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Do you need self storage units? Then you should definitely take a look at the many different types and sizes of self storage units, that are available on the web. There are many options and you can find an ideal location to store your valuables that is near your home or business.

When looking online for self storage units, you should have a general idea of where in the city or state you wish to rent self storage units and an idea of what you intend to store. There are many different options when it comes to self storage units. You can get just about any size unit, depending on how much space you may require. Many people rent self storage units that hold approximately three rooms however, you can determine this based on items you need to store.  

The following conditions may create a need for self storage units. You own a business, you are a contractor or your home is too cramped to store your merchandise. Why not use your self storage units to store your items until they are sold? This way, you can have a larger inventory and more space to carry more items in bulk and save money.

Let us assume you are cleaning out your home. What if the kids are moving back in and you need to store their belongings? Or, maybe you are in charge of  cleaning out the house of a relative who plans on putting their house on the market, you may have many items that you may need to place in self storage units quickly so that the house can be sold. Some of the items may be valuable. If you use self storage units,  you can take your time disposing of the items and still clear the house for sale.

Renting air conditioned or non air conditioned self storage units afford you the option of protecting sensitive valuables or everyday household goods. Having excessive seasonal items creates problems whereby you may have too many clothes or decorations thus necessitating the need to utilize self storage units for storing these items, which in turn alleviates the need to store these items in your home. Many people use their self storage units as an alternative solution.

The typical American rarely utilizes their garage for its intended purpose. Most of us would rather throw everything in the garage and leave that high cost vehicle or motorcycle exposed to the elements. Placing these high priced toys in one of our affordable self storage units protects them form the elements and exposure and gives an added overall protection.

Moving to a new city can also create storage nightmares. Higher priced urban cities charge a premium for square footage leaving you with no other option than to seek and utilize affordable self storage units. With no long term obligations, storing at self storage units allows you the freedom, comfort and flexibility of transitioning flawlessly to your new environment with minimum discomfort.

Looking at all the options made available to you in renting self storage units, take your time and determine what options will meet your expectations. There are many self storage facilities that offer great bargains and are convenient to you and your needs.

Whatever your requirements, there are self storage units that will are a right fit for you.

Missouri Storage Units

StorageMart Mannheim & Belmont Franklin Park, IL 60131

Car Storage

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One of the most popular responses we hear from a customer who needs to rent a storage space is the ever so popular statement that, they are just shopping for self storage rates. They want to find a self storage facility with the best self storage rates that can possibly be offered.

That statement in itself tells you that most likely this sort of prospective customer does not have enough information regarding the self storage business, and everything that comes with it, if all they want to know are the self storage rates. Yes, self storage rates are important and they will play a big part in the customers quest while searching for a storage unit where they can tuck away all of their little goodies for which they can not bare to see themselves without. 

However, there are many factors that will affect self storage rates and the average storage shopper does not have any idea why one store is more expensive than another store.  They simply have the phone book out in front of them, while they start from the beginning of the list and work their way down the listings of stores, asking the same question. What are your self storage rates like? And if you do not inform them on what they get for their money, then they will continue to call until they find the cheapest self storage rates. However, as we all know, cheaper is not always better. Actually, it rarely ever is. This is why it is so important to let them know why the cost is what it is, especially, if they are storing their most prized possessions. Many times callers will tell you that they do not care about amenities and the features of the store, yet you have to wonder why they would bother to store their items, then. If that were true, then why go through the hassle of opening the telephone book?  Why not just throw all of those items away and not worry about even searching for a place to store it, because, they do care about where they are storing their stuff.  It is usually because they have an emotional attachment to it. And this is just the reason why it should matter to the customer as to why self storage rates are what they are. They need to know what they can expect from renting with you.  Give them all of the fine details, the little tid bits and the ins and outs of your property.  You need to educate them in order to have your property gain some respect as the knowledgeable storage facility that can help with all of their needs, even if it is simply giving them the benefits and features of the property. If the next store does not explain to them why they charge the self storage rates they charge, they will likely call you back. Give them the information that the previous storage facility may not have given them. Why, because each property is different. It is just like comparing one hamburger fast food service to another fast food hamburger service. Although they are both burger joints, they offer two entirely different burgers. The product may be the same idea overall, however the tastes are different, the looks are different and the prices are different. The same goes for self storage rates. Just make sure the caller is comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges.

