» Self Storage

If you are shopping for a 10×20 self storage unit, you will find it is equivalent to the size of an average one car garage. A tenant can put away a lot of items in a large unit such as this, especially if they take advantage of the eight foot ceiling and stack boxes and other items vertically. Shopping for a big self storage unit works wonderfully for individuals, families, businesses, etc.

A 10×20 self storage unit holds the entire contents of a three bedroom home plus appliances. So it is ideal for anyone that is moving or remodeling their large home.

A 10×20 self storage unit is perfect for someone shopping for a unit to park their vehicle. There are a lot of different circumstances where someone wants to store a car, a truck, or an SUV.  Military personnel being deployed need a place to put their vehicles. Someone giving a loved one a new car as a birthday, anniversary, or graduation gift needs a place to park it until the big day. People living in an apartment complex have a limited number of parking spaces available to them.  Here are many different reasons why someone would be shopping to put their vehicle in a self storage unit, and a 10×20 unit is the ideal size.

A 10×20 self storage unit is great for people shopping for a unit that have large toys. Motorcycles, snowmobiles, and jet skis can all be put into this big self storage unit. Riding lawn mowers, boats, and campers are all seasonal items that can be stored in one of these units as well.

A 10×20 unit works really well contractors and construction companies shopping for storage. These people are able to drive right up to their self storage unit and get the supplies that they will need for that day. The unit is large enough to hold big, bulky pieces of equipment and supplies. 

Shopping for a 10×20 self storage unit is ideal for companies that conduct their business indoors as well. Many different types of companies are required to hold onto documents and a lot of paper records for a long period of time. It is far more cost effective for these businesses to be shopping for a large self storage unit than it is to get more office space. The price per square foot is less at a storage facility than it is in an office complex. Certified Public Accountants, lawyers, and doctors offices are just a few examples of types of businesses that have a huge need for document storage, and they can all take advantage of storing these items offsite. 

Someone that works from their home oftentimes rent a 10×20 sized self storage unit. A salesperson is able to store their samples and their inventory at the storage facility, instead of taking up precious space in their home or garage. Marriages can be saved by simply shopping for and renting a 10×20 self storage unit!

A 10×20 unit works well for college students that are shopping for storage. Several roommates or sorority sisters are able to pool their things and the monies together to get one large self storage unit to rent over the summer months.

Boy Scout troops, PTA organizations, and other non-profit groups collect items throughout the year so they can have a yearly garage sale as a fundraising event. Shopping for a 10×20 self storage unit works really well as a place to put all of these donated items until the day of the big sale. They can put in shelving and form aisles to help keep everything organized.
 
A 10×20 self storage unit is very versatile and works well for a countless number of different people and in different circumstances. Its lower cost per square foot makes it a smart investment for families, businesses, and organizations alike.

 

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We have all gotten that customer service call before. The customer service call when the caller has about as much personality as blank sheet of paper, a wet blank sheet of paper. We have all heard that monotone voice saying, they need the prices for all of your self-storage units. You know that drone. And we look forward to meeting this callers self-storage needs with just about as much excitement and enthusiasm as we would if we were going to the doctors office for a routine physical, necessary, but not in the least bit fun.

Consider for a moment, just why it is that the caller may be droning on that that, oh so appealing monotone. The caller may be needing self-storage because of some sort of life tragedy. Maybe their Uncle just passed on to the Great Hereafter, and the rest of the family is fighting about what to do with all of his stuff, so the caller is getting self-storage until the dust settles.  It could be that caller just had a house fire, and he or she needs self-storage to sort out the remains of whatever did not get burnt to a crisp. Maybe the caller just found her husband in a compromising position with the next door neighbor, soap operas get their inspiration from somewhere, you know.

Certainly, all of the above scenarios sound very tragic, and of course we should exercise tact and sensitivity when dealing with self-storage customers with these kinds of customer service needs. Of course, not every callers self-storage customer service needs involve a three hanky tale of woe and tragedy. However, it is also quite possible that the caller could use a tiny bit of levity and customer service to brighten up what would otherwise be a chore of Herculean proportions.

