Always treat eat customer with respect and take the time to listen to their problem. You never know what will say. What they say can give you the information that you need in order to help them out. Sometimes you will have to hear a story about their lives and what is going on in order for them to tell you what they need in terms of self storage. You just have to remember, they are there because they need storage.

So take as many deep breaths as you need to take and make sure you are giving them your undivided attention. This customer truly needs you to take care of their storage needs regardless of how you feel and how the customer in front of them felt. There will be plenty of times in which your patience will be tested to the maximum capacity. Just remember, you have what they need. They need you. That should bring a smile to your face, right?

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

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Customers come down to visit their local self storage facility for a couple of reasons. They do so because they want to see the facility and where their belongings are going. They also want to meet you. But for the purpose of this discussion we are only going to talk about how your property appeals to them. If the customer walks in and sees something they are not particularly fond of, they will not rent there. Some customers are just picky and there is nothing that you can do about that. For the customers that are not as picky as others, you can do a couple of things here and there to ensure that your facility is looking up to tip top shape every day.

It goes without saying that a regular vacuuming and dusting can happen often throughout the week. If you have a heavy traffic store, then you might want to consider vacuuming more than one time a day. Just because you cleaned up things the night before doesn’t mean that you should not clean again until close. One of the simple things you can do is when there is a slow spot of the day, get everything freshened up for the next customer. You can take some time out and walk the facility to ensure that nothing has happened to the property or there is not any debris that can be in the way of customers. There is many times that a manager gets so locked in to that is happening inside the store that they forget the outside. There are many things going on outside their office.

As you are walking outside the facility make sure that there is nothing that does not need your immediate attention. The reason that some of these self storage facilities do not look as inviting is because they do not take regular care of the outside. Cut the grass, pull weeds, make sure there are not any structural damages to the building or pavement. One small chink or hole in the building or pavement could turn into something much worse later. If it is in the budget find a way to fix it sooner than later.

Always communicate with your owner. The owner wants to know what is going on at the property. Don’t just sit there and give them a laundry list of what is wrong. Be smart and prioritize the things that need a change now vs. later. If anything can wait, then it can wait. It is ok to put the thought into your owner’s head about a change in the facility, but be as realistic as you can. Take care of your facility and it will take care of you. Customers will come in to rent because of how clean and nice your facility is. Believe it or not, there are some people who just like a good visual presentation.

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

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As a property manager, what do you like most about your job? Who likes to be asked that question? Well that is not a question that is an issue for many but for some people they will have to think carefully about that question. For those that love their job, they are able to rattle off many things they love about their job. You can see it in their eyes and they can not hide the excitement. You don’t want them to stop them from going down the list, but you must. Some property managers could go on for hours. It seems to be a big difference when you ask the person who does not as interested in the great things about work as those that are not. Flip the question around and you get a free flow of what they do not like about company.

In this scenario one manager did not have much to say about the topic of liking their job. But when it came time to talk about why they do not like their job, they were all about telling someone why. That is because they found something they were willing to talk about. The same thing goes for the customers. Do not go into every conversation that you have with the customer the same way you would for every customer you deal with. Every customer is different. Along with that, sometimes a different question will open up the lines of communication. If you ask the right question it will be as if the customer is laying down on a couch opening up their life to you. Then all you have to do is listen and pick out things that could really help you to help them.

It feels as if asking questions is a lost art when it comes to self storage. There are managers that believe they can ask a couple of questions and then they can throw a price out there to rent to the customers. That is way off base. Sometimes the customers already know what the price is when they come down to the facility. The customer already feels they can afford the amount of money that is being asked for in order to rent the facility. They are coming in because they have other concerns about renting and they want your help with them. Can you help them figure that out? So understand that tidbit of information before you help the next customer.

Customers are not dumb by any means. Since the creation of the internet, customers are way more knowledgeable than they used to be. They now know many things about storage before they even come to your door. Give them the credit they deserve and ensure that you help their needs accordingly. Before you are able to help them and their needs ask questions that could get them to open up. If they can open up to you, they have showed you that they can trust you. You do not need to write down every single thing that they are saying. All it takes is a couple of thoughts here and there to figure out what the customer’s need really is. Take the time to figure out what those needs are and take care of them. The customer will release the floodgate of information if you ask the right question.

