11
Mar

Tough Management Decisions

Posted by joel (831) Comment

Every owner is looking for the next best thing to hit the self storage industry that they can apply at their facilities. They go to all these different trade shows and such just to get ideas and to ensure that they know what they are talking about when they get into many discussions about storage. They want to be up on the latest and greatest so when it comes time to make changes they can try to put it into their budgets. Owners know that sometimes they will have to change their thoughts and their normal activities in order to stay competitive. They do not have it as easy as some people think.
Owners know that they have competition right down the street and they are not always looking to put that company out of business. They are looking at coexisting as long as their business is still growing. If the business is growing, then no one has a problem. The problem starts when there is not any growth and then the owner has to go back to the drawing board about some things or make some major changes. Owners might look at the property managers first before they think about making any changes to the property. Hiring an new person or giving more training is a lot easier than making physical changes to a building.
When new facilities are built next to older ones, they will always look better because they are nice, clean and their paint is nice and fresh. To keep up with them, an owner is going to have to find a way to keep that kind of stuff in the budget. Sometimes that is all the owner has to do in order to stay up with the competition. They might not have to install some fancy security systems or even a gate. Owners have to think about the tough decisions daily. Property managers go home and they lay their heads down with a quick thought about what they have to do the next day. Owners are constantly thinking about how to improve their business. Their thought process never really slows down. If they let their selves have a moment away from their thoughts they could have a great idea pass them by.
There are many that want to own or operate self storage facilities but it is not for everyone. It takes a particular kind of person to run a company and live with the decisions that they make. Many people try to make decisions but then they can not handle the prospect that they were wrong and start to second guess themselves. The moment they start to doubt them selves about one decision, every decision they make from here on out will be questioned in their minds. I do not envy self storage owners. Their jobs are harder than I would like to handle.

Every owner is looking for the next best thing to hit the self storage industry that they can apply at their facilities. They go to all these different trade shows and such just to get ideas and to ensure that they know what they are talking about when they get into many discussions about storage. They want to be up on the latest and greatest so when it comes time to make changes they can try to put it into their budgets. Owners know that sometimes they will have to change their thoughts and their normal activities in order to stay competitive. They do not have it as easy as some people think.

Owners know that they have competition right down the street and they are not always looking to put that company out of business. They are looking at coexisting as long as their business is still growing. If the business is growing, then no one has a problem. The problem starts when there is not any growth and then the owner has to go back to the drawing board about some things or make some major changes. Owners might look at the property managers first before they think about making any changes to the property. Hiring an new person or giving more training is a lot easier than making physical changes to a building.

When new facilities are built next to older ones, they will always look better because they are nice, clean and their paint is nice and fresh. To keep up with them, an owner is going to have to find a way to keep that kind of stuff in the budget. Sometimes that is all the owner has to do in order to stay up with the competition. They might not have to install some fancy security systems or even a gate. Owners have to think about the tough decisions daily. Property managers go home and they lay their heads down with a quick thought about what they have to do the next day. Owners are constantly thinking about how to improve their business. Their thought process never really slows down. If they let their selves have a moment away from their thoughts they could have a great idea pass them by.

There are many that want to own or operate self storage facilities but it is not for everyone. It takes a particular kind of person to run a company and live with the decisions that they make. Many people try to make decisions but then they can not handle the prospect that they were wrong and start to second guess themselves. The moment they start to doubt them selves about one decision, every decision they make from here on out will be questioned in their minds. I do not envy self storage owners. Their jobs are harder than I would like to handle.

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

Category : Self Storage Owner | Blog
7
Oct

Essential Features In A Self Storage Company

Posted by admin (11) Comment

People look for a secure place to store their possessions.  They consider other features of your storage company as well. However, among all major features that clients consider, security remains a priority. As an owner it is essential that the features of your storing facility project an aura of caring, of security, and of your pride in your venture. The front desk people, the people who face the customers as they come into your facility, should be friendly, and serve everyone with a smile.

Security

This is important as the possessions people entrust your storage company with are valuable to them, both monetarily as well as emotionally. The first thing they will notice is the type of fencing you have around the perimeter of your facility. Ensure that the fencing is strong and sturdy, high enough to discourage intruders, is made from good quality materials and is well maintained.

Have your facility well lit, both externally as well as inside the warehouses. A well lit facility will not allow any intruder a place to hide in dark spots. A potential customer will look and ask for the kind of surveillance systems you have in place in your facility. 24 x 7 video surveillance cameras are a norm with reputable self storing facilities. They monitor and record all the happenings in your facility. Have a number of surveillance cameras placed in all the strategic places around your facility. Ensure that the security tapes are kept in a safe and secure place in case there is a need to check them at a later date.

