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  • Climated Controlled Storage Units
    By admin on April 7, 2008 | No Comments  Comments

    What is climate controlled? At self storage call centers, customers that are not familiar with self storage frequently ask what climate controlled self storage units are. These are self storage units that stay roughly between 55 and 70 degrees all year long.

    What is stored in climate controlled units? These units are typically used to store temperature sensitive items that a customer wants to remain in good condition. Some examples of this would be instruments like guitars, and woodwind instruments or pianos. It can be basically, any instruments that may be warped or damaged in extreme hot or cold temperatures. Electronics such as computers or computer parts may also be stored in a climate controlled environment. Wood furnishings and antiques should also be stored in a climate controlled facility.

    Where are these units located? Climate controlled self storage units are located all over the country, but most are offered in warmer climates. Most climate controlled units are indoor, and not many are offered in drive up access in order to help keep the temperature controlled inside the units. High humidity, high or low temperatures are the leading causes for damage for goods in storage.

    Does it help with pest control? As one may expect pests and rodents may be a problem in large warehouses or storage facilities. They are attracted to many items and boxes that may be stored in these areas. This is the reason food should not be stored in storage facilities in order to decrease the likelihood of rodent and insect infestations. It does help with preventing moth and insect infestation. Typically, a clean storage facility would have the property clear of all overgrown vegetation that would attract insects. They would not have lights immediately in front of the storage units that would attract insects. However, while a well lit area is important for excellent security it is important that the storage facility be designed specifically for both insect prevention and security. The inside of the building should be sprayed regularly for insects and be exterminated for rodents frequently.

    What is the difference between climate controlled and humidity controlled units? The difference is minute between climate controlled units and humidity controlled units, but very significant. Many times climate controlled and humidity controlled units are combined into one unit. In order to be classified as humidity controlled the unit must be kept at 55 relative humidity or less to decrease mold and mildew growth. Many items should be stored in humidity and climate controlled unit are as follows, paper products that are sensitive to mold or mildew, objects made of iron that are sensitive to rust, computer parts, rugs or carpets sensitive to mildew, refrigerators and freezers sensitive to rust and more.

    How much are climate controlled self storage units? Depending on the area one is renting climate controlled units can range in price. At most self storage facilities climate controlled units are typically between 5 and 30 dollars more than a standard, non climate controlled unit. Because the unit does not have to use energy to be cooled and heated the standard non climate controlled units are cheaper.

    Overall, climate controlled self storage units are important at facilities in areas that are extremely hot or cold at times. Self storage owners should take area, climate, security and gate hours in consideration when building a self storage facility that offers climate controlled self storage units.

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  • What Does Self Storage Cost?
    By admin on April 3, 2008 | No Comments  Comments

    If you have ever needed to rent self storage you will know that there are many factors that affect the rate of self storage. Not all storage is created equal and although self storage is usually in high demand, there is still room for competition. Self storage rates are first affected by geography. Self storage rates will vary from state to state and from town to town. The more popular and populated the area, the higher the self storage rates will be. Most self storage facilities that are located in the same close area will try to stay competitive and stay around the same rental rates.

    The next thing to affect self storage rates is benefits and features. Would you rather rent a self storage unit from the place down the road that looks like sheds or the gated, well secured self storage facility? Yes, the place down the road is probably going to be cheaper, but cheaper is not better when it comes to self storage. The cheaper the self storage, the less likely they are to have good security, fencing, lighting, cameras, and an overall good feeling about the property. Benefits and features cost money and that cost is what helps determine the self storage rates for the facility.

    Another thing that will affect self storage rates is what size self storage unit that you will need. The smaller the size will usually mean the cheaper the storage. So it is very important that you and your self storage manager decide what size storage is going to be right for you. If you a unit that is too big, chances are you are spending more money also. Always figure in ceiling height when trying to figure out what size self storage unit you will need. If you can stack some of your items and take advantage of the ceiling height then you will gain more space overall.

