» Self Storage Trends

Visiting a friends house for the summer, Sarah was fascinated by the pictures that were stacked on the piano, and the stairs, and the mantle, and the end tables, the top of the refrigerator, the coffee table, the corner of the countertops, stuffed in closets, hidden in boxes under the couch, poking out from under the guest bed and toppling off the computer desk. Who on earth took so many pictures and how did they know so many people?

Her friends mom was a photographer. She took pictures for the local University and was a favorite for senior portraits. She also loved photographing weddings. She absolutely adored taking pictures of new babies in all the cutest places and poses. She had fun with the family pets. There was nothing she would not take a picture of.

The thing of it was, her hobby was consuming the entire house. The family could not enjoy the beautiful pictures of their own loved ones because of all the clutter of other memorable moments lying around the house, and they did not even know most of the faces in the photos.

While Sarah was staying there, her friends Mom had an appointment to photograph a Saturday wedding in the park. While Mom was out, she and her friend were watching a movie. The doorbell rang and it was a customer who had photos of her daughter taken last week. She was there to pick up the finished photos.

As Sarahs friend scrambled through the organized chaos, she was stunned to see that her friend new exactly where to look. It seemed that the previous weeks photos get stacked on the china cabinet. Whatever is left unclaimed or leftover gets moved elsewhere to make room for the next week of photos.

Sarah could see the honest attempt to keep the photos organized, but there was little room to work with in a house full of antiques. But one would not even notice the lovely furniture hidden under puppies and babies and weddings.

Inspiration hit Sarah and her friend! They called their local self service storage place and inquired about a climate controlled unit. It was peanuts compared to the fee for taking the photos and the climate controlled environment was perfect for storing photos. They rented the self service storage place and had organized the photos by name. 

When her friends mom returned, she was nearly brought to tears by the feat they had accomplished. She had put the task of renting a self service storage in the back of her mind, but the thought of organizing all those photos overwhelmed her. If she had known how easy and inexpensive it would have been, she would have done it years ago.

The team worked together organizing by year and then name. They placed shelves in the self service storage space and stacked the oldest photos on top. Her friends mom promised to remove photos older than 5 years to the recycle bin, after sending out one last reminder to the family that they could still get more copies.

In no time at all, the impromptu self service storage adventure was over and the photography business was organized and much more prepared to take on new appointments.

And the family was able to enjoy their space and more importantly, the pictures of their own vacations, graduations and moments together.

Columbia Storage

Tweet This Post 

You have stuff you use certain times of the year. Maybe it is the boating accessories you take to the lake each summer or the fishing gear you spend the spring using. Each holiday there are decorations for outside and inside. Your winter sports gear needs a place to stay during the summer. Using a mini storage building is the extra space you need to store your off season things.

The idea of a mini storage building evokes pictures of boxy, metal garage type buildings lining highways and dark industrial areas. The facilities built today are more modern, architecturally pleasing and made to blend in with their surroundings.

There are a few steps to take when picking a facility to store your belongings and packing the items correctly.

Estimate how much space you will need to store your off season items. Make a rough sketch of possible ways to arrange your items so they are organized and easily accessible when you need them. Choose a mini storage building and pack to the ceiling instead of paying for unused space in a larger unit. These mini units are specifically designed for small loads.

Check with facilities in your area to get an estimate on the square footage of their mini storage building . If your equipment takes up vertical space, be sure to get height measurements as well. 

Ask about the monthly rental cost and if there is any security deposits required. Is there a minimum time to rent the building? Insuring your contents might be your responsibility so be sure to ask. Find out when you can access your belongings. Most mini store building facilities allow access 24 hours a day for free, but some will have restrictions and charges. Ask what type of security the facility uses. You do not want your valuable gear ending up in the possession someone else.

Will you need a flashlight to access your belongings at night or is lighting provided? Will you need electrical outlets? Ask if the buildings are wired for electricity. Will you need controlled conditions for your items? Storing holiday candles in a building that can easily reach over 100 degrees can lead to disaster. The building needs to be dry for those heirloom linens and electronics. Having your building temperature and humidity controlled usually costs extra.