Another thing to consider is that this may have been the third, eighth, or twenty fourth customer service call that the customer has made to a self-storage facility, and the calls are all starting to blend together.  Plus, the caller may also be looking forward to making self-storage customer service calls with as much enthusiasm as the aforementioned doctors office visit. Anything we can do as self-storage professionals to make ourselves stand out in a positive way, of course- will go a long way in finally making the self-storage sale.

And do not believe that it is just customers who have to deal with the monotony of enduring an entire slew of virtually identical customer service calls. This may well be the third, eighth, or twenty fourth self-storage customer service call you have taken today, and you would swear that all of the callers must be reading from a sheet, because they all sound alike. So it could well be that you need to crack a joke just to save your own sanity.

We do not necessarily have to be a finalist for a comedy show to be able to elicit a grin from our clients, nor do we have to be a clown to get a laugh. Likewise, the caller does not have to be dryer than plain white toast in Death Valley for us to start kidding around with them, funny self-storage customers appreciate jokes as well. Of course, if the caller really does have a flat line personality, then you got no love coming. Customer service wins!

That was a joke, by the way.

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There are many different types of self storage facilities throughout the country simply because there are many different types of self storage needs. 

Cars and motorcycles are popular items for people to put into self storage facilities, and for a variety of reasons. One person may be shopping for storage just for the winter because of the hazardous driving conditions. Another customer may be shopping for parking because they only have two parking spaces available at his apartment complex, but has three vehicles. Still another may be getting deployed to Iraq and is shopping for storage unit until she returns. Shopping for this type of self storage facility means it has to be very secure and have storage units with drive up accessibility. Self storage facilities equipped with these types of units are found all over the United States.

It is a little more difficult to go shopping for a self storage facility that can handle large recreational vehicles. People need to store these vehicles because home owner associations usually frown on these monstrosities being parked on a driveway or on the street. Self storage facilities that specialize in RVs often have both indoor and outdoor parking, as well as 24 hour access available for their adventurous customers. Oftentimes amenities such as dumping stations and wash bays are also provided. These self storage facilities are usually found in areas near large lakes and parks, as well as close to affluent neighborhoods with stringent HOA rules.

Some self storage facilities specialize in boat storage. People put a great deal of time and money into their vessels and proper off-season storage is essential. Shopping for these self storage facilities will usually turn up a large climate controlled warehouse and a system where they are able to stack the boats upside down, three or four boats high.  Because they are able to store a large number of boats they are able to keep the costs down for each individual customer. These self storage facilities usually have a set rate for storage throughout the winter months, and then everyone comes back in the spring to retrieve their property. These locations are common in the northern United States, where there is obviously a limited boating season.  These self storage facilities can be found all around the Great Lakes if you are shopping around for one.

Self storage facilities that specialize in storing documents and files are becoming increasingly popular. Many types of businesses are shopping for document storage because they are required by law to keep files for many years. These documents can take up valuable warehouse space that can be used for equipment or inventory. Renting larger office space just for document storage can be very costly. As an added bonus, many self storage facilities that specialize in document storage offer additional services for their clients. These locations are able to bar code each box of files for better organizing and easy retrieval. They also often provide document shredding services, to safely and securely destroy files that have out-lived their useful life. These self storage facilities are used by large accounting and law firms, hospital and medical clinics, as well as small home based businesses with very little storage space.

In a few select areas, art storage is very specialized and trendy. Preserving art is an intricate affair that requires temperature and humidity control, extremely high ceilings for large pieces, and a private viewing area. Self storage facilities that specialize in art obviously have extremely high-tech security measures in place. These self storage facilities are usually located near larger cities, where there is a higher concentration of art enthusiasts.

Many self storage facilities have become far more specialized over the years because that is what the customer wants and needs. If you are shopping for a particular type of self storage, you might have to call around to see what you can find. Shopping for storage can be done over the telephone or the Internet. Some people like shopping for specialized storage by visiting each facility in their area.

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What is customer service? Customer service is the provision of service to customer before, during and after a purchase. Customer service is designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction, that product, or the service has met the customer expectation. Well where has it gone?

Are we now in a society that does not want customer service? Or do we just not want to give customer service anymore? It is partly both. We have gotten so busy that when we call a place for service we just want the cost. We do not care what else it has to offer. We just want the cost and if any discounts. Look at gas stations now. We can pay at the pump but we use to have to go in to the station and pay. Now we do not even have to associate with the clerk working. When we are at the grocery store, we do not care about the checker or how her day is. All we care about is getting the groceries in the bag and getting them home. What ever happed to How are you?