    The type of self storage unit you will need will also affect the self storage rates. If you need basic regular storage, then you should not have to pay a lot of money. It will cost you more money to rent a climate controlled self storage unit. Why? It costs the self storage property more money to run and operate these types of self storage units. But this type of self storage is worth the money if you are storing certain types of items or are storing for long periods of time in areas that are very hot or very cold. Another type of self storage is whether the storage is drive up or located in a building. Drive up self storage is considered more convenient and will typically have higher self storage rates than inside self storage. 

    Location is another type of self storage unit that will affect self storage rates. Many self storage facilities are built like a high rise. There are different floors with different sized self storage units on each floor. The ground floor is normally more expensive because it is easier to get you things in and out of your storage unit. The self storage rates will then decrease as you go up the building. If you are trying to save a little money ask for a higher floor, the rates will probably be lower.

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  • The Price Of Self Storage
    By admin on March 31, 2008 | No Comments  Comments

    Just by looking at the increase of gas and oil prices it can clearly be seen that the United States might be entering a recession within the next few years or even months. Last summer gas prices were at an all time high of almost 4.00 per gallon. This year we are beginning the same trend early in March. It can be assumed that with a recession it will be hard to price self storage and find it as cheap as it was five or even two years ago. More evidence of a recession would be the decreasing housing market. Foreclosure has been a common theme for homeowners in the last few years, and the interest on a home loan has skyrocketed. It has become almost impossible for an individual in the middle class to buy or pay for a home

    The stock markets in numerous stocks have decreased within this past year, which also provide sufficient evidence to predict a recession. People have become very lenient in buying stocks and many are even getting out of their current stocks. This says a lot about citizens of the U.S. and how much they care about their money. The value of the dollar is decreasing as well, because of the international trade deficit. The Euro is the top competitor and may overshadow the dollar in the increasing years.

    To price self storage has also become a hassle to the many individuals without jobs. Unemployment has also risen this year as more jobs are being outsourced. Many people have been laid off, or felt that there is no job security with their current employment. This may make customers uneasy about moving or calling to price self storage, because they are afraid of how much money will go into it.

    Never fear, self storage does is not solely priced based upon the economics of the U.S., it does take into consideration the location of the facility, the gate hours, security and whether or not the facility is temperature of climate controlled. So, go ahead and price self storage and it will be found that many factors contribute to this.

    How to price self storage is an easy task when considering the mentioned factors, but the steps on how to price self storage can also be a tedious task. It can be priced by calling a facility, going into the office personally, or looking online at a few facilities. To price self storage one must ask the following questions in order to find the facility and the price that would accommodate their individual needs. Where is the facility located? What is the security like? If one has electronics, computer parts or leather furniture, on may ask what is the price difference between non climate controlled and climate controlled? How much is the unit? How much is insurance? To price self storage can be an easy task if these questions are asked. Although, it seems that money is short and hard to come by, self storage does neither have to be expensive nor something that would have lots of money saved in order to do. Sometimes storage facilities have move in specials that can assist you in the price of a move. This would also be a good question to ask to price self storage. When considering all of these factors try to price self storage the most economic and sufficient way.

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  • Culture and Economy Contribute to Storage Growth
    By admin on March 25, 2008 | No Comments  Comments

    National self storage chains have popped up across the country and have even begun to filter into Mexico and Canada. The popularity of national self storage has flourished over the past decades as Americans began collecting more stuff than they could keep in their home. Several lifestyle, cultural and economic trends could be factors in the rising popularity or national self storage facilities.

    One trend that could be contributed to the growth of national self storage is the do it yourself homeowner. Such homeowners typically have one or more home renovation projects going on at once. For example, the kitchen remodel may have crept its way into the dining room and before you know it, half the house in under construction and the furniture needs to be placed in a national self storage facility.

    In addition to home remodeling, national self storage facilities have seen an increase in families who are relocating or moving. While in transition, national self storage units offer an inexpensive and convenient way to clear out some clutter while the home is on the market and then store items while the homeowners are in transition from one home to the next.