You should give some thought to how you will organize your belongings. Pack carefully. Use boxes that close in size for easier stacking. Plastic containers will hold up better than cardboard. Leave room to walk between boxes and gear. Fill the boxes to the top with padding to keep them from collapsing.

Treat anything metal with a rust protector. Finding your lawnmower with huge rust holes next spring can be disappointing. Lay plastic sheeting and old bed sheets on the floor to protect from condensation. Leave room around the walls for air to circulate.

Do not store flammables or combustibles in your mini store building. This includes gasoline, oil, cleaning fluids and paint thinner. Empty all gas tanks in your lawn mowers, boat motors and other gasoline powered equipment.

Storing your off season holiday decorations, outdoor furniture, kids toys, winter clothes, golf clubs, skis, bicycles, tools, camping gear, and lawn equipment in a mini storage building allows you to free up space in your home. With a little planning and organizing, you can have your belongings stored and easily accessed when you need them.

Frankfort Car Storage

Tweet This Post 

Portable self storage is containers provided by a storing company to use in storing or moving your goods. The containers are delivered to a customers residence. The customer then loads and packs them. They are either left at the residence or returned to a central warehouse where the customer can access later.

The containers are secure. There is only one entry that is locked with a key the renter has possession of. The warehouse area the units are stored in usually have sophisticated security systems and climate controlled temperatures. The transport trucks have special security systems to ensure your container and belongings are protected should something unfortunate happen in transit.

Portable self storage containers can be rented for a short period or for the long term. The length of time depends on your own needs. The units can be stored off site at a facility until you need it. Only you can access the container since you have the key to the lock. It will be delivered wherever and whenever you are ready for it.

How much stuff will a container hold? These containers vary in size but the rule of thumb is a 5 foot by 8 foot by 7 foot container is large enough for a room of furniture and belongings. To get the correct size for your needs, talk to your provider on their recommendation.

You can store items while you move or belongings that need to be out of the way while you are remodeling. Furniture, clothing, knick knacks and most items in your home will fit into a container. 

These containers are great for someone who is moving, but they can be used for all sorts of storing needs. New businesses can store goods while your storefront is being prepared. Instead of trying to store items in a garage or other personal space, moving the goods into a portable self storage bin will save you space. You can organize the items in the unit by date of receipt or by type of item or any other way you like. When the storefront is ready for business, the container can be moved to the storefront to be unloaded. The units can be retained to store extra stock.
 
You need to consider the size, price and how portable the container is when choosing a portable self storage container. Compare several different suppliers since prices can vary widely. 

Find a container in your price range. You should decide before hand your budget and how much you are willing to spend on the container. Be sure to factor into your budget the length of time you will be renting the container

Sizes also vary among companies. Some have containers as small as a closet or larger than your living room. Having a good idea of the size you will need will help you limit your options and dealers.

Check on the portability of the container you choose. Some containers can only be used in one area while others can be moved from area to area. Some companies might move your container for you. The container can be delivered to your address so you can take your time to pack the container.

Portable self storage is convenient and affordable for moving and storing your stuff. The containers are easily transported to your door for loading and delivered to your new residence or a facility for storing.

Olathe Boat Storage

Tweet This Post 

Profiting from Self Storage Auctions

Many people have lost valuable belongings they had in a storing facility. To their dismay, unable to pay the monthly rent, the items were sold. There are two types of self storage auctions held for unpaid units. The items are sold by the lot, which will be the entire contents of the unit or by the piece. These auctions are leading savvy entrepreneurs to profit.

Renters of these units become in default when they do not pay their rent. They are given legal notice their property will be sold at public auction if payments are not caught up. If they cannot pay, the belongings become the property of the facility. Many are falling behind on their rent due to the tightening of many budgets. Home foreclosures, high gas prices, rising food and utility costs are stretching many budgets beyond their limits. The units are abandoned when there is no money left over in the budget.

The contents are sold at auctions to the highest bidder who then can do as they wish with the belongings. Flea marketers and online auction sellers often buy at these store room auctions. They can then resell the valuables for a profit at consignment shops, online auctions and rummage sales.

What Treasure Await

Cherished possessions are often placed in these units. Antiques, furniture, family heirlooms and electronics along with bicycles, sports equipment, motorcycles and seasonal belongings all find their way into self storage auctions .