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

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Should a manager ask what a customer is storing? This has been an idea that has been tossed around many times. There are managers that will not ask because they have come across customers that have been mean in their response back to them. There have also been times in which the customer was pleased that the manager asked so they could find the right space for them. Some customers feel that what they are storing is their business, not the managers. This is some crazy thinking.

It is true, that what you are storing is your business. Another truth is that a self storage manager has to manage the property and ensure nothing is stored that can be harmful to others. Would you rather a property manger give you a list of things you can not store and then ask you if anything you are storing is on this list? Of course not, some people might take offense to that. It is not uncommon for a manager not to be able to please everyone that comes through their door. If they thought they could do that, they would drive their selves crazy. It is hard for you to be able to make everyone happy that you meet. In fact it is impossible. For this reason, rules are in place.

Facility mangers have to find out what size the customer needs. Of course if a customer just says something like I am just storing household goods does not help the manager find the correct space for the customer. The customer can be as stingy with information as they want, but they will end up paying for a space they were not wanting to pay for. The manager could get them into a space that is a great price for what they need instead of a large space that will be more than what they need. Sometimes keeping things to yourself because you do not want anyone else in your business can cost you money.

Property managers are not asking what you are storing to be annoying, nosy or even to covet your things. The manager actually has your best interest in mind so that is why they are asking what you are storing. Do you part and just answer the question. You do not have to go over the complete list of what you are storing, but you can give them an idea. Typically you can go over the largest pieces you are storing and leave the smaller things off the question answer inquiry. The manager always knows that you will most likely store some smaller things along with the bigger items.

Sometimes a customer will be moving across country, city, or state and they are moving everything. Going into a self storage facility and telling them that you are storing a three bedroom house with appliances is all you need to say. Then the manager can tell you exactly what you will need in terms of a self storage space. They have been in the business for a long time. They are there to make sure that you do not pay more for a space you do not need. Believe it or not, the managers do not get paid by knowing what you are storing. They get paid off the satisfaction of their customers.

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

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What is in a name? Introducing yourself to the person that you are talking to seems to be a lost art in sales. Now when you are involved in some other kind of negotiations, for some reason people seem to introduce their selves. When you are trying to sell a customer a storage space or other answers to their needs, the introduction seems to be not there. How much easier would it be to sell to your friend than a complete stranger? Isn’t it less rude to call a person hey you, or even sir or ma’am. Many people are comfortable with those types of greetings. On the flip side not everyone is.

When a customer walks into a self storage facility and the property manager does not acknowledge they are there, what impression does that give for the customer? That does not make the customer feel they are important or that the manager wants to do business with them. What changes when a property manager goes out of their way to say hello and greet them properly? Everything changes. The demeanor of the presentation changes, the customer is a little more receptive of the manager, and the possibility of building rapport is there. What do you think would change if we added the introduction of names?

It is very common for a customer to call a self storage location or any type of business and the rep on the other end answers with their name. Since the customer now knows your name, why don’t you know there name? It just makes sense right? Unfortunately it goes deeper than that. It is felt sometimes rude or people are scared to ask someone for their first name. They rather resort to just calling them ma’am or sir. That is formal and sometimes respectful, but what happens if you call the wrong person sir or madame? That could lead to an uncomfortable situation.

You will not always deal with a person face to face. You might only talk to them if they are over the phone. This might be your one and only shot to get them into the store. You can easily say something like, hi my name is so and so, what is your name? The customer should open up and tell you their name. If they do not, then there is another issue and you will have to make them comfortable enough to gain access to their name. Otherwise when you get their name, you should use it through out the conversation. Don’t say it over and over again like a broken record, just say it enough to where the customer sees that you are making an effort to be friendly.

When it comes time to close the sale, using their name is very important. At t his point you are on a first name basis so you can use their name to ask for the reservation or the rental. For example you can say, James, it looks like we have the best unit for you. Let’s go ahead and get you set up. You can begin moving in right away. That is a lot friendlier than using sir or just asking for the sale. It makes it more personal. Gain the customer’s name and make sure that you use it. This personal touch could mean the difference between you getting sales and not. Every little bit helps.

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

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There is not an exact science to moving, but there are many property managers who will give you a couple of ideas. Don’t shy away from asking the property manager about different things that you can do in order to store. The important thing that you need to keep in mind is that you need to get your belongings there safely. Since you are going to be putting your belongings into storage, wouldn’t you want to make sure that your belongings stay safe?