    Another cultural trend that may have contributed to the increase in national self storage business is the aging baby boomers. As they begin to relocate to condos or a smaller home for retirement, they probably give some of their heirlooms or furniture to children or grandchildren. Maybe those children and grandchildren do not have room for it at the time or do not feel it fits the style of their home, yet they do not want to get rid of it. Self storage is a great solution for borrowing a little time and space until one has use for Grandma’s secretary desk. Another possibility is that once a child has inherited furniture, they move their parents furniture into their home and place their old furniture in storage for a later time. In any case, this could be one factor that has created need for self storage.

    National self storage facilities have also seen a spike in storage leasing to members of the Military. In this time of war, soldiers may find that national self storage units are much cheaper than keeping a lease at an apartment. In many cases, national self storage facilities offer Military discounts to active soldiers as well as veterans.

    The benefits of choosing a national self storage facility over a singly owned and operated self storage facility are that there may be a higher level of security and amenities. This is because the national self storage company wants to create a brand name and quality associated with its company. So security such as video surveillance, alarms on each storage unit door, police patrol and amenities such as fax, email, delivery and pick-up services and even luxuries such as conference rooms may be part of the national self storage deal.

    Typically, a national self storage chain will have a standard that the company holds all owned, franchised or affiliated self storage facilities to. This means that the customer should expect a higher quality of customer service. The self storage managers of a national self storage company will be managed by regional or district supervisors who answer to the corporate office. With a national self storage structure, there is more accountability and a higher standard for each store.

    However, it does not discredit the locally owned and operated self storage facility. Local self storage facilities should also offer great customer service and tenants may be able to negotiate price more so than with a national self storage facility.

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  • Self Storage Miami
    By admin on March 22, 2008 | No Comments  Comments

    Self Storage Miami is a new cable TV cop mystery series that is coming out as a summer replacement show this summer. Self Storage Miami is going to feature a different investigation every week, where the cops will get a search warrant for a self storage Miami unit. They will look into the unit for evidence to help solve a crime. They will try to piece together the lives of the people they are investigating by examining the things they find in self storage Miami storage units. Imagine the evidence and the stories left behind by people in their self storage Miami units.

    There is furniture and books, baby clothes and artwork, tools and pictures and things that might just be junk. A self storage Miami episode could uncover evidence of past crimes or evidence of past lives lived to the fullest. Why is it people use self storage Miami storage units? They are between homes or building a new home that is not ready yet. They are storing things they no longer have room for. They are storing family items that may have been passed down for generations. Maybe they are storing things for their businesses. Self Storage Miami will surely also feature people who are importing and exporting things to and from the Caribbean and South and Central America. Part of the allure of South Florida is its connection to the rest of the Americas. In many ways Miami is one of the capitols of the Caribbean and of the Spanish speaking world. There are also lots of Canadians, Germans and other Europeans who love to come to South Florida.  Self Storage Miami would then have the potential to connect episodes to all parts of the rest of the world. Imagine the trail left by people as they hop around the globe stopping in Miami just to use their self storage Miami units as they move all sorts of things around the globe. Some of these things are probably also contraband, which would make every episode even more interesting for viewers.

    The part about Self Storage Miami being a new cable TV series is a fabrication. But the concept is not a bad one. People love the allure of Miami and the fact is that many people from across the globe come through Miami. There must be a million interesting stories of people traveling and doing business all across the globe. There must be thousands of storage units in Miami. And each one of them probably tells an interesting story about the person or about that family. There may be families who have roots in Cuba or Haiti or Brazil that have belongings that have been in their families for hundreds of years sitting in the storage unit. There may be people from Canada who have things in their storage unit that their ancestors brought over from Scotland or England in the 1600s. Then there are probably some very boring items like boxes of old school books or old clothes that do not tell much of a story. But it has happened that some very fascinating things have turned up in storage units all over the country. Who is to say what interesting things would turn up in a self storage Miami unit. Maybe someone should work up a script for just such a mystery series and see if they can get it made into a show.

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  • Local Self Storage
    By admin on March 12, 2008 | No Comments  Comments

    How much is it?

