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Honeymoons and Self StorageBy admin on April 17, 2008 | No Comments
Spring time is definitely the wedding season, and it is coming up fast. Planning for a wedding can be a very stressful time, even though it should be one of the most joyous times you will ever have in your life. What can you do to make it less tense and hectic?
First of all, begin well in advance. Sometimes you have to just admit that you will not have enough free time to plan your wedding to the best of your abilities. Many people are still attending school when they decide to get married. Others are trying to work 40 or more hours per week, and when they get home at night planning the details of a wedding is the last thing they feel like doing. If you know ahead of time that you will not have sufficient time to plan, make your engagement a little longer. If this is not a favorable or possible option, then you will have to buckle down and start planning immediately after you are engaged.
If you are not planning a large or complicated wedding, that makes it much simpler. This will not be so taxing on your mind and body during the next few months. Unless you already live with your significant other, there are many things to take into consideration when beginning a new life together. Amidst the fact that you are trying to organize every detail of your wedding, there is the additional complication of merging both sets of your belongings together. Storage is one option to temporarily fix this problem, although long term storage is seldom something new couples want to immediately jump into.
One alternative to storage is simply going through all of your belongings and both of you deciding what you must keep and what can go. Then have a garage sale to get rid of the excess. This will also make some extra money for you, which, when planning and financing a wedding, is always a huge help! You do not want to start your new married life with a cramped house and rooms, or with half of your possessions pushed away in storage somewhere.
To make a worry free workspace that is comfortable and to do all your planning in, temporary storage is definitely something to consider. If there are things that you simply cannot handle at the moment, and you would rather not have them around and in your way until after the wedding, storage is probably the option you need to choose.
The clearer you can make your home, workspace and mind while planning for your special day, the better and happier you will feel about it when it finally arrives. Keep a ledger of the things you need to do, marking off the things you have already done. This gives you constant feedback on where you are in your planning and how much more you can anticipate. There are many sample lists online or in bookstores that you can follow that are extremely helpful. Most brides do not go without them. The sooner you begin planning, the more moderate of a pace you may go. This helps to make you feel as if you have more time, keeping the anxiety and strain at bay for a longer time.
Just remember, your wedding will be one of the most important days in your life. Do not let yourself become overwhelmed with everything. Enlist friends and family to help you carry the burden of planning and make certain you are organized. No matter what you feel like ahead of time, the odds are that you will have a wonderful wedding.
May 2007 Property Management Blog Archive
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Baby StorageBy admin on April 15, 2008 | No Comments
So you are going to have a baby? Whether it is your first baby or fourth, there are always certain elements of planning that have to be done when you are expecting a child. If this is your first baby, where do you plan to keep him? Will he be sleeping in your bedroom, or will he have his own bedroom? And if he has his own room, which room will it be? If this is not your first child, will you be putting more than one child in a bedroom, or will you be giving them separate rooms? These are all questions that seem fairly simple, but if you do not think about them in advance, they could cause complications. Sometimes it is an easy thing to plan a room for a new baby, but usually it takes some time. You may have to put your other childrens things in storage, or you may have to put some of your belongings in storage for a while, especially if you have a smaller house that you simply do not have enough room in. Temporary storage can solve many problems in this type of situation.
Planning and furnishing a bedroom for your new baby is almost always an enjoyable thing to do. Picking out the furniture, the colors, toys, blankets and rugs is a big task. There is not any detail that you will not relish planning in anticipation for that squirming little bundle that you will love so much! Just remember that all of this does take time. Unless you are planning on hiring someone to do most of the work for you, you will need to give yourself plenty of time to do that wallpapering or painting. You will be having baby showers, phone calls from well wishers, mommy chats with other mothers, and plenty of daydreams about when your little angel makes his appearance. But you cannot let that take away from the time you need to do the actual work for your little one. If your significant other is available and willing, have him do most of the heavy work and painting while you oversee.
