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  • What You Must Know About Self Storage Units
    By admin on April 20, 2010 | 2 Comments2 Comments  Comments

    If there is one thing that you have to know about self storage unit before you begin to shop around, it is that they are much more than empty rooms.  Indeed, a lot of work goes into picking out the unit that is going to work out well for your belongings.  Sure, it may not be rocket science, but you still have to be sure that you are not committing yourself to a unit that is only going to harm your belongings at the end of the day.  Fortunately, it is going to be easy for you to avoid these mistakes if you know what you are looking for as you are calling around.  Pay careful attention to this advice, as it is going to come in nice and handy when you are shopping around.

    First and foremost, reader, you are going to want to be sure that you are not renting a unit that comes with dozens of pages of fine print.  If there is one thing that you are going to want to avoid at all costs, here, it is renting a unit that comes with all sorts of hidden fees and unwelcome surprises.  The last thing that you are going to enjoy, here, is finding out that you are going to be paying a lot more for your unit that you originally thought.  As you are reading through your paperwork, then, be sure that you are keeping a few things in mind.  Be sure that you are renting a unit that comes with a month to month lease, as you are not going to want to commit yourself to any extended periods of time.  Furthermore, be sure that you are not signing up for a unit that is going to come with an extensive set of start up fees.  You should not be paying more than thirty dollars to get your unit up and running.  Of course, you are also going to want to be sure that your facility is not going to security a security deposit.  Your self storage unit is not an apartment, so you should not have to worry about placing a security deposit down and further muddling your moving budget.

    Once you have taken care of all of this, you are going to want to be sure that you have a rough understanding of how much stuff you are going to be storing.  If you do not know what you are going to be storing, then you do not have any business calling around and looking for quotes.  Property managers are not going to be able to help you very well until you have some idea of what you are going to be storing.  Even if you think that you are going to be able to run with a few approximate quotes, you are still going to want to be sure that you are able to give your property manager a brief description of your items.  Then, they are going to be able to help you out with much more accuracy.

    At the end of the day, you are going to be able to see that choosing a self storage unit can become a rather involving task.  If you are not careful, you could very well end up renting a unit that is not going to work out for you in the slightest.  Of course, by planning carefully, and by making sure that you are reading all of the fine print that comes along with your rental agreement, you are going to be able to make sure that you are not at the mercy of your local self storage facility.

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  • Shop For A Storage Unit
    By admin on March 12, 2010 | 2 Comments2 Comments  Comments

    Are you shopping around for the self storage unit that is going to keep your belongings safe?  Do you find yourself worrying that you do not know enough about self storage units to pick one out for yourself?  Have you started shopping around, only to realize that many of your local providers look the same on the surface?  Well, you are not alone.  Many people experience a bit of stress when they are just beginning to shop around for their self storage unit, especially if they have never rented one before.  By reading this article, though, you are going to be able to provide yourself with a solid bit of direction.

    Know, first and foremost, that you cannot simply shop around blindly.  This, of course, is to say that you cannot hope to rent a secure self storage unit if you have not taken any site tours of your local properties.  Sure, you can ask a ton of questions when you are calling around on the phone.  Sure, you can reasonably rely on the honesty of your local property managers.  Really, though, you cannot rest assured that you are renting a safe unit until you stop by your local properties in person and take a look around with your own two eyes.  When your head hits the pillow at night, you will know that you have done everything within your power to make sure that you are keeping your belongings safe.

    Moving on, here, you are going to want to keep your eyes open for several key features as you are conducting your site tours.  First and foremost, be sure that your property has video surveillance cameras.  These are going to give your property manager an extended view of her property, meaning that you are not going to have to worry about any crooks or burglars making their way to your front door.  Of course, it also helps for you to rent a unit that comes equipped with a door alarm, as a good, functional door alarm is going to scare off just about anyone who dares to tamper with your door when you are away.  But of course, you cannot forget about the basics either, which means that you are always going to want to be sure that you have locked your unit with a great, high security lock.  If you are not locking your door with a disc or a cylinder lock, then you are not going to be able to rest assured that you have done everything within your power to keep your belongings safe when you are gone.