These units often contain and entire household of items. Sometimes great treasures can be purchased for very little cost. You might come across old jewelry or collectible coins dating from early last century. Old vintage games, books, toys, furniture, appliances, and decorations can be found in these auctions.

Clothing, either used or brand new with the tags still attached is often found in these units. You can resell them at consignment shops or online. The clothing can be sold as scrap fabric for crafters or simply remove trims and buttons and resell them. You might even accumulate enough stuff to open your own second hand store.

Going Once, Going Twice, Sold!

The self storage auctions usually go fast. The auctions are open to the general public. The lock is cut off at the time of the auction. The bidder arrives a few minutes early, are allowed to view the items from the door, and they place a bid on what they can see. Some of the things will not be viewable, so the bid is part guessing and part instinct. The bidding is over within 30 minutes of the auction.

Part of the fun of self storage auctions is the treasure hunt. You could find wonderful treasures or lots of stuff only good enough for the dumpster. If you stay at it long enough and are savvy enough you can make a lot of money and fill your home with treasures.
You might be surprised at the business equipment you will find. Restaurants store extra cooking supplies and serving dishes in the units. Automotive repair shops store tools and parts. Carpenters and plumbers store tools and supplies. If the business goes bankrupt, moves on or for some other reason they do not claim their belongings, they are sold at self storage auctions .

You should be consistent if you are planning on earning money with the self storage auctions game. You will need to attend many auctions to have a good chance of bidding on several units. The more units you bid on the better your chances of finding treasures.

You should have a solid plan for marketing any purchasing before bidding. The Internet is one of the best ways to sell higher value stuff. Analyze things thoroughly before reselling. A 500 dollar glass vase can easily be mistaken for 5 dollar junk. Classified ads in newspapers are good for furniture, appliances and other large household goods. Another idea is to start a rental business with the used appliances and electronics. Instead of having a garage sale or selling at flea markets, sell the items in bulk

Self storage auctions are a super way to buy used stuff for pennies on the dollar and resell for a profit. They are a great resource for selling at online auctions, flea markets and garage sales. Or who knows, maybe even your own resale shop!

Merriam RV Storage

Tweet This Post 

The market for storing our possessions is growing and along with that growth, the design of self storage buildings is changing. Homeowners and businesses are demanding better quality for the protection of their belongings. The construction of these facilities has greatly evolved over the last decade. The industry began in the late 1960s and early 1970s with concrete masonry buildings and garage door access. The building materials have changed in the past few years.

The buildings built today are from a variety of materials. Pre engineered steel can be adapted with a brick veneer or vinyl siding to replace the typical metal siding of the past.

Some of the newest versions of self storage buildings are designed with office or storefront exteriors. Many driving by would not know they are storing facilities. The designs are no longer hidden in industrial areas but are being attractively placed in prominent locations. Some are even being utilized as rented office space.

The long buildings of garage doors are recognized as older facilities. The newer facilities feature spaces that are climate controlled in part or all of the facility. The climate controlled environment protects valuable items from extreme heat and cold and humidity. The interiors are accessed through hallways to protect the customer during poor weather.

The facilities attract not only homeowners but business and professional services as well. Doctors, accountants and lawyers are looking for dry store room space for their records. Sales people of all types want a climate controlled space to store products such as pharmaceuticals or cosmetics.

Investors and local business people are being drawn to growing the market. They are buying the land, constructing the facilities and hiring managers to handle the day to day operations. Some are cashing in by reselling quickly. Before self storage buildings were a mom and pop business where the owner had one or two sites. Now it is considered more an investment type of business. It has caught the eye of the apartment builders and managers who construct the sites and resell to investors.

Many of the new self storage buildings are multistory. These units bring more safety concerns with them. Access to exits need to be easy in case of emergency and sprinkler and alarm systems have to be high quality to protect the customers belongings. The customer can no longer drive up to their unit on the second floor. There is a need for elevators and the challenge will be for the design to facilitate the placement of them.

Typical building components will vary in every geographical location. For instance, coastal areas such as Florida or the Gulf Coast will likely have more reinforced concrete masonry units to withstand high winds. In the northern states pitched roofs are created to shed snow loads. Cold rolled steel interiors or prefabricated light gauge steel truss systems are used.

