Property managers are more than happy to help the everyday storage customer any way they needed it. Not every customer can be helped, but a good property manager will give a valiant effort and do what they can in order to take care of the customer. That is the name of the game, taking care of the customer. If you are in the position of property manager and customers walk out of the store unhappy, you are at fault. There are currently property managers in the self storage industry that will consistently turn away a ready to rent customer. They have to weeded out and terminated. Why though would a manager treat a customer that way?

As a property manager you have to do your best in order to get customers to rent with you. The more people that rent with you, the better you look and people will start to realize how great of a facility you have. The more you help a person the more the word will spread. Some managers will say that it is not a hard task to rent to people. The people walk into their facility and say that they need storage and the manager finds what they need then rents them a space. Some managers are very good about renting spaces to people who walk in their door.

Many people say that customer service is lost and no one has great customer service any more. That can not be further from the truth. In the self storage industry some property managers say that having great customer service over their competition wins them customers. If you look at other companies some will not take the time to do different things in terms of how they treat the customer. Some places might not even acknowledge the customer just walked in the door. How can you expect to get more people to rent with you if you can’t even say hi as they walk into your establishment?

Customers pick up on how they are treated in a self storage facility. They just want to be treated the way they feel they deserve. Now there are some companies that decide to take it too far and might go over the top when it comes to their service. They also have the possibility of scaring people off. No customer wants ridiculous service when they just simply want a storage space. We need to make sure that we just are doing as the customer wants and sometimes go above and beyond to ensure they know they are getting taken care of. Property managers make sure that they are fulfilling any promise to the customer. That will get you the most recognition when you follow through with what you told them. Customers will find out about your facility from all kinds of different ways. Now that they found you and they meet you, it’s time to razzle dazzle them. Of course do not be fake and just show them what makes your company stand out over theirs.

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When you walk into a self storage facility, what do you want to see? Ok this could be a lot of different things so let’s be specific. When you walk into a self storage facility what do you expect to see the property manager doing? Some would say cleaning up, doing paperwork, helping other customers or making sure they have an up to date vacancy list. All these would be acceptable answers but what wouldn’t be an acceptable answer is sitting down doing nothing, which some customers walk in and see. A lazy property manager is never a good look for any company.

Sitting on your bottom does not look like you are ready to help anyone. The manager that is sitting down could be the most well versed manager on the planet but the customer will be automatically turned off if they do not greet them properly. If you are a property manager give the customer the respect they deserve and get out of your chair and greet the customer. They deserve to have your best foot forward. Unfortunately just like in any retail environment there are some people who are just looking to do the bare minimum in order to get by and still get paid.

Some property managers count on being in an area in which their regional manager or owner does not come by and visit much. They feel that they might be able to do a little less since there is not anyone over their shoulders at all times. Now with that said, it is very hard still to slack off because if you are not renting units, the upper management will still see that, then they could visit more because of that. So the property manager would just be doing their selves a big favor if they just go ahead and do their best in order to help the company out to their best ability.

No one is saying that being a property manager is an easy job because it is not. They do have a lot of responsibilities. If they are running the facility by their selves then they really have a lot on their plate. No one is saying that it is not ok to relax and sit down a little from time to time, but get up and greet or go meet the customer when they are in view. Just think how much more the customer would appreciate a manager or facility if they came outside to greet them as they pulled up. Then there wouldn’t be that barrier between you and the customer called a desk.

Laziness never pays off in the self storage industry. This industry is founded by people who were go getters. They would employ people who were similar to them and would do a great job in getting the customer to feel comfortable about renting with them. They would be sitting down on the job regardless of how they felt or if the customer said it was ok. As a property manager you have a small business you are running. It is hard to run when you are sitting down.

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When you call a company that you desperately need to get an answer from and they don’t answer, how do you feel? Most people would not really have any kind of emotion the first time they contact the company and they don’t answer. What kind of emotions are flowing through a person who calls a company and they do not answer more than two or three times? How you are getting pretty upset. All you want to do is call the company you need to and get your situation resolved. Why does that have to be so hard? It would seem that everyone has been in this situation once or twice.

As a property manager, you have a lot of things to do that maybe the general public does not understand. All the general public wants to know that if they need you, they can reach you. Sometimes customers do not realize the scope of your responsibility nor do they think that you are human and could possibly get sick. With that said, you also need to have some thing in place to where if you can’t answer the phone, someone else does. If this is not an option for you, then make sure that you have a good messaging system to where the customer can leave a message. The key is returning that customer’s message.

We have all been in that place where a company did not answer our phone calls when we needed them to. It made us very upset and we questioned whether or not we wanted to do business with that company. Don’t let customers think that about your company. Make sure you answer every phone call you can and return every message you get. Treat the customer the way you want to be treated.

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Believe it or not, customers know when they are being sold to. Surprise. That is a shock to many different people or maybe its not. It blows the minds of many that think that managers really do not realize that the people that call them know that they are being sold to. If the managers are not thinking that way, then they might be missing more than just that. Property managers should always have the thought process that they have to win the customer away from whomever the customer called before them. That has to be the objective.

When managers are thinking ahead of the customers they are putting their selves in a good place. They can have different scenarios thought out and planned so they can be prepared to rebuttal if the customer has an issue. The more the manager tries to prepare for what the customer could say the better equipped they are to get the customer to rent with them. The end game for the manager is to get the customer to rent. If you as a manager are not thinking about renting spaces then you are in the wrong profession.

Property managers need to be a step ahead of the customers but with that said, they also can not put the customer in a weird or awkward place. When a customer tells the manager no, the manager has to be cool, calm and collective. The manager needs to ensure that they know what their next move will be and breathe before responding. If the manager goes on full blown attack mode, that can leave to the customer leaving the store or hanging up the phone. That is not what the manager wants to happen.

