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Her family was coming to stay for an extended visit. She needed to clear the clutter from her overstuffed basement to create a comfortable living space for them to stay in. She starts getting organized by going through the years worth of sporting goods, old clothes and craft supplies, furniture and seasonal decorations. She quickly realizes she is going to need a place to store the items she wants to keep. A good solution for her is the self storage buildings located nearby.

She needs to find the right unit for her needs within her budget. There are many questions she should ask before renting a unit. 

What size does she need? Most self storage buildings offer units in a variety of sizes. She will estimate how much room she needs for everything. A good way to do this is to make a rough sketch of the items in an organized and accessible arrangement. Many smaller items, like clothing or craft supplies can be stored in larger containers that can be easily stacked. Pack the building to the ceiling instead of opting for a larger unit and having to pay for unused space.

Each facility will be able to give her an estimate on the square footage of their building units with height measurements as well. This is important because, for example, if you have a tall armoire you need to store, you do not want to have to dissemble it or store it on its side.

How long is the lease term? She should find out if she will need to rent units in self storage buildings for a minimum or maximum amount of time. Most units will require a one month rental, based on a month to month agreement. Prior notice is needed to decide to terminate the lease. There is no maximum amount of time she can use a unit.

She needed to find a unit that would be accessible anytime in case she needed some of the items placed in the unit. She asked the management of the self storage buildings about available access and if it is free of charge? Ask the facility manager how and when the units can be accessed and if there are any restrictions and charges.

What is the monthly cost for the unit? Self storage buildings rent units by the month and rates depend on the size and location of the unit. Temperature controlled units are often higher, up to 50 percent more than typical unit. Payments can be made many different ways. Will fees be pro rated for partial months? If she needs to rent a unit during the middle of the month or terminate the lease before a month ends find out if the rent will be adjusted accordingly.

Also, she will find out if a deposit will be required upfront. The facility may charge a deposit as well as a first and last months rent. Other facilities charge extra for security services, locks or a set up fee to add tenants to their computer system.

What type of security is implemented? Many facilities have twenty four hour security or closed circuit video cameras. She needed to store her valuable antique furniture and needed a good security system to protect her valuables.

She had antiques and paper documents that would be placed in the units. She asked if the facility had climate controlled units. Valuable documents that can warp and mold need a place that is free of humidity, with a set temperature. For an extra cost allows her to rent a unit where the humidity and temperature is controlled.

Another concern is insurance. Ask if insurance is provided. She needs to have her valuables covered from fire, damages and theft. Many facilities do not provide insurance for items so tenants will need to obtain a policy on your own.

These are just a few of the many questions she asked when searching for self storage buildings for a unit to store her belongings. Most buildings are safe, secure and offer controlled options to help her clear out the clutter and enjoy her familys extended visit.

Boat Storage in Austin

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It pays to do your homework when checking out self storage facilities in which to store your valuable items. Though the industry itself is reputable and highly regarded for the service that it provides consumers, there is a bad, bruised banana in every bunch, so to speak. Self storage facilities are intended for use by people from all walks of life and for many different purposes. Whether you are moving to a smaller location or you need space to store a vehicle, there is plenty of indoor space available for a fee. But before you settle on the first company that you see, do your due diligence to make certain that company is going to meet your needs and live up to your standards of quality.

Upon entering the lobby or office of one of these establishments, you should be warmly greeted in a friendly tone. It is said that customer service is king. If that is true, than you are no less than royalty in the eyes of the owners and managers of self storage facilities and you should be highly regarded. After all, with over 52 thousand self storage facilities in the United States alone, you could very easily take your esteemed business elsewhere, now, could you not? 

Ask questions about rate plans and unit sizes. Is the person at the desk being forthright and informative? Or do you feel like they would rather be watching the baseball game on the television in the back room? Are they smiling? Do you feel like a valued customer whose business is appreciated? These social cues are important for most people. When we feel honored and valued, we are more likely to want to do business with that organization for the sheer fact that they have great taste!