    Many Americans call around looking for self storage rates. They do this because they want to make sure they are getting the best value for what they are storing. The average consumer calls two to four facilities to see what their self storage rates might be. Some customers take the time to actually drop by the facility and see what that facility has to offer.

    When requesting the self storage rates from different facilities, do you know what you are looking for? Going into your quest to find the best self storage rates, you have to know what is important to you. What is important to you could range from price to the convenience of location. It is certain that no matter where you live, you will have a couple of different facilities to choose from. Within a ten mile radius of the zip code 65101 (Jefferson City, Missouri) there are thirty three self storage facilities. So how easy is it going to be on the customer to choose whom to call to get those individual facilities self storage rates?

    In the example city above, Jefferson City, Missouri has a population of about forty thousand people within its city limits. Therefore, as you saw above, there are approximately thirty three self storage facilities within ten miles of that zip code. So when shopping around for self storage rates, what are you truly going to use to compare one facility to the next? Is the search for the right self storage rates important enough to call around to all the thirty three facilities? Of course, it is not. The average call to get self storage rates, depending on the sales presentation, is around 2 to 3 minutes. Realistically, it would take the average consumer about five to 8 minutes per facility to get research their information and their self storage rates. Let us take that average time of five minutes multiplied by the number of facilities and you have around three hours total devoted to looking for the best self storage rates. Do you have the time to do that? Most people do not even have thirty minutes to spare.

    Before picking up the phone to call for the self storage rates, you should consider a couple of things. Do you have to visit this facility often to get something out the space you rent? If this is so, when searching for self storage rates, you should make sure the location is convenient to you and your every day routine. With the busy schedule of most people, who wants to drive ten minutes out of their way to get into their storage unit? You should also consider what you are getting for the price. Most facilities, when quoting their self storage rates, tell you about their security and their amenities they have to offer (conference rooms, pick up and delivery options, etc). Those features they decide to share with you should be important to your situation. Do not rent with a facility if they do not have what you are looking for but have a great amenity that you could use. Lastly, you should think about if the special they are running fits what you are in need of. If you only need storage for a month, there is no point to hear about a five month special.

    When looking for self storage rates, take your time (if you can) and call maybe one to three facilities. Find the one that best fits your needs and has the best rate, which is the best value to you.

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  • A Lot Goes Into Pricing Of Self Storage
    By admin on March 11, 2008 | No Comments  Comments

    Ring. Ring. Thank you for choosing 123 Self Storage.

    Yeah, what is the price of a 10 x10?

    Well, the price is $89 for a 10×10. Would you like to reserve that?

    No, that price is way too high!

    As a call center representative in the self storage industry, that price is way too high is something that we hear on a regular basis. What a lot of our customers fail to realize is that pricing is not just some arbitrary number that a manager decides to slap on to the self storage unit just because it is their favorite year or their lucky number. It happens to be a culmination of things such as competitor pricing, security features, convenience, the safety of the area itself, and more.

    The facility has security features that are a main factor in price. For example, XYZ Self Storage has individual door alarms, video surveillance, and a manager who lives on site. On the other hand, 123 Self Storage has no gate, is in a bad neighborhood, and has a history of break-ins. Of course, 123 Self Storage is going to be cheaper. Less money is going into maintaining their facility. But, XYZ Self Storage is going to have to charge a higher price to compensate for the higher quality service. In addition, peace of mind comes into play. Knowing that your valuables are well protected should be valuable to a self storage customer.

    Convenience makes a difference as well. Say you have found a location with great pricing that will fit your budget perfectly. But wait, this self storage facility is all the way across town. What good does a great price do if it costs your ten dollars in gas money every time you want to access your self storage unit? You might as well add that to the price of your monthly rent. For instance, you have to access your unit five times a month, at least. That is an extra 50.00 that you pretty much can add on to your rent. Not to mention the mileage fees for a truck rental, if you must go that route. It is important to weigh ALL costs, not just the rent itself.

