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One of the most popular responses we hear from a customer who needs to rent a storage space is the ever so popular statement that they are just shopping for self storage rental rates. They want to find a self storage facility with the best self storage rental rates that can possibly be offered.

That statement in itself tells you that most likely this sort of prospective customer does not have enough information regarding the self storage business, and everything that comes with it, if all they want to know are the self storage rental rates. Yes, self storage rental rates are important and they will play a big part in the customers quest while searching for a storage unit where they can tuck away all of their little goodies for which they can not bare to see themselves without. 

However, there are many factors that will affect self storage rental rates and the average storage shopper does not have any idea why one store is more expensive than another store.  They simply have the phone book out in front of them, while they start from the beginning of the list and work their way down the listings of stores, asking the same question. What is your self storage rental rates like? And if you do not inform them on what they get for their money, then they will continue to call until they find the cheapest self storage rental rates. However as we all know, cheaper is not always better. Actually it rarely ever is. This is why it is so important to let them know why the cost is what it is. Especially, if they are storing their most prized possessions. Many times callers will tell you that they do not care about amenities and the features of the store, yet you have to wonder why they would bother to store their items then.

If that were true, then why go through the hassle of opening the telephone book?  Why not just throw all of those items away and not worry about even searching for a place to store it? Because they do care. It is usually because they have an emotional attachment to it. And this is just the reason why it should matter to the customer as to why self storage rental rates are what they are.

They need to know what they can expect for from renting with you. Give them all of the fine details, the little tidbits and the ins and outs of your property. You need to educate them in order to have your property gain some respect as the knowledgeable storage facility that can help with all of their needs, even if it is simply giving them the benefits and features of the property. If the next store does not explain to them why they charge the self storage rental rates they charge, they will likely call you back. Give them the information that the previous storage facility may not have given them. Why?  Because each property is different. It is just like comparing one hamburger fast food service to another fast food hamburger service.  Although they are both burger joints, they offer 2 entirely different burgers. The product may be the same idea overall, however the tastes are different, the looks are different and the prices are different. The same goes for self storage rental rates. Just make sure the caller is comparing apples to apples to get a true comparison and not apples to oranges.

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What does an old typewriter, a file cabinet, a Spiderman lunchbox, an empty fish tank, and wooden golf clubs have in common? They are personal storage items collecting dust in my grandparent in law’s garage. For many years these items have gone untouched by human hands in hopes that one day they will be appreciated like they were back in the day. I gave myself a mission on that day. That mission was to find storage solutions for my grandparent in laws.

I spend a good part of my Christmas vacation creating storage solutions for my grandparent in laws. Entering their garage is like traveling though time, but only in one direction, the past. I wouldn’t call everything in the garage useless; rather they belong in a museum or on the wall of a famous chain restaurant. The last time I seen wooden golf clubs was on the wall of TGI Fridays hung as decorations. In the garage they represent the old couples active past, which may be why they cant part with them.

 I had a difficult time prying open the filing cabinet, but once I got it open I was taken back to November 22, 1963. A yellowed newspaper laid on top of the drawer with a headline about the Kennedy assassination. They were more newspaper articles and memorabilia about my grandfather in law’s achievements as principal of an elementary school. They too were yellowed and fragile from the harsh temperature changes in the garage. A few storage solutions came to mind, but the best would be a climate controlled storage unit. Obviously, the memories that these storage items generate are very important to the old couple; therefore, there are better storage solutions then a musty garage for such mementos.

I know why they keep the fish tank, but it may not be the only reason. My wife repeatedly says she wants it but it is a long way to haul a glass fish tank to Missouri from California. So it sits there on a shelf holding more dust than water. It’s been a long time since that tank housed lively fish. Probably as long as the golf clubs were last used. I’m not sure that the fish tank will hold water, but they keep it anyway. If it was up to me I would just throw it away in the garbage, but there are other storage solutions. As long as they are going to rent a self storage unit for the file cabinet and golf clubs, they might as well put the fish tank in there too until we are ready to take it home.