Now on the flip side of this, we have treated people like this for so long that now we do not want to give customer service. If a clerk has tried to ask a customer how they are and the customer just mumbles or ignores them, then we can see how after a while of this the clerk would stop asking. Or if a customer comes in to their store and they do say Hi or ask how they are. The clerk probably thinks no one cares to talk to them. We also hire anyone who would take a minimum wage job, regardless of if they really care about customer service or even have experience with customer service.

So this may be even the fault of the employer who is hiring these people at minimum wage, instead of looking for someone with customer service skills. Do employers feel that they cannot afford to pay someone with good customer service skills or do they even consider if the people working for them have these skills? It really is some thing to think about.

If we could find where the problem is, then maybe we could help to change it. But if we did are we really going to start taking the time to be courteous to the employee working in the drive-thru? Or are we expecting them to change? It really is a group effort we should all try – the person who should be giving the customer service and the one that is expecting it back.

Not all customer service is gone. We still have companies who strive for their employees to give the best customer service they can. Some companies have training on this issue. We also have some people just by human nature who want to help people and want to be pleasant, friendly and courteous.

So the next time you are in the grocery store ask the checker how he or she is. When, you call somewhere, let the person on the other end tell you all about their product or services. Do not pay at the pump. Go in the station to pay and say hello to the clerk.

It takes just a little effort from all of the consumers, the companies and us.

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If a job searcher searches for work using one of those online job search engines and types in their zip code, they will get a page length list of secret shopping jobs. This indicates that the demands for secret shopping are huge. All industries including self storage want to know how their customers are being treated. As a result companies are paying very well to have their establishment shopped by a secret shopper. Companies can measure sales revenue by dollar and cents, but they cannot measure customer satisfaction without secret shopping. Yeah, a customer can always fill out one of those comment cards if the self storage company offers them, but let’s face it, the only customers who fill out those cards are angry customer. Secret shopping measures all phases of the customers experience from a professional self storage secret shopper.

What is a secret shopper and why are they secret shopping? In the self storage industry a secret shopper poses as an ordinary potential self storage renter. He or she calls a self storage property and inquires about renting a self storage unit. The secret shopper may as challenging questions or just simple questions. Meanwhile, the secret shopper is evaluating the experience from the customer’s point of view. Depending on the secret shopping company, some secret shoppers will reveal their true identity as a secret shopper at the conclusion of the sale. But the secret shopping experience does not end here. The secret shopper will then transform the sales call into a coaching session with the self storage manager. Together the secret shopper and the self storage manager will critique the sale. The secret shopper will then suggest several sales techniques that will improve the self storage manager’s sales presentation. Now the self storage manager can use this information immediately on his or hers next sales call.  

How does this benefit the self storage business? Self storage managers want to know if policies are being followed, if customers are being satisfied, and that their self storage business if being run like it should. So, they hire a impartial third party secret shopping company to come in and act like a normal customer to see if everything is being run like it should.

Before a self storage property manager commits to a secret shopping company compare the benefits offered from each. In the above example about secret shopping a self storage business, the secret shopper offered instant real time feedback to the self storage manager. Self storage managers don’t have to wait until the end of the month to solve a potential flaw in their sales approach. It’s instant fixing, like bringing a car to a 15 minute oil change garage. The self storage manager is rejuvenated instantly. The self storage manager is coached by the secret shopper who conducted the secret shopping. The self storage manager receives direct feedback from the direct source of the evaluation.

Like the self storage industry, secret shopping is becoming big business. As the self storage competition becomes fiercer every year, self storage property managers need find an edge to stay ahead of the self storage game. Secret shopping or mystery shopping is that edge. Self storage managers who use secret shopping as a sales polishing tool are ahead of the game. 

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Last Spring Break I was fortunate to go to St. Lucia and stay at a luxury hotel resort on the beach. As soon as the cab driver pulled up the hotel, my wife and I were treated like royalty. Now I have stayed at many hotels and was treated like a rock star, but this hotel took it to another level. A bell hop opened the cab door and assisted us into the hotel lobby with our luggage. Inside the lobby we were greeted with a champagne toast. Instead of checking in at a front desk, we sat in an intimate setting with a concierge who offered all the hotels amenities to us. However, this special treatment was not limited to us no matter how special they made us feel; they treated every hotel guest the same as if we were secret shopping.