    Finally, here, you are going to have to be sure that you have packed your belongings well.  While you may not think so at first, good boxes, bubble wrap, and packing paper are going to make a world of a difference when it comes to keeping your items safe while they are in storage.  By packing your belongings, you cut down on their exposure to changes in temperature and humidity.  Of course, you might also consider the value of renting a climate controlled self storage unit.  With your items packed up and stored inside of a climate controlled self storage unit, you are not going to have to worry about a thing when the seasonal changes in temperature and humidity creep up on you.

    As you can see, reader, there is no need to panic when it comes to finding the self storage unit that is going to keep your belongings safe.  Keep all of the aforementioned tips in mind, and you are going to be able to rent a unit that works out swimmingly.

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  • Hiring Self Storage Units
    By admin on March 2, 2009 | No Comments  Comments

    The price of living place is continuously increasing in urban areas. The living place has become so expensive that we are forced to stay in a small place with all our belongings. Because of space problem we try to keep all our valuable and delicate things in a storehouse. At home the most popular store places are garages and attic. We start to dump our things over there and in a very short time fill up those places. Now where shall we go? Moreover the garage and the attic is not at all an ideal place to keep valuable and antique furniture. For all these reasons modern people have come to the point that opting for the self storage units is the best choice.

    Some times space problem is not the only problem for storing. Some of us posses some furniture and belongings that are vulnerable, fragile and filled with sweet memory. These things need special care that we, the laymen may not provide them. Only specialized persons know how to take care of them. For example if you have oil paintings or antique furniture like piano, violin etc. they should be kept in less humid, dry place and free from mites. At home it is not possible for you to provide that. Moreover you have not such infrastructure to counter with the natural elements like air, wind, dust and heat. Another question is the question of security. Though our home is a secured place and we will try our best to keep all our belongings secure, it is not possible for us to provide that much security that self storage units can provide. They have special types of lockers and security systems to protect your goods.

    Most of us, who like to keep those articles in self storage units that are valuable, need care, and continuous vigilance. If you have jewelry better do not keep it at home. Send them to a local real estate storehouse.  And become tension free. They will be safe at their locker. You may be confused with your paintings, piano of your grandma or overcoat of your grandfather or childhood album of your father. Self storage units are ready to solve your problem. Besides this the things that are to be kept in their custody are those things that we need in once in a year and two. For example the seasonal articles like winter garments, snow boots, snowmobiles, golf items, boats etc which you need at a special time of the year should be kept in a storehouse so that you need not to take any hazards. Only thing you will have to do is the payment of the bill.

    Before hiring self storage units try to get informed about its reputation. A storing unit can be accessed twenty four hours and in seven days. It can be used like any commercial warehouse. The rent of a commercial ware house is much more than that of a store unit. Companies from where you are hiring warehouse units do not bother how many times you are using it. They do not say anything if they get their rent in time. Though a storing unit is cost effective they do not compromise with the security system or the care. As there is a high competition among warehousing companies they always try to keep their good will in the field of business.

    Self Storage Prices

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  • How Public Storing Units Can Help
    By admin on January 3, 2009 | No Comments  Comments

    When there is no place in the house or office to keep some valuable items, common self storage units can be used to preserve them. The items that are generally kept in good public storehouses are maintained well and kept safe. These storehouses are a great relief to people who want to store extra items while relocating. Urban accommodations being very small in the present times, it is difficult to keep all the items in the house. The same happens in offices also. As a result some items that are useful, but not frequently used, become redundant and they need to be stored temporarily somewhere. The public storehouses come as an aid in such situations.  A person can move any of his belongings without any hassles to a nearby storehouse.

    A public storehouse can contain a lot of self storage units . Each of these units are equipped with a lot of amenities. Some of them have environmental regulation features while others are normal. Some of these units have the latest security features. They have electronic locking and biometric recognition systems.  There are some storing areas that are not equipped with any of these features. One has to decide upon the type of storing area he would like to keep his items in. Items that are affected by changes in temperature and humidity should be kept in chambers that have environmental regulation. Expensive items such as antiques and jewelry should be kept in chambers that have the latest security equipment.