It is wise to tour several of the units, and even several different sized units, of the company locations that you are considering. Check for consistency in the cleanliness of the units. They should all be swept and free of dust, mold, cobwebs, spiders and insects of all kinds. If you see rodent droppings at any time, then go store somewhere else. Also, if you happen to see store bought rat traps or insect traps sitting in the corners of the units or in the hallways, do not assume that the company is being proactive in their pest control. On the contrary, assume that there is a problem that they are trying weakly to rid themselves of. Do not take chances when it comes to your belongings. 

If security measures are important to you, then ask about the methods that the company employs to insure the safety of your items. Some companies have gated keyless entryways, while others have security cameras and closed circuit television. Still other companies offer in-unit security alarms. There are many options available for you when it comes to security. Take your time and choose well.

When the service, atmosphere, security and price all sound right to you, then and only then should you sign on the dotted line once all of your questions have been thoroughly answered. Read the fine print, get a copy of your lease agreement, and store it in a safe place. When it comes to choosing self storage facilities , choose well and honor your choice. Chances are that with just a bit of legwork and some focused observation, you will be rewarded with a clean, secure and trustworthy solution.

San Antonio Storage

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Dude, where is my car? The only person that would know the answer to that question would be you. Some of you have heard this phrase in a movie or have heard it as part of a joke from your friends. However, some people really have this problem. Where can they put their car if they go somewhere in which they can not leave their car at home.

Car storage is an option for people who have to store their car somewhere other than their house. There are different reasons some people will need to use car storage . One reason is for those people who go overseas and they do not have a place for their car. Another reason people use a facility to house their car is because they have a job that requires them to use a company vehicle. They then store their car in a facility until they can swap it out and store their company vehicle. Another reason people use car storage is when they move to an area that only has room for one car instead of three like their home once had. They will have to place their other cars in a garage or find a way to sell them.

No matter what the reason people use a storing facility to place their cars, there are some rules that most facilities have you follow.

• The car has to be functional
• The car can not be falling apart cosmetically, because most storing is done outside for people to view. They do not want their facility to appear as a junk yard.
• The car has to be as low on gas as possible in order for you to drive in and out. Most facilities do not want the risk of a car with a full tank of gas exploding.
• There is to be absolutely no work done on the car while in the storing place.
• You can not change the cars oil or paint the car. This could leave to staining the ground or the space. The facility wants to keep everything nice and clean.

Above are the rules that most places have. Some facilities will not allow you to have a car that is stored inside of a building. The only place they allow you to park is outside in a parking spot. Some people do not like that option because you are susceptible to Mother Nature.

Some facilities allow you to park inside of a space, but that option is usually more expensive. Also, the space has to be a drive up unit and not an interior space, as in down a hallway. Logically it is not possible to drive a car down the hallway of a building but still we have to mention it because people think they can drive their motorcycle inside.

The smallest space that you could use for a car is a 10×20 space. Now if you have a very compact car you might be able to place it inside a 10×15 space but it is not recommended. Be smart. If you have to put your car inside of a space, go for one that is big enough to not damage the car when pulling out or going in.

To find car storage in your area, just look online and search for it. Not all places in your area will allow car storage . If your vehicle is that important, you will want someone who specializes in that service and use them.

Brooklyn Storage

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Oh, what a great day for a garage sale. The sun is shining and there is a subtle breeze coming in from the west. The local news team said that it would be rainy and over cast the whole day, but luckily they were incorrect as always.

Of course staying up till 12 the night before only to awaken the next day at five oclock in the morning is always fun. Making sure that you have everything in the garage sale that you wanted to have sold can be exhausting. In the back of your mind all you are thinking about is the more you sell, the less of a storage space you will need to pay for.

As you crawl out of bed, your head is filled with the happiness hopping that all the big ticket items you put out there for viewing leave your driveway. You open your garage and see that you are putting out two kitchen tables, a sleeper sofa, a riding lawn mower, a digital video disc wall unit, and some computer parts that all need to go in order to make waking up so early worth it. Also, with those items gone, your storage space will be small because all that is left is just odds and ends along with boxes.