Make sure you ware the right clothing for your move, warm for winter, cool for summer, and dry for raining season. Most times when you move you will not have time to change your clothes when you are moving. You want to get done with your move as soon as you can so you can get back to your normal day. Of course you still have to put your new home together before you can really relax.

To keep things dry and free from dust in your boxes, put plastic bag in first and tape shut when done. No one really knows when they put things into storage, how long it is going to be there. In fact many plan to only store for a month or so, while select others believe they will be storing for an indefinite amount of time. If you do not move around your belongings are store them properly dust could really be a problem in the future.

Put car Air fresheners in your boxes to help keep things smelling nice.  They are really not that expensive. It most people would rather smell a great smell of an air freshener than other smells that could be around the self storage facility. Not many property managers or owners will suggest it, but it’s a nice touch.

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

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Technology has grown over the years and has made things much easier for us. Previously in order to pay a bill you would have to walk into a store where your payment was due and pay in person. Oh my how we’ve grown. Now there are downloadable applications for your mobile phone to make things simple like paying for your storage unit.

A renter I spoke with had no idea that the store they rented at offered this. She was ecstatic to find out how easy the application worked and wanted to immediately find out where she needed to go to download the program. In this technology day and age, we can do just about anything. Everything should be very simple and easy. Paying your bill and renting a storage unit should be just that easy.

Property managers, if your company offers an online app that could make your customers’ lives a little easier, make sure that you offer it. Many companies do not think such technology is important. That can’t be further from the truth. Some customers do not even go with a company because they don’t have website or have an application to use. Always put your best foot forward.

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

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Had a call yesterday for RV parking and wanted indoor, I told him sure I can help you with that we have both indoor and out door parking. It is not everyday that someone would call and ask for RV parking. So I had to make sure I took care of this person because their RV will be very important to them. Also, not every facility is equipped to handle RV inside parking. So before we began to talk about pricing, I had to ask some basic questions that any property manager would ask.

I asked him what size was his RV to make sure we get him in the right size. He told me the size of his vehicle and I found him one indoors that I believe would work for him. The customer told me it was too much and he wasn’t too pleased with that price. He informed me that last year the price was much cheaper. I had to explain to him that over the courser of years, the price does change. The customer understood that, so I told him what if we looked some outdoor storage. He also thought that price was also too high. Naturally at this point, as a property manager, I anticipated that he would want me to change the price or he was going to shop around. He said he would call around to see if he could find one cheaper.

I told him that would be fine because we do check prices ourselves with everyone around us to make sure we are competitive, but we only have a few spaces left and are going fast. This time of the year people are calling ahead to make sure they have a space so don’t wait to long so that we will have a space for you, or what we could do is hold that space for you while you call around. He agreed and gave me his information to hold it for him.

He thanked me for helping him and would call me back tomorrow to let me know what he is going to do. No matter what he does at this point whether he will continue to shop around or bring his RV down tomorrow, he can rest assured knowing that he has a parking space waiting for him. That would make anyone happy.

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

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There have been some calls from people that need to rent a storage space for their house hold goods. This would be a daily occurrence, but their only problem is they are out of state. So they will not be able to be at the store before it closes nor will they be there to sign the lease. These customers still want to rent a store space so they ask us whether they are able to do all the paperwork over the phone or by fax. That is of course up to the facility manager.

Naturally as a representative of the company, we tell them we can help with that. We still go through the naturally steps of finding out what they are storing so we can get them in the right size. We get all their personal information and an email address so that we can send them the lease and all other paper work. We then tell them we need a major credit card so that she can pay for it now and it will be waiting for her when she gets here. They will either after that point, have to send someone else in to sign the lease or paperwork or rent when they are in town. The customers are happy with the idea that they could do everything over the phone and could just bring in their paperwork. Unfortunately we can’t give them a lock over the phone but they can pick one up at the store from the property manager.

The customer was very happy that they could do it all before they even got to the store. It was a good idea that the manager of the facility gave the caller a follow up call to ensure that every thing went well with the initial conversation. The manager also will want to ensure the customer will be there when agreed they would be there. The manager wants to be there when the customer is actually able to walk into the facility.

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

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It would seem as if there is special need for self storage for many different people. No matter what your situation is self storage could be a solution for many situations. There will be people who will disagree with that statement but there are many different sizes that could accommodate a variety of customer needs. No matter what you are using self storage for, just know that there are solutions to your needs available.