IA Storage Units

StorageMart Rainbow & Southwest Traffic way (KU Medical Center) Kansas City, KS 66103

Self Storage

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As we become more and more experienced in fielding phone calls for self storage customers, a potential pitfall is that we can become detached from the needs of the caller. This is not to say that detachment is always a bad thing. A little detachment is a good thing, as it helps keep us from being drawn completely into the callers dilemma. If you have too much detachment, it can become a hindrance. We do not want to lose empathy for the caller and their self storage needs. We have to remember that in many instances that a caller may need self storage because they are not in the strongest places in their lives.

Perhaps they are in the process of being evicted from their home, and not necessarily by their own fault. It could be that they are tenants in the property, and for whatever reason, they have to vacate suddenly. Maybe the caller needs self storage because of a disaster of some sort. The horrific hurricane that hit the south a few years ago comes to mind. However, it could be that the caller has had a house fire, or water damage, requiring them to need self storage for the remainder of their possessions. A caller could have had a death in the family, requiring self storage while the surviving relatives make arrangements to settle the estate of the deceased.  It could also be that you are dealing with an impending separation and or divorce, requiring one or both spouses to need self storage. Now it is entirely possible that you are dealing with a person that is looking forward to being free of their future former spouse, but more often than not, you are dealing with a stressful situation with emotions running high. Another possible scenario that you may encounter is a caller that needs self storage because they are trying to escape an abusive relationship. Needless to say, more often than not, this will be a situation where the self storage caller will be under a great deal of stress and anxiety.

Magnifying any of the above scenarios is the possibility that the caller is not all that fond of talking on the phone to a complete stranger in the first place.

Now in some cases the need to be empathetic will be blatantly obvious. If the caller tells you that she needs self storage because she is trying to get away from their abusive so and so of a boyfriend, then it is a no-brainer that you are going to show a little sympathy on the phone.

However, it is also possible that the caller may not be all that forthcoming over the phone as far as why they need self storage. Is the caller being short with you on the phone because he is not a nice guy to start with? Or is it that his Aunts house caught fire last night and he has got a lot on his mind while he is trying to figure out where Auntie and her five cats are going to stay. Oh yeah, and she will need self storage for the rest of the items in the house that were not damaged. 

The point is, you never know why the self storage caller is in the mood they are in when they are calling. We all know what happens when you assume why.

Louisiana Storage Units

StorageMart North Ave & Main (I-355) Lombard, IL 60148

RV Storage

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When you are looking for the perfect place for self storage Las Vegas, you should consider the following,

Heat Proof Unit

Self storage Las Vegas is different than self storage elsewhere.  You have to make sure that your unit will be heat proof or climate controlled.  There are many self storage Las Vegas facilities that offer climate controlled units, ranging in size.  Because the heat in this city can be so intense, especially in the summer, you want to make sure your items are protected.

Fire Proof Unit

No one wants to store all of their belongings only to lose them to a fire.  Make sure your self storage Las Vegas unit is fire proof, or has built in sprinklers in case of a fire.  Most of the self storage Las Vegas units have safety features with regard to fire hazards.  If you are not sure about the safety of the unit, ask before purchasing. 

Terms of Service

Whether you are looking for self storage Las Vegas, or anywhere else, you have to understand the terms of service for your unit.  Each year, many self storage companies end up auctioning off property belonging to individuals who forfeited the property because they did not understand the terms of service.  Understand the terms of service for the self storage Las Vegas unit before you sign the contract. 

Insurance

Make sure that your self storage Las Vegas unit has insurance in case  something happens to your stored items.  Most self storage Las Vegas facilities have insurance to protect your items to an extent.  Make sure you understand what type of insurance is offered at your self storage Las Vegas facility. 

What can you store in your self storage Las Vegas unit?  Anything that you want.  The unit is yours to store your furniture, equipment, decorations or even a car.  Many people who move out to Las Vegas do so upon retirement.    In such a case, a self storage Las Vegas rental unit makes perfect sense as it can be used to store belongings that you do not want to sell, but may not have room for in your new retirement home. 

Some people store their holiday decorations in their self storage Las Vegas units.   This is a good idea if you have quite a few decorations but no where to store them.  They can be organized however you wish in your storage unit and removed when you need them. 

To make the most of your self storage Las Vegas rental unit, figure out what you are going to store and how much room you will need.  Take a day to organize the self storage Las Vegas unit before you begin moving things in so that you do not have to do this later.  If you know where everything is stored in your unit, you will be able to retrieve your items all the quicker, thus saving you time. 

Another option for your self storage Las Vegas unit is a garage.  Yes, you can actually use your storage unit as a garage for your car or other vehicle.  Many people who have custom cars or antique cars choose to store their baby in a self storage Las Vegas unit. 

Getting a self storage Las Vegas unit is easy.  You can look online for Self Storage Las Vegas units or, when you are in the city, look around for a storage facility. 