As you drive around and put up flyers announcing your blockbuster garage sale to the neighborhood, you observe the cloud formations that are circling your community. The reports did say that it was supposed to rain the whole time your sale is supposed to be on. The wind looks like it is on your side as it is pushing the clouds to your south. You rush to the bank realizing that you should have went the night before to get some money and change for the many people that will need change after they purchase your what-nots.

Your driveway is packed with the things that you are willing to part with and now you are just waiting for people to come by and relieve you of those things. Time passes and no one has yet to show up. You look at your watch and it has only been ten minutes. You need to chill out. You take a look up and down your street. A normally busy street is as quite as the nearby park. You pray that soon someone will show up to your driveway sales bash or you have just wasted a perfectly great morning to sleep in.

Finally someone shows up and you are filled with joy. You jump up off of the sleeper sofa that you had been resting on and you stand at ease waiting for the first people to make their decisions. Just as one person shows up other cars passing by slow down to park, ready to gaze through your things.

As different people are walking around your garage, which was once used for the storage of the items spread out along the perimeter of your driveway, you overhear different conversation judging the different items that are for sale. Some comments are nice while others are not so nice, but hey, not all people are going to like every single piece that you have for them to buy. Some are gazing at that cheap sleeper sofa that they do not need at this present time, but could put it in storage until they are in need of it. But they decide to pass on it.

Hours pass, and you see many people wishing to view your items, but little people who want to purchase. As the rains come, it is time to place everything that is left back in its storage place until the next time you wish to have them viewed. As of now, you put finding a storage space on hold to see how you fair in a couple of weeks. Maybe next time you will put an ad in the paper instead of advertising on the day of. Maybe more people will come to see what treasures they might soon posses.

W. New York Storage

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A self storage unit is not the same at every facility. In fact, there are many different types of spaces available to the average consumer. You can have a space that is climate controlled, portable, or what most call regular spaces.

When you are talking about a self storage unit that is climate controlled, you are speaking about a space that the temperature is kept constant. Most spaces keep the temperature between 60 degrees and 80 degrees. You can use this type of space if have belongings that are sensitive enough not to be placed in your garage. Many people prefer this type of space because they feel like their items are with them at their house because of the temperature adjustments that can be made. Climate controlled spaces give the customers a peace of mind that no matter the weather conditions outside, their belongings will be safe from the elements. Also, usually this type of space is located within the facility and there is no access to the outside. This limits any kind of vermin to enter their space and chew on their furniture. One downfall to that is that you might have a facility that does not have space down their aisles to bring large pieces into the building. If you find the right facility, you could spend less money on this space than a regular type.

Another type of self storage unit is the spaces that are portable. This type of space gives you the convenience of having the space come to your house to load. The unit can be left there at your house until you are ready to have it picked up. It is very convenient for you because you might not be able to get to load the space today, but now it is at your house and you load it first thing the next day. This type of space was created to replace renting a truck and having to bring your items to the facility. This alleviates you having to pack and unpack your belongings more than one time. You can put your items in that portable space, the company comes to pick up that space and they put it in a warehouse that is monitored by security and climate controlled. One of few downfalls to this type of space is that most of the time, your space will not be accessible to you. They usually place your space on top of another space. If you needed something out of this space, you would have to call ahead to see if they could get your space down for you to access.

The last type of self storage unit is the regular type. This is the most common, inexpensive that most people end up renting. Most people feel they need to access their belongings more than a couple of times a week. This self storage unit would fit you well because it usually has a big roll up door that allows easy access. You place some sort of lock on the unit, in order to ensure that your items can be safe from intruders. This space is the first space to sell out because it is also the cheapest of the spaces. Every now and then you will find that the type of spaces above can be less expensive, but that is because they are usually left unfilled and the facility needs to drop the prices to sell them. If you do not mind that your belongings can be exposed to the extremes of heat or cold, or they could be susceptible to insect and other type of creepy crawlies, then a regular space will be good.

No matter what self storage unit you choose for yourself, there are some things that make one space enticing than the next one. You have to know what you want and what you expect from these spaces. Know what you are trying to store and put your belongings in the right space.