    A competitors pricing definitely has an impact on a self storage units price. Of course, while other factors are apparent in pricing, they cannot price themselves out of the market altogether also. Just like in real estate, there is a cap on pricing in different markets. Just as you cannot price identical homes in Los Angeles and Kansas City at the same prices, you cannot price identical self storage units the same as well.

    When it comes down to it, a lot goes into the price of anything. Of course you are going to pay more for a luxury vehicle than you will for a compact model. The higher pricing implies a higher quality. There is no comparison! If all else fails, and the customer fails to understand what we are trying to convey we will just tell the customer to go check out the facility and see in person what they are paying for. Most of the time, they will go to the lower priced facility and be disappointed in what they find.

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  • Supply And Demand In Self Storage
    By admin on March 8, 2008 | No Comments  Comments

    Depending on where the facility is located geographicall,y self storage rates may change significantly. Typically, self storage rates are dependent upon the price of land in the area, the security, gate hours and set temperature of a particular facility. Rates may be found online, by calling a particular facility or by going to the self storage facility personally.

    Typically, the housing and land rates are higher in states like California, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and Florida. This is reflected by self storage rates in these areas being significantly higher. There are many reasons for the high price of both land and self storage rates in these areas. One of the most obvious reasons is the population of the city or state. On average, these cities and states have a large, increasing population. They make most of their money from the population increases and the large corporations and businesses in the area. An additional reason for elevated property and self storage rates is because of the shortage of land. Once a city or state expends all of its land space, the price of self storage and housing increases. A reason why land space may be limited may result from the geographical make up of the land. Forests, parks, mountains etc. may all take up a significant amount of space that also decreases the chances for building expansion in the area.

    Self storage rates might be higher in areas that pride themselves on excellent security. Many facilities make it a priority to keep self storage customers items safe. They may have 24 hour video surveillance, an access controlled gate, door alarms and an on site manager. Other facilities may go as far as having alarms connected to the police department, or a security guard that patrols the property. All of these features require more money, so self storage rates for a highly secure facility possibly will be slightly elevated.

    Temperature controlled storage facilities may also have higher self storage rates than a facility with standard, non climate controlled units. The cost of heating and cooling a large facility increases the electricity and/or gas bill. Therefore, to outweigh the costs self storage rates should be higher. The customer is receiving the benefit of their items being kept at room temperature all year around while paying slightly more.

    Gate hours of a facility can vary by location and may determine the self storage rates of that facility. Many customers enjoy the benefit of having extended gate hours because of a hectic schedule or having a 24-hour ran business. An electronic gate has to be run on electricity and security should be increased to ensure the customers belongings are secure during those hours. This too may increase self storage rates of the facility.

    When attempting to find self storage rates there are scores of ways to do so. One of the more popular ways in the 21st century is an online Internet search. At many different self storage sites rates are listed by the sizes and description of the self storage unit. A different way to receive rates for a self storage unit is to call the actual facility. Typically, the manager will provide the self storage seeker with additional information that may help them in their transition. If a customer is willing to visit the self storage facility, they are interested in then they have a better chance of getting more rates and seeing first hand the unit sizes.

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  • The Most Popular Storage Size
    By admin on February 28, 2008 | No Comments  Comments

    Self storage facilities have many different sizes of units because there is vast array of purposes for people needing to rent storage.  The five by ten (5×10) self storage unit is one of the most popular sizes.  It works well because of its length, but lesser price than that of a larger self storage unit. 

    A 5×10 self storage unit is very well-liked among homeowners that are getting ready to put their house on the market.  Real estate agents encourage everyone in this situation to declutter their home, to remove all of the unnecessary boxes and things piling up in closets and attics.  Most neighbors are not interested in storing these items while their friends are trying to make their house look more appealing to buyers.  That is why a 5×10 self storage unit works just perfect.  The dimensions of this size of a self storage unit is long enough to accommodate that extra bed in the guest room and the eight foot ceiling is tall enough to stack those containers of Christmas items upwards.  

