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Storage space is not something to be taken for granted. Probably most people who have lived in small apartments or condos know this fact all too well. As years move on, and the accumulations of life pile up, the need for additional space can become as dire as that first cup of coffee in the morning. In a strange way, extra space can dictate your life. It determines what you can and cannot have in your chosen living space.

But, a lack of storage space does not have to mean you have to worry about how you are going to be able to fit the next thing into your cramped apartment. Instead, minimal amounts of extra space can serve as a valuable lesson if looked at in the right way. Wise people in the past have said that much can be learned about yourself by the way your house looks inside. This is because your house is, in a way, a larger expression of your mind. When your life is busy, mind is busy. This sometimes translates into a lack of time to clean or organize the things in your house. Of course, if you do not have time to clean or organize your house, you most likely are not going to have any time to clean or organize your mind either. Therefore, an awareness of the amount of space you have in your place is a valuable way to take an inventory of your mental well-being.

Perhaps these seem like a stretch, but take a moment to reflect. When you run out of space, maybe you start to question why that is. What things are so important to you that you would rather clutter up your living space than find a way to downsize? Things accumulate in homes. Too often do people ignore or not recognize the fact that space is gone and the walking room is in decline? Do you see the correlation with the mind? When people do not pay attention, they do not realize the space within them is filling up. The trappings of the world fill your mind with advertisements, ideas, discriminations, etc., and you begin to run out of free space to just be and enjoy the life you are living.

The way to uncover more room in your house, as well as within yourself, is to let go. It may be hard to throw away that toga which has been in your closet since your college years. But, why do you really need to hang on to it? Ultimately the reason people keep so many useless things around and needlessly take up all of their space is because of their memories. It is not so much the object itself, which is important, it is the feeling you get when you look at it. That place it brings you back to is what it being kept in storage.

Now, take a moment to see how this parallels your life. We keep so many trivial things in storage within our minds. The dust, the clutter and distractions of everyday life begin to weigh down on the freedom to just live. But, you do not have to keep these things forever. If one can develop a process or practice by which they can let go, on an everyday basis, of the unessential things in storage, then life can open up once again and a newfound freedom will naturally follow.

With spring approaching, it could not be a better time to do a spring-cleaning of your self. Let go of those memories that burden you and the stress of the world. Free up the space which could be better spent on important matters. Breathe, and be.

Storage Room

Mississippi Self Storage

Hopkins Storage

March 2008 Total Quality Assurance Blog Archive

Boat Storage

Self Storage Article Directory – General Information

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Presentation is everything. Well, not everything but pretty darn close to it. When you walk into a mall that you have never been in before or a fair or carnival, what attracts you to one of the stores or stands displayed? Although looks are not everything, it is what typically first attracts the eye. When you see a store front displayed that attracts your attention, it is probably colorfully designed or aesthetically pleasing to the eye that makes you want to walk into the store or to check out the display to see what else it has to offer, right? 

It may not even be something that you are looking to purchase at that moment, however if the display or store front is so attractive that you are lured into the store, you may find yourself buying something that you were not expecting to before you actually got there. The same is goes for storage. Although some may think that storage is just storage, it still has to be attractive to the eye. If you drive by a storage facility that looks like it has not had a new paint job in about 20 years, your first thought is probably that you do not see your items as being safe at that property or well maintained. What could you expect as far as the cleanliness inside of the unit or the rodents that may be harboring inside of it? Now if you drive by a storage facility that it colorful, clean and well maintained you may want to go inside to see what the store has to offer. For those customers that do come into the storage lobby you want to make sure that the inside is just as pleasing to the eye as the outside is. Again the products inside of your lobby should be well balanced and able to showcase all of the different items that it is offered. 

Think about when you are checking out at the grocery store and the last items you have a chance to purchase are on the display at the check out counter. They are usually very small items where there can be many different items displayed but also within hands reach. Did you notice that many of those items are also very handy and could conveniently fit into your purse or car?  Little packages of napkins, diaper wipes, candy bars, sodas, lighters, air fresheners and many other little travel size items that are very inexpensive to purchase. 