Milledgeville Storage

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The bigger, the better is a commonly held notion on our planet. It seems that we are each on a quest to satiate lifes hunger for more. In an attempt to satisfy this need, things are bought and collections are acquired. Boats, bikes and cars are bought. Huge, walking, talking, spinning, robotic toys are purchased for our kids, who seem to understand from an early age that getting a big, shiny, new toy is better than playing with one that they already have. Yes, having stuff is great, until it falls onto your head from an overcrowded closet shelf. Being able to buy stuff is amazing, until the day comes when you stand in awe at the mass of objects that you have accumulated and say, No More! But what do you do with it all? Where will box after box of stuffed animals, dinner plates, Christmas ornaments and that unused stationary bike go?

It is then that a new quest has begun. This is the quest for self storage units to hold all of your clutter and overflow. Before you find yourself falling into that old pattern of bigger is better, as you go out to rent some self storage units that are as big as your garage and then some, do a little homework to determine what size you really need. In the storing business, size does matter, but bigger is not always better.

There are many sizes available for self storage units . If you have a relatively small amount of stuff to store, 25 sq. ft., or about the size of a hall closet, should suffice. This space will hold small pieces of furniture, such as a chest of drawers or TV stand, a twin size mattress and box spring, and several boxes. It might even hold that unused fish aquarium that has been collecting dust for a year and a half.

If you have a bit more stuff to store, you might choose a 50 sq. ft. space, which is roughly the size of a standard walk in closet. With some organization, these self storage units can hold the contents of a small one bedroom apartment.

You need to go bigger? No problem. Self storage units come in sizes varied enough to meet all of your space saving requirements. Perhaps a 75 sq. ft. space would be more effective. This area is roughly the size of a large walk in closet, like the one in the house that you wish now that you had purchased so you would be able to hold all of your seasonal clothing. These self storage units hold the contents of a standard one bedroom apartment, perhaps a motorcycle or the hockey sticks and goalie net that surely your sons used more than twice.

Still not enough room for all of your things? Then step up to a 100sq.ft. unit, and you will have a space as big as an average sized bedroom to catch and store all of the things you do not want to trip over anymore. This unit will actually hold the contents of a one or two bedroom apartment, including appliances and several miscellaneous boxes.

If you are needing to store a vehicle, such as a car or small boat, some dune buggies, or the contents of a two to three bedroom apartment, you might want to opt for a 150 sq. ft. unit. There should be plenty of room in there, as well, to hold your massive collection of rock albums.

Still not enough room? No worries. If you are packing up an entire 3 or 4 bedroom house worth of contents, there are units to fit your need. Imagine a space as large as a single car garage, approximately 200 to 250 sq. ft. There is plenty of room for stacking, arranging, and even making a path through there for easy access to the old claw foot bathtub that you got from your mother that you swore you would turn into a beautiful garden planter one day.

If you need more room than that, bigger is absolutely better. There are some self storage units that span 300 sq. ft. This space holds the contents of an entire three to four bedroom house, and is as big as one of those extra long garages, like the one in that other house with the big walk in closet that you wish now that you would have bought.

With all of these size options, does not it make it much easier to get out there and clean your garage?

Bogart Car Storage

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If you take a drive around the downtown areas of most major cities, you most likely will see cars parked in the backyard or in the driveways that do not function. These are cars that once were able to transport their owners from point A to point B without any troubles. Now they are a former shell of what they used to be. Back in their glory, those cars used to have their owners flaunt them around to show their rides off to their friends, attempting to gain status in their circles. Now they are just collecting dust, rodents and rust.

Why do people just leave their cars to die like that? Most people cannot afford to have their car towed to a place to get rid of it or place it somewhere for the time being. Maybe most people can afford it, they just do not want to put more time and money into that car. Maybe if they invested more time and money into the care when it was running, they would not have to worry about it taking up space on their property.