When a customer calls the store or drops in, they are telling you that they want a storage space, but what are you going to do about it? Some managers think that they can just throw a price at the customer and that will win them over. Customers care about more than just the price. They are coming into the facility to check everything out and ensure that it is the place that they want to rent from. They are checking you out as a manager as well. The manager is a big piece of the pie when it comes to the customer. The property manager really can tilt the property in favor of the company if they handle this customer correctly.

Self storage is not rocket science. As a manager you don’t have to wait for all the stars to align for you to get the customer to rent with you. All you have to do is anticipate any objections they would have with your property. You can find all kinds of different things that the customer will come up with in order to say no. They have already made the first commitment. They are asking you for storage. Now you just have to think ahead of them and come up with some solution for them that the customer does not see.

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Why do you think customers say no to you as a property manager when it comes to renting a space? Do you think they are telling you no or do you think they are telling you no  because you have not gave them the solution to their problem. It is not difficult to find out what the customer needs, you just have to make it not difficult for them to see the solution you are offering them. You are offering them a solution the customer just needs to see that. Can you provide that solution and show them. That is your challenge.

The customer needs your help, but they are just afraid to ask for it. They are not looking for some sales pitch. They want a realistic solution to their problem. They want someone to look them in the eye and tell them that their solution is only a step away. The customer definitely has to trust you as a manager in order to believe you will help them. They want your help but they just don’t know how to ask for it. It would be great if the customer just said to the property manager, I want to rent, now show me what I need. That does not happen everyday.

For some managers it is hard to step outside of their comfort zone and go beyond what they were trained to do. The manager just wants to give their normal spiel and then the want the customer to say yes. Well that maybe happens one third of the time. Those are the gimmies. It is figured that at least a third of people wanting storage will rent if you ask them to rent with you. There are many people that need a bit of nudging in the right direction. There are people who just need to realize that this self storage location is the location that their belongings should rest.

Do you believe that you have the best facility and you are the best manager in the area? Then show the customer that. If the customer sees and believes that you are what you claim to be, then you are in luck. If the customer can not see that then they will go somewhere else. Many managers think that the customer is not smart enough to make a good decision on their own and think they need the property managers to come in and save the day. Do not make that mistake or make the customer feel that they need you. They do need you in order to get the paperwork done, but they can have any facility do that. They just want to know that if they rent with you, they will not have to worry about their belongings. Can you make them feel that comfortable?

No manager wants to be told what to do or what they should be doing. They want to hear how great of a job they are doing and they want to hear how big of an asset they are to the company. The customers need your help and you are there to guide them a rental. The question is, can you do that? If you can not do this for the customer, I am sure there is a facility down the street or right next door that can help them.

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What would you do if you walked into a facility that was completely disgusting? Most people would turn around and walk back out. Other people might consider still going through with renting a storage space. Would it be different if the manager told you they had a nice and super clean facility on to find out they were lying? How would that affect your self storage experience? Would that make you not trust other things they said or did? If you say no to this question, you are definitely in the minority.

Many managers ask the customer they are speaking with over the phone that they invite them to come down and see the facility. They do this for a couple of different reasons. They do this to get the customer to compare different facilities and also to get the customer to come down to their facility. Many property managers think that if they can get the customer to come in to their facility, the customer will rent from them. They believe that they have the best of what is offered in the self storage world. The property managers also want you to see how their competition does not take care of their property. This is to their advantage.

What makes a customer decide to rent a storage space? This has been the age long question that many owners have contemplated. There is not a unique system of things that can help one facility rent more spaces than the next one. One of the things that can help a property manager with getting the customer to decide to rent with them is deciding to be completely truthful with the customer. If you tell the caller something about your facility or what you can do for them, follow through with those thoughts. If you are asked something by a customer and you are unsure whether or not you can do it, tell the customer that. Do not make a promise that you can not keep.

The disconnection between the manager and the customer sometimes is the expectations of storage. If the customer comes down to the facility and they see something completely different than is described then they will not be pleased. So when you tell the customer about your facility, be as truthful as possible. It is completely ridiculous to think that you can lie to a person and it not come back to bite you. It is very simple to sell to the customer what you have and hope for the best. The customer only expects you as a property manager to give accurate information.

The customer will go down to the facility that they believe is the best for them. They will visit as many facilities as they feel they need or not visit any facilities at all. It is there choice. Always be ready for a customer when they come into your facility. It is always great when the customer ahs already spoken to you and now they see they can trust you as you have told the truth about your facility. When you ask the customer to come on down to your facility, you are inviting them into your world of self storage. You always want to put your best foot forward. There is nothing like hearing a customer come in telling you that the competition’s storage units are disgusting while yours are spotless.

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Many say that laughter is the best medicine. This is definitely true. Those who laugh more and are more upbeat are not depressed or stressed as most other individuals out there. Laughing is a sign of joy and a sign of positive energy. What do you think happens if you actually share a laugh with another individual? Most likely you will brighten up their day and actually possibly help them to see that today can be just as happy if you let it be. What do you think would happen if you are able to share a laugh or a chuckle with the different customers you come in contact with? You will be surprised at the result.

Property managers need to know that it is not a secret that the customer knows they are trying to sell them something. The quicker the manager realizes this, the better. Sometimes they go a little crazy trying to figure out how to pull one over on the customer, but the more honest they are with the customer the better. It would also be a great thing to know that if they treat the customer with respect and the way they would like to be treated the better. If a manager greeted the customer with a warm greeting, introduced their selves and listened to the customer’s situation, the customer would be very appreciative of that. Now that you have engage the customer in a good conversation, you know a little bit about them, and you realize you are not trying to trick them into doing something they are not comfortable with, all will be well.

