Self storage is a very competitive industry. No one getting involved in self storage thinks they can come in and make money right off the back. It is tough. So when customers are asked questions like what was listed above it helps the owners in their competitive endeavors. When a customer does not give accurate responses, the owners are left scratching their heads.

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

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Customers sometimes need to come by and to check on their belongings. If they do not come by to check on their units, they will at least drive by the facility to make sure that everything is in place and nothing unusual is going on. Can a customer do that if they are not close in location to the facility? No they can  not. Many people still like to use the location yellow pages or something or the sort to find self storage because they do not want to look at something outside of their local area. They want to ensure that they do not have to drive so far in order to get the storage they are looking for.

There are self storage facilities out there that are in rural places that have no security or anything. They might not have an office or a manager that works on site. If this is the case then you have to decide if this is the site that you want to rent from. Usually these places are pretty far away from your normal drive. For the most part, people want to rent from a location that is on their way back home or close to work. This way they do not have to drive so far out of the way to get to their belongings and then back home. Customers do not want to sit in traffic just to get to their self storage space.

We have to remember that customers are storing their things away from their homes for a reason. If they could storing their belongings at home they would, but they are not so they need to find somewhere in which they could rent close to their homes. Whether it is for long term storage or for short term it does not matter. Once the customer drives to the storage facility once, they are going to think about how far it was to get there. If it is close, then they will think about going back there if they need something. If is farther away than they realized, those belongings might stay there until they feel they really need it or it is time to move out.

It is said that over eight percent of people decided on a storage unit because of the location. Yes price is a factor, but they also know that gas is not cheap and they have to make sure they are not making any unnecessary trips back and forth. Typically a customer will just store things they do not need and do not plan on using again for a while. If they do need it, they know that if they pick the right location they can swing by and pick up their belongings. For most customers, it is all about the location.

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

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There will be plenty of times in which a storage customer comes in already upset at something that affected them before they speak to you. They do not intentionally come into the office to give a piece of their mind to the self storage manager. They want to have something go right for them that day. So the manager really has to understand that they did not do anything to the customer and they are not the cause for their upset state. So many managers need to make sure that they are taking deep breathes before answering or help the customer. That will help them tremendously.

Many people do not realize that they can really just take a deep breath and that can do wonders for them. If you take a moment and take a deep breath, your mind will be clear and it gives you a second to think about what you want to say before you say something you will regret. That is the part that many people do not realize is that words can be hurtful and sometimes drive the customer away. The manager does not want to drive the customer away. In fact they want the customer to stay. So take a deep breath and you will find that you will have a clear head and be able to help the customer.

Breathing is a lost art that many before forget about. Now of course you might ask, how can you forget about breathing. Well you don’t forget about breathing, you just forget about being calm and patient. The breathing is just a tool to use to get you to relax and take a moment before you react. There have been many times in which a customer and a manager got into a unnecessary argument because both sides didn’t breath and were not patient.  Maybe the argument would not have stopped but you can do your part to understand how you can not be a part of it next time.

Do not forget to breathe at those times in which you need to. Take a moment to wait for the rational thoughts to come into your head. You never want to argue with a customer but you also do not want to be treated in a bad way. There has to be a middle ground. It is a good move to breathe and not to say anything for a while if the customer is going off on a tangent rant. If this is the case then the customer will eventually realize that you are not arguing and everyone will calm down. Then maybe after that point, you can continue on trying to find them a storage solution.

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

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It sometimes drive me crazy to hear when people who help self storage customer not sound like the have the best solution for the customer. I hear in their voice that they are not as confident as they should be and that the customer is just going to give some excuse and get off of the phone. That should not be the train of thought. You should have the mind frame that the customer is calling to talk to you and will eventually rent from you. Of course that is not the thought that every one has. Why? That is not understood in my thought process. Why would you answer the phone or say hello to the customer walking in to your store with any thought besides they are going to rent from me?

In the self storage industry it is tough to get the customer to decide to rent with them, because of all the competition. The competition can not be a thought in your brain as you are talking to the customer. What I mean by that is it is good to be conscious of the competition, but they should not make you feel inferior with that they have. You have to realize that they do not have what you have. You have the best solution for that customer. The customer just does not know that yet. How will they know that? You have to be the one to tell them. You have to be the one to wow them so they stay to rent with you. How do you do that?

One of the first things you can do to wow your customer is to be confident. Speak clearly, have you head up and speak to the customer as if everything is gold. Everything that comes out of your mouth should be something that draws the customer more and more into what your store can offer them. When you are listening to the customer, you should be also thinking what do you have to offer them that will take care of their needs. I guarantee if you are able to take care of their needs, they will rent from you. It does not help that you have great prices and you are in close proximity to their home.