If you find that you have to put some of your or your other childrens things in storage, think carefully about what they will be. You do not want to put things in storage that will be needed soon. Furniture that is not used often or clothes that have been long outgrown are good candidates for storage for an extended period of time. When you put items away like this, it helps eliminate the clutter that will frustrate and confuse you at a time when all you really want to do is enjoy your newborn. This is extremely important.
One more important detail in planning for your babys room is your budget. Make sure that you set one beforehand if you are planning anything excessive at all for decorating or furniture. This will take away much of your stress ahead of time so you will know the boundaries you are working within. Of course, if you are using things that have been given to you or handed down from others, this will not be much of a concern.
Nine months seems like a long time, but it will pass by so quickly that you might get overwhelmed with last minute details that you have put off doing. If you wait until late in your pregnancy, your body will be heavier and more awkward, making it uncomfortable and dangerous for you to attempt many things associated with decorating and arranging furniture. Just remember, organize and complete your task well ahead of time, and you will already be on your way to making your new baby happy and comfortable, even before he has arrived!
July 2007 Total Quality Assurance Service Blog Archive
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What Sized Unit Do You Need?By admin on April 12, 2008 | No Comments
Sometimes its hard to figure out what sized unit is right for you. There are so many options to take into consideration when you are looking to rent a unit. Moving can be a difficult and stressful time and trying to figure out which size you need can be rather taxing.
Now let us breakdown the different sizes of the units.
The 25 square foot units can hold some furniture. Like a dresser or chair, a few boxes, and other small items. This unit is for miscellaneous items that would fit in a small half bath. The 50 square foot units can hold some furniture, perhaps a couch, chair, mattress, and some small items. The 75 square foot self storage units are about the size of a large walk-in closet. They hold the furnishings of a one bedroom apartment, but no appliances. The 100 square foot units hold the furnishings of a one bedroom apartment with appliances, or about 100 standard boxes. The 150 square foot units hold the furnishings of a two bedroom apartment or house plus some miscellaneous boxes and such. The 200 square foot units hold the furnishings of a house with appliances and or a car or truck. These units can hold over 200 standard file boxes. The 250 square foot units are the size of a large one car garage. These self storage units hold the furnishings of a large two bedroom home, with appliances and miscellaneous articles. The biggest or one of the biggest units you can find on a facility is the 10×30 units. These units hold the furnishings of a three bedroom home, or the contents of a 40 foot van. It is always hard to figure out exactly what unit would work the best, so it is always good to speak to a customer service representative or manager to figure out which unit would best for your needs.
Self storage units also have a variety of different features to suit your needs. One of these features is climate control. It helps to avoid too hot or too cold temperatures. Other units provide heating for locations that endure extreme cold, like Minnesota. The opposite is true for Florida, here the units have air conditioning. Some self storage units are lighted and have outlets. Other units have roll up doors for easy access for moving large items, and other units have only door access. Some self storage units have carpeted floors and a heated ground floor. Most units are 8 feet high, however some are 12, 14, and 18 feet tall. Units also can have slanted ceilings. Since these have an odd symmetry, the price for these units is usually a little less expensive. Once again it always best to speak to a customer service representative or manager of the facility.
The units you choose depend on what you are going to store. For instance, if you have antiques, musical instruments, or leather it would probably be best to store in a climate controlled unit. If you have heavy or awkward items, a terrace locker would probably not be the best choice. Ladders are sometimes the only way to access these self storage units. Storing motor vehicles is also a dilemma. Boats and cars can be parked inside or out. Different states have different laws, so you must be careful about that legal aspect. These are just a few things to take into consideration when moving into a unit. Never hesitate to speak with a customer representative or facility manager to help you find the right unit.
September 2007 Total Quality Assurance Service Blog Archive
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Storage Can Help You Through Tough TimesBy admin on April 1, 2008 | No Comments
What you do after surviving a fire, flood, tornado or other natural disaster is just as important as what you do during the disaster. Most homeowner policies will pay for the rental of a self storage unit if a home is damaged beyond immediate repair. Most of our memories are contained in our possessions. Every knick knack, every piece of furniture in our homes has a story. Keeping those stories and memories alive often means salvaging as much as we can from our damaged homes.
