» Self Storage
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One Stop ShopBy Joel on June 3, 2011 | No Comments
When you think of storage properties you probably think that storage is their only service. There will be many times when a customer feels that they need to go some where else in order to get the rest of their things needed for self storage. This is not the case. While many just have storage, other facilities have all the moving and storage supplies that you need for storage. Some sites also have a big investment in the moving truck industry. So before you make any decision on which self storage facility you would like to rent from, see if they have all that you need in order to store.
As a whole a customer does not want to bother with going to many different places in order to get all their storage needs taken care of. They would rather go to one place to get everything taken care of. Typically when you are looking to store your belongings in a self storage facility, you will need a method to get your belongings to the facility, a lock on the door of your storage unit, and of course an array of boxes. A customer would be very happy if a facility said that they could provide all of those things for them.
In order to attract many new self storage customers, they will offer a moving truck for free if you are also getting a storage unit. Depending on the facility and the owner there could be one truck or a number of trucks that are available for the customer to use. The manager of the facility will explain to the customer the different restrictions on the truck so that the customer fully understands the costs. The manager does not want any issues when it comes to the truck usage so they will have the customer sign a document that states they fully understand.
When a facility is able to give the customer everything that they need they seem to want to rent from that facility. When a storage facility is able to be a one stop shop for a customer to rent from, they are ensured to be a success in the self storage industry. -
Self Storage BillingBy Joel on May 22, 2011 | No Comments
Not all self storage sites were created equal. It is true that the different sites offer various features and benefits than other sites. When you are shopping around looking for the best facility to fit your needs, it is important to know how the facilities will do their billing. With this knowledge, you can truly understand how you are paying and also how much you are paying.
If you move in during the middle of the month, most sites will prorate your move in so that you are going to pay for the remaining days of the month. This is good because you are paying for the time that you are there and not the entire month. It does not really make sense to pay for the time that you are not storing. Prorating your move in days is very helpful to your peace of mind and also your pocket book.
If a site has 1st of the month billing, they actually will not typically prorate the move out. If you are only there a couple of days, then that could potentially be different. Very rarely you will find that a facility will prorate the move out and you only pay for the time that you are renting. In most cases the facility will ask that you pay for the rest of the month even if you are not there. Not all believe that to be fair, but at the same time, this prevents customers from abusing the self storage facility. Leases are typically month to month so you can leave at the end of your prorated time.
Knowing how your billing works at your self storage facility is crucial. They will not send you a bill unless you ask for one. So just know that you will need to bring your account current each month on the first of the month if that is now it is set up. Before you leave, the manager will make sure that you understand the billing cycle.
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Self Storage Places For Your ConvenienceBy admin on February 26, 2009 | No Comments
A common problem of every home, office and commercial establishment today is limited space. You may shift to a larger house which is more spacious and big than your current home. But have ever thought that this home will not always remain like this. Well, after a few years you will again start feeling a crunch of space and need of some renovations and additions to fit in some extra items. But how long does a person keep shifting or keep making additions and adjustments to his home? There has to be a solution. It is here that the self storage comes to use, which acts as a storehouse for all extra household goods. If you are thinking that this is the case of homes only, then you should know that offices are no better. Office spaces are reduced to a large extent and whatever extra that requires to be stored has to be tucked away in some other places. Since there are many confidential things that need to be stored in a secure manner, companies usually try to avail the services of organizations that offer the facilities of self storage .
Depending on the services provided by your storing property management company , you can stop worrying about packaging and shifting of the items also that need to be stored. There are companies which provide packing services also right at your doorstep. Once the formalities are over, the representatives of the company usually suggest and make plans of packaging and shifting the goods. The main advantage of these units is that your goods are in safe hands. You have the keys of the place and you can visit the place anytime that you need to. Most of these places have climate control facilities, so in case you are wondering about your perishable goods, you need not worry. The self storage organizations provide several kinds of facilities. A number of benefits can be availed from these services, such as twenty four hours helpline. You may call from any part of the world and at any time, the customer service assistant will solve your needs. Moreover there are cafeterias and restaurants available in many of these organizations where you can relax and rest for some time, while sipping a refreshing cup of coffee while your goods are being packed.