What you have to realize is that your competition does not have you. They do not have someone at their location that is not willing to help the customer like you are nor are they able to satisfy the needs of the customer. There are many self storage facilities that will try to throw prices at the customer in hopes that they will rent based on that. Many owners have racked their brains trying to get the price just right for people to rent. Eventually many will realize that it is not about the price really. It is about the customer service and the confident mentality that they will rent from you. Don’t push the customer into something that is not going to work. Guide the customer to a solution. Have the thoughts in your head that the person will rent from you and trust me that everything else will follow.

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

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When moving, make sure you have enough people to help the more people the quicker you get it done and less stress. If you know when you are going to move let your friends and family know in advance. Of course having your loved ones and friends help you could make the moving experience a fun experience instead of a stressful one. If you want to get your move done, of course you can hire a professional moving team to take your belongings to your self storage facility. That will cost you money where your friends could either do it for free or for a couple of drinks or food.

If you can not find people to help you move you might want to call you local storage facility and get some references. You might be able to luck out and find someone in the area that will not charge you that much. Also one thing that could help you that your local self storage facility can help you with is offering a free move service. Depending on the facility you will get a different free move service. Some facilities will offer a mover and a truck while others will just offer a moving truck. Make sure that you ask your facility manager if they have a free moving truck option.

Your local storage facility has lots of packing and storage supplies at a reasonable price. So if you need some boxes or other storage supplies you could use for your move. When it comes to your belongings, make sure that you pack them up correctly and do not try to save costs by using items that could be potentially harmful to your items. Really think through how your belongings are packed and use the right storage supplies.

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

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In the world today, not many people are looking to go from one place to another in order to get everything they are looking for. In fact they would love to go to one place where they can get all of their shopping out of the way. For this reason you are seeing places beginning to sell things that they would not normally sell. Sometimes when you are walking through the aisles of your favorite store, you could come across something that you have never seen there before. The company thought that they would go ahead and sell that product because there is a demand for it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Customers do see the effort and will realize that store has the items in which they need.

When it comes to self storage, you could pretty much get everything in one store. What do you do if you are looking for a lock or moving supplies? The best thing to do if you are looking to store or move is to visit your local storage facility to get some items that you need. They should have everything that you need so that you do not have to run all over town just to get what you need. They should sell a variety of boxes that will come in handy in pretty much every situation. Also, you choose from a nice selection of locks for your storage unit. They should have bubble wrap and tape, as well. They are pretty much your one stop shot for self storage and moving supplies.

If your facility does not have these things, that does not necessarily mean that you shouldn’t rent from them, that just means that you if you need something, you have to go elsewhere. For some people that is not something they want to do and it is time consuming. Self storage managers will without a doubt, speak up about having that kind of facility that is basically a full service self storage facility. If managers have that kind of facility and they do not speak up, they will undoubtedly lose business.

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

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You are not just limited to big and small spaces, there are standard and climate controlled spaces as well. I know it is going to get confusing. So you can have a big standard space or a small climate controlled space. It is up to you. Typically the standard spaces are cheaper than their climate controlled counterparts. More people seem to flock to the cheaper prices not realizing the benefits of using climate controlled storage. In order to understand the difference between the two, you should definitely speak to your local property manager.

You can even get a drive up space or one that is in the building. Many people like the convenience of a drive up space because all they have to do is drive up to their unit, roll up the door and then place all their belongings inside. With an inside unit, you will have to open a door, walk down the hallway to your unit, then you roll up the door to place your belongings inside. So both have a similar concept, but obviously one is more convenient than the other. There are many that prefer the inside space over the outside space. This is especially true when there is really bad temperature outside.

Some facilities even have first and second floor spaces. There are advantages to both, but the higher you go in the facility the less amount of money you have to spend. The manager will always try to get you into the best unit that will work for you. They will most likely give you a choice on many spaces if they have many spaces available. If they don’t have many choices available, then you have to decide whether or not the size they offer is the size that will work.

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

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When in need of storage, do not just go with the first place that you call. It is very helpful to go ahead and make a few calls for info. That way, you can find what the best in town is. There will be many places that will try to pressure you into stopping your shopping and rent with them. If you believe that is the best situation and the best deal for you, then go right ahead. In the grand scheme of things though, everyone has something to offer, and you do not want to feel as if you lost out on saving money because you gave up your search early.

Many self storage facilities in your local area will try to say something to you that will get you excited about renting there. Some manager might even be shocked when you turn them down to go shopping elsewhere. The truth of the matter is that when you are looking for a self storage facility you should definitely find something that fits you and not worry about what other people say or think. Before you go shopping around to different places ensure that you have written down what you are looking for or at least have a mental note. One of the worst things that people do is that they have no idea what to shop for or what to ask so they end up not asking everyone the same questions. Then not everyone is compared properly.

You should find a spot that is close by and has good security. As long as the price is affordable, you should be pretty confident that you will have a great storage experience. Still take a moment or two to at least make two to three phone calls to the self storage facilities in your area to see what they have to offer. If it is not what you are looking for then move on. At least you know that you are not settling if you have done your research.