Premium grade steel is one of the best options in constructing these buildings. It can bear severe wind, snow and rain and withstands high earthquake energy. This material is economical due to its quick erection and small structural overhead costs. No longer hidden in industrial areas and built from cheap low grade materials, the self storage buildings of today are changing. Whatever your style, your storing needs and your geographical preferences are, these buildings are being constructed in a variety of styles and materials designed to meet the growing needs of the consumer.

Franklin Park Storage

Tweet This Post 

Storing watercraft can be a valuable convenience for those people who are able to afford it. Some people can store their watercraft at their home or in their garage, but some boats are just too big or people just do not have the room. Some homeowners associations do not allow boats, trailers, car repair, campers, and such to be parked in the driveway or yard. These people will definitely need boat storage for their watercraft.

You might think that states like South Carolina, Florida, California, Texas, Maine and other coastal states would be the only ones that offered boat storage . But you will find that many inland states like Missouri, Michigan, Colorado, and Utah also have a need for places to store their watercraft. Watercraft storing is usually located near or close to a body of water. That body of water may be an ocean, a lake, a river, or other waterway that can handle a boat.

Another item that is becoming popular to store at a place that offers boat storage is personal watercraft. Personal watercraft is usually a one or two person craft that is ridden on top of the waves. The handles of this vehicle look like motorcycles handle bars and you sit when riding it on the water. Why is personal watercraft so popular? They do not cost as much as regular sized boats and they take a lot less gas. They still get you out on the water and enjoying the sunshine and the breeze blowing through your hair. Personal watercraft can also be hauled or towed around without much effort and they are easy to store.

Storing boats take more work than you think and many places that offer to store boats can charge a high rental fee. The areas can either be wet or dry docked and typically the dry dock areas will cost more then the wet areas. Your boat will last longer if you are able to take it out of the water when you are not using it. Taking it out of the water allows the hull to dry and the motor to be flushed and cleaned. There is also a pump in most boats called a bilge pump that pumps water and fluids out of the bottom cavity of the vessel. This pump is important and helps to stabilize your boat. Storing your boat out of the water also allows you to check the bottom of the boat for any mussels, or damage that could have occurred while in the water. Some states have strict laws on the removal of bi-valves from your boat to prevent the spread of unwanted and sometimes invasive pests. It is recommended that you spray the outside of your boat with warm soapy water, like you can find at a do-it-yourself carwash. This can help eliminate the spread of many water creatures that might attach to your boat.

Boat storage is available out there in many forms. Check the Internet or your local yellow pages to see if someone near you has areas to store your watercraft. Some homes located on the water offer boat storage along with your home or condo purchase as an added benefit. If you are into the boating lifestyle you should check into this type of living situation. You will have a beautiful view and be close to your favorite hobby.

Athens Storage

Tweet This Post 

There comes a time in a parents life in which the kids have moved out and you want a place that you and your spouse can start the next chapter of your life. It is a sad day for you and your family but you know it is for the better. Who is to say that the next house will not bring you new memories to add to what you have had in your past thus far?

No one enjoys the idea of packing up their belongings and trying to find a way to pack everything into a moving van or multiple vehicles. You also have to decide whether or not the new place will have enough room for all of your items to fit. Remember you are condensing the size of your home down in order for it to just be you and your spouse. Do you need three couches and as many chairs around your dining room table now?

People rack their brain wondering if they would like to keep their items longer in their possession or attempt go give or sell them away because they do not have the space. Everyone is different in their thinking. For some people it is easier to use furniture storage to place their bigger items into.

Furniture storage is just like most of the other types of storing. Depending on the type of items you were storing and how valuable they were, you would want to ensure that space is temperature controlled. You do not want to store them in the same environment as a garage if you are worrying about their long term condition. Some places actually do a great job controlling the humidity within the units so your items do not become warped from condensation.

With furniture storage , you have to ensure that you pick the correct facility that will take good care of your items. Some places have great security that will ensure that your belongings are protected. Some places have door alarms on top of their security gate, because they want you to know if someone is breaking into your space. That is a great feature to have especially when you are concerned about how expensive your items are. You invested money into your items and you want to make sure that they will not be harmed.