If you are in need of self storage, you should start your storage search sooner rather than later. Depending on the time of year you can never know when you will have a self storage unit available for you to rent. Some seasons the self storage units leave so quickly that won’t be able to get the popular sizes. If you are in need of one of the popular sizes then you definitely need to call sooner than later.

Every discount that you can find will put money back in your pocket. If you get a first month free promotion, you should still ask about other promotions. If you know that you will be storing for longer than month or maybe even a year, ask the manger whether or not they have long term discounts. Sometimes you will find that the long term discounts would save you more money than the move in specials.

Every manager will tell you that they have good security. You should schedule a site visit to see for yourself how safe the site feels. Reserving a space over the phone is one thing, but signing on the dotted line of your lease without really walking around the facility is a bad idea. Talk with the property manager a little bit about the facility and get a good look and feel of the facility. The great thing about most self storage companies is that you only have to sign a month to month lease. If they treat you badly you could pack up and move out the next month without penalty.

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

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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 manager, I am sure, will be more than happy to tell you about their special deals on renting a truck. When a storage facility has a truck for you to use they figure that you might also want to use their self storage units as well. It would make sense. If you need storage and need a truck, why not get it all from the same place?

If you shop around enough you could come across a storage facility that is offering a free move service. A free move in service will usually include a free truck and driver. You will not get movers to help you with everything. You will find that not every self storage facility will offer this free moving service so if it is important to you then you really need to continue shopping until you find one. Otherwise maybe the property manager can recommend something in the area that can help you get your belongings to the property.

When you get a storage unit, you will need to have a lock for the space. You can bring one in or the site will sell them for around ten dollars depending on the type of lock that you get. The property manager will be more than happy to direct you to the storage supplies that they have available for you purchase. It is good to have a self storage facility that is a one stop shop when it comes to self storage.

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

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Sometimes people just end up settling on a space and they do not even ask the property manager if a particular size is coming available. It makes sense to ask the person who is running the property about what is coming open. Instead people just settle and they end up trying to cram everything into a smaller space when they do not need to. That could lead to all kinds of inconveniences such as damaged goods, physical pain on yourself, and also and inconvenience in price. It is very important that you think before you rent.

Price is very important when looking for a self storage unit. Work with your local property manager to figure out what is the best size for you in regards to price. If the location is ideal, see if you are in the budget you are looking for with your storage unit. Location is great, but you know you need to pay for the space still. Maybe you are able to find a space at a location that is slightly further in order to ensure you get the right size for your situation.

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

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Climate control is something a lot of people know little about when looking for storage.  Most people think it is necessary to have a climate controlled space, even when they store things that usually sit outside.  This is not the case.  A renter usually only needs at room temperature controlled space when storing expensive furniture and/or belongings. They do not know any better and when they are shopping around, they are asking each facility manager about climate controlled spaces.

There are some things that would need a climate controlled space for. For example, artwork would be stored in a climate controlled space, while patio furniture would not.  If you feel that you can place things in your garage for safe keeping then you can most likely go with a standard space. Most garages do not have air conditioning going to it. So walk out to your garage and see how you feel about storing your belongings in there.

Usually climate controlled units are more expensive, so if you don’t need it, don’t pay for it! Most facility managers will try to tell you which space you need. Listen to them. They will not try to lead you astray. If they tell you something that is not true, they are putting your faith in them on the line. They do not want to do that.

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

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One of the main reasons that self storage facilities will not allow food in their units is that food will quickly go bad inside a space. Unfortunately with the change in temperature and the condition of food, the property managers just are not allowed to take them. When food goes bad, you will typically attract some unwanted little visitors that will try to get to the spoiled food. It would seem that no matter how tight the unit is, those little critters find a way to get to the spoiled food. No one wants to have a bunch of bugs and rodents in their storage space.

People often think that climate control means cold storage.  This is not true.  Climate control simply keeps the space around room temperature.  As said before, food attracts pests, such as mice and bugs.  Not only does this affect your things, but also the belongings of your neighboring tenants.  There are places made just for cold storage.  If you are looking for long term storage, try one of those places first before looking at self storage.

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

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Just like most things in life, there are rules. There are rules when you go to school, rules in life, and also there are rules when it comes to using self storage. Many things make sense in terms of why there is a rule for it now. Still unfortunately people still get upset when those rules are enforced. This is also true for the rules of life and how you treat people.