The store display can make your storage products sell or they can hurt your sales. Your storage facility may be in need for a change so take a good look around. Walk into the lobbys front door as if you were a customer and without trying to look around too much. See if your storage products are easily noticeable or not. Put yourself in your customers shoes. Are products easily visible or would your customers need to literally go down each isle to see what your store offers?
 
As a walk-in customer you should be able to spot key items that would be extremely beneficial to the customer so that they purchase those items. Prices of those storage items should also be visible in case you are assisting other customers. If the prices are available they can decide on which and how many boxes they want to purchase so by the time they get to the front counter and you are able to help them it will make the process much quicker.

Pompano Beach

Kentucky Boat Storage

West New York Storage

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We get calls at all hours of the day. We are a reservation center for self storage, and we take calls from 6.30am to 11pm central standard time. We can reserve a storage unit for a customer at any time during those hours and then he or she can go to the self storage facility during business hours and look at units. Then he or she pays for it, and would get their access code and hours that they can have access. Now, that is the normal part. The strangest part is what hour of the day it is where they are calling from looking for self storage.

For instance, one late Saturday night a customer called and needed self storage. He was in New York about 10pm and he said he was in Times Square at a pay phone on a 10-speed bicycle. Can you just imagine this guy on a bike at a pay phone calling for self storage? The reason he needed self storage was because he came from Chicago (not on the bike) to see his girlfriend and when he got to her house she was with another man. This heart broken man, on his bicycle in the middle of the night in Times Square was needing self storage so that he could store his personal belongings. At the moment he was homeless.

That is just one of the odd calls we have taken in the call center.

There was another time when we got a call at 6.30am from a woman in California so that made it 4.30am her time. She was moving and needed self storage to put home furnishings in. The rep asked her if she was always up this early. She said no, she just could not sleep worrying about all this. Well good for her, we were open. She even said she could not believe she was actually talking to someone. But she reserved the self storage unit and her worries were over.

The time of day is one thing, but another thing is the time of year as well. When we first started here at our call center, we really thought people would call for self storage during the summer time. That makes sense because kids are out of school and the weather is warmer. But we get calls all year round for self storage. And is not just because they are moving.

We get calls in the middle of December because customers want to use self storage to store their Christmas presents. We also get those winter calls for those who need to store their RVs for the winter. Yes self storage facilities also have parking for RVs and automobiles. Those who store their RVs for the summer are called snowbirds. We had a woman called in and referred to herself as that. She was back home from her winter stay in Florida and needed self storage to store her RV until it started cooling off again. And just like the birds she goes south for the winter.  What a fun life.

We are always there for a customer no matter what time a day or time of year. No matter what their needs are, whether they are big or small. Whether they are for a fun life of running off to Florida for the winter. Or for a heart broke man in Times Square we are there for them and their self storage needs.

Self Storage Article Directory

Illinois RV Storage

Kansas City Storage

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The two favorite words for any real estate agent are, Decluttering and Staging. Decluttering is when the homeowner is told to get rid of everything nonessential in the house and preferably put it all into a self storage facility. Staging is when the agent retrieves certain items from the self storage facility to the home and strategically places them throughout the house. Both of these things are done to maximize the potential profits that the seller can make on the home. A good self storage facility comes in very handy for the entire process.

The homeowner wants to first get a unit in a self storage facility that is in a nearby location, since he is apt to have to make many trips to the building. The self storage facility will need to be very safe and secure, since both the homeowner and his belongings will be spending some time at it. The self storage facility also needs to be very clean and pest-free, since the homeowner will be bringing furniture and things back and forth from his home, to the facility, and back to his home again. Someone trying to sell their house does not want to run of the chance of bringing new critters and rodents into the home!