When you are going around looking for a good furniture storage establishment, take the time to do some research and find the best fit for what you are looking for. There are many facilities that offer furniture storage . In your area, it is certain that many offer great specials to grab your attention to get your business. Be careful and ask many questions. You do not want to be locked into a long contract when you only need to have the space for a couple of months.

Moving sometimes is extremely hard and difficult. Who wants to take the time to pack up all of their belongings that have their own special places within your home? It is especially hard to determine which large pieces you can do without and if you want to put them into a storing facility. If it is not worth your monthly contribution, then you should find someone to take them off our hands.

Pompano Beach Furniture Storage

Tweet This Post 

Are you planning on remodeling this spring? Are you moving to a new home? Maybe you are simply doing some much needed spring cleaning. Whatever the case, you might want to consider temporary storage as a help with your needs. There are many reasons why this is a desirable option.

If you are doing spring cleaning, depending on the size of your house, or the depth of cleaning you are plan on getting into, there are many good reasons for choosing storage as a part of your plan. Unless you have a place such as a garage or some other building that is accessible to you for this purpose, there is no reason why you should not contemplate using this method. It can afford you much more room while cleaning your house. If you have a large house or many things that clutter up your house, it is extremely difficult to work around these things to vacuum, mop, polish or dust. Try temporarily stocking away some of your more unnecessary items while cleaning. Perhaps you might like your home so much with all of its newfound space that you will decide to keep it that way!

This may not be a year for moving. The housing market is unstable, and note many people are buying and selling. If you are in this particular circumstance, storage is almost definitely going to be part of your game plan. It is difficult enough to organize, compile and separate all of your belongings into boxes, labels and rooms. It does not have to be hard at all. You can make it much simpler. Start off by simply organizing everything you own into several different groups of things. Out of each group of items, decide what you absolutely find necessary, and what you could deal with being without for a while. Take the items from each group that you can do without, and put them away temporarily for the first few months you are in your new home. This will be such an enormous help to you as you move everything into a new place, organize it and put it away, decorate and make it your true home.

Remodeling is on a little bit of a smaller scale when it comes to putting your personal things in safekeeping. Usually, you will remodel only one room or area at a time. But if you happen to be remodeling your entire house, or most of it, at once, this can also most definitely apply to you. The easiest plan with remodeling is to start from scratch. You will need to see a certain room or part of your house with new eyes, thus it is much simpler to take everything out of the room. When the room is empty, it makes your approach to remodeling or redecorating much more straightforward and uncomplicated. You can imagine what it will look like with that perfect color of paint you have been dying to use. You can just picture putting your new couch and coffee table in that corner. There is nothing else in the room to distract you. Well, you will most likely not have room enough in the remainder of your home to house your extra belongings and furniture, so storage is the best option. Put these items in storage for a week or two, until you are done with your project, and put them back in the new room at your leisure.

This is an option that works for people in many different situations. It is cheap and easy. If you find you have the need, you should certainly try storage.

Property Management

Ohio RV Storage

Kansas City Storage

January 2007 Total Quality Assurance Service Blog Archive

Craft Storage Revisited

Self Storage Article Directory – Self Storage
 

Tweet This Post 

You see commercials out there that ask you what you would do if this happened to you. You see someone leaving their car door open in traffic, then another car comes racing by and runs right through that door. Or the one where a guy tries to hide a ring in pile of dishes, it falls into the garbage disposal and his fiancé turns the garbage disposal on. We all chuckle and laugh because that kind of stuff actually happens to people in real life. So when you are looking for a room to place your belongings, you should consider what you do if something happened to your belongings while storing them. For reasons beyond our control, most rental facilities have some type of self storage insurance.

Most times, almost everything that you possess, you have some type of coverage on. Whether it is your car or your house, you ensure that you have your possessions covered in those just in case moments. How unfortunate is it to get a phone call one day and you are told that all of your belongings were stolen or burned in a fire and you realize you do not have coverage on those items? It is sure that you would not be the happiest person in the world at the time. No one wants to be caught off guard and have to pay a lot of money out of their own pockets to pay to recover the costs of their lost items. As you can see, having your belongings covered is important to your sanity and your everyday peace of mind.