Connecticut Storage Units

StorageMart North Ave & Main (I-355) Lombard, IL 60148

Storage

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Typically, there is limited information that is received regarding contracts for self storage units. However our employees are given the opportunity to not only proofread contracts, but also learn about some of the in and outs of contracts for self storage units.  Self storage units are simple in a way in which the customer has the ability of paying a small price for storage and leaving their items in a secure place for an unlimited amount of time. But, like all businesses there are contracts that must be signed in order to inform the customer of policies and procedures for self storage units. These contracts are helpful for the reason that it supplies the customer with a hard copy of the rules and regulations of self storage units.

One interesting thing that was found in the contracts was the fact that it included the unit number, where the facility is located and the exact day that the customer rented the unit. This way the customer knows the date that they moved into their storage unit and if the store participates in anniversary billing, the customer then knows what day of the month their bill is due. The contract also includes the rules about what can and cannot be stored in the self storage unit and the consequences for storing these items. These items can range from dead or living organisms to harmful chemicals and valuables.

Storage contracts outline that the customer obligations for paying the rent on the self storage unit, while providing in detail any penalties or late fees associated with a late or missed payment. Just like a mortgage or rent on an apartment, it is the customers responsibility to make sure the payments are made promptly or eviction can and will occur. At a majority of self storage facilities, after late fees have been incurred and numerous of attempts have been made to contact the customer, an auction of the customers possessions will take place. This is not done solely for the benefit of the company, but after an extensive period of time without payment or the inability of contacting the customer the self storage unit will be considered abandoned and the necessary actions will be taken to open the space. To limit the occurrence of this event, the contracts for the self storage units explicitly state how many days the customer has to contact the store manager, remove their items, the late fees that are executed and grace periods.

Another factor that self storage contacts cover is that it states that the self storage units are for self storage only and that the owner is not responsible for any moving of items to and from the facility. Also, that the customer is responsible for any damage done to the unit by the tenant, and for all of their personal items stored in the unit. This is the reason the self storage contracts mention that valuables or items close to you should not be stored in the self storage unit.

Murfreesboro Rd Location, 2156 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37217

Storage Unit

Storage Space

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The climate of Earth is a climate of change. Zooming into the Midwest of the United States, that seems like an understatement. It can be 65 degrees and sunny in January, but then later that same day the temperature will dip into the single digits with freezing rain leaving a layer of ice an inch thick in its wake. In the self storage business, a storage facility that offers climate controlled self storage units has it in their best interest to make sure its tenants know the benefits of putting their belongings in a climate controlled self storage unit. So what is so great about a climate controlled self storage unit?

Climate controlled self storage units can be recommended for a variety of reasons. High end electronics, such as high definition plasma televisions, flat panel computer monitors, inkjet printers, etc. need to be stored in a climate controlled self storage unit. These are items that can be extreme-temperature sensitive or temperature variance sensitive. With the plasma television and computer monitor, the screen is lit with a liquid crystal display or LCD. Being that the crystals are truly suspended in a liquid. Just like any liquid, this crystal or liquid mix can freeze, causing irreparable damage to either the television or the monitor. In a standard unit, as soon as the temperature hits 32 degrees, this type of damage is a possibility. By putting it in a climate controlled self storage unit, however, the items are kept at 70 degrees all year round. So when it is cold outside, the items will be kept warm. Then when it is hot outside, the items will be kept cool, just like keeping them inside your living room.

Electronics are not the only items that can benefit from a climate controlled self storage unit. A climate controlled self storage unit is a perfect solution for a tenant who is moving in other temperature sensitive items such as leather furniture, wooden furniture, antiques, artwork, photographs, or anything else that would not be a good choice to be kept in a regular house garage. These items are subject to warping due to temperature changes, especially the wooden furniture. Everything else could be subject to mold and or mildew due to high humidity levels as well. Given that climate controlled self storage units not only control the temperature, but also the humidity as well, the items will be extra protected by the controlled environment they will be stored in.

The third most common need for a climate controlled self storage unit would be for pharmaceutical representatives that need to store their merchandise and stock of prescription drugs. Many of these drugs can only be stored under specific conditions.

So whether the tenant needs to store items for their business, temperature sensitive items, or high end electronics their needs can be meet with climate controlled self storage. It provides a real solution for the tenant and also adds to the storage facilities bottom line as these units are typically priced at a premium for the service.