    Self storage units are not a costly real estate investment . They come at very reasonable hiring charges. One needs to formulate a strategy that will make the experience of using public storehouses a beneficial and cost effective remedy to the storing problem. While choosing a storehouse, one should definitely think about the monetary expenditure factor but there should be no compromise with the quality of storing for the price involved. It is always better to choose a sufficiently large chamber rather than choose a very small one and cram up all the items in it. This will only damage the items and the purpose of storing is lost.

    Self storage units that are neither too big nor too small should be chosen. Big chambers are going to be wasted out. However, if a chamber is expected to be used very frequently then it is better to opt for a slightly larger one as a smaller one that is loaded to its maximum capacity is going to be difficult to work in. Many firms let their tenants hire their warehouses only after they sign a tenancy agreement with them. The tenant has to first go through the clauses laid out in the tenancy agreement and agree with each and every clause mentioned there. They should clarify any doubts or objections.

    In case any tenant of the self storage units wants to talk about any issues, he should speak to the concerned officials about them. He should make a special note of his monthly payment deadlines. He should provide the officials of the firm his contact details, such as, his address and phone numbers. If there are any changes in his telephonic number or his residential address he should notify the officials immediately about that. After all the formalities are over with, one should get ready for relocating his belongings into the storehouses.

    Storage Facility

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  • A Self Storage Unit To Keep Goods
    By admin on December 30, 2008 | 1 Comment1 Comment  Comments

    A self storage unit is used both for relocating and storing items. This is a very handy feature for people who want to relocate and would like to shift their belongings from one place to another. There are people who would like to hire professional movers for transporting the items from one place to another. But these movers charge a heavy fee for transporting the items. It is preferable to hire storing firms. They not only store the items but also move them from the residence of the tenant to the public storehouse. Some of these firms offer to move the belongings for free while others charge a nominal fee. In either case, the charges are lesser than those charged by dedicated packers and movers.

    Finding a self storage unit on highways is not uncommon. Storehouses of different sizes and types are seen flanking the highway roads. Some of them are boxes while others are mini buildings and warehouses. The buildings are used for long term or permanent storing while the boxes are used for temporary storing. The permanent constructions are immovable while the boxes are movable.  Hiring these storehouses seems to be a pretty easy job because people are able to hire them easily within minutes. The tenants bring their belongings and sign a contract with the firm providing the storehouse after being convinced about the terms and conditions mentioned in the contract.

    After that, the tenant opens the self storage unit and shoves his belongings into it and shuts the door of the storehouse after that. Though these are the fundamental steps, hiring and using a public storehouse might not be all that simple. It might involve a lot of other processes. The first and foremost thing that a tenant should realize is that the items that are placed in a storehouse should be adequately protected. Otherwise a lot of things can happen to the items placed in the storehouse. It is very important for one to hire a storehouse from a genuine firm for security reasons. One should be able to accurately estimate the size and type of storehouse that will meet his requirements.

    One should select a self storage unit and neatly arrange his belongings in it. The items that are accessed the least should be placed in the rear of the storehouse and the most frequently accessed ones should be placed in the front. The items should be arranged in rows and there should be walkways between the rows so that each and every item is easily accessible. Heavy items should not be placed on boxes that contain glassware or any fragile items because the lid might not be able to withstand the heavy weight and give in.

    Before selecting a storehouse one should think about the frequency of access. If a self storage unit is accessed very frequently, it should be located close by so that one can easily visit it conveniently without wasting much time in traveling. One should be able to judge the size of the storehouse one would like to hire. It is always better to choose a small storehouse and stack it to its full capacity rather than hire a large storehouse and leave some area unused. The small storehouses also are too large for those tenants who store only one or two items. Such people should opt for mini rental storehouses.

    Affordable Self Storage

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  • Security Please!
    By Natalie Thomas, blog manager on December 28, 2006 | No Comments  Comments

    Welcome to PhoneSmart’s self storage blog. A blog about trends, customer service, property management and sometimes a funny story.