Having door alarms, high security locks on the units, having smoke detectors and water sprinklers are good features of a storing unit. Ensure your store house provider also has these features. Having armed guards patrolling your facility also sends good indications about your being security conscious. Have an audit of your access systems. Electronically controlled access through a pre-identified code ensures that only those who are authorized are allowed the access. Another sure way of allowing only authorized entry is through a biometric finger print identification access.

Other Features

We or our friends are not professional packers and professional shifting agencies. A storage company that provides extra services for their clients, such as packing and shifting their possessions from their home, are preferred over companies that do not.  Your professional staff can help pack, load, and move the belongings of your customers to their allocated storing units in your facility.

People have started to expect storerooms to be clean and well maintained. Ensure that your facility has an aesthetic appeal. The grounds should be well swept. The roofs of the cargo space facility need to be periodically checked for dust and grime. Have them cleaned, and the gutters unclogged of fallen leaves. This will ensure the gutter will not overflow and stain the walls.

Have the internal and external walls of your facility cleaned and washed periodically. Have the walls of the storeroom painted at regular intervals. This will leave an impression in the minds of your customers that you care for them, and by extension make them feel you care for their possessions, as well.

These are very small things, but taking care of such extra features will instill trust in your storage company and this will add to your bottom line.

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

Category : Blog | Storage Company | Blog
7
Feb

A Storage Company For Your Needs

Posted by admin (8) Comment


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A storage company is a registered firm that hires out storehouses and storing areas for monetary returns. There are many firms that offer storehouses for monthly or periodic payments from the tenants. These storehouses are used by the tenants to store their belongings. The tenants hire storehouses of different sizes and types depending upon their necessity. While opting for a firm one should follow certain guidelines.

 
Many firms advertise a lot about the features of their storehouses and the amenities that they offer. Most of the modern storehouses are loaded with sophisticated features and the firms always try to project these features to attract clients. While selecting storehouses from a storage company one should not select storehouses based on the sophistication of their amenities but on the utility of those amenities. There is no point in paying for storehouses that have a lot of sophisticated features that are not actually required by the tenant.
 
The reputation of the firm from which one wants to hire storehouses is very important. One might come across hundreds of firms that advertise online but one should not get carried away by the promises that they make. It is always better to opt for a firm that is well established and has a proven track record. The realistic client satisfaction offered by the storage company can be ascertained by talking to the existing and previous clients of the firm and taking feedback from them.
 
One should visit the firm and take a look at the storehouses to assess the type of storehouses that it has and their quality. He should talk to the storehouse professionals to understand the terms and conditions under which the storehouses can be hired. Some storehouses can be hired on a permanent basis while others can be hired on a temporary basis.
 
Good firms have formal documents that need to be signed before one hires the storehouses. These documents contain the terms and conditions for hiring the storehouses. One needs to carefully read all that the storage company has mentioned in the terms and conditions. One should not ignore the clauses written in fine print because these might contain certain terms and conditions that may actually put the tenant in some sort of a disadvantageous position later on after signing the agreement. After understanding the terms and being convinced about them one should sign the terms and conditions documents. Good firms are always open with their terms and conditions and their terminology. They are very clear with their communication with people who work for them.
 
A good storage company will take adequate steps to keep its clients satisfied. It will see to it that their items are well maintained and will ensure hundred percent safety to them. It will lay prime importance in checking the movements of people in and around storehouses and will also have a very stringent procedure for identifying people. Before letting anyone sign the storehouse contract, the firm will thoroughly investigate upon the credentials provided by him and ask him about his purpose of hiring the storehouse. If the information provided by the tenant turns out to be questionable then the firm will not allow him to use the storehouses and cancel his tenancy. A quality storing company will strive to provide its best to its clients.
 
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Also : If you liked this article ,  you might enjoy reading some of our other articles such as Climate Controlled Self Storage and Furniture Storage

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

Category : Self Storage Manager | Blog
10
Jul

How To Organize Your Online Business Inventory

Posted by admin (5) Comment


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So are there really people who can make a living buying and selling online? The answer is yes. And could you possibly be one of these people? The answer again is yes. Even if you do not make a living by it, buying and selling things online in this way is a huge money earning possibility with untold potential for profit.
 

What are some tips to making better sales on online sites, you ask?

 
Well, there is a lot of advice out there about different tactics and things to watch for when you are earning money this way.
 
One of the first things to do, though, before you even begin to think about selling things, is to organize the items that you wish to sell. If this is something that you wish to do on a large scale, you will probably want to contact a local storage company about their rates. If the storage company is willing and you find the right storage company , they will work with you in regard to rates, etc. that will help you easily afford and manage your merchandise. Also, if the storage company knows what you will be using the unit for, someone from the storage company can speak with you about what type of unit would be best for your use. Using a unit will help you to eliminate the clutter in your home, and overlapping of your business and home life.
 
