After convincing the kids that this will be coolest family outing they have ever been on you have to get them to pack. You pack food, clothes and do not forget the sun block for when you are on the beach. You start loading your home on wheels and as you look around at your road ship, and you are very content about the road trip you are about to take your family on. Everyone files into the vehicle of entertainment and you go to start the engine. It does not turn. You have a look of bewilderment as you try to struggle to get the engine to turn over to get you and your family on the road. You then realize that maybe the harsh winter season took its toll on vehicle. You investment of thousands of dollars is now without an engine. You sigh and realize you should have used RV storage .

RV storage gives you a way store your recreational vehicle during times of non-use. You can have your vehicle protected against the elements that can cause major harm to it. There are many different facilities that have this type of service available for you to use. You just have to pick the right one for your needs.

When you are looking to store, you have to understand that you are looking for a place that can house your large vehicle. So you do not want to have a place that does not have wide aisles for you to drive your vehicle down or an opening in their gate large enough for it pass through. Depending on the area in which you live, you have to determine whether or not you want to store your vehicle with outside parking or inside storing.

With outside RV storage , your vehicle is still susceptible to the elements. There are some places in the nation in which there are no extreme weather changes and it might be ok to store your vehicle outside. Make you sure you have it completely secure and take anything out of it that has any value.

With inside RV storage , you have to find a place that has huge spaces. You are looking at a space that should accommodate the full size of your recreational vehicle. Most places recommend you rent a 15×50 space or larger. Once again, the actual size depends on how big your vehicle is. There are some places who even entertain the idea of having a condominium for your vehicle. If you are going to store for a long time and it is worth the price for you to so, that might be a viable option.

As you can see, there are many different methods to RV storage . There is outside, inside, and permanent condominium storing for your recreational vehicle. Make sure you have your license and registration handy no matter where you store. They will be looking for that.

Miramar Storage

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

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• Spring cleaning and do not have any more room in the house or attic
• Relatives are coming to visit and the guest room is full of stuff
• College student need place to store stuff for the summer so they do not have to take it home
• Marriage or the combining of two households
• Divorce
• Separation
• New Baby
• Wedding
• Purchased an old car and need a place to park it
• Garage or yard sale
• Downsizing the current home to a smaller one
• Moving apartments
• Going out of the country for an extended length of time
• Military deployment
• Renovation
• Remodeling
• Fire damage
• Water damage
• Storm damage
• Older parent moving into the home
• Too many collectables
• Business
• Files
• Merchandise
• Moving to a new area
• Pharmaceutical samples

Call centers get hundreds of reasons why people need to rent self storage and calling into a call center is not the only way to rent a unit.

Another way to rent a unit is to go online. If you do a search on the Internet you will be bombarded with hits on how to rent a unit. Many companies are jumping on the bandwagon and making sure that they get Internet exposure. Lots of people are taking advantage of the large amount of information available on the Internet. When you find a company that will rent self storage to you, you will find out other interesting things on their website. One thing all rental websites should have is contact information. You can call into the office or on some sites you can rent while online. The website will connect you to a secure page and ask you for some information. This information is then sent to the company and someone there will get in touch with you. Some sites will give you a reference number and you just need to take that to the office to get your unit.

Another item that all rental websites should have is directions to the facility. This should be very clear and make sense to all who will read it. Some sites will even have a map on the page and show you where they are located. This feature is helpful if you live in the area or are coming from out of town.

Some rental websites will offer special online discounts in either a coupon you can print off or a special to mention when you go into rent. This can be a great way to save some money when you go to rent self storage.

Many rental places are making sure that they ask each caller and walk in customer about where they heard about the business. This is an important marketing tool that allows the office to track where people are looking for information about rental units. 

Check around when you are looking to rent self storage, you will find lots of information out there. Now all you have to do is decided which one.