You should return to gather any salvageable property just as soon as you can. Placed in a self storage unit they will be safe from vandals or anyone scavenging the area for valuables. You will only want to place furniture, and non-essential items like out of season clothes, photo albums and household goods in your self storage unit. You should keep all jewelry, birth certificates and other ID with you or place them in a safe deposit box.
You should check with the manager or owner of your self storage unit to verify that you will be allowed to move your damaged belongings in. Some owners of self storage units will not allow smoke or water damaged property into their self storage units due to the smell, the possible development of mold, and the perception of added liability. You might need to sign a waiver acknowledging that your belongings were damaged prior to moving them into your self storage unit. Make sure to choose a self storage unit that will allow you to clean or repair your property on the premises. Just because your belongings are damaged does not mean you should not take time to store them properly. Dry out soft goods, couches, chairs etc as thoroughly as possible to prevent them from developing mold. Wrap large broken items in bubble wrap or wrap them in blankets, anything that will provide a cushion and prevent further damage. Wrap small delicate or broken items in bubble wrap before placing them in small storage containers. Try not to stack items on top of each other as this can cause further damage.
You do not need to throw out your broken possessions. Find as many of the pieces as you can and move them into your self storage unit. Wait a couple of weeks or months before you evaluate all of the pieces you have collected. Pick a day that you have some time, spread out all of the pieces in your self storage unit and then make a list of what you have. You might be able to make something new out of what was broken. Pieces of china and glass can be turned into a mosaic top for a new table. Damaged photos can be restored and reframed. Pieces of wood from dressers and tables can be repurposed into something new. You might have to be creative, but keeping as many of your possessions as you can, will help you and your family settle into your new home faster.
Making the most of your self storage unit means you will have to check on your belongings several times a week. You will need to watch for mold on upholstered furniture, heavy items that are starting to lean onto more fragile items and anything that has fallen over.
Taking steps now to ensure your homeowners policy covers the rental of a self storage unit will save you time, money and possibly your memories if a disaster should strike your home.
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Offsite Self Storage ManagerBy admin on March 28, 2008 | No Comments
So you can only afford to staff your storage company between the hours of Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm and weekends from 10am to 5pm. What about the rest of the time? You are losing money when you have limited store hours as there will always be someone who needs to rent or store their items before or after the hours that your storage company offers. How can you increase the rentals of your property if you cannot increase the number of hours that you are able to keep the doors open? One way is to have a self storage specific call center so they can continue to give information and reserve units for those after hours or before hours callers. A call center that also has the ability to sell your storage units as you would want them to be sold.
A self storage company should attain by any means necessary the new rental customer for your business. Because if you are losing those possible storage renters, then another storage facility will be more than happy to assist them. Another way that you can continue the rental or reservation or even information process is to have a website where one can go to do so. Computers are ever growing in numbers and the number of people learning how use them are growing in order to simply keep up with todays technology. Computers are being taught more everyday within the school system to teach kids what they will need to know when they get out their on their own. If you are old school and graduated from high school anywhere before say 1985, then you probably were not given the opportunity as these kids are in todays society to learn how to use a computer. Back then we were taught how to type. And that was probably the extent of it. Children as young as 6 or 7 years old these days are taught how to use computers in school. And after they get a little older and by the time that they graduate from middle school, they are taught how to use documents such as popular writing and spreadsheets and how to email text and pictures over the internet. You look around and see more computers and more types of computers than ever before, even in the storage industry.
Now there is a device that is ever growing in popularity which is the Kiosk. It is sort of like an ATM machine. You can rent a storage unit, pay a bill, buy a lock and make your monthly payments there. How crazy is that? Crazy, but very efficient. If the store manager is busy with several customers inside of the store and you are in a hurry and just stopped by to pay a bill, instead of going inside, you can go to the Kiosk on the property and make your payment there. No line, no waiting, no hassle. It is quick and easy to use and you will be on your way.
