. If he had asked me a few qualifying questions and offered me some options he would have closed the sale.