Self Storage

New Hampshire Car Storage

Miami Storage

August 2007 Total Quality Assurance Service Blog Archive

Wine Storage

Self Storage Article Directory – Self Storage Advertising and Marketing

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

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Some of the options you may consider when investigating self storage Dallas facilities include

Lease term.  Do you need a storage facility for an indefinite period or just a month?  The price that you pay may be determined by the amount of time you wish to lease the space.  Naturally, if you want to lease your space longer, you can get a better deal on your self storage Dallas unit.  Storage unit rates also rise and fall with the summer and winter, as there is more demand for storage in the spring and summer months.

Rent terms.  Can you pay your rent monthly or do you have to pay annually?  You should find a storage facility that will accommodate your payment needs.  Most of the self storage Dallas facilities will require you to pay on a monthly basis.  Others will ask that you pay up front for the entire storage lease.  Make sure that you study the rent terms before you sign the rental agreement. Storage facilities also accept various forms of payment, which may include check, money order, cash and even auto-payment options.

Size of space.  There is quite an assortment of space when it comes to self storage Dallas units.  You can rent a small or large space, depending on your needs.  Some people, naturally, need larger spaces than others.  Most of the self storage Dallas is the size of a one car garage. 

Use of space.  If you are planning on storing questionable items, such as those that run on gasoline or firearms, make sure that they are not prohibited in your lease.  Study the list of prohibited items before you sign a contract for a self storage Dallas facility. 

Climate control.  It can get hot in Dallas, especially in the summer.  In order to make sure that your items are kept cool, you will want to look into climate control.  Make sure that your self storage Dallas unit has climate control so that your stored items are not exposed to excessive heat. 

Safety features.  You will want to make sure that your self storage Dallas unit locks and that you are the only one, besides the facility, who has the key.  You will also want to inquire with regard to the hours of the facility.  Some facilities have a gate and are open all hours.  Others are only open at specified times.  If you are planning on going to your unit in the middle of the night, you will want to make sure that it is safe and that the facility has a gate to keep others who do not belong in the area, out. 

Insurance.  How safe are your items at your self storage Dallas facility?  Chances are that they are very safe, but you want to be sure that you have some sort of insurance, just in case something goes wrong.  Insurance should cover fire and theft, even though the facility has safety features. 

Take a look at the many different self storage Dallas facilities before you choose the one that is right for you. 

Hawaii Storage Units

StorageMart Mannheim & Belmont Franklin Park, IL 60131

Automobile Storage

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

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Last week there were terrible storms all across the central and the southern states. Flying from St. Louis through Dallas to get to Las Vegas means when weather is bad in the central states, flights are delayed and cancelled and people often get only half way to where they want to go. Weather can sometimes cause problems for self storage too. If ice and snow are not removed promptly, people have a hard time accessing their units. Storms can cause roofs to leak. Even though self storage facilities do all they can to stay dry, big winds and hard rains can win out over a good roof.

What response strategies and new protocols do self storage owners use? Self storage owners are trying more self service strategies and are looking for ways to improve. But self storage is still very focused on new customer acquisition and is not paying much attention to current self storage customers, even though surveys will typically say that anywhere from 5 to 20 percent of renters come from referrals or previous customers.

Airlines are making better progress. Yes, they make a lot more money than self storage and airlines depend on repeat business. The airlines also realize that when travel plans go wacko, things can get very ugly for customers. One airline has added a very nice feature to its customer service and reservation system. You can enter your cell phone number into their system so when you call in, you are recognized and your itinerary is referenced without having to go though any steps. So while sitting on the runway hoping to take off, a traveler can easily call in to the reservation center and rebook connecting flights before even taking off. Although this does not cure weather delays, it does make the whole process of rebooking much easier and far less stressful. It makes getting to a self storage conference a lot easier. I realize most self storage operations do not have the capital to invest in this kind of infrastructure. But the cost of technology continues to drop as time goes by. Maybe we are not far away from a time when self storage companies can offer some very easy and very friendly ways for current customers to solve their problems.

Alabama Storage Units

StorageMart Eola Rd & New York Aurora, IL 60504

Self Storage

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

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Self storage requires that tenants bring their items to the self storage facility and then place them into a storage unit. They must then retrieve their items as they need them and bring them back to their home. Once it is all said and done, a self storage tenant moves their belongings no less than four times because they first move them from their home into a car or truck. Next, they have to move them out of the car or truck and into a storage unit. To get their items back, they once again have to move them from the storage unit back into a car or truck. Lastly, a customer has to move them out of their vehicle and back into their home. All that unnecessary moving is eliminated by using the conveniences of mobile mini storage.