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

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When you are looking for a storage space, it is not helpful to call up and just ask for price and get mad when the person on the phone does not just start shouting out prices. There are going to be other factors that you will want to consider. The price will only tell you how much your unit cost. Where as what you are getting for the price is far more important. You can look up prices online with some companies but people still call and talk to the manager. Subconsciously they are thinking in their heads that they want to hear what else they are getting for the price.

The size is the first thing that the manager will need to know in order to quote you a proper size. They will and should ask you what you are thinking about storing. If they do not ask you this question, you should bring it up. You can ask for the price all you want to, but you if you have narrowed down a size it does not matter. Let’s make it this simple. A price is associated with a size. No manager just wants to go down their price list and tell you everything they have. They want to narrow something down for the customer so they can find the right solution for them.

A small space may be around 50 dollars while a big space could be 300 dollars. You do not want to spend any more money than you need to. There are people that will call a property manager and say to them that they want the average space or the middle space. Some manager will just go right into them needing the 100 square foot space that is most common. Again they have to ask the customer questions to ensure that that is the right size for them. As a manager it is important for you to find the right solution for the customer, not just go whatever the customer says. The customer sometimes does not know what is right for them.

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

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What are the different types of locks you use?  Many people ask me this on a regular basis.  First of all let’s stop here and understand why you need a lock. You would think that this is a common sense kind of question, but not everyone knows that you need a lock for self storage. Self storage just gives you the space that you need, you are the one that needs to put a lock on it. If you want your belongings safe, then you should consider putting a lock on your unit.

There are many different types of locks, of course, the ones most commonly used for storage are of a larger variety than that of you diary lock.  The most common is a pad lock, which everyone has seen at least once.  This is a standard square lock with a key.  This type of lock is of course would be the least expensive to purchase so many people end up buying this lock. Conversely this lock is the most susceptible to being cut and your storage unit being broken into. That Is not something that you want to hear of course. Spend a little more and go with another lock that is listed below.

Disk locks are similar, except they are round, and the key hole is on the front instead of the bottom.  There is not a lot of room for someone to get a lock cutter in there so it is harder for someone to break into. There are also cylinder locks, which slide onto a steel teeth piece, and combination locks, which are not recommended for storage units.

There are many different kind of locks that you could use for your self storage unit. I guess it really depends on what you want to use for your unit and what you feel the most comfortable with. Your belongings are special to you for a reason, so why not put a lock on there that could keep them safe and in your possession.

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

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For starters, consider what things you need in your new home immediately.  If you do not need those things in your new home, then you need to think of another option. One option could be to put the things you do not need into storage. That way you can go through it before bringing it into the house.  This makes less clutter in your new place, making furniture moving a breeze.

The best piece of advice that can be given is to always be prepared and get started a little early. Depending on the time of year, the sun rises early and it sets early. You could run out of daylight if you start too late. Moving can be simple and easy if you plan ahead, move things that you need into your home and use self storage for the rest.

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

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There is a different holiday every time of the year. There are people that like to go all out for every different holiday where others do not celebrate holidays at all. For those that do celebrate holidays they wil put up different decorations up all over their homes, offices and anywhere else they are able to put them up. If you purchase your holiday decorations every year that could be get pretty expensive. That is why it is a good idea to save on to them year in and year out and maybe add a little more each year. You will find that many people try to put their decorations in a box or something of the sort to store them in their garage. What many do not think about is using self storage in this situation. They think they have room in their home which is not always the case.

If people do not have room for their decorations they go ahead and throw them away. They possibly feel that they can get more the next time around at a good price. Now of course there will be stores that give discounts on holiday decorations, but that still is an unnecessary waste of money if you can just save it. Of course you can call your self storage facility and they will give you their cheapest and smallest space for you to use. Keep in mind you don’t have to only store your holiday decorations. You can store anything else that you need in order to store. Take advantage of your off site storage space.

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

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There has been much controversy on whether or not you need a standard space or a climate control space.  If you’re comfortable storing your items in a garage for instance, then you can rent a standard unit. If not, go with climate controlled. Most people like the idea of storing their belongings in a space that is something like their home. Well the thing is, in your home you can control the temperature. With a climate controlled space that is not the case. There is a common misconception on what a standard space does and what a climate control space is like. Let’s take a moment to discuss that.

When you are looking at a climate controlled unit, you have to first realize that most of them will be located inside of the storage space. Not many facilities will invest in a drive up climate controlled unit. It is easier for them to keep the temperature regulated on storage spaces that are located inside the storage building. When you open the door of your unit inside, there is not any temperature loss. When you store outside, facilities know that it takes a while for you to load your items into that unit. So that means that the air system is blowing out cooler air the length of time the door is open. Not a lot of facilities want to spend money on that. At the same time depending on the area the facility will want to make sure that they are keeping the unit at a constant temperature. That is what climate controlled spaces are. They are a space that is kept at a constant temperature. The space will not freeze and it will not over heat. You do not have control over the temperature of the space. Every facility will set the temperature to their specification.