    The 5×10 self storage unit is coveted by college students going home for the summer.  They oftentimes line up outside a storage facilitys office during the last week of spring semester, hoping to get a 5×10 self storage unit for the summer months.  The students usually have some furniture and boxes that they (and their parents!) have no interest in carting all of the way home for the summer break, only to turn around and haul it all back to town three months later.  The 5×10 self storage unit works well because it is big enough to hold all of their things, but cheap enough that they do not have to share the self storage unit with anyone else. 

    A 5×10 self storage unit is perfect for someone needing to park a motorcycle.  Some people use the self storage unit to park the bike over the winter months, while others live in a nearby apartment complex that only allows parking for one vehicle.  Since the car gets the lone parking spot, the motorcycle gets moved to the self storage unit.  And this size of a self storage unit is also popular with other outdoor enthusiasts for similar reasons.  Snowmobiles are parked in a self storage unit in mountainous regions, and surfboards are put away in coastal areas.

    Many businesses need to keep files and records for years and years.  Renting a larger office to accommodate this need can be very expensive.  Renting a 5×10 self storage unit with the eight or ten foot ceiling can be very economical, for small and large companies alike.

    One particular industry that is very familiar with the 5×10 self storage unit is the pharmaceutical industry.  Their representatives basically work from home and have a large assortment of samples and displays they need to store.  Spouses tend to get tired of seeing these items accumulate in the basement or the garage, so a self storage unit is the perfect solution.

    Customers that have started using a 5×10 self storage unit in recent years are people that buy and sell on Online auctions.  They use the self storage unit kind of like a clearinghouse as they sort through all of the goods that have been found at garage sales and flea markets.

    The main reason that the 5×10 is such a popular size of a self storage unit is because of its versatility, and therefore its usefulness to a wide variety of customers.

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  • Atlanta, Georgia Local Self Storage
    By admin on February 15, 2008 | No Comments  Comments

    If you have excessive items around the house, or things that you need to store, take a look at the self storage Atlanta facilities. Although self storage facilities have doubled in the past ten years, some people still do not take advantage of using these units and instead insist on crowding their excess furniture and other household items, into crawlspaces, garages, a friend or neighbors home or basements.

    There are some of the advantages to using a self storage Atlanta facility. One of the advantages is that they offer climate controlled storage units.  Because they are climate controlled units, your items will be safe from the elements.  This means that you do not have to worry about excessive heat or cold and climate controlled storage better protects your belongings from humidity. 

    Because they are at ground level, most self storage Atlanta facilities are water proof.  If you are putting your items in a basement or crawl space, you are running the risk of them being exposed to water.  By keeping them in a storage facility that is above the ground, you are keeping them safe from water damage. 

    Another advantage to using a self storage Atlanta unit is that you can organize everything in your unit the way that you want.  If you toss things into a crawlspace, chances are that you are doing it very quickly.  The same goes if you are storing in a basement.  And there never seems to be enough room.  By putting the items in a self storage facility, you are able to clear out your basement.

    Speaking of basements, if you have been thinking about finishing your basement but do not know where you are going to store everything you have been keeping in the basement, consider getting a self storage Atlanta unit.  This way you can have your basement finished and still keep your belongings. Perhaps you will even find new use for some items in your new living space.

    If you are moving or relocating to Georgia, you may consider renting a self storage Atlanta unit to store items until you get settled.  Many of the self storage Atlanta facilities offer short term leases.  You can rent a unit for a month or two until you are settled.

    Still another use for a self storage Atlanta unit is a place to store items that you are selling online.  If you have an online store, you are probably storing items at your house.  Instead of cluttering up your home, why not move those items to a self storage Atlanta facility so that you can organize them properly and free your home from clutter.

    Many people rent storage units when they are cleaning out the house of a relative who died.  Instead of selling the items, many of which may be family heirlooms, it is easier and wiser to store them in a self storage Atlanta unit.  This way, whoever is cleaning out the home is in no hurry to dispose of what could be valuable antiques. 

    There are many different reasons why you may want to rent a self storage Atlanta unit.  This can be the best way to store valuable items in a safe and climate controlled environment where you can have access to them any time of the day or night. 

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