There are many tips that you will come across that will help you take care of the customer and also to make them feel comfortable. Use all of those tips at the right time of course. What you should also try to do, if it is a comfortable time is to try to add humor or a chuckle to the conversation. Hopefully it is not uncomfortable.  Make sure you do not try to force it. If you try to force the issue it will come across funny. It should come naturally. Sometimes you will find that the customer will give you an opportunity to share a chuck and will laugh even at their selves. That is great. Go with the flow.

After you share a chuckle it definitely seems that the rest of the conversation is opened up to anything that can come to mind. The customer is definitely more relaxed and they would be more susceptible to listening to whatever was being said. Now you have developed some rapport with the customer and they see you as less threatening. You are in the perfect position. Now everything you say could be trusted, but ensure that you don’t do or say anything that could make the tide turn against you. Sharing a chuckle or a laugh with the customer is a great thing. Everyone will be happy and you will turn a potential customer into a renter.

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It would seem as if different self storage facilities have different ideas on what is acceptable with parking. Many people will allow certain types of vehicle to be stored in their parking lot or inside of the storage unit. This is not a big deal to the facility managers because they just tell the customers what can and what cannot be stored there. For the consumer calling around, to be told no on what another facility told them yes could be nerve racking. It would be good if everyone had the same thought process on parking.

For many storage facilities, out side parking spaces are meant for vehicles that have wheels. I spoke with a young man who wanted to rent an outside parking space to put his canoe. It wasn’t on a trailer. He stated that he didn’t need to put it inside of a storage unit as he was used to storing it outside of his home anyway. Unfortunately this wasn’t an option at a storage facility. The customer tried even harder to convince me that other facilities would store it, it just wasn’t an option for my facility. I didn’t leave him without an option though.

Luckily I had another option which was a drive up storage unit and it was a 5×15 unit. It wasn’t very expensive, it met the needs of the caller and it came with great security features. It was a win, win situation for everyone. Now he had room in his backyard to install the new playground for his kids.

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As a property manager, we have to try to be ready for anything that comes our way. Now of course we can only do so much to prepare for different things. In reality we just hope that we do not have to deal with certain things that could possibly come up. If they do, we have to take a deep breath and try to find a solution for the issue. For instance, people will call about billing issues, trouble with the gate, and so forth. This morning, I had a very common problem that had the chance to go either way in terms of it being trouble.

This morning a self storage renter called me who was at her storage unit trying to get the door to open. She was a bit flustered because she was in a hurry to get to a wedding. The wedding gift she purchased was inside of her storage unit and she couldn’t get to it. She didn’t know what to do. She said she came to the office, but couldn’t find anyone to help her. She said was able to get the lock off the door but couldn’t slide the latch over. She ended up calling the number to my facility and I was there to answer it. It was a roll up door so I told her to step on the handle which pulled the door down further so she could slide the latch over. She was elated, grabbed the gift and away she went to enjoy the wedding.

This was a situation in which it could have been very bad. The door was stuck, and I might have had to go out there to calm the customer down or get someone to the facility in order to get the door over. That would have cost the company money. Luckily, I was quick on my feet in thinking and I was able to get the customer taken care of. I was very happy it wasn’t anything serious.

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Many times when someone rents a it storage unit they may not visit their unit very often as with the caller I spoke with a few days ago. I’ll never forget how frustrated they where to begin with and how the call ended.  They arrive to the storage facility and could get their gate code to work. They thought the store made a mistake. When a customer comes in and uses their gate code, as a property manager, we do not change it at all. We leave the codes alone so the customer can use it again. If we do need to change it, we will make sure we contact the customer. Unfortunately, many customers do for them.

More times than not, It turns out that they had forgotten to simply use the symbols before and after the gate code in order to enter the gate. Although it was written with their code, it wasn’t entered. They felt a bit silly but were extremely happy that they didn’t have to wait until the next day when the store reopened. They are happy now, but they sometimes again need to be reminded of that when they have to access their storage unit after months of it being idle.

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As a property manager we have all kinds of responsibilities to ensure the store runs well. Not many customers know or pretend to know what we do on a daily basis. We try to have a list or responsibilities to do every day and we try not to get behind on our duties. Now of course we do have to also take care of our customers which have the highest priority on our list. In fact I know I would put a stop to anything else I was doing in order to take care of the customer, especially if it is a new renter. This is of course no matter what time of night it is.

A new renter of a storage unit arrived at their unit about 45 minutes before the store closed last night. They had a moving truck fully loaded with movers. The only problem was there was an orange lock on the unit, which meant that we had placed it on their unit. We do that so that no one puts their stuff in a lock when they are not supposed to. Regardless of the explanation, she was so upset. She just bought the unit and wanted to know why the store would place that on her unit, although earlier that day, I did tell her to put a lock on it before she left. It is for the safety and protection of the company and the customer that we lock up each unit that is empty before I leave for the night.

She was happy to know that the property manager was available to assist her in taking it off and that the reason why they had it on the unit was so no one could move their things into the unit accidently. She had plenty of time that night to move her belongings inside the storage space. The customer is our number one priority when it comes to our daily duties, so I am glad that we could make another customer happy.

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AUSTIN, Texas – Dec 1, 2011 – SpareFoot, provider of leading web marketing tools to the self-storage industry, announced the launch of its newest product, SiteBuilder. Designed to simplify everything about creating and maintaining an effective self-storage company website, SiteBuilder helps storage operators compete to win increasingly web-dependent consumers.