The Kiosk is becoming more popular within the storage industry. Self storage kiosks are ever spreading to make everyones storage experience a little more convenient. With every attempt in making your storage property more helpful and more prosperous it takes more money, risks and investment in order to achieve the end result that you may be seeking. Kiosks will help your store run itself when no one is available to do so. If your employee is out on the property showing a storage unit, you do not want to miss the customer who showed up at the office 5 minutes after you left. Obviously, you want every possible rental that comes to your door. Why risk missing that chance when you could have had a kiosk in place to assist them?
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Storing Your AutomobileBy admin on March 19, 2008 | No Comments
Options for frequent fliers seeking long-term automobile storage are a possibility now due to alternative off site automobile storage facilities that offer better amenities and conveniences than traditional airport long-term parking. Having an automobile storage facility in close proximity to the airport helps shorten the travelers distance and overall waiting time by arriving directly at the terminal. With all the delays of standing in line waiting to go through security every minute counts. Upon arrival home you have the convenience of leaving from the baggage claim instead of waiting for the shuttle to take you to car in no mans land. Anyone who has left his or her automobile in airport long-term parking knows the possibility of what can happen to the auto while away on the trip. Worries about break-ins, vandalism, mechanical problems or a blizzard burying your auto to the antenna are things you should not have to worry about when traveling away from home.
The demand for offsite airport automobile storage is greater in medium size cities that serve as spokes for the airlines hub and commuter system, especially those that lack good public transportation to the airport. Airports are usually positioned away from downtown areas to reduce noise pollution and traffic congestion so even larger cities would benefit from offsite airport automobile storage.
Most real estate around airports is already zoned business and industrial so there would be no interference from homeowners associations complaining of traffic, noise, or building design. One good option is to invest in an existing building that was used for warehousing and convert it to accommodate inside automobile storage. By doing this it helps reduce building costs and freeing some money to be used toward installing a drive through car wash, snack bar, and providing full client services.
Installing high tech security systems and having the ability to monitor them are an important selling point for offsite airport automobile storage. Offering a drop off and pick up valet service eliminates the need for anyone but staff to be in the security areas and offers your client an area to stay dry and warm when loading and unloading.
Business travelers are the largest shares of those seeking offsite airport automobile storage and many are used to the small appointments of luxury afforded to the business class. Having complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport based on on-time airline flight information keeps the traveler up to date with his or her flight and eliminates unnecessary down time at the terminal. It also benefits the automobile storage facility by not making wasted trips saving on fuel economy and nonproductive employee time. Providing comfortable lounging areas for delayed travelers and offering soft drink and snack services caters to exceptional customer service and boosts the bottom line.
Whatever client services you decide to offer at your offsite airport automobile storage facility it is important to market them to your target client, the frequent business class flyer. Teaming up with airline frequent flier award companies, billboard advertising, airline member clubs, or in business journals and travel magazines is a good way to get started. Providing this level of automobile storage for the frequent flyer is a radical and viable departure from the days of standing in a remote, dark, airport parking lot next to the runway, trying to find your car after catching the red-eye.
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Self Storage FacilitiesBy admin on March 10, 2008 | No Comments
Nowadays most self storage facilities offer a lot of other items and services to their customers and the general public than just plain old storage. Self storage facilities have become a one stop shop for anyone in need of moving and storage supplies, shipping and packing services, and copying and faxing services.
Large assortments of cardboard boxes are available for purchase at many self storage facilities. These well constructed containers are a must have whether someone is putting things away in an attic or moving across country or stowing treasures in a storage unit.
Little boxes are ideal for storing books and other small but weighty items. Even though a large amount of these heavy things will fit okay in larger boxes, they will be too heavy for most people to pick up.
The medium boxes sold at self storage facilities work great for packing dishes, drinking glasses, and other things that need to be wrapped in some sort of protective material. Cartons specifically designed for kitchenware items such as dishes and fine china are also available at many self storage facilities.