Mobile mini storage can cut the labor of moving by half, allowing a customer to move their items just twice. Most mobile mini storage providers deliver a mobile mini storage unit to your driveway or sidewalk outside your home or apartment. Once the mobile mini storage unit, is delivered, a customer can move their items directly into the unit where their belongings will be safely kept. Thus eliminating the packing and unpacking of a car or moving truck. The mobile mini storage unit is then re-delivered to the same address or to the new address of the customer and they can then easily put their belongings back into their home.

Another benefit of mobile mini storage is that it saves the cost of renting a moving van. However, a customer considering mobile mini storage should ask each storage provider what fees may be associated with the delivery and re-delivery fee. Most mobile storage companies do charge delivery fees in addition to monthly rent. Yet many storage customers find that mobile mini storage is still the most affordable and convenient, especially with the rising gas prices. Renting a moving truck usually requires a deposit, flat rate, mileage rate and returning the truck with a full tank of gas. That can all add up quickly and should be weighed against the cost of mobile mini storage delivery fees.

Mobile mini storage has some other advantages over self storage. Once a tenant has placed their items in the container, it is returned to a warehouse for safe keeping. Because there is no public access to the property and  mobile containers are stacked two to three high, vandalism and theft are extremely difficult. It is also a standard that the mobile mini storage warehouse provides a climate controlled environment.

Mobile mini storage does come with some disadvantages that one should consider. For example, a customer needing frequent access to his or her storage unit may find the convenience of self storage because of the extended access hours and freedom of stopping by to shuffle through a few boxes at their leisure. Accessing a mobile storage vault usually requires advanced notice, at least a few hours, so that the staff at the storage facility can pull the vault out of the warehouse. In addition, access may be limited to one or two times per month, which could result in additional fees for customers needing access that is more frequent.

Canada Storage Units

Acorn Mini Storage

StorageMart I-95 & Griffin. Dania Beach, FL

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

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Even though we try our best, sometimes our directions are not accurate. The name of that grocery store has changed or that restaurant has been torn down. It can be very frustrating for phone reps, and our admin department tries their best to keep everything up to date.

PhoneSmart is taking the guess work out of dated information with their on line updating service. This website allows each individual self storage site that is our customer to go online and update any information that we are giving to potential self storage callers. Why is this so important? Being up to date in your business information allows PhoneSmart to be able to turn around and relay that information about your self storage facility to the caller. If you only have one 10×10 left then you do not want 3 different callers to want to rent that particular unit. Taking that quick minute will save you the potential confusion with customers when they want that last 10×10 but you rented it two hours ago and did not update your site. This program is also great for updating holidays and unexpected times out of the office, when bad weather may strike or a power outage in the neighborhood.  

That is one of many reasons it is fun to take a call from someone needing storage in Mid-Missouri, where we are located. We are not only reading local directions off of a computer screen, but we actually know where the local self storage facility is located and the easiest way for a customer to get there. You can even put in some other landmarks that you may know into the conversation to help guide the caller to the appropriate self storage location. And every now and again it turns out we know our caller. My co-worker just had a call from her brother’s next-door neighbor. Talk about a small world!

If you would like information on how you can turn your missed calls into profit while providing them with the most accurate information about your site, then contact PhoneSmart for information. Call 866-639-1715 today.

Storage Concierge is your premier Storage, Storage Unit, Car Storage, RV Storage, Furniture Storage, Boat Storage, Yacht Storage, Self Storage finder.

California Storage Units

Local Self-Storage

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

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On Sunday, December 9th Mid-Missouri received a blanket of ice causing havoc on power lines and roadways.  Emergency personal requested everyone stay at home and off of the streets so they could get everything back in order.  PhoneSmart complied with this request and unfortunately was forced to close for the day.  Two days later Columbia was again forecasted to receive another terrible snow/ice storm, so Tron went into action.  He found a few volunteers to spend the night in sleeping bags on the PhoneSmart floor so they would be on hand to open the call center in the morning.  Thankfully, this second storm missed us.

