Most units in Kansas have decent security features. It would be very helpful to become familiar with not only what features are available, but also what benefits the callers will receive from the features in place. Any decent Merriam self storage site will have a pin access controlled gate. This is kind of a basic feature as opposed to the past when it was a luxury. The customer will just need to enter their pin code to get into the facility. This could present some bad situations if they lose their pin code. However, bad security is nothing to fool around with. The pros of a pin access controlled gate far outweigh the cons. The gate will do very little good if the site is not surrounded by good security fencing. Customers will often want to visit the site to determine the quality of the gate and the fence. Make sure that everything is up to date at your facility. If you gate is outdated, you should look into getting a new one. Constant investment is necessary if you are managing a Merriam self storage property.

Video camera surveillance is a necessity since most sites in Kansas will have some level of video camera surveillance. The site should have several cameras set up to see the whole property. Some Merriam self storage sites will only have a couple of cameras set up so you will need to explain this to the caller to convince them that your site is better even if it does cost a little bit extra. Door alarms are also a very attractive feature. Do not just say that your facility has door alarms, but personalize the feature to the caller. Tell them, instead, that the units are individually alarmed so their unit will have its own individual alarm. This is an example of how to transfer ownership. It is not a storage unit; it is their storage unit, a big difference.

There may be a few other security features, but those are the main four. Some sites may have motion activated laser monitoring or something extravagant, but it probably will not be anything that would close the sale. Some sites have security guards and guard dogs, but, these are usually an indication of a property that is in a bad part of town. If you have never had a break in, tell the caller. Let them know that most sites have had break-ins from time to time, but your site is different. Safety and security are priorities for a lot of callers so make sure not to leave that kind of stuff out of the sales presentation.

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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A lot of callers will store vehicles. It is important to ask them a little information about what kind of vehicle they are storing. For a standard car of truck, a ten by twenty is the size that you should typically recommend. The ceiling height may be an issue for some Frankfort self storage who are storing larger trucks. Make sure to go over your ceiling height so that you are able to let the caller know if they can store at your property. If they have a small compact car, they might be able to get a ten by fifteen. Some may try to get a ten by ten, but that is just not a good idea so you should probably stay away from this. Also, there will be callers that are unhappy with the price. You should offer them an outside space because they will cost a lot less money. It will not offer the same protection from the weather elements of Kentucky but you should be able to save them some money if that is what their priority is.

Other types of vehicles that will be stored at Frankfort self storage locations will be boats, RVs, and even semi trucks. This will require a lot of space so you may not be able to help the caller. Ask them the measurements and see if you have anything big enough to accommodate. If you do not have the size that they need, do not force the issue. That will not do anybody any good to try to squeeze them into a space that just do not work. Be honest and let the Frankfort self storage caller know that you are unable to help them. You may be able to recommend a company that is close by to help them. Do not be afraid to offer them a referral to a different company if you are unable to help them. This is just good customer service and may gain you rentals in the future when they are looking to store something else.

A Frankfort self storage caller calls in and just has some holiday decorations and some boxes. This is not going to require a big space. They should be fine with a five by five. It is a small space, but there is a lot of vertical space so they should be fine. If they have a lot of boxes, you may want to offer the next size up, but they should definitely come take a look at the five by five first. Ask them if the have time to stop by so that you can determine the exact size that they need. A five by five could actually hold up to thirty standard file size boxes.

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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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.

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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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.

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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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

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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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

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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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

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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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

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

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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

Self Storage Auction Stuff

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

Total Quality Assurance Services has quality management services.

PDQ Management Solutions

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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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

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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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

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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

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

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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Welcome to the Phone Smart blog. We share this indiser view of the self-storage industry.

Mobile Storage

Secret Shopping Blog Your inside peek

Property Management Blog The ins and outs of property management

Self Storage Search Engine Self Storage in Missouri

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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“The Wheel”

Sometimes as we sit in our cubicles staring at the screen and waiting for the phone to ring we may feel a bit disconnected from the outside world and from the stores that we serve. We have callers who are happy, polite, nice, sad, angry, stressed out and down right nasty. We answer the same questions call after call, day after day, and count our credit card reservations as the measure of our accomplishment. We fret over our numbers, our percents, and our evaluation scores and develop a sort of tunnel vision that wears down our spirits.