Large cardboard boxes can be purchased at most self storage facilities to pack bigger, delicate items that need a lot of TLC. Everyone needs to remember to clearly mark these cartons FRAGILE, to help assure safe handling.
Then of course there are the wardrobe boxes that can be bought at many self storage facilities. These boxes stand tall and have a bar going across the top to hang clothing, alleviating the worry of wrinkles. Many self storage facilities also sell suit and dress bags for the frequent traveler.
Boxes tend to get crushed if they are not completely full. It is important to fill any empty space with bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Tape and tape dispensers are other necessities when it comes to packing. And not only do the items inside of the box need to be secure, but the person opening them down the road needs to have some idea of what to expect. That is why self storage facilities sell all of these materials, as well as markers and labels to tag each box. Utility knives to later open the boxes are available, too.
Self storage facilities sell many things predominantly for customers renting a self storage unit. This home away from home holds things that are obviously important to someone, or they would have simply discarded it in the trash instead of paying a storage rental fee.
There is a large selection of door locks on the market, ranging from lower priced basic ones to the cylinder and disc locks. It is very important that customers of self storage facilities have the peace of mind that their particular unit is safe and sound.
People can buy a variety of sizes of mattress covers to keep the dampness out and to protect them from tears and dings. There is also moisture absorbent material available that can be put next to next to materials sensitive to dampness and humidity.
Many self storage facilities offer a wide array of other services besides just moving and storage supplies. Numerous self storage facilities are also pick-up locations for popular delivery services. Plus, there are mailboxes available for rent, in sizes ranging from simple slots to ones having the capacity to hold large boxes.
And keeping inline with the whole business theme, many self storage facilities provide the ability for copying, printing, and faxing. This is ideal for the small business person that does not have these services otherwise available to them.
Self storage facilities have become a convenient place for busy people on the go. Not only are customers able to rent a self storage unit, but there are a myriad of other services and products available these days at most self storage facilities.
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Choosing The Right Storage FacilityBy admin on March 7, 2008 | No Comments
Self storage is a service that many people us on a day-to-day basis. Self storage is a convenient way to store you belongings in a location other than your house to save space. Some people use self storage 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 easy to find and a self storage facility or for that matter, what all goes into self storage?
It you take the time go search for self storage in your area, you will be surprised at the number of available companies that provide self storage. Self storage is a fast and growing business that people are taking interest in, but it is highly competitive. One search revealed 33 self storage facilities within a ten-mile radius. The zip code searched only had a population of 25,000 within that ten-mile radius. If you take a second to think about that number, you will find three self storage facilities within one mile in each direction you go.
With the outrageous number of self storage facilities 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 reason for needing storage. Someone might need storage 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 self storage. Some people are looking for price or a convenient location. For this person only needing self storage 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 in self storage out there. Some people are looking for a value.
In self storage, with so much competition out there, 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 self storage 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 1-dollar move in special to where they only charge the customer a buck for the first month and then the regular price after. There are companies out there that spend thousands in advertising trying to throw 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 storage 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.
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How To Find Self StorageBy admin on February 26, 2008 | No Comments
When in need for a storage unit there should be some guidelines that you should go by to make sure that the facilities you are researching are the right facilities for you. Moving, packing, finding, researching and renting self storage can be a very hectic process, but if these guidelines are followed, finding self storage will be made very simple.
The first thing that needs to be done when finding self storage is to estimate how much you would be storing. Making a list of everything that you plan to store will not only help the store associate find an adequate size for you, but it will also give you an idea how much you have. This way you can get rid of anything you do not need.
The second step to assist you in finding self storage is to plan ahead. Have a date in mind that you would like to start moving your items, and give yourself at least two weeks to make the necessary preparations. Also, set a date that the items will have to be out of their current location and placed in a self storage unit. It is recommended that you mark these dates down on a calendar.
Then, determine how you will get your items to the self storage facility and what items you will need to pack. Lots of self storage facilities have boxes, bubble wrap, tape, shrink wrap, and more to help you with your packing. The facility may also have a truck that can be used for a discounted rate. Make sure you estimate the mileage from the facility to the location. This is where convenience plays a large role in finding self storage. The farther the storage unit, the more it will cost to transport your items.