Facility clients get a customizable, easy-to-update website that’s proven to convert visitors into tenants. Users upload their facility logo and photos, and customize brand messaging. SpareFoot’s intuitive content management system (CMS) makes it easy to make changes anytime, without having to call in the expensive web developer or designer. Storage companies may even point a new or existing custom domain address to their SiteBuilder page.

SiteBuilder websites feature all the details consumers are looking for when they search for storage on their computers and smart phones. The tool integrates seamlessly with storage facilities’ existing management software to keep unit pricing, amenities and available inventory up-to-date. With complete performance analytics, facilities can track website visits, phone calls and online reservations. Self storage companies can even listen to raw feedback from local consumers through recorded calls and complete call statistics.

The tool joins GeoPages, SpareFoot’s local search supplement for facility operators who already have websites. The company’s flagship AdNetwork product grants facilities highly visible, search-able listings on SpareFoot.com, SelfStorage.com and over 50 other high-traffic partner sites that serve storage and moving needs.

“Every self-storage company needs a website, an online headquarters,” SpareFoot Co-founder and CEO Chuck Gordon said. “Our web experts designed SiteBuilder to be the best affordable turnkey solution. It modernizes your business, so you can reach and convert new tenants.”

Through its products, SpareFoot aims to evolve the storage industry by making the world of web marketing more accessible to facility owners and managers. Learn more about SiteBuilder here: http://www.sparefoot.com/business/facilities/sitebuilder.html.

About SpareFoot:
SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage, making it easy for consumers nationwide to find, compare and reserve storage units online. The company also offers a suite of leading web marketing tools for storage facility operators. SpareFoot is an Austin-based start-up backed by Silverton Partners, FLOODGATE and Capital Factory. For more information, please visit http://www.sparefoot.com.

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In our current would nothing is for sure. There have been times in which you are expecting one thing, but unfortunately another thing actually happens. That is not what you were expecting. So what you need to do is ensure you do everything that his possible to get what you are expecting. In self storage it would seem that people do not think ahead and they think that something will be there when they call upon it. People end up calling a self storage facility and tell them that they needed a self storage unit yesterday. Well the property manager will most likely tell them they might be able to help them still, but there will be times in which the customer will not be helped. They should have called ahead and reserved a unit.

People will often make phone calls while they are driving. If they call a property manager and the manger has exactly what they are looking for the customer should go ahead and reserve the space. If you are driving and cannot get to your card to reserve, you should pull over to get your card so that you do not miss out on the space. For the most part you will be in an area soon that you will be able to pull over and reserve the space.

There are a lot of reasons to reserve, but the most important one is that the unit will actually be there when you go to get it. The worst thing that could happen is that you wait to long to reserve the space and then you have to get something that you did not want. If you call ahead enough the property manager can actually put the space you want on hold. That will defiantly make your day a little easier knowing that you have the space you want.

If you reserve a storage unit, then the price and specials that you were quoted will be locked in. If you do not, then the quote may change. That is one of the worst situations when you think you are getting a space for the price you are looking for then the price changes. Now you are paying more for the space that had originally though would be cheaper. If you like the deal you are quoted by the property manager, don’t wait, go ahead and reserve the space now.

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If you talk to a property manager they will tell you that your shopping is over and you should rent form their facility. Well those are the self storage managers that are actually doing their jobs and asking for the sale. Some property managers will tell you that there is really no perfect way to shop for storage. Just find what you feel is important and go with it. You may feel that the price is the most important thing and that is fine. It is up to you. Just keep in mind that the cheapest may be a little sub standard in terms of cleanliness and security.

It is very important that property manager really sells a customer on what they have to offer. If they are not able to do this then the next manager will sell the customer that they have what they need. Most times the customer will go for it. Sometimes the presentation of the property manager will be great while others will leave something to be desired. Please do not be sucked in by promises that seem to good to be true. Make sure that you find a way to ensure that what the property manager is saying is what they will deliver.

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The key to getting it right the first time is to be patient and wait for the perfect deal. Now, you cannot sit back and wait for the perfect deal if you are in a hurry to get a space. Just make sure that you do not wait until the very last minute to start looking for a space. This is not the way to go. If you ask any property manger, they will always tell you if you know you need self storage, always reserve something sooner than later. You can never know if the storage space you need will be available.

You do not want to start the search too early, either. The best time to look for a space would be with about two to three weeks left before you need it. Typically the property manager that you talk to will be able to hold on to a self storage space for that long. They of course will want some type of commitment from you like a down payment, prepayment or holding the space with a credit card. The main point here is to ensure that you go ahead and get a storage space when you can because you want to ensure that one will be available. The worst thing to think about is not having a self storage unit when you when need it.

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Who doesn’t love a rousing game of how to stack your storage unit as tight as can be? Ok well no one probably is seeking out a game like that, but many people probably should ask their property manager how if there are any good tips that they can use in order to make good choices. Most storage units are eight feet high but not many people utilize that space. That is not good money saving ideas. Your property manager is there for a reason, why not ask them questions. One thing that people have to realize is that typically there are more storage units available in addition to the one they are looking at. Let your local property manager help you.

The best way to use the space in your storage unit efficiently is to know how to pack everything into the space. You do not just want to throw everything into the storage unit and worry about it later. Some people do not plan properly and they run out of time with having to return their rental trucks and so forth. So they end up just throwing their belongings into the storage space. That could be very bad because of trying to find something later and also in the amount of room you are wasting.