    HOUSTON – Authorities were trying to figure out Tuesday how dozens of pieces of luggage belonging to air travelers ended up in a trash bin behind a Houston pet store.
    Associated Press release: 9:38 a.m. CT Dec 27, 2006

    What? Yes, you just read the first line of a story I saw on the internet. It seems that more than 50 bags from different international flights were found by the pet store owner. How does this happen? The bags did not get up and leave the airport themselves.
    What security measures do you have at your self storage facility? Do you have a fenced area that is only accessible to your clients? Do you have a well lit property? Do you have a manager that lives on the premises? Do you offer a gate code for each of your customers? Do you have security cameras throughout the property? StorageMart does and you should too. Its protection and peace of mind for your customers. Does it cost more to run a property with all of this security? Not really, but if you don’t let potential customers know what all goes into pricing a storage unit then they won’t know.

    Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive and business blog writer.

    PhoneSmart, your offsite call center sales force located in Columbia, Missouri.

    Your local self storage unit provider in 1723 E. Florida, Springfield, MO. 65803

    Quality Management Coaching available at Total Quality Assurance Services

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  • Selling Self Storage Property
    By Natalie Thomas, blog manager on December 12, 2006 | No Comments  Comments

    Welcome to the PhoneSmart self storage blog. We are PhoneSmart, your off site sales force. The Call Center in Columbia, Missouri offers an insider view of the self storage industry.

    Written by Liz Taylor, PhoneSmart Call Center Key Account
    Representative and business blog writer.

    Self Storage Auction Stuff

    Have you ever been to a self storage auction where the contents of storage units are auctioned off to the highest bidder? Some people make it their business. They go from storage facility to storage facility and buy the contents of storage units through auctions for resell.
    My youngest son has a friend his name is Allen. Allen purchases the contents of self storage units for resale. I am not sure how lucrative his business is but he appears to be doing very well. About a year ago I came home and found my son in the garage going through some boxes. He had a huge smile on his face and appeared to be very excited. He was moving rapidly through the boxes just like a little kid in kindergarten who just found a new box of toys. He looked up and saw me and said, ”Hey mom, what’s up? Check this out.” I asked him where this stuff came from. He had 3 pairs of Michael Jordan tennis shoes in three different colors. There were watches, (called “ blingers”), necklaces, and gangster looking clothes. The real nice big and baggy sweat suits that you see the rappers wear on TV. My son explained to me that Allen bought the contents of a self storage unit that belonged to a gangster who was currently serving time in prison. The gangster had a girlfriend who stopped paying rent on the self storage unit so it went up for auction. He was so excited that I just swallowed hard and smiled.
    One of the facets of the self storage business is disposal of contents of unpaid units. Many resale addicts and pack rats take advantage of this self storage secret.

    Your local self storage unit provider in 2816 Eaton Kansas City, KS. 66103

    Total Quality Assurance Services has quality management services.

    PDQ Management Solutions

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  • Snow can’t keep us from selling self storage
    By Sarah Little, Blog Executive on December 3, 2006 | No Comments  Comments

    We are back on the phones at the PhoneSmart Off-Site Sales Force Office in Columbia, MO.

    After record setting snow falls that caused the Governor of the State of Missouri to declare a state of disaster, PhoneSmart is back on the phones. Many of our reps are able to get out of their driveways and side streets and we are once again serving as sales back up for our many self storage clients. We apologize for the situation and we regret any inconvenience that it has caused you.

    I grew up in northern Wisconsin, so I love the winter. But this storm was particularly gruesome because it started as freezing rain. The roads turned very dangerous very quickly. This is why we closed the office Friday afternoon and sent everyone home. Then we got about an inch and a half of sleet covering the ground, which sealed the roads for everyone. We were a lot more fortunate than eastern Missouri, where the freezing rain lasted longer and the temperatures were a little warmer, which cause large ice build up on power lines and tress and lead to over half a million people loosing power.

    And then we had over a foot of snow ( in some places like my house over a foot and a half) drop on top of the ice and sleet.

    Since this was a highly unusual amount of snow, the snow crews had a very hard time getting streets cleared. For the first six hours of the storm, roads were so bad that many of the plows could not even get out.

    I salute the road crews, because by the time I left my house early this morning, they had even gotten to many of the side streets and back roads. Yesterday morning, only high clearance four wheel drives could get through. This morning anyone with decent tires can travel. And to top it off, the road crews were kind enough to push the snow away from my driveway and not in front of it when they cleared my street in the night. I wish I knew which driver it was and I’d give him a big hug.