Not everyone with cars sitting on the property, have it sitting there because they want to get rid of it. Some people have hobbies trying to restore older vehicles. They put their extra time and money into these seasoned beasts to one day restore them to their old glory. Most people who restore these classic vehicles place them in their garages for safekeeping until they can work on them. Not everyone has the option of  having a garage or having enough space in their garage. That is why some people turn to Automobile Storage to keep their priceless treasure safe until they can get it up and running.

Of course, there are other reasons to use Automobile Storage than just what you have heard above. For those people in armed services that do not wish to have their car broken into or stolen, they place it in Automobile Storage . They can then rely on the facilities great security and other amenities to keep their property safe. They would not want to return from war and see that their car has been vandalized.

When it comes to Automobile Storage , you do not just pay your monthly bill and put your car into the space. Most facilities have criteria that you must meet in order to store your vehicle in their building. Some facilities ask that the vehicle be in full working order and is not filled with gas when you store it. This prevents people from storing their vehicle that is not worth a penny and leaving it there for the property manager to deal with. Some facilities say that you have to park it in a parking space designated for Automobile Storage . Do not worry though. Most facilities have a gate in which anyone attempting to steal your vehicle would have to get through in order to take it from the property. So, before you are ready to store your vehicle, make sure that you completely understand what is required of you.

As you see, you have an option to put your vehicle somewhere other than your driveway or garage. You can now use those spaces for you own personal uses and put your vehicle into a rental facility.

Key West Storage

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A self storage facility often offers customers a discount or a special price when they become a tenant. This enticement has become almost commonplace in the industry, particularly during the off season. The owner of a company may lose a few dollars up front, but they will almost certainly make up for it in the long run. Offering some type of a special discounted price to their new customers works well for many different reasons. 

Reason number one is that people are always looking for a deal. It does not matter if they are shopping for a cell phone plan or a new car or clothing for their children. Words like, sale, discount and coupon attract attention. And of course a shopper looking for a self storage facility is no exception. Even if they are only saving ten percent per month or getting fifty dollars off of their rent for a month or are given free moving supplies, a shopper thinks a bargain is still a bargain. If there are two comparable locations nearby, the customer will usually go with the one offering some type of an incentive.

Reason number two is that tenants usually are only planning on renting a unit for a few months, and think they will be out before the special ends. Of course the owners in this industry have learned over the years that oftentimes people become very enamored with this extra space they now have, and choose to rent on indefinitely. And so these tenants continue to rent a space much longer than they had originally planned, much to the delight of the owner of the self storage facility. 

And reason three of course is that word of mouth is the best advertisement around. There is no substitute for it. A renter that may only be fairly pleased with the service or the problematic location or the lousy gate hours will still brag about the great deal that they found. And truly happy tenants will tell all of their friends and family about the great special they received from this particular self storage facility. A company cannot purchase this kind of advertisement, for any amount of money.

Different companies offer different specials and discounts. But there are three particular groups of people that most locations always give some type of a discount to. These people include students, senior citizens, and military personnel.

Many offer a discounted rate to students. This is a group of people that may only rent for a short stint originally, but they are just beginning their American nomadic type of life. As an adult, these students will oftentimes remember the discount they were giving back when they were struggling and broke.

Senior citizens are usually also given a discounted rate for their rental unit. Owners are human, and have parents and grandparents like everyone else. Giving this group of people a discounted rate is simply the right thing to do.

Most facilities also offer a discount to military personnel. This is a group of people that truly live a mobile lifestyle, all the while serving our country. Whether the tenant is being deployed overseas, or is the spouse waiting on a loved one to come home, a self storage facility owner is able to show their appreciation and their thanks by giving members of the military family to rent a unit at a discounted rate.

Customer Service

New Jersey Motorcycle Storage

Elgin Storage

June 2007 Property Management Blog Archive

Boat Storage Revisited

Self Storage Article Directory – RV Storage

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Presentation is everything. Well, not everything but pretty darn close to it. When you walk into a mall that you have never been in before or a fair or carnival, what attracts you to one of the stores or stands displayed? Although looks are not everything, it is what typically first attracts the eye. When you see a store front displayed that attracts your attention, it is probably colorfully designed or aesthetically pleasing to the eye that makes you want to walk into the store or to check out the display to see what else it has to offer, right? 