Next, find self storage. By this, it is meant to actually start the search for self storage units in your area, or the area that you will be moving. Like it was mentioned earlier, start this process at least two weeks in advance. Websites, phonebooks, or just driving around can all be excellent resources when finding a self storage unit. In order to find a self storage facility that best suites your needs, there are several things that you should look for. The most important is security. Regardless of where on earth you store your belongings it is important that they are safe and secure. Some people may say that the security features at stores are not worth paying for, but in reality if you care enough to pay for a storage unit, you will care if your items were damaged. Finding self storage can be easy if you take the time and make a plan.
When finding self storage, websites may provide prices, pictures, and security amenities that are essential in the moving process. Phonebooks may paint a small picture of what exactly their facility encompasses, so it is imperative to call these places first and ask about their amenities and security features. By driving by the location you will have the opportunity to see the facility and the different sizes offered first hand. The phonebook is another option to help you when finding self storage, but it is not as reliable as the other stores. In conclusion, finding self storage is a difficult task, however if you follow these simple steps finding self storage will be easy as pie.
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Self Storage SuccessBy admin on February 23, 2008 | No Comments
Do not wait for success to come to you. Make it happen for yourself. Sitting still will not bring prosperity to your self storage business as you would probably prefer. So going after it seems like the only reasonable solution in todays self storage business competition. If you want to increase self storage business customers and increase your self storage business sales, then brainstorm on ways that you can make your dreams reality. Even those of you who have been in a slump for a while, can still change things around. Challenge yourself. Think of ways to grab your customers attention and focus on your self storage location. First, put yourself in a storage seekers shoes. You want to do this in three different ways.
• as an actual walk in
• as someone calling in to your store
• as someone surfing the webAs a walk in customer, what would grab your attention? How would you expect the property to look? Clean and attractive? What type of service would you expect to receive? Would you expect to be greeted as soon as you walked into a self storage business? Most people like attention even though they may not admit it, so keep that in mind. What are some of the ways that you would want an employee to notice you? By making small talk such as the weather? Would you expect them or prefer them to smile when they greet you as if they were happy to see and help you? Or by asking if you need any help? What if you as a self storage business seeker arrived at a self storage business to find that the doors were locked during office hours and there were no sign on the door? Also would you prefer to have the opportunity to make a pick between two choices? People like choices so they can decide for themselves. Offering choices such as sizes or specials is always a good one to interact with. Would you expect the employee to explain things to you voluntarily, by giving you all the information you need without you having to ask? Remember that each individual is different and some prefer small talk and some prefer to only get your self storage business expertise. But they do want to know that you realize they are at your store and they want to know that you are available to assist them with all of their self storage business needs.
A short example of a recent experience. A family went out to an all you can eat buffet and it was about an hour before closing. They expected good service as normal and expected the waitress to immediately greet them upon sitting down. They had no such luck. They had to flag down a waiter and asked for plates who then passed them off to a waitress whose table they were not sitting at. When she brought the plates, she was in an uncomfortable position as the waiter had already dropped off the plates. Their communication could have been better. During the dining experience they never did hear from the assigned waitress, although she was about 30 feet away from them wrapping silverware and getting ready. Assumably, getting ready to close her shift and head home. She did her best to ignore the guests and they never did hear from the other waitress or waiter again, either. You can imagine what the tip was like.
As a caller how would you feel if you were put on hold? How about if the employee was talking to someone else in the background while you were trying to get information? Did the employee sound happy to be of assistance or did you feel rushed to get off the phone as if they could care less if you helped them or not?
What about someone surfing the web searching for a self storage business? Would your self storage business be easy to find? Does your self storage business website offer plenty of information to the prospect? Would the prospect be able to reserve a unit online? Can they get all of the information they need from the website? Is it easy to navigate through? Does it offer updated information?
StorageMart La Frontera & FM 1325 15601 FM 1325 Austin, TX 78728