    The last time Columbia had a snow like this was 12 years ago. We usually get a few inches here and there and maybe a half a foot once in a while. But this time, old man winter was not joking around.

    We are once again selling self storage units and providing sales back up for the self storage industry. Although the snow is beautiful and the kids are having a great time, we hope it is another 12 years before we get a snow like this.

    Stay tuned to the self storage blog and see what else happens to the self storage insiders at PhoneSmart. Every day is an adventure in off-site sales. Hopefully the next adventures will be a little less spectacular and a little more profitable.

    Tron Jordheim

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  • Lock It Up
    By Sarah Little, Blog Executive on August 28, 2006 | No Comments  Comments
    By Angela Perry, PhoneSmart call center trainer and self storage trend expert.
    Welcome to the PhoneSmart call center blog and insider diary of the self storage industry.
    I am outspoken and always willing to give my opinion when asked. I am asked quite frequently about what type of lock is needed for storage units. I let the caller know that we have a variety of locks, and when they come in they can choose from our wide selection.
    Offering catchy phrases such as, “You can choose from our good, better and best selection of lock.” Would be a good sales technique; the more description you can give the better.
    There are three different types of locks; the combination lock, the master key lock and then the disc lock. The basic combination lock has a three-digit combination and is usually the least expensive. It can easily cause extra expense if the combination is forgotten; in self storage facilities it is the customer’s responsibly to pay for cutting the lock. Not only do they have to pay for it to be cut off, they must replace the lock.
    The next type of lock is the standard master key lock. The disc lock, however, is thought to be the most secure and tamper proof. It is generally favored for a self storage unit.
    My personal preference is the standard lock. I tell the customer that this will remove the stress of trying to remember a three-digit combination or, if they do forget the combination they might forget where they wrote it down. The disc lock can be an unwieldy expense for moving into self storage. It is feasible to go with the standard lock and key. “Just add another key to your keychain. That way it is always with you and there is nothing to remember as your keys are always with you’re when traveling.”
    Locks play a key part in the all important security self storage customers are looking for. Choosing the correct type of lock is very important and your knowledge of locks can be an effective sales technique.

    Self Storage in Florida
    1300 West 49th Street
    Hialeah, FL 33012
    Manager: Fidel Rodriguez
    Ph: (305) 826-4119
    Fax: (305) 826-1562
    Sate of the Art Security including individual Door Alarms
    Call Fidel today for your $50 coupon!

    Total Quality Assurance Services Measures Quality Assurance

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  • You Called Us!
    By Natalie Thomas, blog manager on August 9, 2006 | No Comments  Comments

    Welcome to our insightful PhoneSmart self storage blog. We offer an insider view of the self-storage industry.

    Angela Perry, trainer gives advice on the need and challenges of obtaining caller information.

    In this age of instant electronic information people are becoming wary and reluctant to give out personal information such as their social security number, their yearly gross income, bank account information, etc. Those who are victims of identity theft are especially hesitant. I have some callers in our storage business that will refuse to hold a self storage unit with a credit card whether it is being charged for a pre payment or not, they do not want to give the number out. I try to explain to them that we are on a secure line and that they are the ones that called us. I try to reassure them that they are aware of who is on the other end of the phone as they called us. I do feel as though that there is a certain level of fear that goes through their mind as they are making the calls. There comes a time when it is healthy to let go of the past and move forward. Those who are in a car accident (and if able to drive) get back in the car and drive again. Identity theft victims have been seriously scalded and it is very difficult for them to let go of their fears that it would happen again. Many of them have had their credit completely ruined. I do everything I can to reassure them that we are a company that takes pride in our services and our integrity of our call center. I let them know that since I have worked here I know of no instance where we have abused a credit card .We take thousands of numbers and have set procedures to insure that the information is not disseminated elsewhere. When I relay my confidence in our company about 1/3 of them will give me their credit card number.

    Self Storage in Illinois Next to Hamman Farm, on the corner of Eola & New York in Aurora, IL. Call Eva (630) 820-8785

    Advanced Telecommunication at Total Quality Assurance Services

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