On December 20th about 9am the lights all went out in the PhoneSmart Call Center.  This was not due to Mother Nature, but to the power company having problems with a transformer.  Our emergency generator kicked on so we still had telephones and computers, but we couldn’t see a thing!  Our self storage phone reps were very resourceful and collected flashlights and candles to help everyone see what we were doing.

Monday was January 7th and Mid-Missouri had tornado warnings.  Now this is a common occurrence in the springtime, but never in the winter. (Never say Never!)  All of the phone reps left their workstations and went to a designated safe area.  After the all-clear was given we simply went back to work, with yet another interesting tale to tell our family and friends

Working at the PhoneSmart Call Center there is never a dull moment!

CT Storage Units or DE Storage Units

Self Storage Article Directory. Visit our Wine Storage section. 

Storage Unit

Storage Units Location

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

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Since the opening of this business, we have consistently grown in number of employees, departments, clients, callers and stores. You can’t stop us!

PhoneSmart is not unfamiliar with the self storage business to say the least.  We’ve handled every range of customer service in the self storage business such as the storage reservation, rental, billing or storage process with all of its various situations that come along with it. 

We’ve talked with the abused spouses, the newlywed couples who are blending families, the college kids who’ll be away from home for the first time and are excited about starting school, the family who gets evicted and needs family services to assist in the payment and set up of a unit, the woman who was being held captive in a storage unit by her estranged husband.  We’ve dealt with irate customers who’ve paid their bill and can’t get into storage, the customers who were worried about their items after the store caught on fire, the Louisiana residents that stood in line for hours attempting to get a storage unit so they had somewhere safe to put what little they had salvaged from their destroyed-beyond-recognition homes.

We’ve spoken to the soldiers who were going off to serve in Iraq, the families who didn’t want their loved ones to leave afraid of them not ever returning. We’ve dealt with employees of businesses in which the company needed storage because they were going out of business, the prospective customer who’s sitting in front of the store waiting for the store to open or the manager to come back so they could get the unit. 

We’ve dealt with the policeman who was called because a tenant was stuck behind the gate, the crowd of customers gathered at the gate that won’t open because the store manager hasn’t arrived at the office yet, the family who has to put their parents in a retirement home and are having a difficult time doing it although they have no other choice to, or the family who has lost a family member and they now have to deal with the emotionally draining process of storing all of their goods into storage because they do not want to let those items go.

We represent ourselves as professional, friendly, storage guru’s because we know storage!  The number of calls and the types of calls that we handle we do not take lightly, as it helps us to increase our sales techniques.  When you know how to handle the types of situations that we handle, how could you not take advantage and get to know how to handle each one of them in case it comes across your line again. 

Our average full-time rep handles approximately 80 calls per day.  Our business handles approximately 20,000 or more calls a month!  A Month!  We’ve talked to nearly every possible situation out there that comes up with someone trying to find storage facilities. 

We’re personable with our callers and sincerely care about what works for them and what doesn’t. Our training is ongoing and always available when someone needs help.  We are reservation commission based.  Which tells you that we know we can get the reservations and we know we can convert those reservations into rentals.  

We’re not just a Reservation Center or a Call Center.  We represent that particular store that the caller is calling into at that time. We are a Sales Force to be reckoned with! 

Written by Robin Turner, Call Center Co-Director

VT Storage Units 

Self Storage Article Directory. Visit our Boat Storage Section.

Storage Units Location

Storage Unit Locations

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

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Whatever the reason you may need self storage, you can contact self storage sites in all the states. From Florida to Colorado to Missouri, all of these states and more have self storage units available for rent.

Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS agent.

Self Storage

Self Storage Article Directory. Visit our RV Storage Section.

Property Management

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

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PhoneSmart is an inbound call center that specializes in taking calls giving self storage rates and making self storage reservations for clients across the US and Canada. We can help your self storage business by taking all the self storage calls that come in or just when your self storage manager cannot come to the phone. Call 866-639-1715 for information.