It may not even be something that you are looking to purchase at that moment, however if the display or store front is so attractive that you are lured into the store, you may find yourself buying something that you were not expecting to before you actually got there. The same is goes for storage. Although some may think that storage is just storage, it still has to be attractive to the eye. If you drive by a storage facility that looks like it has not had a new paint job in about 20 years, your first thought is probably that you do not see your items as being safe at that property or well maintained. What could you expect as far as the cleanliness inside of the unit or the rodents that may be harboring inside of it? Now if you drive by a storage facility that it colorful, clean and well maintained you may want to go inside to see what the store has to offer. For those customers that do come into the storage lobby you want to make sure that the inside is just as pleasing to the eye as the outside is. Again the products inside of your lobby should be well balanced and able to showcase all of the different items that it is offered. 

Think about when you are checking out at the grocery store and the last items you have a chance to purchase are on the display at the check out counter. They are usually very small items where there can be many different items displayed but also within hands reach. Did you notice that many of those items are also very handy and could conveniently fit into your purse or car?  Little packages of napkins, diaper wipes, candy bars, sodas, lighters, air fresheners and many other little travel size items that are very inexpensive to purchase. 

The store display can make your storage products sell or they can hurt your sales. Your storage facility may be in need for a change so take a good look around. Walk into the lobbys front door as if you were a customer and without trying to look around too much. See if your storage products are easily noticeable or not. Put yourself in your customers shoes. Are products easily visible or would your customers need to literally go down each isle to see what your store offers?
 
As a walk-in customer you should be able to spot key items that would be extremely beneficial to the customer so that they purchase those items. Prices of those storage items should also be visible in case you are assisting other customers. If the prices are available they can decide on which and how many boxes they want to purchase so by the time they get to the front counter and you are able to help them it will make the process much quicker.

Pompano Beach

Kentucky Boat Storage

West New York Storage

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No matter where you look, you can find self storage anywhere. You can find self storage facilities in your area, by searching on the Internet, in the newspaper, or through word of mouth. When you look for self storage, you can find a lot of great offers and some great looking facilities. You have to be sure you are getting what you are bargaining for.

When you are trying to find self storage online, you can go to many different places. You can go to the biggest search engines or to a niche search engine for self storage. Most websites you visit will either send you directly to an actual self storage facility. When you are trying to find self storage, you most of the time, need to search by your zip code or state. This will allow you to see all the different facilities that are in your area. The Internet is very biased when it comes to searches. When trying to find self storage facilities through search engines, you will always get the website that has been hit the most. Of course, most self storage facilities use all kinds of advertising to get their name out there and first on many search engines.

If you take the time to use the different search engines to find self storage you will usually see the same results first. If you try to find self storage on a large search engine, the first three websites it brings up are three large corporations of self storage. Therefore, as you seem to think the site will help you find self storage only one website is an actual storage company. When you try to find self storage on a smaller search enging, the first three results are varied a little bit. Once again, you see one self storage facility and two search or service websites. Lastly, what do you think you will see if you try to find self storage on a self storage search enging? You will see storage facilities who have registered with that search engine. So which one do you use?

If you turn to the paper to find self storage, you will see only those who have the money to advertise. At that point, are you paying more a month because the facility needs to pay for their ad in the paper? It is very possible. At that time, you can still take the time to use the Internet as your asset to help you search for some information on the self storage facility you saw in the paper.

The one way to find self storage that many people like is word of mouth. Even though many people have the respect of their friends opinions, they do not often talk about self storage as they are watching their favorite football game, or small talk around the office. People do not talk that much about how they found a great value in a storage facility.

When you are trying to find self storage, you have a couple of different avenues to search. The most impactful, most people believe is word of mouth, but self storage is not spoken about often. Use the Internet and maybe the newspaper to be able to find self storage. Thoroughly look at each facility as much as you can until you the one that fits your need.

Self Storage Business

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Key West Storage

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