St. Lucia is one of the few islands in the Caribbean that offers a tropical setting. Most Caribbean Islands are flat and more desert like. This resort is one with the rainforests and sea. As soon as we opened the hotel room door, our feet were on the beach.

With all that, this resort exceeded my expectation. Why? It was clear that the staffs’ goal was to exceed the custom’s expectations, whether the customer was secret shopping or not. From the doorman to the concierge to the banquet employees, every single person is focused on the guest.  Any time I engaged an employee it was clear that I was that person’s priority. I asked one employee how to get into town. He said if you wait for a few minutes until I get off work, I’ll take you around myself. I asked another employee on some dinner recommendations and when I got to the restaurant we were treated to appetizers and champagne courtesy of the hotel employee. And my wife and I were not secret shopping. We were just there to get away from it all.

The food at this resort was awful and this is coming from no food critic. I tend to like everything served on my plate. So if I don’t like the chicken alfredo or the shrimp scampi, something is terribly wrong. Everything was boiled, including the fish. Though, the English tourist seemed to enjoy it.

However, I would go back to this resort despite the bad cooking because the customer service was exceptional. The staff more than made up for the stringy shrimp and gummy baked potatoes.   

So why am I telling you this? Because the hustle and bustle understood by customer service employees, it’s easy to lose sight of what is important. And what’s important is exceeding your customer’s expectations. Though I was interested in the tropical island atmosphere and good food, it was the hotel employees that made my great experience because they wanted me to. They were not interested in secret shopping results; they were interested in the customer’s vacation results.

If you are interested in every self storage customer who comes into your self storage property, and you make it your goal to exceed their expectations, I can’t imagine that you would be worried about someone secret shopping you.

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The Ideal Storage Space

Everyones ideal world would have peace with no suffering. Just like the ideal storage space, my ideal world would be safe and well organized. We are always looking for ways to improve our home lifestyle. First we want to get rid of the excessive clutter then the excessive furniture storage and holiday decoration storage. But before rushing to a storage space and throwing all of your clutter randomly into it, plan your attack so you are well organized.

Find a storage space that is convenient for you. Back and forth trips to a far away storage space can be costly on gas money. Don’t choose a storage space because is the cheapest quote you received over the phone. Keep in mind other potential costs like gas and vehicle ware and tear. Plus think about all the time that is wasted driving back and forth from home to a storage space. Time is money and the time gained could earn you some extra dough. Can you access your storage space when you need to? Check the access and office hours and make sure they work with your schedule.

Once you find a convenient location, check out the property to see if it is safe and secure. You will probably store valuable items in your storage space so you want to make sure you have chosen the safest place. Look for video surveillance. If you can see them so can thieves and they will chose another target. Thieves also do not like well lighted properties. Visit the storage property at night to see how brightly lit it can be. Find out who has access to the storage property. If it is gated and fenced then only storage customers have access to the self storage business. Remember, not all storage properties are the same. Look for the differences and get the best value for your money.

Now that you have found the perfect place for furniture storage, boat storage, car storage, or whatever you personal storage is, its time to plan your storage space layout. Use storage shelves for storage boxes and storage bins. Storage shelves are perfect for small storage including books. Storage boxes can be purchased at the storage business. Storage boxes are specialty made for glass storage, china storage, and dish storage. Or you can use regular storage boxes for book storage and bathroom storage. For a more permanent storage solution, use storage bins in your storage space. Storage bins come in clear plastic storage containers so it is easy to see the contents inside. Storage bins are inexpensive and most are stackable of better organization.

Like me, not all of us were born with an organizational gene so we have to seek assistance from a storage expert professional. That is were property managers are best utilized. Think of the property manager as your self storage consultant. They are ready to help you get the most out of your storage space. Their experience in self storage allows them to share self storage secrete and self storage common mistakes.

An ideal storage space creates an ideal living space at home. Get the most out of your self storage space as much as you can.