See Today’s total quality assurance blog for another article about Lorenzo Lawson. 

Written by Natalie Thomas, TQAS executive.

Self Storage 

Self Storage Article Directory 

Secret Shopping

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

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Our team of highly trained sales reps know how to sell your facility and lead each customer into reserving a unit right over the phone. We encourage a reservation to each caller and ask every caller for their information. The result is a flow of reservations and hot leads for your self storage facility.

Our goal is to get self storage shoppers to close the phone book, or click off the webpage directory and rent with you. By answering rollover calls and calls after business hours, we capture the revenue you’re missing.

PhoneSmart’s call center service pays for itself with the first rental. We also offer sales training so that your self storage managers will be a selling force in their own store. The combination of our call center sales team and your self storage managers is a surefire way to increase sales and raise your occupancy rate.

Written by Sarah Little, TQA Director

Self Storage Blog is brought to you by PhoneSmart – Your  Premier Offsite Sales Force.

Self Storage Locations

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

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But what about the simple things that sometimes get overlooked when everyone is looking at the bigger picture? Here’s my idea to make self storage become greener. Recycle! Yes, I know, it’s been done. We can all picture the iconic white arrows pointing to make a continuous triangular-circle set on a green background.  But think about this, how much trash does a self storage facility accumulate?

Chances are, your self storage facility  already has a large dumpster somewhere on the property. If you also had a recyclable bin for boxes and paper, plastic, glass, even electronics and batteries, the self storage industry could make a huge impact on eliminating waste.

The cost for recycling may require you to buy or rent a few extra dumpsters or trash bins. The benefits would far outweigh the cost and in some cases, you may be reimbursed for aluminum or other materials.

Recycling can become your new ad campaign. Local businesses and residents will appreciate that you’ve taken initiative to preserve their neighborhood. Advertising this earth-friendly feature may just be the deciding factor for would-be-tenants to rent with you.

Written by Sarah Little.

Self Storage Blog is brought to you by PhoneSmart – Your Premier Offsite Sales Force .

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

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The most recent change that the call center has encountered is the promotions within the call center.  I am happy to see my fellow co-workers advancing and ready to begin their new job responsibilities!  First, Carmen who was a self storage call center phone representative has been promoted to the weekend AM supervisor.  The next one that is due congratulations is Dana.  Dana was the call center supervisor and now she has been promoted to an Assistant Call Center director.  Lucia is now the Spanish supervisor and Sarah has been promoted to the director of secret shopping and client training

Phonesmart has also increased their self storage staff by three thus far!! The call center is still looking for recruits for the self storage call center to work both nights and weekends. In addition to having a great personality and sales techniques we are in search of those who are fluent in both English and Spanish.  If anyone is interested or know someone who may be should call toll free 1-866-245-4037 and apply.

Other changes in the call center include both Lucia and Carmen are proud parents of new healthy children.  DJ, in out administrative operations department is a proud grandmother of a baby boy.  Kay, a call center representative is an ecstatic grandmother of healthy triplets!!  Last but not least Robin, one of our call center assistant directors’ dog, Innocent is also a proud parent of NINE new pups.

Way to go on all of the promotions and births throughout the call center!!!

Written by Angela Perry, Call Center Phone Representative.

Self Storage Blog is brought to you by PhoneSmart – Your Premier Offsite Sales Force.

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

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The program includes all of the customer’s information, what they were interested in and the price that we quoted to them.  It will show the number of units that are available as well as specials and unit prices.  Self storage owners don’t need to keep a paper trail anymore, as everything is stored on the computer, bringing this process to the 21st Century. Managers can also type in any notes regarding the prospect as well as set reminders as to when they need to call them back. This makes the entire process quick and easy to manage. 

This is another great service that PhoneSmart offers our self storage clients and if you’d like to take advantage of the service, contact us at immediately. We can also give you the sales support needed to catch those missed calls. 

Written by Robin Turner, Call Center Manager

Thanks for reading our self storage business blog, where we talk about life in a self storage call center.