The easiest way to declutter a home is to first take everything off of the walls and out of the closets.  These treasures need to be boxed up and moved out of the way to the self storage facility or some other accommodations. This can be started a few weeks in advance, so the task is not quite so overwhelming.  Dropping off a few boxes at the self storage facility on the way home from work or on the way to a dentist appointment can make the chore a lot less daunting. 

Then on a prearranged day, when family and friends are all available, the physically demanding portion of getting the house ready for sale can be accomplished. Virtually all of the furniture needs to be moved out of the house or at least into the garage for the time being. That is when it is time for an expert Home Stager to shine. 

A Home Stager is experienced with how to best maximize the potential of a house, while hiding its flaws. This person will direct the traffic as to where everything needs to go. Some items will be positioned in a different manner inside of the house. Other things will be taken to the self storage facility, waiting for a new place in the new home. The Stager knows that home buyers are buying square footage.  They can determine how to best place the bed in the master suite to make the room look larger, while at the same time covering the worn carpet. The Stager knows furniture placed in a U-shape is much more conducive to a good conversation area than furniture in an L-shape. The Stager knows that spaces need to be defined to the buyer, with little left up to the imagination of the novice. The Stager knows it is better to remove the boots and coats from the current mudroom and turn it into a cute little breakfast nook. A little table and chairs from the unit at the self storage facility can be brought back into the house to accomplish this task with simply the cost of some sweat equity.

Impersonal artwork can be taken out of the unit at the self storage facility and placed on the blank walls.  Pictures taken of the Yellowstone National Park or of Downtown Chicago can be removed from the boxes in the self storage unit, blown up, matted into frames, and hung on the walls. 

Decluttering and Staging are two words that can help anyone sell their home for a maximum profit with a minimum cost. And a convenient self storage facility can be a huge asset in the process!

Mini Storage

Georgia Furniture Storage

Miami Storage

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No matter where you look, you can find self storage anywhere. You can find self storage facilities in your area, by searching on the Internet, in the newspaper, or through word of mouth. When you look for self storage, 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 trying to find self storage online, you can go to many different places. You can go to the biggest search engines or to a niche search engine for self storage. Most websites you visit will either send you directly to an actual self storage facility. When you are trying to find self storage, you most of the time, 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 self storage facilities through search engines, you will always get the website that has been hit the most. Of course, most self storage facilities use all kinds of advertising to get their name out there and first on many search engines.

If you take the time to use the different search engines to find self storage you will usually see the same results first. If you try to find self storage on a large search engine, the first three websites it brings up are three large corporations of self storage. Therefore, as you seem to think the site will help you find self storage only one website is an actual storage company. When you try to find self storage on a smaller search enging, the first three results are varied a little bit. Once again, you see one self storage facility and two search or service websites. Lastly, what do you think you will see if you try to find self storage on a self storage search enging? You will see storage facilities who have registered with that search engine. So which one do you use?

If you turn to the paper to find self storage, you will see only those who have the money to advertise. At that point, are you paying more a month because the facility needs to pay for their ad in the paper? It is very possible. At that time, you can still take the time to use the Internet as your asset to help you search for some information on the self storage facility you saw in the paper.

The one way to find self storage that many people like is word of mouth. Even though many people have the respect of their friends opinions, they do not often talk about self storage as they are watching their favorite football game, or small talk around the office. People do not talk that much about how they found a great value in a storage facility.

When you are trying to find self storage, you have a couple of different avenues to search. The most impactful, most people believe is word of mouth, but self storage is not spoken about often. Use the Internet and maybe the newspaper to be able to find self storage. Thoroughly look at each facility as much as you can until you the one that fits your need.

Self Storage Business

Florida Motorcycle Storage

Key West Storage

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Climate Controlled Self Storage is growing by leaps and bounds. Not too long ago the only option you had in self storage was car garage type units or interior units with a regular door. Now, a lot of storage facilities are incorporating climate controlled units. Some facilities only have climate controlled units.  Others, have a mixture of both.  The climate controlled change now allows storage customers the option of regular storage, heated, air conditioned or year round temperature options.