A standard space is just that, a standard space. Depending on where you live the temperature in the area might fluctuate. If it does fluctuate, then you might have some issues with the temperature inside the storage space. If you have anything that is temperature sensitive like electronics, pictures or some furniture, you should definitely think about going climate controlled. As said before, you do not mind storing your things in  your garage which is not always climate controlled, then you will be fine storing your belongings in a standard space. The good thing about a standard space is that it will also cost less than a climate controlled space. Take a moment to think about whether or not you need a standard space. Now of course the manager on site will try to tell you that climate controlled is a better solution. Make sure that you are informed.

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

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Not everyone knows exactly what kind of storage unit they will need. Most of the time they will go off what the manager of the facility says, the internet or what their friends recommend. When you try something new or try to get information on it you seem to go with the public opinion. Other people have used what you are trying to get information on so why not listen to what other people have to say on the matter. From their opinion you are able to formulate your own thoughts.

Rent a storage unit type based on what you’ll store inside of your unit and keep in mind the climate changes that take place in your region. Depending on what you are storing, you want to ensure that they remain safe through out your storage process. There are many storage facilities that will not have all the features or amenities you will need. When you find the unit you are looking for make sure that you secure it quickly.  Just when you find the right storage facility for you, you do not want it to get away.

You are storing your belongings for a reason, so make sure that the unit you are looking at and wanting to rent is yours to use. With that said, ensure that you get the unit you want at the price you want. Getting a self storage space is simple once you understand what you want.

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

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Loading items into your self storage unit can be no problem at all. There are many different self storage units that you could be interested in, but only a couple that are very convenient for you use. Not everyone needs a space they feel are convenient just because they are sometimes looking for the best deal. Typically the convenient spaces will cost you more in the long run, but while you are putting your things into storage, you are not always thinking about price. You are thinking about the ease of use. Don’t forget that you have dollies at the storage facility that can help you out. If convenience is the most important thing to you, then you should look for a drive up self storage unit.

If you want a drive up unit so you have the easiest loading and unloading offered at a facility then be sure you specifically ask for it. At the same time the self storage property manager should ask the right questions in order to help you figure out the right size and type for your needs. Between the two of you, the right storage unit for your needs should be discovered. Of course when it comes down to it, if the facility manager does not offer you the drive up space that you are looking for, then you should ask for it.

Now for some reason that facility that you are looking for does not have drive up units, then you have to make a decision on whether or not you want to store there. Even though a facility manager will tell you all kinds of things and make you feel like other units will work. The final decision is up to you in terms of whether or not you feel you have to have a convenient drive up space.

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

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If you receive a flyer or coupon in the mail or on line for a self storage unit you might want to hold on to it if you need storage later.  Sometimes it would seem as though you get special deals on things that you don’t particularly need at this time. It is ok, just make sure that you put that coupon or special offer in a place you can remember where it is. Hopefully when you need that special deal on self storage you can remember where you put it.

A good deal or a coupon can really come in handy when you are in dyer need of a discount. There will be times in which you could use some money off and a self storage coupon could really come in handy. Many storage facilities are not shy about sending coupons to your email or your regular mail. If you do not need the special offer right now, they want to put the idea in your head that you should give them a call or stop by when you need storage. Try not to just discard or toss out the coupons that could save you money in the long run.

It is very difficult for some people to keep track of the coupons and special offers they get and to try to keep them in safe place until they need them. Maybe investing a small file cabinet or if you have an extra drawer you can put these small pieces of paper into.

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

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In the technology world we live in today, many people decide to grab their smartphones, laptops and other devices in order to search for storage. Many end up finding exactly what they are looking for where others end up searching for a long time. Of course many, if not all, of self storage facilities ensure they have some sort of online presence in order to attract customers to their site. Sometimes a customer will not choose to rent with a particular storage facility because they are not online. That same customer wants to get an idea of the facility before they decide to go down to the facility.

When a customer goes online they are looking for prices and pretty much any sort of discount. They are searching their local area so they know the facilities they are searching are close, so that is not a concern. They are trying to figure out which facility in their local area will be able to take care of their needs. Online they will look at the store, any features they need such as climate control and even the look and feel of the store. Now of course the facility could look completely different than the picture online, and that is one of the things that could confuse the customer.

There are a couple of different things that bother customers as they are searching online such as confusing specials, pricing that is not available, or where it says call for specials and deals. There are many customers who want your website to come out and tell them what they want to hear. Naturally many facilities plan it this way so the customer has to call them for more information vs. going from storage facility to storage facility. Most self storage companies feel that if they can get the customer on the phone or even to walk through their door they will rent there. For this reason owners will not always post their pricing.