78728 Car Storage

Rent storage at 8514 Liberty Rd, Randallstown, MD 21133

Are you moving to Kansas City, Missouri? Visit our partners at Kansas City, Missouri moving information center.

Find Self Storage at your premier national and local self storage unit finder.

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

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Ronald is our trainer who like everyone else, is encouraged to let us know when he receives a compliment. He was able to keep one of his recent self storage callers at ease about renting a unit with the self storage business that she called in on, as she had had problems with them in the past. So besides making sure that he covered everything with her regarding a self storage rate and rental at the self storage property, he also overcame the fact that she was upset with the company. Ending the call she stated: You’ve been very helpful. And I appreciate it.

Although she didn’t have such a great experience in the past, and she was still sore about it, she did call to see if there was another unit that she could use. Ronald handled the entire situation very well with calming results and a caller whose bad taste was left in her mouth was no longer.

Very nice to see. Good job Ronald.

Written by Robin Turner, PhoneSmart Call Center Manager

Thanks for reading our self storage blog, a blog that recognizes the great things about the self storage industry.

Storage available at P.O. Box 1213, Skippack, PA 19474

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Find Self Storage at your premier national and local self storage unit finder.

Self Storage Owner — Where Self Storage Owners meet Self Storage Customers

21114 Self Storage

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Asking the question, how did you hear about us, with us being the self storage facility that the caller is calling, has three benefits:

1. It helps the call center by allowing us to build rapport or even a conversation starter to get the caller to talk about how they heard about the storage facility.
2. The facility store managers benefit from this question as it helps them by allowing them to build rapport as we would do in the call center; or even give the managers an opportunity to ask about the customer service that they received from the representative that helped them.
3. The corporate office of this storage facility should want to know how an individual heard about their self storage location.  This will help them know where their marketing dollars should go. 

At the call center, answering this question is important so that the information will be tracked properly and will allow the managers and marketing team the ability to adjust advertising needs. 

Written by Angela Perry, PhoneSmart phone sales rep and business blog writer.

Thanks for visiting our self storage blog, a blog that shares stories and ideas about the self storage industry.

We have storage 1300 W 49th St, Hialeah, FL 33012

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Find Self Storage at your premier national and local self storage unit finder.

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

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Before you get to work, take some deep breaths.  Prepare yourself mentally on how you want the day to go.  (Don’t only do this for your daily life because in the self storage business you’re dealing with people everyday). Is your attitude where it should be?  Sales motivated?  Personably comfortable? Confident? Willing to listen?  Willing to go the extra mile for each and every customer?  Open to change and willing to make the best out of every situation? Because if it’s not, you’re likely to defeat yourself before the day has even started.  Smile and expect a great day.  Expect to have a great rapport with others and you will.  Expect high sales and you’ll get them. 

Written by Robin Turner, Call Center Manager

Thanks for reading our self storage blog. A journal of life in a self storage call center.

Rent storage at 45980 McClean Blvd, Sterling, VA 20166

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

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• More than a fifth of all callers hang up on customer service reps before their problem can be resolved.
• Callers also tended to rate services from offshore call centers lower than those in the US.
• Poor communication skills played a big part in problem solving with only 45% as compared to 88% that spoke clearly.

How does your call center stack up to these numbers and issues? Here at PhoneSmart, we have bilingual reps available to take calls during all of our business hours. In some larger Spanish speaking markets, our phone lines give an option right away for Spanish speaking option. Several of our bilingual reps learned English as a second language (or third, or fourth). But these reps are also some of our very best sales people, scoring the highest percentages in reservations month after month.

Think twice about sending your call center business oversees. It may seem to save money in the long run but how many customers are not being helped effectively? We have plenty of manpower (and womanpower) to run cost effective call centers in the United States.

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

Thanks for reading our self storage blog, a blog that shares information and ideas in the self storage industry.

Find Self Storage at your premier national and local self storage unit finder.

Thinking about moving to Kansas City, Missouri? Visit our partners at Kansas City, Missouri Moving information center.