When some customers call for storage, they specifically ask for climate controlled units only.  Others have no idea what climate controlled units are or what items you store should go into them.  We gladly go through the items that should be put in climate controlled self storage.  That gives them the option to put their items in there or take the few items with them when they move.  Sometimes the difference in pricing for climate controlled self storage or regular self storage determines which unit the customer will choose.

When some customers call and are not sure of the unit size they need we ask what items they are putting into self storage.  When they mention an item or items that do require climate controlled self storage then we advise that is where they should put them.  The price of climate control versus the cost on regular storage units usually determines where they will put their items.  Sometimes customers who store sensitive items refuse climate controlled self storage.  They do that because regular self storage is all they are used to and that is what they choose.  They will state they stored those items in regular storage before and nothing has happened to their items.  Even though some customer refuse to store in climate controlled self storage we still go through the list of items that should go in there.

The items that a customer puts into storage that we recommend for climate controlled self storage are as follows.

• Leather or suede furniture. 
• Antiques. 
• Photographs and paintings. 
• CDs and DVDs. 
• Computers, TVs, stereos, appliances and anything else that is electronic. 
• Believe it or not, furs need climate control too.
• Items made of certain glass also need to be stored in climate controlled self storage. 

Anytime a customer says that they are storing any of these items, we recommend climate controlled units.  A lady called in yesterday that wanted a storage unit.  When she was asked if she needed climate control or a regular unit she asked what the difference was.  We told her.  She was surprised and said that she had a micro-suede sofa and leather recliners and since we told her that she would probably needed climate control she thanked me and said that she had called a couple other facilities and nobody mentioned that.  She was advised that the facilities probably did not have climate controlled self storage and therefore did not mention it.  She reserved the unit.  A man called from Florida looking to store some clothing.  Turns out, he had to get a climate controlled self storage unit because he had some heavy leather coats in there and he was worried about moisture getting to his coats.  He was very grateful that we mentioned climate control.

Shoe Storage

District of Columbia RV Storage

Austin Storage

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When you are going about renting a storage unit, there are some things that you should remember. You will have to call in and speak with a call center rep then you will have to tell them what it is that you are looking for so they can either give you a unit that they think will best fit your items or you can tell them what size unit you would like to have. Storage rental is good for many different things, especially when you are moving or if you just need space in your home.

Here are some things you should look for and compare when using storage rental.

• There are climate controlled units available
• One stop shopping for Moving and Storage
• No deposit
• 24 Hour keypad access
• Well-lit and fenced
• Convenient location
• Clean and well maintained facilities
• Free lock with storage rental

As you can see, there are different things that should catch your eye when you hear about the great deals with storage rental. Storage is not cheap but then again it does not have to be that expensive either. That is why you should compare prices when it comes to storage rental. Storage tenants want to have the best unit there is and units that are always clean and protected so they will not have to worry about their items. As a storage rental tenant, you should be the only one who has access to your unit. Also, when you use a storage rental, the larger the unit the more money you pay and vice versa. This is why packing items efficiently and stacking items in the storage unit will save you money. People normally use a storage rental while they are moving or just trying to give their home or garage some space. Therefore, storage rental is a good thing to have when you are doing one of these. Storage rental is just great and it very convenient for tenants needing more space for whatever reason.

Here are some of the things you should know about getting your moneys worth when you are renting a storage unit.

• Make sure you put a cloth on the ground so that none of your items are ruined.
• Label all boxes clearly so you know what you stored.
• Use a cover sheet on your furniture so that your furniture does not draw dust.
• It would also help to place items you need to access the most should be in the front of the unit.
• Make a list of what items are stored and which box they are in for quick and easy access to your things.
• Mirrors should always be placed on their side. Never lay them down and wrap them in blanekts.
• Make a pathway to the back of your unit so that you can get in and out easily.
• All boxes should not be stacked higher than your shoulder so that they will not tip over or collapse.
• All glassware such as dishes should be wrapped individually so that they will not break or chip.
• Make sure you leave a space for some ventilation so that your items will be safe.