Rivergate location, 2360 Gallatin Rd, Madison, TN 37115

Storage Space

Self Storage

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Climate controlled storage is a type of self storage that is designed to prevent mold, mildew and moisture problems. Climate controlled storage is ideal for antiques storage, electronics storage, furniture storage, wood storage, craft storage, cosmetics storage, musical instrument storage, storing paintings, candle storage and for storing other temperature sensitive items. When considering traditional storage units versus climate controlled storage units, you should consider if you would feel comfortable placing your items in a garage. If the answer is yes, then you may be comfortable choosing traditional self storage. However, if you would not feel safe with your items in a garage-type environment, then climate controlled storage is the way to go.

More important than the exact temperature of a climate controlled storage space is the level of humidity in the storage unit. Self storage facilities should keep the humidity lower than 50 percent to protect the items within the storage unit from exposure to extreme fluctuation in humidity as well as temperature.

Self storage businesses typically control the temperature and humidity level of a wing or floor of climate controlled storage units, rather than allowing tenants to control the temperature and humidity of each individual self storage unit. This is more efficient for the operational cost of the storage facility and also ensure the tenants a constant temperature and humidity level. Because storage businesses control sections of climate controlled units, the access to individual climate controlled spaces is usually through a hallway, which cuts down on the amount of dust that may otherwise enter from direct access to the outdoors.

Climate controlled storage becomes even more specialized by offering wine storage. The humidity and temperature of a wine storage unit is even more constant than that of a regular climate controlled storage space. Some climate controlled storage spaces are also specifically designed for food storage or prescription drug storage.

If you find yourself searching online for self storage and may be looking for climate controlled storage, there are some details you should pay attention to as you compare storage facilities. The definition of climate controlled storage may vary from one self storage business to another. Therefore, it is important to ask what features are included with climate controlled storage units at each self storage facility you may be considering.

Self storage prices vary with storage demand, creating higher prices in urban areas and lower self storage prices in rural areas. Storage rates also vary with size and storage unit specialty. When shopping for a climate controlled storage unit, you should keep in mind that the cost of this specialized unit is typically a few dollars more per month than the traditional self storage unit. You should also expect to pay a higher rate for even more specialized storage such as wine storage or food storage.

The benefits of climate controlled storage offer peace of mind and security to tenants storing temperature sensitive items. Peace of mind is well worth a few extra dollars per month and tenants of a climate controlled storage unit can rest assured that their belongings are protected from the rise and fall of temperatures.

StorageMart Hwy 281 & Thousand Oaks San Antonio, TX 78232 (866) 748-6951

Storage

Storage Space

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When you listen in on one of our seasoned phone representatives selling self storage, you get the impression that selling self storage is a piece of cake. However, considering the amount of work and effort these representatives have put in to being proficient self storage representatives, you begin to understand how multi-faceted the whole process is. Just like selling any other product or service, selling self storage requires knowledge, practice, and patience.

Our new hires go through an extensive training session that usually lasts their first two weeks with the company. By the end of the two weeks, the basic foundation of how to sell self storage is formed. They learn how to recommend a size, where to look on the store screen for different information, new terminology that is appropriate for the industry, how to ask for the reservation (or sale), and how to utilize sales tools such as move-in specials to get a reservation. At this point enough role plays (acting out a call with two people) have been performed that the next step is to get our new hires on the phone.

The next two weeks of the new hires’ first month are spent practicing with live callers. As there are only so many situations you can role play, nothing is better than hands-on-learning with live callers (After all these are people who can actually say no if given the opportunity. Role plays, however are typically easy sells). This puts the new hire in direct contact with the self storage audience they will be selling to for the remainder of the their employment. Patience plays a key role in this stage of the learning cycle, as not every caller is the same. Some callers can be difficult, some are a pleasure to work with, while others still are just plain mean.

Regardless of the type of call our new hire is dealing with, the practice of looking at the store screen for important information, pacing the speed of delivery, and determining the needs of the caller are all imperative for creating the vine-ripened self storage representative. Then after a few months of being on the phones, they can be expected to be pros at several different scenarios, suggesting two 10×10 units when 10×20 self storage units are sold out, recommending a drive up unit when outside parking is sold out, or even promoting climate controlled self storage units for facilities especially affected by inclement weather.

It is true that some of our representatives are natural born salespeople, and we are glad they work for us. They would be capable of selling anything in any industry. But even these naturals have to be educated to an extent about self storage in order to be proficient in this industry. Basically they can’t sell it if they don’t know the benefits to give to customers, how move-in specials work, what kind of qualifying questions to ask, etc. But by being knowledgeable, well rehearsed, and patient, they have been able to be successful.