I wish that typewriter could talk or had memory storage; I’m sure it could tell lots of stories. This typewriter is not even one of those electric ones; it’s all manual. It represents a how far technology has changed in the last century; yet, it sits on top of a shelf in a musty garage. Storage solutions for this item vary, but I would not stick it in a storage unit. This typewriter is a rare find and belongs in the Museum of National History.

When I explore that garage I am reminded of how we are so quick we are to change today. Modern technology changes so fast and in this day of age, if you don’t keep up you are left behind. Sometimes I regret tossing electronics and other modern equipment into the garbage because I learn the personal value of them later. It is important to create other storage solutions to preserve the past. 

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Storage Units

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Self Storage Owner Blog

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Its December and if you live above 30 degrees latitude, your boat should be in yacht storage by now. If it is not, then stop reading this self storage blog and read a storage blog on yacht storage tips. This self storage blog is for those yacht owners who have finished winterizing their boat and seek some entertainment to relax. Isn’t that what boating is about? Well it is not always stress free, but the fun yachts bring cancel out the stressful times. Below you’ll find fun and curious news stories about yacht storage.

Maybe this winter you are shopping for a new yacht instead of self storing a yacht. Then you might be interested in this for a last minute Christmas gift for you or someone else. Saddam Hussein’s floating palace is up for sale. It is getting a revamp in yacht storage. The asking price is 24 million Eros which is about only 34 million dollars. Originally named Qadissivat Saddam after a famous Arab victory over the Persians in 637 AD, the Ocean Breeze is 270 ft long and extravagantly decorated with gold water taps, jacuzzis, steam rooms, high tech entertainment, game rooms, and sleeps 28 guests. And because he had a hefty price tag on his head, the yacht was efficiently made for absconding lifestyle. Secret passages lead to a fast patrol boat and a mini submarine. The yacht also has storage for heavy weaponry, such as surface to air missiles and machine guns. It is believed the vessel was in yacht storage in Saudi Arabia; although, now it is in yacht storage at the French Riviera were it is up for sale. So, if you have a few spare bucks, you might want to get in on that while you can.

In Munster Germany, a black swan named Petra had fallen in love with a gigantic swan shaped pedal boat. Apparently, this black swan has been following this swan shaped pedal boat around a lake for over a year. When the pedal boat was removed from the lake for winter yacht storage, the heart broken black swan showed signs of distress. Park official’s tried to comfort Petra in other ways, but she would not separate from her plastic boyfriend. So this year park and zoo official have winterized the pedal boat and giving the couple use of a nearby zoo pond with a winter storage shelter.

Last summer a yacht storage property manager was cleaning out a yacht storage unit of a customer who hadn’t paid his bills in months. While cleaning out the yacht storage, the property manager found explosives belonging to the dead beat customer and reported it to the police. It was determined that the yacht storage customer could not pay his bills because he had died. However, the local news paper mistakenly reported that the yacht storage property manager had died. Could you imagine reading your local newspaper in the morning over coffee and eggs and finding out that you had died?

I hope you enjoyed these lighthearted yacht storage stories as much as I did. For more information on yacht storage and self storage units, please visit any one our self storage blogs and self storage business blogs. 
 

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Self Storage Owner Blog

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Property Management Blog

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There is nothing uglier than a storage shed in a yard. These tin or wooden boxes become the focal point of the yard. Sometimes storage sheds are randomly placed, in the driveway, on a side yard, or in the backyard. And the older they get the uglier they get. A tin storage contracts rust as it ages. A wooden storage shed turns grey with age like a hunched over old man with a cane. Besides their repulsive appearance, a tin storage shed is noisy. Have you ever heard a neighbor open one up? It sounds like a bad car accident without glass shattering. The doors creek and the metal echoes pop noises as it bends.

The inside of these shed is unbearable too. I have not seen a storage shed that was well organized. Tools are randomly scattered about; power tools are hard to find; bikes are piled on top of one another. Getting the lawnmower out is always a chore. First you have to remove the snow blower, then take out the bicycles, but not before you get the hedge trimmer out of the way.

So why do people buy the obnoxious storage devices for their yard? They have too much stuff. Usually, a storage shed is installed to store outdoor tools, such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, rakes, shovels, tractors, riding mowers, and bicycles. Storage shed people either do not have a garage or the garage is full. Storage shed people lack storage space in the basement for their outdoor equipment. These desperate people make a rash decision to buy a storage shed; they don’t review other options.