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Cities OK RV Storage Ordinances

As more and more RV owners are losing their right to park vehicles on their properties, sore RV owners seek other solutions for RV storage . Many towns across the country are banning RV storage in residential areas. Though some towns have adopted a grandfather law to allow current RV owners the right to park their RV in their driveways, not all towns are as generous. The RV storage issue has a two pronged affect; RV owners have to find another placed to store their RV and there are not many available RV storage centers. Some call this the price of owning luxury items whether it is monetary or psychological. Most of us enjoy luxury items like RVs; however, they have a Jekyll and Hyde affect. They look nice on the road, but change to an evil face when parked in front of a home.

RV storage is a safe and secure solution to the new property ordinances. RV storage can be covered and uncovered. RVs are parked behind a fenced gate that only provides access to other storage customers with an access code. Most RV storage properties have convenient wash and dump stations, and air stations. Electrical services are available as well.

The problem with RV Storage is the need for more RV storage properties and the infrequent turnover at existing properties. Now that more RV owners are searching for storage due to the new property ordinances, storage customers are finding it hard to find storage space available. Current RV storage customers rarely give up their storage space. Usually after long trips they return the RV to the storage space. And now that word is out about the lack of storage space available, they are not likely to give up their RV storage parking space.

Unfortunately for RV owners, city governments are not sensitive to the RV storage space issue at hand. With more residents complaining about RVs as an eyesore than RV owners, city officials are unlikely to reverse their decision. Though some city governments have grandfathered existing RV owners the right to park their RV at their homes, if they do not have adequate parking such as a paved driveway, they need to find other RV storage solutions. Those who do not have a choice but to seek RV storage do have a grace period to find another storage space.

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Not all RV owners had the adequate RV storage space to begin with. Many condo associations and home owner associations have preexisting rules regarding the ban of RV parking. Most of these people already have RV storage at a self storage property. However, new adopted property ordinances could affect the RV industry that is already suffering from the high fuel prices. People will think twice before they purchase a RV; on the other hand, others will fail to consider city ordinances or HOA rules before they purchase a RV.

For anyone interested in buying an RV, it might be wise to find out your HOA rules and town ordinances before your sign on the dotted line. Also, call a self storage business to find out rates and availability.

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Self Storage Units Cure Sleeping Disorders

I spent my holiday vacation at my grandparent in laws house in southern California. Though I was looking forward to catching many good nights of deep sleep in a comfy bed without any thoughts of self storage units, my actual experience was far from my expectations. My wife and I were assigned to a pull out sofa that met all the stereotypical requirements, hard as a rock and a bar in the back. We also suffered from my wife’s grandfather’s lack of internal body climate control. As he continuously made adjustments to the thermostat, we would go to sleep shivering from the cold and wake up in the middle of the night in hot sweat. So instead of blocking self storage units from my mind, I thought of better reasons to rent self storage units rather than staying at the grandparent in laws. Here are a few good reasons to sleep in a storage unit rather than your grandparent in law’s house.

First, self storage units are clean, safe, and secure. People who are moving or relocating to a new area trust self storage for furniture storage and car storage, so you can trust self storage units for yourself. Be worried free and catch up on some zzzzs under 24 hour video surveillance. You will be more at ease within a fenced and well lighted storage property. The alternative, my grandparent in laws’ house, doesn’t have an alarm and is exposed on busy corner lot. Anytime in the middle of the night my body is subject to being snatched by some unexpected visitor; in self storage units, body snatchers are locked out.

You won’t have to worry about waking up the grandparent in laws when you come back in from a late night on the town. Many self storage units have 24 hour access. Just type in your access code and wait for the gait to let you in. It’s like living in a gated community. Also, do not to worry about waking up in the middle of the night from rowdy neighbors. Self storage properties are quiet at night as well as during the day. 

Rent a climate controlled storage unit if you are worried about extreme temperatures during the night. Self storage units with climate control stay at a consistent 70 degrees; therefore, you won’t have to worry about waking up in the middle of the night in hot sweats.

Parking at my grandparent in laws’ street also is a huge risk. Where they live many houses lack driveways and garages for parking; therefore, car storage is on the street. Here cars are in harms way from thieves. Self storage units have parking available inside a self storage unit.

Seriously, I do not recommend that anybody should sleep inside self storage units, but the point is self storage units guard your furniture storage, boat storage, car storage, or whatever your storage needs as if it is guarding your life. The only people who have access to the storage property are other self storage customers like you who want to protect their cars, boats, furniture, and other personal items.

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