So when you are out looking for a place to store your belongings, self storage insurance should be something to ask about. Sometimes people put things from the garage or other items in their store room that they do not particularly care about. That is why we put them into a rental unit because we do not want it cluttering our house. On the other side of that, sometimes we need to store things such as our whole house when we are transitioning from home to home. This is good reason why self storage insurance is a great idea to make sure that if anything does happen while your belongings are being stored, they will be covered.

When you are looking for or being offered self storage insurance, it is very important what type of coverage you have. Sometimes your regular rental coverage that some people have when they are renting their apartments can take care of anything that can happens while storing. So make sure that you ask questions to have that piece of mind that you know if the worst happens, you are covered. Self storage insurance can cover all types of situations like burglary, fire, wind damage, earthquake, etc. There are many situations where you need some type of coverage on your belongings. Make sure you make the right decision concerning what you are storing.

The moral of this story is that you need to take the necessary thoughts to see if how you would like to have peace of mind. Sometimes you might have some kind of deductible or some deposit. You can find coverage out there in many different forms and from different companies. Take some time to do some research and see what coverage and company will do the best for your lifestyle and needs.

Self Storage Business

North Dakota Self Storage

Columbia Storage

February 2007 Property Management Blog Archive

Wine Storage

Self Storage Article Directory – Self Storage

Tweet This Post 

Bargain hunting is a hobby many thrifty budgeters find enjoyable. Folks enjoy bargain hunting for various reasons. Some like the thrill of the chase and trying to see what kinds of treasures they will find at unbeatable prices. Others are on a tight budget and perhaps they have a large family and need to make money spread as far as it will go. And maybe for some it has become like an addiction because items come and go and if you stay home rather than go shopping, you might miss something.

Popular places to find bargains are wholesale stores, flea markets, swap meets, garage sales, estate sales, auctions and even self storage auctions.

Wholesale stores usually have overstock from what their affiliated retail chains could not sell. These items are brand new and still have the tags on them. Everything from wholesale clothing, wholesale furniture and home decoration, wholesale appliances and cookware and even wholesale building supplies are a great way to save over half of what you might expect to pay off the shelf of a big department store chain.

Flea markets are quite different from wholesale stores. A flea market is usually a large space where individual vendors rent booths or rooms to sell their merchandise from. The kinds of items you can find in a flea market are endless. Everything from sunglasses to glassware to clothing, hunting gear to books and childrens toys to cars may be for sale at a flea market. Some of these items are brand new and others may be gently used. Handmade arts and crafts are also popular items for sale at a flea market.

A swap meet is very similar to a flew market and the terminologies are interchangeable. One may be a more common term than another depending on the local region. The price of merchandise at a flea market or swap meet is considerably lower than average retail rates.

Garage sales, otherwise known as yard sales, are held by individual households. In some cases, a subdivision or block will coordinate a block sale in order to attract more bargain hunters into the area. The idea behind a garage sale is that a household can sell lightly used items to others who may need it. The seller gets rid of it and makes a little money back. The buyer got a bargain and recycled the item.

The types of items sold at a garage sale are vast and sometimes unusual. However, they are typically clothing, especially childrens clothing, toys, books, games, home decorations, and sometimes furniture.

Estate sales and auctions are a more serious form of a garage sale. Estate sales happen because of various circumstances that leave the owner in need of selling nearly everything they own. Finding a great bargain at an estate sale is one of the favorite hobbies of many bargain hunters.

Self storage auctions are another event that serious bargain shoppers wait for. Self storage auctions occur when a tenant fails to pay rent for several consecutive months or when a tenant has abandoned the property. At self storage auctions, the goal of the property owner is to recover some of the lost income from unpaid rent and, at the same time, clear out the items in the unit. Facilities conduct self storage auctions in various ways. One way is to auction off an entire unit as a sort of surprise grab bag to the bidder. Another way is to auction off individual items within the unit.

As you can see, the possibilities of bargain hunting are endless.

Selfstorage

New York Boat Storage

Olathe Storage

April 2007 Secret Shopping Blog Archive

Boat Storage

Self Storage Article Directory – Furniture Storage

Tweet This Post