You will probably be spending extra money that you do not have to because you could actually go with a smaller space. A good way to get everything efficiently into the space is to use boxes for your things. They sell a variety of boxes at the site so you should definitely check it out. With boxes, especially getting ones that are the same, will allow you to stack high and take up all the floor space. If you are one who needs to get to all their belongings, maybe you should talk with your property manager about getting a larger space so you can maneuver around. Just ask about the cost difference.

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AUSTIN, Texas – Nov. 11, 2011 – SpareFoot, provider of leading web marketing tools to the self-storage industry, has launched a social media contest for storage operators though its SelfStorage.com partner social media accounts. The Best Self-Storage Marketing Idea Contest aims to encourage operators to share their most creative marketing ideas and get inspired by other entries from industry peers. The entrant with the most-voted idea will win Amazon’s highly anticipated new Kindle Fire tablet.

The contest is deliberately open-ended, to invite a wide range of marketing ideas or strategies that self-storage owners and managers could use to drive more tenants to their facilities. Operators are invited to contribute anything from a crazy concept they’re tossing around in the back of their minds, to a tried-and-true effort that’s been successful in the past.

The public has access to read and comment on entries, which are being accepted through the Self Storage Inc. Facebook page and through an openly accessible micro-site from now until November 28. At that point, a jury of SpareFoot marketing experts will review all entries and select five finalist ideas. On December 1, finalists will be announced and public voting will open up. Anyone may vote for any idea once per voting period, which concludes December 21.

“The goal is to inspire storage operators to recognize social media as not only a consumer marketing channel, but also as an ideal platform for sharing ideas and learning from peers in the industry,” said Rachel Greenfield, SpareFoot Marketing Analyst and coordinator of the contest.

The idea with the most votes wins on December 22, and the entrant behind it will score the Kindle Fire, an exciting new tablet that officially hits shelves next week. SpareFoot pre-ordered one specifically for the Best Self-Storage Marketing Idea Contest winner, so he or she may use it to execute their next great self-storage marketing idea, or just to play Angry Birds.

About SpareFoot:
SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage, making it easy for consumers nationwide to find, compare and reserve storage units online. The company also offers a suite of leading web marketing tools for storage facility operators. SpareFoot is an Austin-based start-up backed by Silverton Partners, FLOODGATE and Capital Factory. For more information, please visit http://www.sparefoot.com.

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I often talk to people who need a storage unit.  It seems that those who need a small space usually store things in totes.  Mostly they store clothes or small items.  I would hate to use small bags or even boxes to store my belongings. Unfortunately there are some facilities that do not do a great job of maintaining their facility and keep the rodents and bugs out. If that is the case then you will have issues keeping your clothes protected.

In addition to that bags can’t hold very much (unless you use a garbage bag), and they don’t stack.  That makes it really hard to organize your space.  If they rip, ALL of your things come out, and they fall over as well. It is definitely not a great idea to keep your belongings in a bag.

You can usually find free boxes at your location discount retailer, so why waste your time on bags? You can definitely drive around to your different grocery stores in the area to see if they have boxes that they want to throw out. You could find gold with finding some sturdy boxes. If you can’t find good boxes, you can always use totes. They are good to stack and keep safe in your storage unit.

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If you are looking to rent at a facility that has too high of a price, you may want to continue shopping around to see if you can get a lower price from one of the competitors. You may be able to get the first facility to match the price. That way, you are able to get the space that you want at the facility you want at a price that you want. It is ok to ask the property manager what they think about matching another one of their competitor’s prices in order to gain your business.

Of course It is completely up to the property manger to decide whether or not the change in price is valid and they want to gain your business that bad. In reality every manager will want to gain as much of the business they can, but they might be in a comfortable place to where they do not have push as much to reach their occupancy goals. In some markets managers will do what they can to get people in to their stores. There have been many self storage properties that will advertise that they will beat any advertised or local price. They of course will make sure that they are comparing apples to apples.

For the facilities that believe they need to advertise they will be and or match any local competitor they have to be careful. Some facilities are sneaky and crafty to the point in which they will match prices in their local area without advertising it. So if a customer wants to rent there at the price given, they are happy to accept those people. They will match a price or special from time to time. For the facilities that decide to match prices consistently they are missing out on charging their regular prices for the customers that chose them without shopping around. They are almost pushing the customers to shopping around. Be careful and fully think through your strategy for matching prices.

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It is very important for you tell your local manager what you really want to do in terms of your self storage needs. The worst thing that can happen is that you try to make the manager on site guess what you want instead of telling them what you are looking for.  One of the keys to self storage is the partnership of the self storage customer to the self storage manager. There is not a need for each side to make the other side feel pressured or stressed.  This is especially true whenever there is money involved.

Finding out your self storage needs shouldn’t be a mystery or something like that. It should be as simple as you telling the property manager what you need. It should be that simple. The more you tell the property manager, they more they will know. Sometimes it is the simplest or smallest detail that could really help the property manager find out exactly what you are in need of. Telling the manager on site if you are staying more than a month, a year or indefinitely could really help drive the down the cost of your monthly rental. If you are guarded about them knowing to much information could really hurt you in the long run.

One thing that happens is when a customer just tells the manager they are looking for a place to store their home. The property manager will most likely try to get more detailed in what you are storing so they can find the right size for you. Some people just say household things. That does not always help the property manager. One person’s household things could be a lot different than another person’s household items. When customers are vague the manager’s hands are tied. They might end up offering you something that you do not particular need which could come across as if you are selling you something you don’t need.

It also helps the property manager if you have a preference when renting a storage unit such as easy access, a drive up unit or a climate controlled space. If that is the case, let the property manager know. Some people really believe the less amount of information they give, they can trick the manager into giving them deals they wouldn’t normally give. This is not always the case. The special they give might not fit what you need, and that just turns into an unnecessary argument. Help the property manager help you find the best solution for your self storage needs.