If we start to look and think beyond those numbers we can begin to see a greater importance in the work we do. Just imagine that you are a busy working mother of three needing to retrieve your extra bed from your storage unit for an emergency overnight guest. It is 7 PM and the office at your storage facility closed at 6:30. You know that the gate is working later than that but you don’t want to drive over there if you won’t be able to get in. You call the office number hoping against hope that they are working late and you might luck out. You get a message “press 1 for information” and expecting a recording you hear the friendly voice of a live person who assures you that the gate is working until 9PM.

Imagine that you are tenant of your local storage facility. It is 10 PM and you need to catch a plane first thing in morning. Your bill is due and you are concerned about getting it paid on time. When you call and friendly live person tells you that you can pay your bill online and gives the web page address.

Imagine you are shopping for a storage unit and looking for the best value. You call and call getting answering machines or people who give you a price in a bored voice and hurry you off the line. Then you make one more call that rolls to us and you get a friendly, knowledgeable person who guides you though the selection process and sends your request and your information to the manager so that they can contact you and have the opportunity to serve you.

Imagine that you are a businessman with a very busy schedule and you need to store a sudden influx of excess inventory. You are constantly on the run and cannot spare the time to keep calling if the store does not answer. You call, perhaps expecting a recording and get a friendly voice that helps you select a unit that will work for you, gets the paperwork information started and even reserves the unit you need.

Imagine that you are a tenant and you enter your unit, the door swings closed behind you and locks. You know that the managers have left for the evening. You call out on your cell phone and get a friendly person who calls the alternate number and help is on the way.

Imagine you are the manager of the store that these calls were taken for getting information that will aid in increasing your store profits by having the opportunity to talk with the one that might have gotten away and assisting customers with immediate special needs.

Imagine yourself not a small person sitting in a cubicle in fly-over country staring at the screen, waiting for a call, but at the hub of a huge wheel whose spokes reach out across North America. Imagine the gratitude of the mother of three, the person anxious to pay his bill on time and the businessman with a need, the poor soul trapped inside his unit. Imagine your value to the store that you serve.

Imagine that!

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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First Question… We are getting CC reservations which we are following up on immediately with no response from that caller. While this is not something you can control, I was wondering how often you hear about this occurring.

Response…It is pretty standard that people are already away from the phone by the time our clients’ store staff calls back the leads and reservations we send.

This is why it is so important that we get to talk to the callers for you…they usually only devote a short period of time to their storage search and then they are on to the next thing. Whoever talks to them when they are ready to talk about storage gets the deal.

We have found that an answering machine message is effective in this case. Your staff can leave a great follow-up message for those who are already gone from their phones after we have taken the lead or reservation.

Whether you say this in person or on the voicemail, it will be equally effective in giving the person a great feeling about choosing your facility and will boost your conversion rates tremendously.

“Hi, I am the manager at XYZ storage, I just wanted to follow-up with you to say we got your reservation for Saturday for the 10×10 climate controlled unit. We have processed your $10.00 pre-payment, which is not an extra charge, but counts towards your first month rent. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday. We’ll be in the office from 10 am to 3 pm. If you need anything to help your move like boxes, supplies or a rental truck, let me know and I’ll take care of it. My name is Bob and you can call me at 212-555-1234. Thanks again for choosing WYZ storage.”

Second Question… We have gotten several reservations
sent to the stores for the completely opposite size than what they
needed (i.e. a customer wanted a 5×5, and the sheet said that your
center recommended a 20×10)

Response…When we select a unit type and then write in the manager notes “really needs (a different size)”, this means you were sold out of the size that the caller wanted. Our system only shows the units that you have available. It will not show a unit with zero available. And our sytem will not allow us to creat a lead without selecting a unit type. So in this case we select any old unit, so we can create the lead.

However, we will not tell a caller, “Sorry we don’t have what you are looking”, for and let them hang up. We will tell the caller that we don’t know what units are coming available shortly and that the unit they want may come available just when they need it. We then take the lead and send it to you so your staff people can look at their customer list and follow up with the caller to get them into the unit they want as soon as it opens up.

This is also why it is important to keep your unit mix and availability up to date. Your odds of renting to someone we can get a credit card reservation from is far greater than someone who we just create a lead for on a unit that you don’t show open.

I hope this helps everyone manage their leads more effectivbely and rent more units!

bye for now,
Tron

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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So how many other people have we talked to in the last week or so that are calling back to reserve their units? If your sales techniques are sound, you should be renting to 100% of those call backs. Self storage trends show that people do not check out that many stores before making a decision. So if you make a good first impression and allow people to sell themselves on the value of your store, even the ones who you think got away will call you back to rent a unit.
bye for now, Tron.

Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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