Never is it a good idea to be rude to people when you are trying to get something you want even in the storage industry. Sometimes customers come in to the self storage facility and attempt to bully the manager into doing something they are not allowed to do. Then customers try to hassle the managers to give in or they threaten to go to another facility. Of course the manager wants to mean back in some cases, but it is good for them to hold their ground. Most of the self storage property managers will have to get approval from their regional manager or owner.

In most cases, it is not allowed or wise to store anything food related. You cannot store fish in a storage unit. You will hear many crazy stories from property managers telling you people tried to store things they were not allowed to store. Customers will try to store the weirdest things. The property manager will tell you that you are not able to store some things. Unfortunately some people try to go behind their backs and do it anyway. The truth will come out eventually, rules were broken and the tenant will be asked to leave.

If you are managing an estate, you should be able to find an affordable storage space if you run out of room. Self storage property managers will be available if you need help. Just give them a call and you will be surprised at their wealth of knowledge.

Before you do something silly, just make sure you talk to the property manager. It would be silly to be thrown out of the facility for doing something you knew was against the rules. Make sure that you are fully aware of the rules so you can ensure your stay at your local self storage facility is a pleasant one.

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

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There are a lot of people who do not know what kind of security to look for when getting a storage rental.  In fact there are fair number of people who just call around looking for price and nothing else. Many customers are untrained on what to look for when beginning their search on self storage. There will be times in which a property manager will tell them what features they have to offer the customer, but the customer does not know how it will benefit them. Below are a few security features, and how they benefit you.

Access Controlled Entry:  This keeps people without a unit out of the property.  This helps to monitor traffic and decrease the chance of a break in. Typically a property manager will assign a gate code that is unique to you so no one else can use it. The property manager wants to ensure that no one else will have access to your unit. Also having this code also lets the facility manager know who is entering their facility at what times. If something ends up missing from another self storage unit, the manager can check the records to see who was on the property at that time.

Cameras:  This gives the property extra eyes to keep watch throughout the property. It is good to know that cameras are all over the facility to keep watch on things going on. The manager is not able to catch everything that is happening on their facility. The cameras are a much needed back up. Now some property managers will tell you that some of their cameras are used just for surveillance, where other cameras are actually recording what is going on. Ask your local manager which type of cameras they have.

On Site Manager:  A store with a manager on site is a good bet.  With someone on site all the time, the manager is able to watch the property, especially since its’ their back yard! Most of the time, the property manager, will live above the facility or on the same property as the facility in order to be close when they are in need.  Now sometimes a facility might mean something different when they talk about an onsite manager. They could just mean there is someone on site to help the customer when they come into the facility. Again, ask the property manager which one they are.

Door Alarms:  This prevents people from messing with you lock.  If someone is actually able to break into your self storage unit, an alarm will sound. It could be silent, which gives the manager enough time to catch the thief, or it could be loud enough to scare the perpetrator away. Usually the door alarm will be deactivated by the pin number that you put into the gate upon entering.

As you see, there are many different features a facility can have. Your local property manager will be happy to tell you what sets them apart from the other facilities in the area. Some managers want to brag all about their features. It is good to know how those features benefit you.

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

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A self storage property manager has pretty much heard it all when it comes to self storage. It would seem as though they are storage experts, storage counselors, and your storage friends. It is completely a great idea to go to them when you need help with storage. They will give you great tips on what to do on your day to move. Of course people will call them and tell them a whopper of a story thinking they are the only one to have gone through that. One word of wisdom that property managers try to give to their soon to be renters, is that they prepare for moving in all kinds of weather conditions. Even though we try to plan, it still does not always go the way we plan.

When moving, make sure you get good rest the night before so that the stress level does not get to high. Do not over stuff yourself the night before or the morning of your move so you are not feeling sluggish when you are moving. If you are having a moving company do the moving for you, then you can eat all you want. It is still a good idea to get some good sleep before moving day. You will have to some direction to give to the movers.

When moving in hot weather ensure you and all your helpers drink enough liquids so you don’t over heat. You do not want anyone going to the emergency room or worse on the day you are supposed to move. That is one thing that you can plan for by having beverages available. If your movers or helpers do not want anything from you, make sure they have something of their own to drink. Some people will say that there will not be a lot of moving so they do not need anything to drink. On hot days, you will sweat more than you think and will need to replace that water loss with liquid.