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Self storage can be used for so many things. Many people typically think that you only need self storage when you are moving from one place to another. There are so many reasons that people inquire about storage from the different property managers that are in your local area. Not only are these managers available for you to ask those many questions, they are also there in order to help the customer with some ideas.

One common use for self storage that people overlook is when they are remodeling. Often times a customer will try to move all of their belongings to another room in their house or to their garage. This is of course they have an extra room in that house. If not to the garage it goes. For the people that actually use their garage as a place for their car, their car is left to fend for itself in the driveway or even worse, on the street. If you want the property manager will also help you find a place for your car.

When moving your belongings from one room to another or to self storage, always remember to work smart. Bookshelves can be hard to move without having anything on the shelves so put boxes on them it will also save room in the truck, or in the storage room. Most times the bookshelf is only going to be wide enough for large boxes, so be smart and only put boxes that will fit on the shelves. You can put larger boxes on the shelves if you are push one bookshelf against another. Of course if you move one bookshelf you might have a falling box on your hands.

Take your time when moving your belongings to your self storage unit when moving. Really take your time in thinking about what items need to go and what you do not need for the length of your remodel. Typically you would want to move your belongings to your local self storage facility if you do not need them for anything. Otherwise you would try to fit your things somewhere in the house.

If you are moving one room at a time, your local property manager will recommend a 5×10 for your storage needs. That should not cost you very much and you can have your belongings out of your way as you remodel. Take advantage of your local storage facility and your local property manager. They will hold on to your belongings until you have completed your project.

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It is very important for you to ensure that everything you pack up will be safe and packed carefully as you are moving from place to place. You can go to your local self storage facility and talk to the property manger there to see if they have some products to help you. They will have bubble wrap, tap and even boxes to help assist you in your packing. Below are a couple of tips that you can use when you are trying to pack up for the big moving day. In addition to these tips, do not hesitate to talk to the property manager to see if they have any additional tips for you to pack.

Not many people want to repurchase everything they have in their homes. They want to ensure that what they are bringing with them is property wrapped whether they deem it valuable or not. In the same respect you do not want to do a lot of clean up or scrubbing of your valuables when unpacking. When wrapping up your glassware and not to get ink all over them you can get unprinted new paper. Putting items in the dishwasher to have they cleaned versus scrubbing them with your fingernail or scrub brush is a lot better.

When planning to pack or packing your valuables in a hurry, you could run out of packing paper. In a pinch and you don’t have enough paper to wrap your dishes use paper plates between them. Not many people think of this as a way to pack their dishes or other valuables, but it makes perfect sense. This way you do not have to worry about the dishes jostling around.

If you are going to store items for long term get totes and you can color coordinate them to know what is inside. When you go back to your self storage unit to visit or to get something out, you do not want to move everything around in order to get to that one item. Organizing the self storage unit in a manageable way is ideal. If you have questions about packing, or how to store your belongings properly, talk with your property manager.

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Many self storage companies want to ensure they have all the customers need so they will not have to go looking to their competitors for solutions. The property managers take a lot of time to figure out what their competitors is doing and what they need to do to gain the business of people who need and want storage. Many customers like to shop around and look for the best value. The property managers want to inform the customers that they have the best value. Many of them will use a moving truck in order to seal the deal to get the customer to rent from them.

If you need a truck rental, you may be able to rent one from the facility that you are renting your storage unit from. Just ask the manager when you call in. The property managers will ensure they are pitching that to you quickly so know what they have to offer. Some managers will be laid back and discover the customers’ needs before they offer anything. Both methods are acceptable, just make sure as a customer, you ask the property manager about their moving truck options.

A free move in service will usually include a free truck and driver. You will not get movers to help you with everything. That is a common misconception and customers tend to be put off by that fact. They do not do it all by their selves but they know that not many companies will just offer a free truck and movers. If a property manager or company could figure out how to incorporate that or even give that to the customer at a discounted rate, they could be ahead of the game.

Having a moving truck could be crucial to your move. Having one large moving truck could have you make one big trip versus many small trips. You will only have to fill up the truck one if that versus filling your vehicle up many times depending on the trip. Property managers will tell you the stipulations on how their moving service works if they have one. Take full advantage of their service if there is one. Why would want to pass up a free truck to help you to move?

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As property managers you have to ensure that you are doing whatever you can to protect the customer as well as your business. Without customers coming in to rent you will not have a business to run. So for those property managers who are all about their business and put the customers on the back burner, they might want to rethink their stance. Believe it or not some property managers actually do not know that most of things they are selling to the customer as a feature are actually ways to ensure the safety of the customer. These features include a secure gating system, security cameras and also some type of coverage on their belongings.

Insurance coverage or some other sort of protection plan is not easily accepted by some people, including those who rent a self storage unit. You may notice more storage companies are taking the route of requiring or at least offering and encouraging renters to have coverage of their items they store. With the torrent of natural disasters that have occurred over the last few years, you can say those who had coverage whose unit was caught in a tornado or such were lucky to at least have something they could recoup. Those who did not, unfortunately were out of luck.

This time the caller I just spoke with decided to play it safe and make sure to ask about the coverage so he could apply for it. They felt they could never know when something could happen to their belongings so they wanted to have a security blanket. Just like insurance on their car, home and also on their life, self storage insurance is there to protect what you hold dear. Not everyone can come out of pocket to purchase the things they want or have lost. So when a property manager is offering you self storage insurance, do not give them a hard time. If you did not think what you were storing was important, you would just take it to the dump and be done with it. Instead you are storing these belongings. So ensure that your belongings are insured.