Those are some of the things you should really look out for. Also consider renting a climate controlled unit to protect against the humidity and temperature changes.

Local Self Storage 

Arizona Boat Storage

Northbrook Storage

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A Five by Five self storage unit with an eight foot ceiling is always in high demand at any self storage facility. It is an enormously popular size because the smaller square footage keeps the price down, and the tall ceiling accommodates a wide variety of storage needs. A 5×5 self storage unit works extremely well for people storing items from their home, their garage or their business. 

• Apartment renters often think of their 5×5 self storage unit as just an extra closet in their home. They often say that if their small living quarters had just a little more space, then it would be a perfect place to live. But a larger apartment can cost a great deal more money in rent.  Not to mention the added expenses of deposits, movers, a rental truck, and so on. It costs much less money to live in the almost-perfect apartment and just rent a 5×5 self storage unit.
• Seasonal items are an excellent example of something commonly stored in a 5×5 self storage unit. Winter clothing is packed up in the springtime and put into large plastic containers. These bins store bulky winter sweaters and coats very well and they are made to easily stack on top of each other. During autumn, the process is reversed.  Summertime clothing, pool toys, and lawn mowers are stowed away in the 5×5 self storage unit until the following spring.
• Christmas decorations are frequently put in a 5×5 self storage unit.  People who love to deck the halls during the holiday season also usually enjoy finding bargains at the day after Christmas sales. A 5×5 self storage unit is able to hold a large amount of boxes full of ornaments, blow-up snowmen, artificial trees, and the list goes on. 
• Having a new baby takes a lot of just plain stuff. There is the basinet, the crib, the changing table and the infant car seat. By itself, no one item is very gigantic, but put all together it can take up a great deal of space. This is why parents planning to have more children in the future rent a 5×5 self storage unit. It can temporarily hold all of the necessities until a younger sibling comes along, or until a larger home can be moved into.
• Because it is narrow but fairly tall, a 5×5 self storage unit works great for storing sports equipment. Skis, surf boards, canoes, bicycles, free weights, golf clubs, camping gear, they will all fit into a 5×5 self storage unit very nicely.
• Businesses and their employees also find a 5×5 self storage unit to be the perfect solution for their storage problem. Companies are able to store files and other records in the area. Renting a 5×5 self storage unit is far more cost effective than getting additional office space.
• Mechanics often spend a great deal of money on their tools, which is their stock in trade. Having a secure place to keep their investment is very important. A 5×5 self storage unit works very well for a grease monkey, whether they are a professional or just a weekend tinkerer.
• Pharmaceutical representatives frequently use a 5×5 self storage unit for their samples and displays. Spouses often do not want these work related items piling up in the home or the garage.

The 5×5 self storage unit is an extremely multipurpose sized storage space. Thinking vertical and stacking things upwards makes this unit very popular amongst a wide range of people.

Storage Unit

Alaska Furniture Storage

Franklin Park Storage

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How much is your biggest self storage unit?

Lets see, Well, We have a 20×20 foot space with a 12 foot tall ceiling that is going for about 375 dollars per month.

Oh  goodness!  That is so expensive!  How much is your next smallest size?

Well, How about a 15×20 space, also with a 12 foot tall ceiling that is 355 dollars per month.

Holy (censored)!  You guys charge way too much for your spaces!  Goodbye! 

We have all had calls like this. The customer calls for self storage, and is convinced that he or she has so much stuff that they need the largest self storage space available. This is all well and fine, except that maybe the person is only storing say, a living room set, for example. The caller has large furniture in their living room, and he or she is very proud that they have such large furniture. They tend to think that only the biggest self storage space will be sufficient to meet their storage needs. When they find out just how large available space there is, they may attempt to cut the phone call short out of a wounded sense of pride, the callers needs just are not as grand as he or she thinks.