Pennsylvania Storage Units

ABC Self Storage

Bowling Green location, 1628 Campbell Ln, Bowling Green, KY 42104

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We have been doing an informal survey every time our director travels to a different market. He picks up the local print edition of the phone book and calls through the major ads under the term Self Storage.  He will start with the big ads and keep calling until he has made 15 or 20 calls to self storage unit facilities. He asks a simple question of each person who answers the phone. He asks what the office hours are. This is a great invitation for the person on the other end of the phone to say, And will you need a self storage unit today?

What do you think the results were? In every market, only 2 or 3 out of ten people answering the phone bothered to ask if the caller needs a self storage unit. The rest simply said what the office hours were and ended the conversation. This is incredible? Self storage unit owners spend thousands of dollars a month on advertising of all sorts and yet when a phone call comes through to their storage facilities the odds are 70 percent that the person answering is NOT a sales person.

Our company thought that these informal surveys about the self storage unit were too informal and took the results from the 150 phone calls the director made last year and added another 350 calls made by our sales reps during slower phone traffic times in the last few weeks.

In the end there were over 500 phone calls made to self storage stores in over 15 markets. The first result that should be alarming to a self storage unit owner is this, only 68 percent of the calls were answered by a live person. The calls were made during business hours and yet 3 out of 10 calls went to voicemail or rang 10 times with no answer. This means that at least 30 percent of the money that self storage unit owners spend on making the phones ring is wasted. This also means that if a self storage property uses a call center for taking calls, it is getting plenty of business from competitors because those competitors do not answer the phones.

Of the 68 percent of the 500 storage businesses where someone actually answers the phone, only 31 percent of the staff people who heard the question about office hours asked about the self storage unit. This means 3 out 10 self storage unit places are staffed with people who are prepared to sell on the phone. Of the original 500 calls, only 340 were answered by a live person. Of the 340, only 105 were answered by a sales person. Only105 of the 500 calls were treated appropriately. That is a 21 percent rate of sales proficiency. The other calls were answered only by a live person.

Other surveys have indicated that many self storage unit consumers call several different storage facilities before choosing one to do business with. Our companies storage sales readiness survey may shed some light on that. Based on the survey results, it may take 3 or 4 phone calls to get through to someone who is an actual sale person and can help the caller rent a self storage unit.

New York Storage Units

Chelsea Mini Storage

South Nashville, 14985 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37211

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This self storage blog concerns the design of self storage facilities.  Since the storage industry came into being there have been five generations of facilities.  Each generation of facility is different from the next generation.  Just as anything else self storage facilities have become architectural masterpieces.  For example a self storage facility in Florida has been built to with stand a category five hurricane.  This facility is supposed to not only withstand an enormous storm it is fashioned by awnings over each individual window, a mix of brick and stucco on the exterior and lush palm trees to dress up the parking lot.  This facility is the picture perfect example of the modern day self storage facility.
 
The remainder of this blog with be spent showing how self storage facilities have evolved to their modern day designs.  To do this you must start with first generation facilities.  First generation facilities are all out door sheds with roll up garage doors.  These facilities offer not security and are used for general storage.  Another typical feature of first generation facilities is that they are one story buildings.  Second generation facilities are slightly more advanced then first generation self storage facilities.  With second generation facilities perimeter fencing and a security gate to limit access to the units are general features.   Second generation self storage facilities are built with manager apartments and employee an on site manager.  These facilities are generally still one story outdoor facilities but during the second generation of design some air conditioned units did come into being.  Like second generation facilities third generation facilities have the added security features of a fence and gate.  These facilities can either be one or two story and have carefully laid out climate controlled units.  The evolution from third generation design to fourth generation self storage design can be seen by looking at the evolution of climate controlled units.  Fourth generation facilities are designed as multi level air conditioned buildings.  Facilities built in the fourth generation are professionally managed and thus do not have a constructed office aimed for managerial use.  It is in this generation that humidity control becomes a focus of facilities designers.  The fifth generation of self storage facility simply expands on the fourth’s general concepts.  With fifth generation facilities all spaces are indoor climate controlled and individually alarmed.   These buildings provide back up generators and are focused on protecting customer’s items during long term storage.
 
It is important to understand these different generations of facilities when working in self storage acquisitions.  To be able to adequately evaluate a facility you must be able to identify what generation it is built.  Once you understand the generation you will be able to identify what type of self storage you will be working with either climate controlled or regular storage as well what features that facility will offer.   What generation a facility is built in can be a good indicator of what the facility is worth.  If you are looking to purchase a first generation facility you may need to factor in the cost of adding security featured and updating outdoor facilities.

Minnesota Storage Units
   
Mini U Storage

Storage-Mart on Griffin Road – Dania Beach, Florida

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