The better solution is to rent a storage unit. Storage units have more size options. You can rent a unit as small as a 5 by 5 and as big as 10 by 30. Don’t worry about how big of a storage unit you need because it won’t stand out on your property. You can store lawn tools seasonally. Keep the snow blower, snow shovels, salt bags, and sandbags in the storage unit during the summer; keep the lawnmower, rider mower, rakes, and bicycles in the storage unit in the winter. A storage unit has climate control options, unlike a storage shed. Climate control will enhance the life of your lawn equipment. All lawn equipment is subject to rust and climate control units will prevent rust from expanding.

If you were considering a storage shed, hopefully you did not buy one, because storage unit is the better choice. Call your local convenient location and schedule a guided tour with the property manager and see the benefits for yourself. Storage units are safe and secure; where as, storage sheds are vulnerable and ugly. Storage units have video surveillance. Unless you put up a video camera in your yard, storage sheds are unwatched. Storage units are well taken care of by a property management team. Storage sheds deteriorate as soon as you bring them home. Neighbors hate looking at storage sheds and you will too if you set one up next to the kids’ swing set.   

Brought to you by:

Self Storage Owner — Where Self Storage Owners meet Self Storage Customers .

And

Storage Concierge — Your Self Storage Directory

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Next to chocolate milk, the best invention ever created is the storage bin. What did people do before a storage bin became available? There are so many different kinds of storage bins and each is designed for a specific purpose.

Everyone needs to use a storage bin for one thing or another. They are perfect for holiday decorations. Christmas decorations can be neatly stored and organized in a storage bin. In fact, some storage bins are specifically designed for Christmas ordainments. Putting Christmas ordainments in normal cardboard box is a long tedious task. But it doesn’t have to be if you have one of these storage bins designed just for Christmas ordainments. Other Christmas decorations work nicely in normal storage bins. Put the Christmas lights and other Christmas decorations or holiday decorations in a storage bin.

Though it is that time of the year, but Christmas is not the only holiday where you can store decorations in a storage bin. Halloween decoration, Thanksgiving decorations, Chanukah decorations, and Forth of July decorations all fit inside a storage bin. There is no limit on what holiday decoration you can store in a storage bin.

Let’s compare the benefits a storage bin has above cardboard boxes. Basements are often used as a place for storage, but many basements are subject to flooding. Cardboard boxes do not hold up well in water. Like a sponge, they soak up flood water and ruined your holiday decorations. Even if your basement never floods, basements are very damp. Cardboard boxes inherit the dampness and causes mold to form. It wouldn’t be a very white Christmas with moldy holiday decorations. Storage bins on the other hand seal out flood water. As your basement floods up to your knees with water, the holiday decorations in a storage bin remain untouched.

A storage bin will out last a box’s life. When a box is used and reused it becomes more flimsy and breaks. A plastic storage bin remains intact no matter how many times it is used. If you are looking for something particular, you can see what is inside a storage bin without opening it. On the contrary, unless you have x ray vision, a cardboard box must be opened to see its contents. Storage bins have handy handles on the sides for easy toting. Heavy boxes must be carried carefully; otherwise, the bottom will break loose. Storage bins are stackable and won’t crush with weight; cardboard boxes compress and become lopsided when stacked. For overall appearance, a storage bin looks nicer then a brown box. Not only do they make your house clean and organized, they make your house look clean and organized.

Lastly, have you ever priced cardboard boxes? They are not cheap. You can find a storage bin on sale and pay less. They will outlast cardboard boxes so you won’t have that recurring cost. If you dig through the garbage, cardboard boxes are free. But do you really want to use an old dirty box for your Christmas decorations and holiday decorations? I think not.

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StorageMart — Your local self storage provider .

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Relocation to Pompano Beach

Storage Mart has a convenient location in Pompano Beach to assist in your relocation to Pompano Beach needs. Whether the purpose of your move is permanent or seasonal, Storage-Mart on 449 South Federal Hwy Pompano Beach, FL 33062 can do more than just accommodate you possessions.