A very close relative of Big Unit Syndrome is Little Unit Syndrome. A Little Unit Syndrome self storage call probably sounds a little bit like this,

How much is your smallest self storage unit?

We have a 5×5 foot space with a 4 foot tall ceiling.  It goes for 20 dollars per month.

How much is your next size?

How about a 5×10 foot space, also with a 4 foot tall ceiling?  It goes for 35 dollars per month.

How much is the next size?

Next would be a 5×5 foot with an 8 foot tall ceiling, which is currently going for 40 dollars per month.

How much is your next size?

And so on, and so forth. The root causes of Little Unit Syndrome are similar to those of Big Unit Syndrome, namely that the caller is very proud of their packing skills, and can cram all of their stuff into the smallest self storage space available. Or it could be that they are convinced that all of the furniture in their five bedroom house is teensy weensy.  It could be a combination of any or all of these factors. The fact remains that you find yourself talking about a plethora of self storage units that are of absolutely no use whatsoever to the caller, wasting both your time and theirs as well, and perhaps leaving a potential tenant with a case of wounded pride. 

For all the back and forth about, how much for your biggest self storage space, or how much is your smallest self storage space, a very simple and effective question that will save time and aggravation on the part of both the customer and the self storage provider is this particular bit of magic,

• Hold on a moment, Lets see what we have. What are you storing, by the way?

This works very well not only because it acknowledges the callers question, but it gets to the heart of the REAL question, which is not what do you have, but do you have what is needed?

Food Storage

Alabama Car Storage

Oakland Storage

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March is here and we start to see a slight change in the self storage business. We are still in the midst of winter, yet spring is approaching fast. The college students are not quite ready for the need and use of the self storage business. None the less, they are also are calling about storage. Who else at this time of year is looking to rent storage maybe a bit more frequently than during other times of the year?  Businesses are always in the need throughout the year. And those seldom movers who are relocating due to a transfer at their current place of employment are also on the hunt for storage. Then there are the movers who for whatever their situations are at their present home address who just are not working out for a possibility of various reasons are also on the hunt for storage year around. Whether it is due to a divorce, an eviction, roommates not getting along, or families who experience a change in pay, all of these people might need storage.

Right now it seems that we are starting to see the spring cleaners in need of service from a self storage business. Cleaning out the clutter and reorganizing their home is a spring task.  It seems a little early for it, but the incoming calls are showing a slight increase and need for more space and thanks to the self storage business,  they are able to rent a unit and start this well needed task. 

Depending on what state your self storage business establishments are located in, in-coming calls will vary in the amount of calls that you will actually receive at this time of year. If you are interested in and make it a yearly ritual to advertise your self storage business for specific seasons or specific trends then right now would be the perfect time to start advertising your self storage business.  Now would be perfect to advertise for a spring cleaning special. 

Of course if your self storage business is located in warmer regions then you should fare pretty well with this type of seasonal, promotional special. Other regions where the weather may not be so great could also see an increased need for storage. There will always be someone no matter what region they are in that it will not matter to.

So think of a spring cleaning special that you can advertise and be creative with. Also, you want to make sure that you advertise in all areas such as mailings, or newspaper advertisements. Even the internet is a great place to advertise since it seems that the internet is a highly popular place to advertise your self storage business.  If you do not have a web page for your business, you may seriously want to think about getting one. The cost will pay for itself by the increased number of rentals you receive. 

For those in the self storage business that do not show an increase after you have advertised for a cleaning special your first year, then you know not to bother with it again in the following years. But for now, go out on a limb and find different times of the year to advertise for such specials to help your self storage business increase sales throughout the year. You could hit the jack pot of new rental inquiries.  You just have to find what works and what does not.

TX Storage Units

Downtown Nashville, 1615 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

Storage

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