To the self storage customer that is looking for storage, they will reluctantly call and find out more information, but since they are on to that scheme, they might not give the manager the time of day. This customer will just call, get the information they desire and hang up. They are still shopping. Hopefully your website is enticing enough to attract the customer to call, come by and have a discussion about your facility. Hopefully there is not much confusion on what they saw online and they are just calling to get more information and potentially rent.

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

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It is time for your move across the state and you have planned everything down to the smallest detail. There is nothing that you have missed when it comes to your move. Everything is packed up correctly, everything has been turned off at your former home in terms of utilities. You have let no stone unturned. The confidence that you feel right now makes you feel like you are ten feet tall. You get to your self storage location only to find out that there is not one at the facility. You go to the door to enter the facility and the door is locked. You know that you checked with the facility manager before you drove across state to ensure someone would be there. But there it is looking you right in the face, a sign that says, be right back.

There is nothing worse for a first time self storage user than to have come all this way to the self storage facility in which you want to store at, and there is no one there. You have packed your moving truck full to the brim, but you do not have anywhere to unload your belongings. You frantically knock on the door to no avail. There is no one there. You honk your horn hoping that someone would hear you and come out to service you, but that does not happen. Your heart falls down to your stomach but of course disappointment soon turns into anger, which then turns into panic.

What are you going to do now? You have done everything the self storage manager has instructed you to do, but then the most important thing you need from the manager does not happen. You just need the manager to be there to open the door, show you to your unit and let you move in. Depending on where you are locally and also what time off day you are trying to move in, you might not have a lot of choices. All you want to do is unload your belongings at the facility that you have chosen to store from.

As a self storage manager, it is important that you communicate with a potential renter that you will be there at a certain time, ensure that you are there. If for some reason you have to leave, then make sure you communicate with the renter that you will be back at a certain time or delay the reason you needed to leave. What ends up happening to a customer like the one discussed above is that they decide to go to another facility. You then lose business, you lose potential customer loyalty, and you lose that customer’s recommendation of you to one of their friends or family.

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

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Depending on where you decide to rent self storage from, they could have different perks that will help direct you to want to rent from them. They could have free use of the wireless access at their office or even free use of their conference rooms. Whatever they have that is important to you that is definitely a plus. It is completely a great idea to ask many questions about the facility to see what you are getting for your money. For some people the more perks the better they feel about renting there. Be smart about where you are storing. Insure that you are not getting blinded by the smoke and mirrors of the storage facility. Make sure you are getting what you are wanting from that storage facility.

If security is important to you, then it would make sense to ensure that the facility has great security. You do not want the place you are storing from to have great security. If you decide to rent at a facility that does not have a great security package but that was important to you, you just got mesmerized by whatever else the manager on site was trying to sell you. Self storage facilities will have many perks, but again, if they do not have the perk that makes you feel comfortable about renting there than those perks are not for you.

Some facilities that have high end security will have different perks that you could enjoy. There are facilities that will allow you to enter your own pass code when you become a tenant. If you can create your own pin code number for a security access entry, make it something that you can easily remember and write it down. The worse thing that could happen is that you load up many of your belongings to bring down to the facility to store and are not able to get in. Remember your pin number and you will be fine to get into the security laced self storage facility.

Do not get roped in by features your local self storage facility has if they are not important to you. Kindly tell the sales person, wow, and then talk about things that are important to you. Many facilities have spent an extraordinary amount of money in order to attract people to their facility.

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

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There are many things that you can do in order to prepare yourself for your move day. It is very important that you write down all the things that you need to do in order to get you move successfully done. By taking your time and actually doing each step that you planned out, your day will be less stressful and you will be able to relax at the end of the day. Otherwise you will be scrambling all day thus adding more stress to your life.

One thing to not do a week before your move is not to buy a lot of food. This way you are not wasting food because food is hard to keep good in a move. If you can fit it into your budget it might be a good thing for you to eat out the last couple of nights before you more. Otherwise choose something that you can eat each day that does not involved dirtying up dishes. You do not want to have to wash dishes on moving day. That is an unnecessary waste of time.

Call and get a shut off date to all your utilities even your cable a week before the move so you do not forget. There is nothing like getting paying more money for your utilities than you need. It is important for you to conserve all the money you have for your move and for your next home. There is no need to waste money unnecessarily when you can call your utility companies a week before to shut them off.

The last things you should do before you leave your old place are a walk through to make sure you have not forgotten anything. Take your time and carefully look everywhere in your apartment in every nook and cranny. Open up all your drawers and underneath your sinks. The more you find, the less you have to pay to replace. You typically know when you will be moving, so try to pack as many things up as you can before that day. If you can do this, you will spend less time on your walk through because you know you got everything.

Moving day is only stressful because people do not plan for it. If you can take some time out of your day or week to sit down with your family to plan moving day, it will go by easily. Get a lot of help and follow the steps listed above and you will have time to relax at the end of the day.