Storage available now at: 16825 Tye St. SE, Monroe, WA 98272

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

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We knew ahead of time that the majority of our calls would be what we label manager calls a situation where we are unable to help the caller; they need to speak to someone at the local office.  Of course our basic answer all day was The local office is closed today so the employees can spend the holiday with their family and friends.  The manager will be back in the office tomorrow for normal business hours.

Even though we were prepared for the onslaught of manager calls it still amazed us with some of the crazy things the phone reps heard:

A young man was starting a new job the next day.  The new job was out of town and he had to move out of his apartment immediately.  (Did he not know ahead of time he would need to move on a federal holiday?)

A young woman needed to get into her unit because it was her 21st birthday and her driver’s license was in her storage unit.  (Oops!  So much for that birthday celebration!)

A guy was explaining to me that the property manager was evicting him because he was spending too much time in his unit.  He wanted to know if he could wait another day since the office was closed.  (Was he actually living in the unit?  I didn’t ask.)

A man told me they were auctioning his things on July 6th.  He said that since the office was not open for him to pay his bill on July 4th then he needed to be given extra time to pay his bill.  Otherwise he was contacting his lawyer.  (Maybe use the attorney fees to pay the storage instead?)

A customer called on a national number and wanted to pay her bill.    When our phone rep asked her where her storage was located, the caller said, at the end of the building.

In another six weeks we get to do it again for Labor Day.  Maybe we will have a Barbeque fest that day!

Written by Ann Sheehan

Thanks for reading our self storage blog and journal of our self storage call center.

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

Rent self storage at 200 King Rd, Westchester, PA 19380

Find Self Storage at your premier national and local self storage unit  finder.

If you’d like to be a guest blogger, send your entry for consideration to Sarah Little, Blog Editor.

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

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Written by Marie Batchen

Thanks for reading our self storage blog and inside view of the self storage industry.

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

Rent storage at 11001 Excelsior Blvd, Hopkins, MN 5534
 

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

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First, I explain how the climate controlled compartments help to protect things from extreme temperatures and humidity.  If the caller is planning on storing anything for several years they will probably want to opt for a controlled room.  This will help with the extremes of January’s cold and July’s heat.

Then I try to help the customer determine what they will be storing.  If it is some items that are already sitting in the garage or out in a shed, then it’s a pretty safe bet a standard space will suffice. 

Otherwise I try to give them some suggestions as to when a climate controlled bin would be recommended:

Small Climate Control Units

• Important office and/or personal papers
• Photographs and photography equipment
• Books
• Holiday decorations and candles
• Clothing

Medium Climate Control Units

• Antique furniture
• Oil paintings
• Musical instruments
• Pharmaceutical representative supplies
• Electronics

Large Climate Control Units

• Entire households
• Antique Cars
• Pianos
• Large Furniture
• Boats

Family and friends often tell storage renters they must get a climate controlled space in the summertime.  Helping the customer determine what really works best for their particular situation can avert these trends.  Not only will the renter appreciate this personal touch, but it will also facilitate employees in the self storage industry to rent both climate controlled and regular units during this busy season – leading to a higher overall amount of rentals!

Written by Ann Sheehan

Thanks for reading our self storage blog and inside view to the self storage industry.

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

Rent storage at 808 Gleneagles Ct, Towson, MD 21286

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

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Written by Glenetta Haymon

Thanks for reading our self storage blog. We take you behind the scenes of our self storage call center.

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

Rent storage at 8255 Baltimore/Washington Blvd, Jessup, MD 20794

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

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Even though the inbound and outbound departments are two different branches of PhoneSmart, there are many similarities between the two. Obviously, both deal primarily with self storage. Also, both departments embrace the ultimate goal of reserving units for customers, whether we call them or they call us. If that goal cannot be met for some reason, then the objective is to instill in the potential customer a positive sentiment about the store he or she is calling.  All employees are hired to promote the storage facilities that PhoneSmart is contracted to represent, regardless of the department.