Companies offer privileges and discounts from time to time for the benefits of the customers. If you log in to their websites you will know about their seasonal discounts or even super saver deals that are offered from time to time. However, most of them have terms and conditions related to the storing, hence it is important that before you subscribe to anyone of them, you know a little bit about the terms that maybe associated so that future hassles are avoided. There are many companies who offer self storage guidance to the customers who hire their services. A session is held when the customer is explained about the storing process, price structure and facilities offered so that the customer is well aware of the expectations.
If you are wondering how to get in touch with these self storage organizations, then internet is an easy option. You can easily get an organization of your choice, make comparisons in price structures of different companies and then make a choice of a company. This is easy, affordable and much more convenient.
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Self Storage IndustryBy admin on January 16, 2009 | No Comments
The self storage organizations are experiencing a lot of success in the present times as more and more people are hiring rental storehouses for their various needs. But at the same time the members of the industry are experiencing a lot of competition and are finding it hard to survive due to the highly competitive market conditions. The storehouse entrepreneurs and operators need to acquaint and equip themselves with a lot of good marketing strategies to survive in the industry. They need to be knowledgeable of the key realities of the industry and some tried and tested trade secrets that will allow them to survive in it.
The community self storage entrepreneurs can cope with the adverse effects of the economic recession if they arm themselves with some marketing tactics. There might be a global recession at the moment, but that will not affect the industry if the players know how to play their cards well. The entrepreneurs have to learn that marketing is the most important aspect of running any professional venture successfully. Without marketing one will not be able to excel or rather stay at par with the competitors.
The first thing that must be done is to plan out the marketing strategy. The rules of the market should be known, understood, implemented and abided by. The self storage promotion experts should write down the plan formulated by them. Then the plan should be implemented. The planning can be detailed but not to the extent of hindering any progress in terms of risk considerations. Start implementing the plan as soon as it is made. There is no necessity to wait till it has been worked out to the minutest detail. In this way, it will not be mobilized at all. The ideal way is to make a good outline of the entire plan and modify or detail it out in the course of its implementation. This will save the time that is spent in modifying parts that have already been planned.
Generally the self storage operators have to make amendments in their plans owing to the effects of fluctuations in the market economy or the changing demands of the customers. Many storehouses are opened with the purpose of catering to the requirements of an undeserved market. This is done to attract clients and establish themselves in the market. Once competition starts the storehouse entrepreneurs have to come up with novel and useful offers to retain their existing clients and attract new ones. For example some storehouses might offer increased security while others might offer an online billing system.
Offering new features to stand apart from the rest is a tough task and the marketing team of a community self storage firm has to prove its mettle in such situations. The team has to analyze the pulse of its clients and exercise its creative juices to yield results that will compel its clients to stay with the firm. The storehouse operators should come to terms with the reality that a marketing strategy, however good, does not guarantee any success. But the lessons that are learnt during the implementation of the strategy are very valuable and greatly help in designing better strategies. This will ensure designing perfect strategies in due course of time that will eventually work in attracting new clients and retaining the old ones.
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Self Storage ContainersBy admin on December 29, 2008 | No Comments
A public self storage designed to preserve valuable items in a good condition for a long time. There are different types of storing facilities and resources for storing different types of precious items. However, one should remember that all storehouses prohibit storing certain items. For example, storing of inflammable items is not allowed by many storing firms. State laws determine the type of items that can be stored. The firms draft out contracts that specify the type of items that can be stored. A tenant should first of all read his contract carefully before hiring out a storehouse.