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

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After pulling up the prices, I found that all of the units were out of her price range. It was very frustrating because I wanted to help out this customer who was in need. Just when I was about to give up, I did notice we had one self storage locker space available. I explained it would have different dimensions, but should still hold all of her things.  The price was only a few dollars a month, which fit her price range perfectly.

It definitely feels good to be able to help out a customer who really needs our help. Not every customer is going to be so forthcoming with what they need and are expecting from their self storage facility. The customer above needed a small space which we actually did have, so we were able to satisfy her need. This customer will move into her self storage locker and store her belongings. This will make her happy, and in turn I felt like I really helped this customer and their needs. I wonder if she will make me a quilt?

It always feels good to help out someone that is in need.  An older woman called into my self storage location, looking for a small unit to hold some of her craft supplies.  She needed the unit because she lived in a studio apartment, and had no room for her things.  She told me she loved sewing, and make quilts in her free time.  I thought that was a great way to spend her free time. Then, she explained she needed a very cheap unit, since she was on disability. I was sure that I could definitely help her with that.

After pulling up the prices, I found that all of the units were out of her price range. It was very frustrating because I wanted to help out this customer who was in need. Just when I was about to give up, I did notice we had one self storage locker space available. I explained it would have different dimensions, but should still hold all of her things.  The price was only a few dollars a month, which fit her price range perfectly.

It definitely feels good to be able to help out a customer who really needs our help. Not every customer is going to be so forthcoming with what they need and are expecting from their self storage facility. The customer above needed a small space which we actually did have, so we were able to satisfy her need. This customer will move into her self storage locker and store her belongings. This will make her happy, and in turn I felt like I really helped this customer and their needs. I wonder if she will make me a quilt?

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

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We all tend to want to keep things around that we do not particularly need but we want to ensure that they stay close. Some people have argued with their spouses over the fact that they do not need to keep those belongings and need to get rid of them. It is hard for people to deal with the idea that they want to part with something they bought or something that they have grown to appreciate. There have been people that that have been considered unstable due to their amount of things they have kept in their home.

It seems that many people are cleaning out their home at least two to three times a year. Things accumulate so quickly. If you do not like clutter but do not want to throw away, there is an option for you. If you do not want to depart from your beloved belongings that you currently do not have room for in your home, self storage is a wonderful option. I spoke with someone yesterday who felt this exact way. They had personal items that meant a lot but had no daily use for them. She didn’t want to lose them and she inquired about storage. She didn’t know what to do with herself until she realized she could store it and keep it.

With self storage, you can still keep your belongings and not let them be in the way of your normal every day activities at home. With self storing your extra clutter, you can be assured that nothing will get damaged, trampled, or even lost. The self storage unit can be an extension of your home and you are able to stack things up about eight feet high in most cases. If you label everything correctly and stack your belongings well, you should have no problem getting to the things you need to get to.  Do not have unnecessary clutter in your home. Call your local self storage facility and make reservations to get a storage unit.

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

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Do not believe everything that you see on television. Of course those people who claim they are doing reality television cannot be further from the truth. What seems to be reality to some is not quite reality to others. For the simple fact some of the things that happen on television are not things that would happen in real life. Naturally in order to get ratings, you will see that some storage is embellished just a bit to gain the attention of their viewers. Self storage seems to not have been able to duck the limelight.

Storage auctions seem to be on the rise with all of the publicity and realty television shows.  Usually the ones purchasing the units are businesses that have a store front that they can sell their items out of. You do not see the individuals who buy the units or how they deal with their newly accumulated items. Many individuals sell items online in an attempt to make money.   If you are like the average person you probably do not have room in your home or garage to store your inventory. A caller I spoke with Saturday rents a self storage unit close to their house so they can keep everything organized. As an item sells on line, they visit their unit; pull the item and then send it to the buyer.

Many people run their business out of their self storage units. They find that it is a cheap way in order to have a store front without the store front. Typically this kind of business is being run by their selves or with the help of one other employee. This way they can keep their bottom line profit intact. The business owners want to manage their business efficiently to where they are not spending unnecessarily. The better they can advertise, sell and distribute the more efficiently their business will run out of their storage unit. If they grow big enough, people might then consider the idea of having an actual store front so people can browse their inventory in person.

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

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While on the phone the other day, I helped give a young woman some advice on looking for the best storage facility.  She claimed that she had been looking for quite some time but she would always get confused because everyone had something different to offer or someone had the same features to offer her. I advised her on the following things to look for when looking for a top notch facility.

Make sure the facility has the space or unit you are looking for. If you are looking for a parking space, then you should not attempt to go with a facility who does not offer a parking space for your needs. If you are looking for a space for your two bedroom apartment, ensure they are going to have a space that can fit everything inside without being too big. You do not want to pay for more space than you need. When looking for the right facility for you, make sure they have the space you are looking for because otherwise renting there is pointless.