If you are moving to Pompano Beach before Summer 2008, you can help celebrate its 100 birthday on July 3. The town is just north of Fort Lauderdale and major shopping areas. Residents of the area take advantage of the year round warm weather by enjoying outdoor activities such as golf and tennis, and they find multipurpose uses for self storage .

A handful of Pompano Beach inhabitants cannot withstand the hot and humid summer weather and fly north with the birds. These part-timers, or snowbirds, use self storage to put away their valuables when they are away for the summer hot months. Many rent their houses or condos to summer vacationers and want to keep their irreplaceable items from danger.

Keep in mind upon your relocation to Pompano Beach that you may need to rent a storage unit. A typical condo does not offer the sufficient space to keep golf clubs and other outdoor sporting equipment around the house. Homes near the beach are usually smaller with lesser property than homes inland. In such limited space, storage units are useful.

Not only is Pompano Beach a resort town, it’s a college town as well. Most of the students that go to college here are from out of town and live on campus. Any student or former student knows how small a door room can be. But that does not stop them from bringing all of their possession with them. It’s a good idea to put in storage the things that you don’t help you get an A in History, such as surfboards, beach chairs, and rafts. Storage is also useful during summer and winter breaks. Instead of hauling the same things back and forth to and from school, put them away in storage where they are waiting for you on your relocation to Pompano Beach.

StorageMart in Pompano is a well convenient and secure location. They are open 7 days a week with a wide range of hours. Use the climate controlled units to keep weather sensitive items safe from the Florida’s hot humid climate. The property is well lit and watched by video cameras. The elevators take the strain off your back if you’re above the ground floor. Before your relocation to Pompano Beach, make a reservation because availability is limited.   

Brought to you by: StorageConcierge — Your premier self storage locator .

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Announcement

Our partners at Self Storage Owner have added two new articles to their Self Storage Article Directory under General Information as follows:

• Property Management
• Secret Shopping – Mystery Shopping

Brought to you by: Self Storage Owner — where self storage owners meet self storage customers

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Please visit our new site Self Storage Owner at http://www.selfstorageowner.com

You can visit some of our pages:

Self Storage Owner Home Page
at http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/home.html

Self Storage Owner Owner Page
at http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/self_storage_owner.html

Self Storage Owner Customer Page
at http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/self_storage_customer.html

Self Storage Owner Location Page
at http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/locations.html

Self Storage Owner Blog
at http://www.selfstorageowner.com/blog/blog.php

Self Storage Owner Podcast
at http://www.selfstorageowner.com/podcast/podcast.php

Self Storage Owner Link Page
at http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/links.html

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Robin Turner PhoneSmart call center manager offers the following for our call center blog.
Welcome to the PhoneSmart property management blog and insider view of the property management industry.

Self Storage in Missouri Kansas City, MO, Call Debra at (816)734-3989, 1 of only 3 properties north of the river with climate controlled units

Total Quality Assurance Services has a customer care divison.

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Written by Angela Perry, trainer and call center rep and business blog writer.
Welcome to PhoneSmart’s property management blog, the ins and outs of property management trends.

Limited availability…………………………….not many left, only a few
Administration fee………………………………set up charge/start up fee
Climate control………………………………….air conditioned or heated
Standard…………………………………………non-air conditioned or heated
24hr access………………………………………come in anytime
On site management team……………………….someone lives here at the facility
Pro rated…………………………………………only charged you for the days left
Cylinder lock ……………………………….the round lock that is most difficult to be broken into
Storage containers………………………………..storage units
Convenient………………………………………..easy to get/travel to

Then there are those that were mention when discussing furniture:

Couch……………………………………….sofa
Dresser………………………………………chest of drawers
Bed……………………………………….…bunk
Plastic containers……………………………totes, storage bins
Bed/living room groups…………………….bed/living room sets, suites
Refrigerator…………………………………fridge, icebox
Freezer………………………………………deep freezer
Nightstand…………………………………..bedside table
Soda…………………………………………pop, coke, soda water, soft drink

Self Storage in Maryland Call Tommy at (301)638-3100 and ask for a coupon.
Quality Assurance Assessment at Total Quality Assurance Services

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