The boxes that are stored in the self storage should be labeled on all sides for easy identification. While arranging the items care should be taken to keep the items away from the wall so that there is ample space between the items and the wall for ventilation. The boxes should be packed very close to each other so that no moisture gets accumulated between them. Security of belongings is of prime concern. Although the items kept in public storehouses are adequately protected by security equipment, it is always recommended that the individual boxes are locked. Though expensive, high quality locks should be used. Disc locks are preferred to the locks of other types because breaking them or cutting them is a Herculean task. Locking the self storage will ensure one hundred percent safety to the items kept in the rental unit.
All the items that are stored should be listed out. An inventory of the items that are placed in the storehouses should be made. This should be carefully preserved in a secure place in the house or in a public safety vault. The contents of boxes should always be listed out and labeled to the box on all the four sides. The boxes should be numbered on all the sides to avoid confusion and easy placement. This is of utmost importance when breakable or delicate items are placed in the box. This will ensure that the box is placed upright. Placing the box upside down might result in the damage of items placed on it. The self storage boxes should be sealed with a masking tape or glue tape to ensure that the lid does not open out easily.
The breakable items should be packed in paper before being placed in the boxes. The firms providing public storing amenities have plenty of supplies. A lot of storing boxes can be bought or hired from them. They supply special boxes for storing breakable or fragile items. They have boxes exclusively designed for storing dishes. It is always better to pack glassware individually. The cups and bowls should be nested. Platters, plates and saucers should be kept upright. The glassware should be wrapped and placed near the top of cartons.
There should not be any free area between the items packed in the self storage boxes. The items might bang against each other and hence break or get damaged. The empty areas should be filled with packing material, so that the items do not bang against each other. The boxes containing glassware should be labeled. Only items that are light in weight should be placed on boxes containing glassware or fragile items. The lid of the boxes might not be able to withstand heavy weights.
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Listen, Really ListenBy admin on December 27, 2006 | No Comments
In a previous self storage blog, I talked about the importance of active listening in self storage sales. In this blog, I want to discuss several ways that you can apply your active listening skills. As I mentioned before, listening to the customer can help determine what their self storage needs are. You can also tell by listening which direction the call is going to go. You can tell whether the caller is going to rent from you, is just shopping, or is calling just to speak with the manager.There are several ways to go about applying active listening. The first way is that you can have some scratch paper and a pencil handy to write information down. This is a good way to remember what you’ve talked about and a helpful sales technique. There is a drawback to writing things down. The drawback is that you may concentrate too much on writing things down that you forget some things that they said. A good way to actively listen is to repeat back to the caller what they said. For example, you can restate to them the reason that they are calling. Repeating information back to the customer lets them know that you heard what they said. Applying these listening skills will help you communicate with the customer better.Written by Ronald Smith PhoneSmart call center reservations specialist and business blog writer.
Thank you for visiting our blog. We offer an insider diary of the self storage industry, it’s trends and often a funny story.
We are PhoneSmart your off site sales force call center in Columbia, Missouri.
Your local self storage unit provider in 9702 W. 67th St. Merriam, KS. 66203
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These Are A Few of My Favorite ThingsBy admin on December 21, 2006 | No Comments
The Version Julie Andrews Never Sang…
This blog is homage to the art that is answering the telephone. I think as the highest form of intelligence on the planet, the phone representative has to endure several different trying life experiences on a daily basis.Here is my list of favorite trying call experiences:Somebody breathing on the other end but they never say anything.
Somebody asking to store dead bodies.
Somebody calling for Metro PCS.
Somebody demanding to pay the rent that is already late.
Somebody yelling at me because they are locked in the property.
Somebody yelling at me because they are locked out of the property.
Somebody yelling at me for something I didn’t do but they are making it my fault anyway.
Somebody yelling and saying mean things for something Idid not do but they are making my fault anyway.