I think the change will be a little difficult for me at first; I am so accustomed to having all the pertinent information and knowing what to say before I call a customer. In inbound, I have to pull up the call screen, answer the phone, figure out what the callers needs are and be able to accommodate them appropriately all within about a five second time frame. This is quite a change but I think that, once I get used to all of the practices and procedures, I will be happy with the change.

Written by: Shauna AuBuchon

Thanks for reading our business blog and inside view of a self storage call center.

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

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

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Written by Sam April, PhoneSmart’s most creative mind.

Customers often get off the track of our sales script. Here is an amusing example of how you can lead them back onto the path and close the sale for them by keeping their specific needs in mind.

Thanks for reading our self storage blog. Selling self storage is what we do.

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

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

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Written by: Marie Batchen

Thanks for reading our self storage blog; we put sales and self storage together.

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

Rent self storage at 25 Fontana Lane, Baltimore, MD 20877

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

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Written by: Angela Perry, PhoneSmart Trainer

Thanks for reading our self storage blog and behind-the-scenes view of a self storage call center.

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

Rent self storage at 5525 Balt. Nt’l Pike, Baltimore, MD 21228

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

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Natalie and I were discussing our mutual disdain for the headaches we were having and she said she relieved hers by getting a massage. I immediately thought that was exactly what I needed to do, so I called her massage therapist and got a booking for that same day.

I am so incredibly relaxed now. All the knots are gone and so far, I’ve had no headache today. (Thanks Celeste!) Her rate is $60 per hour and she recommends going once a month. Of course, Joel thinks she only recommends that because she wants to keep making money. Honestly, I don’t even care if that’s the reason, she’s got a loyal customer in me. The truth is, a knot-free back and neck, along with that hour that I can claim all to myself with no diaper duty and just relax and be pampered, is well worth $60.

There are a few things in life that are worth a little extra expense. Self storage is one of them. Self storage allows you to have some breathing room in your own home. Imagine how much stress you can relieve when you don’t have to make sure the door is shut to your spare bedroom before company comes over. Imagine how much extra money you can make when selling your home because you cleared out the garage and put the extra furniture away. Just think of all the things you can do with your kid’s room once they’ve left the nest. Close your eyes and pretend for just a moment that you can actually park your car in the garage.

You don’t have to look far to find a reason for self storage. Call us today and we’ll help you on your way to pampering yourself.

Written by: Sarah Little, TQA Executive and Blog Editor

Thanks for reading our self storage blog. We put sales and self storage together.

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

Pamper yourself with storage at 195 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66103

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

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Dana is a caring type of person which makes it easy for her to be our scheduler.  She knows each and every one of us and why we desire the shift that we have and she does her best to accommodate our shifts.  Scheduling is a difficult task but it is second nature for Dana, thus the reason why she is the pro at it.  Can you imagine trying to remember 25 employees’ requested days off?  I can barely remember what I did 25 minutes ago.  So hats off to Dana for the schedule, being a call center floor supervisor and caring!  All of her qualities and characteristics are her strengths and why she is our Mother Hen.

Written by: Angela Perry, PhoneSmart trainer.

Thanks for reading our business blog; a diary of the self storage industry.

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

Self storage is just around the corner at 9 N 004 Rt 59, Elgin, IL 60120

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

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It’s also common to hear from these tenants in our call center. Many times they call in after the store hours and reach our call center reps. By the time some of them call, they’re being threatened with an auction of their property. Sometimes they just want to reconcile their account and other times they want to argue with some one. In any case, our call center reps are familiar with this scenario and handle the call with professionalism and style. After we determine how we can best help the caller, it’s most common that they are transferred to the manager’s voicemail.

Collection Agent isn’t the most popular hat among self storage managers. PhoneSmart wears just a small part of that hat and is happy to help the managers in the store any way we can.

Written by: Sarah Little, TQA Executive and Blog Editor

Thanks for reading our self storage blog and diary of a self storage call center.

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

Affordable self storage is conveniently located at 1891 N Columbia St, Milledgeville, GA 31061

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

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Written by Lauren Norwood

Thanks for reading our self storage blog and diary of life in a call center.

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

Self storage is conveniently located at 14150 N. Cleveland Ave, Fort Meyers, FL 33903

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

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