One of the no brainers for selling things online is the picture. Think about it. If you were shopping for something online that you had never seen before, would you seriously consider it if you did not have a visual to go by? Probably not. Even if you have a detailed description, a serious buyer will want to know that you are also a serious seller. Having a picture means you have confidence in the quality of your product, and are willing to show everyone up front what it looks like, whatever it may be.
 
But that is not to down play that description at all. Detailed descriptions of what your product is, and the condition it is in, are more than worth it as well. You should pay equal attention to the description as you do to the picture. Both are of utmost importance if you want to sell your product for a good price, and sell it quickly.
 
Obviously, whatever site you sell your items on, whether it is one site or multiple sites, you will need to know about. Do your homework and research on the site and know all the things about it you need. Most sites for this type of thing are pretty easy to follow, and very user friendly, but there are many facets to these websites because of their many uses. While this fact is one of the things that makes them so popular and great, it also can make them a bit confusing at times. So before you jump right in and begin selling things, familiarize yourself with all the various details that you believe are necessary to know about for your particular purposes.
 
Lastly, be professional. This will give you good feedback, and also inspire confidence in those buying from you. If you are too informal or you do not pay enough attention even to something as small as grammar in your product description, it could be a turn off for a potential buyer. Even if you are on your home computer in your pajamas, remember that it is still a business transaction, and should be treated as such.

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

Category : Self Storage Owner | Blog
30
May

Self Storage Past and Present

Posted by admin (6) Comment


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From the new customers perspective, a storage company seems like it should be nothing more than an empty place to keep some stuff for a few bucks a month. In the beginning days of the storing industry, that would have been a correct assumption, in most cases. However, the storing industry has grown into a large real estate market. The beauty of free enterprise has created stiff competition among the industry and what use to pass as acceptable is no longer up to standard, as the bar has been raised by the magnificent blend of supply and demand and market value.
 
For example, a storage company of old may have been able to charge 40 bucks for a 5×10 room per month. That was way back when a storage company was a new idea and people were not quite sure what to make of their local facilities yet. As we all grew accustomed to and even relied on having that extra space provided by the store room, the demand grew. With the rising demand, perhaps the local facility expanded with a few new additions or perhaps another investor built his own storing facility. As this happened in every town across the country, and industry began to bud.
 
The new storage company was able to build the newest technology of building materials and probably afforded themselves a few more bells a whistles that the original competitor had. To keep up, the original facility had to update and renovate. The cycle began.
 
All these silent moves to out-perform the competitor, along with the natural rise of the economy drove the price of a store room up. Nowadays, a 5×10 unit can rent anywhere from 60 to 250 dollars, depending on the populous and the demand for that unit.
 
As a new customer to the storing world, what seems like a pretty cut and dry experience can open your eyes to another, better industry than one had hoped for. More goes into a store room than just the empty space that one had originally sought out. At first, a new customer may be shocked to learn the price of a 10×10 unit is well over 100 dollars. He or she will most likely look at the number of doors on the property and quickly guess at how much the place must bring in in rent each month. However, assuming that rough estimation is true is far from reality.
 
Todays storage company should provide you with some basic security features such as a fenced perimeter with an access controlled gate so that only tenants can enter the premises, video surveillance to keep an eye on the property at all times, an on-site manager who is there at a moments notice, a well-lit property for safety at night and some even have patrolled lots. As a convenience, a reputable store room facility should also offer features to make ones move easier, like drive-up accessible units to easily unload from a truck to the unit, climate controlled options for long term storing or sensitive items, cart and dollies for tenants to use as they move in and out and even packing supplies for sale in the office.
 
All those security features and amenities add to the overhead cost of running a state of the art storing facility. This does not include property maintenance, taxes, association fees and dues, marketing and advertising, legal fees, payroll, existing mortgages, etc. that the property owner has to pay before a final profit is made.
 
After a little more thought, a new customer can see, a storage company has to work hard to turn a profit and the property is not just guzzling in hundreds of dollars in rent right onto the bottom line. However, a new store room customer should feel at ease knowing that the industry has a high standard and now offers a more convenient, secure and better way for storing.
 
Could a very thrifty customer still find a store room that offers nothing more than an aluminum frame of empty space in exchange for a few dollars each month? Yes, there are some dinosaurs still out there, in rural areas where the private enterprise has not demanded that storage company update its service. However, a new customer should weigh in his or her mind the risk he or she is taking by placing items in an unsecured property. Although the space might be cheaper, is it worth even 1 dollar a month if one will not get the items back in usable condition?
 
A new customer to the storing industry should take his or her time becoming acquainted with the local facilities and then decide what features are important to him or her. Once one has become more educated, he or she can make a better decision about which storage company will best fit within the budget and meet his or her storing needs.

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

Category : General | Blog
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