Picking up to a fax signal.I think it takes a big person who can take one of the calls and still manage to calm the caller down instead of saying what is really on their mind. Believe me, it is not easy being the bigger person. I feel better about myself for not having to stoop down to the same level. After all, we are the highest form of intelligence on the planet. There is no need to befoul that title with a temporary lapses in judgment.Written by Julio Montes, PhoneSmart call center evening supervisor.Thank you for visiting the PhoneSmart call center blog an insider diary of the self storage industry.We are PhoneSmart your off site sales force call center in Columbia, MissouriYour local self storage unit provider in 1575 Thousand Oaks San Antonio, TX. 78232
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Weathering Self StorageBy admin on December 7, 2006 | No Comments
Welcome to PhoneSmart’s self storage blog, a blog about the self storage industry.
Written by Angela Perry, call center trainer and representitive and business blog writer.
I know that there is a local grocery store that calls themselves, “The Stock Up Store.” With knowing this store well I feel that with the excessive snowfall that we received here in Columbia, Missouri that more than this store used this phrase, perhaps even in self storage. I was homebound from the snow but once I was able to be mobile again I decided to go and stock up on some necessary things. This included personal hygiene items, toiletries, canned goods and other items for lasting and warm meals such as chili and pasta. I figured that if I was ever to be homebound again then I would be prepared unlike I was a few days ago. I found myself even inquiring about self storage for my vehicle. As previously mentioned, I have a double car garage at my residence but that can not protect my vehicle from the extreme snowfall or cold weather (that can crack windshields if too cold) while I am at work. With all the research and planning that I did I was wondering if the self storage industry was affected in a positive way by this snowfall or did it hinder the sales of self storage industry. Either way I would like to advise everyone reading this self storage blog to become a “stock up store” and be prepared in every way possible as you never know what is coming or to what extent it is coming.PhoneSmart, your offsite sales force call center in Columbia, Missouri.
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Knowledge is PowerBy admin on June 30, 2006 | No Comments
Sarah Little, Secret Shop Specialist helps us understand the need for product and service knowledge
Welcome to the PhoneSmart Call Center blog and insider view of the self-storage industryKnowing more about your industry will help you become a better sales person. When I began working in the PhoneSmart call center I didn’t know a lick about self storage . I had no idea how many people need storage. I was pretty naïve in the beginning and I thought it was a peaceful, hidden industry. Boy was I wrong! Self-Storage is a tough industry and you really have to work at it.Whether you’re a customer or the owner, the more you know the better your decisions will be. The customer for example, will make more informed decisions once they learn about security features, deposit and admin fees, locks, etc. And the owner will be able to make better decisions for his business with the more knowledge he gains about his industry. It’s a good idea for owners and managers to attend a few expos or Self Storage Association seminars.Things like call centers, secret shopping, and sales training are all part of what sets some facilities apart from others. To get the cutting edge on these trends you have to keep up on new technologies and services and associations are a great place to meet vendors and see what your competitors are up to as well.
Even a well seasoned business person has to keep up with changes and even take a few risks on new ideas, but the more you know about your industry’s needs and preferences the better your decisions will be and less guess work will be involved.PhoneSmart Your Source for Lead Generation
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How Did You Hear About Us?By admin on June 14, 2006 | No Comments
PhoneSmart call center operator Wendy Lane advises us to pay attention to this question.
Welcome to the PhoneSmart self storage blog, a diary of the self storage industry.When you answer the phone to help someone with storage do you ever think of where your marketing dollars are working the most for you? One little phrase you can use to find out is, “how did you hear about us”? This phrase gives you everything you need to know when deciding where to use your marketing budget. Whether it is the phone book, flyers, newspaper ads or just driving by, you know where your money is working the best. On every call you can track your responses. This is an efficient way to find out just one simple little question. That way when you are deciding to put a new ad out there somewhere you know what is going to work best for your store and it only takes a moment to find out!I know it is busy right now and you probably have people on the phone and also in the store to get storage but if you take a few moments to find out where they heard about you from you are saving your company money in the future so it does not go on an ad that never reaches anyone! That can also mean more money for you!PhoneSmart Your Offsite Sales Solution
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