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  • Climate Controlled Items Belong in Climate Controlled Spaces
    By Joel on January 9, 2012 | No Comments  Comments

    Climate controlled storage units are ideal for anything that is sensitive to the climate changes in your region such as hot or cold weather. Depending on what you are storing, you should consider using a climate controlled space. Make sure that you ask your storage professional about the options that are at your local self storage facility offers climate controlled options. You really have to make sure that you do not compromise on what you need as a renter. Many times a customer will pass up that they need a climate controlled space.

     

    There is nothing worse than when a customer decides to go with a self storage facility that does not really offer what they need, but the price is what they want to pay. What they do not realize is that even though the price is what they wanted and the location is in the place they want to rent, their belongings might not make the storing term. If you really need climate control, then find a facility that can offer it. Yes, standard space will cost you less than a climate controlled space. You have to consider that if you place something in a standard space that does not do well in regards to the fluctuation in temperature, you could damage those belongings.

     
    So many people try to save some money by storing their belongings in a standard space when they know they should be storing them in a climate controlled space. They will save money in the long run by maintaining the integrity of their belongings. Think long and hard before you store something that should be in climate controlled space in a standard space.

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  • Self Storage Payment
    By Joel on October 19, 2011 | No Comments  Comments

    Not everyone has all of their stuff together. People as a whole attempt to be organized but they are really not. To help their selves out with being organized, people have payments automatically come out of their checking account so if they forget, they will still make the payment they were scheduled to make without a late fee. Of course they have to ensure that they have the money in their account for the payment to be made. If a customer forgets their payment arrangements often, they can set up with the self storage facility to where they can take the payments out automatically. This way you can stay up to date on your self storage facility.

     

    There are so many different methods in order for a self storage facility to take payments for the customer. It is a good idea for the self storage manager to inform the customer on the different ways they are able to pay their monthly rent. The manager will tell the customer that they are able to pay their rent online, they can come by the store or they will be able to call the payment in. Now the customer will have to understand the different ways they are able to make a payment. The truth is not all facilities will allow all the methods of making a payment detailed above.

     

    For some self storage facilities they will tell you they do not want to take payments over the phone because they want to reserve the phone for new customers. If the customers that are only wanting to make a payment call in then that could tie up the lines for new customers to call in. Again, the facility manager would need to ensure they are informing the customers of this procedure. It is good to verbally tell the potential renter and also to put that fact in the renal agreement. This way if the customer has a disagreement, the manager can point out the agreement on the lease.

     

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  • Special Self Storage Prices
    By Joel on August 25, 2011 | No Comments  Comments

    Yesterday I spoke with a young lady who needed to rent a very small unit just to store some boxes. Naturally I would recommend a 5×5 that would have been perfect. The smallest unit that we had left at the time was a 5×10 storage space, twice the size and obviously it would cost more per month than the 5×5.  Immediately she said it wouldn’t work, it was too big and the monthly cost was a bit much.

     
    She was getting ready to hang up when I stopped her by explaining that there was a one dollar to move in special. Whether she rented a 5×5 or 5×10, it would cost the same for one month of rent. The customer was very excited and wanted to rent the space. Of course she was a little skeptical trying to figure out what the loop hole was to this special deal.

     
    It is very common for a customer to feel as if the wool is being pulled over their eyes. They do not want to be taken for a fool so they ask a lot of questions until they feel comfortable renting the space. The manager onsite tries to do all they can to assure the customer about the special deal that is being offered. Now of course the customer most likely will still need a lock, pay some sort of administration fee and maybe insurance. Regardless of the possible additional fees, it is still a good value.

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  • Student Self Storage
    By Joel on August 23, 2011 | No Comments  Comments

    It would seem that around March and August is when the self storage world is overwhelmed by student self storage. We have found that parents will call in for their child sometimes three or four months before hand to reserve or rent a space. They know that the facilities will fill up quickly and their student will not be able to have a self storage facility. The worst thing that the parents think is that they will have to bring everything their child is storing back home. For many that is not an option due to the sheer distance from their home to the university. So finding student self storage is crucial to the parent.

     
    When college students call in looking for storage, as a self storage manager, I always get excited.  After working in storage for over two years, I am well aware that once the school year ends, college students and parents start flocking towards storage.  The primary reason for this increase in rentals is due to the number of students who leave the area to return home for the summer.  Most people do not realize how quickly smaller storage units go during the summer months.  I always advise my callers to make sure there unit is reserved in advance, so they do not have to be the ones calling any place they can for any sized unit they can find.

     
    There is nothing like trying to find something last minute, but some of these student storage shoppers that is what happens.  This is especially true for those customers who are shopping for the first time because their student is a freshman. It is assured that in the second year of college for their child, they will be more active to find a self storage unit. Most of the time you will find that self storage facilities are looking to get students into a 5 x 5 space or a 5 x 10. Typically a student can fit everything they are storing from college dorm room in a 5 x 5 space. Of course the 5 x 5 spaces are the first to run out so a self storage manager will typically get them into the next size, a 5 x 10. Hopefully the manager does not have to go any higher than this one because it will be too big for what the student needs and also they do not want the customer paying more.

     

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  • Last Minute Self Storage
    By Joel on August 21, 2011 | No Comments  Comments

    It would seem as if there are many more storage calls this year over last year. So many people are calling waiting till the last minute in order to store because they still want to shop around. I guess they believe that if they wait until the last minute they will find a great rate that cannot be turned down. Some customers are not able to see a good deal even if it was right in front of their face. Sometimes they end up missing out on the great deal because they want to feel as though they shopped around good enough.

     
    I told one person that we only have one left and that she should at least put it on hold just in case when she calls back it will not be gone. She said she would take her chances. That same customer called back not even a half an hour later and wants the unit. I told her sorry I just rented the unit five minutes ago. She was very upset and now she has to take a unit somewhere else that was much farther out. She told me she did not believe me that it was that busy and she would miss out if she did not reserve the space. Also stated next year she will listen and reserve ahead of time to make sure she gets what she wants.

     
    Some customers would not learn their lesson from this situation and they would just keep doing the same thing. Luckily some people are still able to find a self storage unit when they need one. If you find something that is close to you, a good value and is secure, rent it now. Do not wait for it and continue to shop around. If you wait till the last minute, you can be like many customers who will have to end up going with a storage unit they do not really want, that could either be more money, not big enough or they have to travel further out to get it.

     

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  • Selling Your Storage Units
    By jeff on February 1, 2011 | No Comments  Comments

    Welcome to the wonderful world of Merriam self storage sales. It is a competitive field and there are a lot of things to learn. Do not be overwhelmed. You will eventually get to everything. Just start from the very beginning and learn the basics. Many things will separate one Merriam self storage facility from the next and you should study these so you know how to sell your facility to the caller. Each caller will be different so you will need to change what you focus on from call to call. Some calls you may want to focus on the rates and specials, and some will require a strong focus on quality.

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

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

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

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  • Helping Your Customers Store Their Vehicles
    By jeff on January 28, 2011 | No Comments  Comments

    Size recommendation is the first thing you need to do on all Frankfort self storage calls. This article will not focus on what each size can hold. It will offer examples or how to apply this knowledge to real world applications. Callers in Kentucky should be able to tell you what they are storing so that you can offer them the right size for them. There are many sizes available at most Frankfort self storage locations, but this will just focus on the more common sizes. Obviously, a size close to these will do.

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

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

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

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  • What You Must Know About Self Storage Units
    By admin on April 20, 2010 | No Comments  Comments

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

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

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

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

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  • Shop For A Storage Unit
    By admin on March 12, 2010 | No Comments  Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Self Storage Prices

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