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AUSTIN, Texas – Aug. 23, 2011 – To celebrate the growing numbers of self-storage professionals active on Twitter, two social media mavens are joining forces to host the first ever industry Twitter chat, known as #StorChat. Twitter chats are online conversations in which relevant users gather at a specified time to discuss certain topics related to an industry or hobby. Chats are held weekly, with a new topic of discussion set each week. #StorChat will be held Wednesdays from 3-3:30 CST, starting Sept. 7.

#StorChat is hosted by Kenny Pratt (@SellingStorage), President of Crescendo Properties and Editor-In-Chief of Selling Storage, along with Rachel Greenfield (@SpareFoot), Marketing Analyst at SpareFoot and Editor-In-Chief of the Storage Facilitator. The hosts will ask three questions relating to the topic at hand over the course of thirty minutes, and everyone participating is encouraged to answer, discuss and exchange ideas and opinions via tweets.

“The great thing about a Twitter chat is it brings users together from all over country or world to a place where they can interact in real time, rather than communicate in a delayed manner as they might through email or forums,” Pratt said.

Many self-storage operators currently use Twitter as a promotional tool to reach potential customers, but #StorChat hopes to demonstrate there’s more to the platform. It presents a progressive opportunity to meet new connections and learn from knowledgeable peers on anything and everything self-storage business. Twitter chats have been popular and successful in a variety of niche industries, from real estate to multi-family housing to blogging.

Social networks like Twitter can feel overwhelming, so #StorChat offers self-storage professionals the chance to cut their teeth with a group of supportive people they can relate to. Everyone in the industry is encouraged to join in, learn and socialize with their fellow smart and creative storage owners, investors, managers and employees.

The first #StorChat on Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 3-3:30 CST will cover the use of social media marketing in self-storage. To participate, simply sign up for a free Twitter account on Twitter.com (or log in to your current account), then follow the hash tag #StorChat by searching for it in the Twitter search box. Be sure to type the hash tag “#StorChat” at the end of every tweet you send during the chat. Get more tips, advice and details about #StorChat here: http://sellingstorage.com/self-storage-twitter-chat-unleashed-september-7th

About SpareFoot:
SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage, making it easy for consumers nationwide to find, compare and reserve storage units online. The company also offers a suite of leading web marketing tools for facility operators. Across multiple properties including SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and others, the SpareFoot Ad Network helps facility owners and managers find new tenants— all through an entirely pay-for-performance model. SpareFoot is backed by Silverton Partners, FLOODGATE and Capital Factory. For more information, please visit http://www.sparefoot.com.

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People go to college for many years to become counselors. These people really want to be able to help those that are in need. They want to be able to help turn the hard, emotional life of a person around for the better. They stay deep in the books and they do a lot of research to be able to speak into the life of a person that is going through some dramatic and hard times. Counselors know that people will come to them with their concerns and they feel they must find a way to help them out. Many get involved in counseling where other people get involved in counseling for the money potential. It would seem though that people find other methods in order to get their problems off of their chest without paying a counselor.

I spoke with someone who was in an unfortunate situation due to some recent hard times. She was very tight on money and needed to move from her current living situation immediately. She did not know how she was going to pay for everything. I told her I would try to get her the best possible deal.  I found her an inexpensive unit that included the first month for rent free of charge. She only had to come up with about twenty five dollars to get moved in to a large unit. That just made it that much easier for her to pay for a few other things that were greatly needed. She was so happy she was crying.

Sometimes when a customer calls in they have a situation that they do not know how to solve. With that said, some property managers actually become counselors because they are there to listen, help and make suggestions for the customer. When the customer realizes that the property manager knows what they are talking about, they will be more than happy to take their advice and their suggestions. Usually you will find that the customer will be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Property managers have helped so many people in the self storage industry not just with self storage, but also with their situation. It would seem as if most self storage property managers are self storage counselors.

People go to college for many years to become counselors. These people really want to be able to help those that are in need. They want to be able to help turn the hard, emotional life of a person around for the better. They stay deep in the books and they do a lot of research to be able to speak into the life of a person that is going through some dramatic and hard times. Counselors know that people will come to them with their concerns and they feel they must find a way to help them out. Many get involved in counseling where other people get involved in counseling for the money potential. It would seem though that people find other methods in order to get their problems off of their chest without paying a counselor.

I spoke with someone who was in an unfortunate situation due to some recent hard times. She was very tight on money and needed to move from her current living situation immediately. She did not know how she was going to pay for everything. I told her I would try to get her the best possible deal.  I found her an inexpensive unit that included the first month for rent free of charge. She only had to come up with about twenty five dollars to get moved in to a large unit. That just made it that much easier for her to pay for a few other things that were greatly needed. She was so happy she was crying.

Sometimes when a customer calls in they have a situation that they do not know how to solve. With that said, some property managers actually become counselors because they are there to listen, help and make suggestions for the customer. When the customer realizes that the property manager knows what they are talking about, they will be more than happy to take their advice and their suggestions. Usually you will find that the customer will be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Property managers have helped so many people in the self storage industry not just with self storage, but also with their situation. It would seem as if most self storage property managers are self storage counselors.

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AUSTIN, Texas – Aug. 8, 2011 – Self-storage auctions are more than just reality show fodder, they’re an actual reality in the $22B self-storage industry. SpareFoot, the online self-storage marketplace, launched a new nationwide auction directory website that lists more upcoming auctions than any other free service of its kind.