Do not always shop for the lowest price because you will be disappointed. Most of the time a facility that has the lowest price tends to be lacking in other areas. If they are able to give you pricing that is far below the pricing of everyone else that you are looking at then they are not as nice of a property. Typically what you will find from a very low cost facility is that they are lacking in security, convenient features and also sometimes customer service. When you are storing your belongings, you want to ensure those belongings are safe. The more things in between the general public and your belongings, the better. Look for a gated community, door alarms, surveillance cameras and sometimes even inside storage. The more questions you ask about the facility, the better.

Is the facility close to you? You do not want to go too far to get to your belongings. If you are the kind of person that will need to visit their  facility a couple of times a week or in a two week period, then you most likely want a space that is close to you. There are some local self storage facilities in your area that are close to your home or your work. Seek them out and you can save some time, money and also gas.

Is the facility honest, and seem to be who they say they are? No one likes to be lied to. If you feel that the place you are attempting to store is being dishonest, then you should not store there. The manager at the store should be very truthful to you and help you out to their best ability. If they quote you a price over the phone then give a different price when you come in, you should turn around and leave. Do not rent from a dishonest facility.

Finally, I told her to make sure to always remember that during the summer months, storage is in its highest demand.  If a facility has a lot of available units, or a very cheap rate, it is usually because they are left trying to fill their facilities. When storage facilities have many vacancies they become desperate to rent them. Ensure that you are not fooled by a facility that is not up to your standards.

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

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Moving day generally is a very taxing day and may people struggle to get through the day. Many people plan ahead and they do their best to see every potential issue that could come up so they can deal with it accordingly. There are some things that we all forget when moving and have to take care of it immediately in order to make moving day a smooth transition. Some people have lived in their current home for many years and now it is time to move away to another place and attempt to call that new place home. Here are some things to think about before you actually wake up on moving day to make the transition go a lot smoother.

Make sure you have turned on all your new utilities and turned them off at your old place when you leave along with cable and phone. You will be surprised at how many people actually forget to set up the disconnection of these utilities at their old home. Moving day or the moving process can be very hectic and many people forget what we call the simple things. For some it would be a no brainer to turn off the utilities at the old place, but sometimes, things get swept under the rug. Of course you will want to wait to turn your power and water until you have completely moved out. This way you can still see what you are doing when moving. The good thing is that you can call the utility company before hand and set up a date in which the utilities will be shut off. Then you really will not forget to turn them off, the utility company will do it for you.

Meet a few new people at your new place so you feel like you belong and also you never know when you need some help. When you are moving into a new community, the neighbors are friendly and will welcome you in as part of it. Some people will even offer to help you move your belongings in and attempt to strike up conversation to get to know you better. Encourage this because having friends in your new community is a good way to feel like this new place is just as homey as your last place. Plus having good friends close to you is always a great thing.

If you can try moving something like your boxes early before the day of move than you can have some things already set up. If you can help it do not wait until the last minute to try to move everything over. Take little by little. There is something about opening a door to an empty house that can rattle the psyche of many. If you bring some things over before the big move, it will not feel as bad and begin to envision this new place as home.

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

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Why is it that everyone uses auto bill pay these days?  The simple answer is convenience.  In our every day busy lives we want to ensure that we can get every thing done without putting a major kink in our plans. We want to be able to keep everything in our world tight and without any unplanned ripples. There are many people who do live life minute to minute so bill pay might actually help these people are freak them out when they see money withdrawn from their account.

Even storage facilities use auto bill pay for tenants to pay their storage bills.  This makes bill pay very easy.  Now, the tenant need only make sure the available funds are in his or her account on the billing due date.  No longer do tenants have to come in or call in each month to make the payment.  Plus, we the hectic lifestyles we live, it is easy to forget about a bill.  In the storage industry, if you don’t pay, you lose your things.  However, with bill pay this problem is eliminated.

Auto bill pay is also great for those people who travel over seas often. You can have money going to one account and make sure that that account has money for you to auto money debit money out of it. This way you don’t have worry about contacting the store or a loved one to try to take care of the bill for you. It will be all taken out of the account you set up before you left. You can then enjoy your vacation or your time overseas and not worry about your self storage unit.

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

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Depending on the facility, you will find that they have many different types of security. Depending on what they have, you might have to choose whether or not that is the facility for you. Some companies go over the top when it comes to security but that means they care about what you are storing. Finding a company that does not have any measure of security except for the lock that goes on it is still common. You have to determine if security is important to you.

Door alarms are one of the best types of security a storage facility can offer.  In most cases, only high end storage facilities have them.  The door alarm activates if the door is messed with.  The alarm notifies the manger so he can contact the authorities.  While locks are a good way to secure your storage units, they can be cut.  However, with a door alarm, the property manager is immediately contacted, and the situation can be resolved instantly.  That way, you don’t end up coming to your unit, only to find it completely empty!

Door alarms are very similar to those select few who have security systems on their homes. When they leave, they set the alarm and whoever tries to enter their home an alarm will sound. It is the same way at the self storage facility. As soon as you shut the door and put your lock on it, that is step one. The last step to activate the alarm will be to put your pin code in the gate as you. You are then all set. Your door alarm is activated. Your belongings are safe.

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

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Not everyone really knows how to shop for a good price when it comes to self storage. In fact there are a fair number of people who have never used self storage. Since they have not shopped for self storage before how do they know what to look for? Below you will find a couple of things to look for when shopping around.

Is the location convenient for you to get to?  When it comes to self storage, people do need self storage, but most do not want to go out of their way to visit their belongings if they do not need to. Many people will find a local self storage company that is either close to their work or close to their home. This way the customer can just drop by grab what they need and get back on track. It would seem that almost ninety percent of people choose a facility based on its location.

Does the facility offer special rates or monthly deals? It would seem these days companies are bidding for the business of the customer. Sometimes customers call into a facility just to see what special they are running and to see who has the lower rate. Of course most companies will already know what their competition is doing price wise. When a customer tells the manager at the facility they found a price cheaper or a better special, the manager will know if they are telling the truth.

Will the facility have the size to fit your belongings? No matter what else is discussed, this is very important. If the facility does not have the size the customer needs or something equivalent, then there is no reason for the customer to talk to that facility. Now if the customer does not need the space for a while and the facility might get the size needed available, it could then work. Having the right size for the customer is a key element to finding the right facility for you.

Does the facility offer protection for your things? You have to feel safe knowing that your belongings will be safe. If your belongings are not safe, why are you storing them? You want to store your belongings are your home but you simply do not have the room. So you want to feel as comfortable storing your belongings in a self storage facilitiy of your choice or not store at all.

Above you were able to read important aspects of finding the right facility for you to store your belongings. You will ultimately make the right decision when it comes to which facility you want to store from. Depending on where you live, you might have many options of which facility you could choose. You might only have one facility and hope that they have all that you need in order to store.

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

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No one wants to repurchase any of their items when they are moving. They want to ensure that everything is packed correctly. Many people really do not know how to pack their belongings to ensure nothing gets damaged or broken. One thing that people do not always pack correctly is dishes. Here are some tips on packing dishes.

Always pack like dishes together. This way you can ensure that nothing heavy lands on them potentially causing damage. Even if you pack them securely, sometimes just the sheer weight of the dish can cause lighter dishes to fracture. Save the heave dishes for another box.

Never pack dishes without wrapping first. Many people think they can just put a bunch of dishes in the box and it will be ok. What helps the dishes stay intact and good is when you add padding to the box. Otherwise there no way you can expect to move the dishes without them being broken. One false move and the dishes are broken. It would not take much.

Write fragile on dish boxes so people know to be careful with the box. Otherwise if you have movers or such moving your boxes, they might not be as gentle with a boxes that is not marked fragile. When the box is marked fragile, the movers will be extra careful when moving and stacking the box. Well, at least that is what you hope.

Try not to stack other boxes on top of dish boxes. Try to make the fragile box of dishes be one of the last boxes going into the moving truck so it can be one of the first ones unloaded. Then you can put the box safely away and not risk it getting damaged.

Lastly, tape the box securely. There is nothing worse than you picking up the box and the bottom of the box fall out. Then all the dishes hit the ground and shatter. That would be a bad end or beginning to your day. Follow all these little tips and your dishes will make it from one house to the next safely.

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

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Car storage can be a very complicated process. You first have to look at location, security, and of course, price.  Typically these are three things that people look at when they are looking for car storage. They do not want to go very far to get to their car, thus location is very important. Customers want to ensure that their car and investment is safe, which would mean they want to ensure security is important. Lastly customers want to know how much it will cost them in order to store at the self storage facility. The customer might call the facility manager to know how much it will cost to store their car, but they really want to know about the other two important aspects of car storage.

There are also several different kinds of parking spaces available. A customer can store their car inside a self storage unit, outside on the parking lot uncovered, or under a car port on the lot. Which option the customer goes with is totally up to the customer. The customer might not have a choice if self storage facility does not have more than one option to store their car. So before calling around, the customer must decide which car storage option is the best for them.

Outside parking is as simple as having a parking space outside, while inside spaces are more like a garage.  The garage spaces are much more secure, but are also more expensive.  Location plays a part, since you will most likely be using the vehicle at least some of the time.  Storing outside for most places is a very inexpensive option, but if you are concerned about the safety and security of your car, you might want to consider inside storage. Some storage facilities have door alarms on the garage door which is an added level of security to for your car.

The vehicle must be in running condition in order to be stored at most facilities.  If you are looking to use your self storage facility for a work space, you will have to contact your property manager because they will have to make that decision. Most of the time, the manager does not want someone potentially messing up their storage unit with fluid from the car. You can definitely ask, but most likely the answer will be no.

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

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