SpareFoot observed that people had little choice but to check local print newspaper listings to discover upcoming auctions. A disruptive three-year-old start-up company that aims to make self-storage easy for consumers, SpareFoot built a live searchable database of auctions. Users can sort local search results by distance from zip code or by how many days away auctions are.

The immense recent popularity of storage auctions, sparked by hit TV shows Storage Wars and Auction Hunters, helped inspire the project. Customers frequently call and email SpareFoot’s support team with questions about auctions. Tony Emerson, SpareFoot’s SEO Analyst, found search volume for the phrase “storage auctions” rivals that of broad search terms like “self storage” and “storage units.”

With all this growth, SpareFoot isn’t the first to enter the auctions directory space. Competing sites either require facilities to pay a fee to be listed, or feature limited functionality and limited inventory for free. SpareFoot Auctions is the most comprehensive free storage auction list available. A major benefit of the effort is that it will help drive web traffic to the company’s website and make a branded impression on these visitors.

Of the approximately 10,000 abandoned storage units auctioned off nationally every month, SpareFoot Auctions lists between 35-50% of these, and that reach will only expand. Plans include adding a Notes section to provide unit descriptions and number of units up for sale. SpareFoot will also integrate back-end functionality so facility owners and managers can easily add and promote their auctions on the site.

“We’re going to keep building this and making it more functional,” Emerson said. “We eventually want to serve as a resource to help facility operators improve the auctions process to the point that they look forward to having one.”

About SpareFoot:
SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage, making it easy for consumers nationwide to find, compare and reserve storage units online. The company also offers a suite of leading web marketing tools for facility operators. Across multiple properties including SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and others, the SpareFoot Ad Network helps facility owners and managers find new tenants— all through an entirely pay-for-performance model. SpareFoot is backed by Silverton Partners, FLOODGATE and Capital Factory. For more information, please visit http://www.sparefoot.com.

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There are property managers over many different businesses. You will find that someone is in charge of making sure the every day operation of the facility is top notch. Many people want to be in charge but they do not want the responsibility that is assigned to such a duty. They want the power and the money but do not want to deal with the responsibility of actually taking care of the issue at hand. If this is what you are expecting then there is no reason for you to be a property manager.

Over the property manager you will see an owner. The owner will make sure that their properties are running well. They want to ensure their property managers are running their facilities the way that was previously discussed and laid out. If something is different than the original plan, they would like to know why the property manager decided to go in that direction. These owners want to put someone in charge that is able to handle the business as well as any issue that could arise. The first or second sign that a property manager is not measuring up to expectations, they will certainly look for a replacement.

As a property manager you do have a lot of freedom to do as you wish with the business in terms of bring new customers in and ensuring they are taken care of. You also have a set of rules that you need to follow to ensure that the daily operation is running smoothly. Take your time as a property manager seriously because it is a great job to have if you can handle it. If you have great communication with the owner and a great understanding they will typically not bother you much. This is of course when they check in you tell them everything they need to hear and want to see.

There will be great rewards for being a property manager but do not squander them because you want freedom, money and power. You might not realize it but you have the power to make many people very please because you have helped them. Also you will have to make decisions that could potentially make person very upset. You can try to prepare yourself as much as you can but it is very hard dealing with the emotions of another person. Take being a property manager seriously and you will succeed.

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Just what exactly is a loading bay?  In terms of self storage, a loading bay is a dock in which you can more easily load and unload your belongings.  The bay looks similar to docks in the back of business.  Large semi trucks use the docks to pull the trucks up, and unload product.  In storage the idea is similar.  Many storage bays can fit smaller trucks than those of its larger counterparts.  Also, the loading bays are often very close to the facility entrances and/or elevator, making access even easier.  If a storage facility does not have loading bays, they often use hand carts or dollies instead.  While it is more convenient than carrying things yourself, it is still more of a hassle than using the bays.

Unfortunately not every self storage facility will have a loading bay for you to load your belongings. Now some facilities will have ground floor units that will help you to put things directly into storage unit. So a drive up space is the best and most convenient way to load your belongings into your storage unit. When you call or drop by to talk to your property manager about the best options for storage you can talk about loading options. Most times if the property manager had loading bays they would talk on for minutes about how awesome and easy it is to load and unload your belongings.

All in all, using loading bays is very convenient, especially if there is a lot of furniture involved. You will find out about all your self storage options when it comes to loading. If your facility has loading bays, which is a great thing especially if the area has bad weather often. No one wants their furniture to get wet or damaged because of the weather. Call around and see if one of your local self storage property managers has loading bays at their facility.

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As a property manager you are going to have to be the expert when it comes to determining what people need. You will have people call into your self storage facility telling you they want one thing, but they will really be in need of something completely different. You have to be the one to be able to tell them straight with confidence that you have their best interest in mind. You have to earn the trust of the individual and in tern they will rent a storage unit from you.

I spoke to a young woman on the phone last week.  She was looking for a storage unit to hold various bins and furniture.  She was adamant on a standard, non climate controlled unit.  When I asked her specifically what was going into the unit, she explained there would be some electronics and their computer.  I advised that she really did need a climate controlled space to protect those things.  She still wanted a standard unit.  However, once I pulled up the rates, I found we only had climate controlled units available.  I explained that they were actually cheaper with the special being offered.  I joked that it must have been meant to be.  She decided in the end to go with the climate controlled space.  Her things will be much safer and secure because of her smart decision.

Even when a customer calls or comes by your facility and they are adamant about one thing, you have to stand your ground as a property manager. You are the storage expert and most people who are calling in looking for storage are not experts on storage as you are. Customers are better off taking your advice and make sure they are making the best decision when it comes down to renting a storage unit. Sometimes you can save the customers from their selves.

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