If you have to move in the winter weather, have salt and sand handy so you don’t have any accidents. Make sure your driveway or moving area is clear, and then call ahead to your local property manager to see if their property is clear. If the property manager tells you that it is clear, then start moving as soon as possible. Wear plenty of layers so don’t have to stop moving to get warm.

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

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When you store the contents of your home, it is usually because you are in between moves.  Most people believe this time will be a very difficult time, but it does not have to be. Here are a couple of tips on how to make the transition easier for you and your family.

Place your furniture in the back of the space. Most likely you will not need the large pieces of furniture while waiting on your new home to be ready. You will need the small things during this transition. Also when you are ready to move into your new place, you will have the large furniture at the front of the truck for easy placing inside your new home. There is nothing like trying to move in large furniture when there are smaller objects in the way. You do not want to step on something when you have a large couch in your hand. That could be disastrous for everyone involved.

Try to place boxes which will need to be accessed the most in the very front. No one wants to climb all over things in order to get to the boxes that you need. It will be smart to place all the boxes that you need to use frequently off to the side while you load everything else. Then on the flip side of the move these things will be the last to come off the truck which means they will be readily accessible for you.

Make sure the unit you are going to use will fit everything securely. When talking to the property manager, ensure that you discuss with them what you are storing. This way they will be able to recommend the best self storage unit that will work for you. They will recommend something that is not too small or something that is not too big. It is a great idea still to walk to your storage unit with the property manager in order to see what the unit looks like. Believe in the property manager, they have seen many people come in and out of their storage units. They have a lot of experience.

Always check the location to ensure it is safe. The property managers understand and know what their property has to offer. They will be happy to tell you about the features of their property because they are proud of those features. If a manager tries to throw price at you first, make sure that you know why they are so anxious. The case may be that they do not have great security so they are just trying to throw a very low price at you. They are, of course, hoping that you be blinded by the savings to notice that your belongings will not be as safe.

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

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Property Managers are always available to inform customers on how to better store their belongings. They will give great advice on how to store your belongings in order to prevent damage. Believe it or not the property managers are the experts when it comes to storing. Use them for their advice they are there to help. When packing fragile dishes or décor, it is important to keep a few things in mind.

Property managers will inform you to wrap your belongings in bubble wrap, use packing peanuts, or at least protect with old newspapers. Of course the managers of the storage facilities will offer for you to buy the packing supplies that are at their location. Most storage facilities are one stop shops when it comes to self storage. If you do not have something to use to pack your belongings, it is ok, just contact your local property manager.

Always stack like items together to ensure there are not many open spaces. Open spaces in boxes typically lead to sliding around and breaking. Make sure that you put plates with plates, cups with cups, etc. Of course you will want to put tissue paper or other packing material in between these items. Pack things into the box snuggly.  This way, everything does not roll around in the box.

Tell those moving your boxes to be gentle. You will want to be careful with what is being moved around. Most people will as for help moving so they will ask any and everyone to help. Unfortunately with that said your hired help might just throw boxes around or set them down abruptly. If you hire movers, they typically are gentle but it does not hurt to tell them to be gentle with your belongings.

Be sure to label boxes, so they can go on the top of stacked boxes. This way when it is time to move or put the boxes where they go you can see which box is which. One of the worst things that can happen is that you misplace a box and you can not find it until you do not need it. Make sure that you label all sides of the box so no matter which way you stack it, you can see which room the box will go.

Property managers can give you plenty of help when asked. Some veteran property managers can give you great advice on how to store your belongings. When advice is given do not turn it down.

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

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Establishing a new place and moving into it can be a very exciting and new adventure. Well at least that is what you tell yourself so you can get past the potential craziness that is going to happen when you begin to move things in. Moving does not have to be stressful, time consuming or strenuous if you plan ahead. Taking the time to think carefully about the moving process can really help you out. If you remember to do so, you can ask the property manager to see if they can offer some help on what you should do. They have helped so many people in the past so they have a good idea of what people need.

Clean all your linens before you move so you are ready when you get to your new place. This way you can have fresh linens for your first night of rest. You will find that people do not always get a lot put away the first night they are at their new place. They will want to get all of their belongings to the room they want them to be in and try to put away the important things first. After that, they might want to kick back relax or even go to sleep early to prepare their selves for along day of unpacking. Also you might have some people staying with you that are helping you move. They will need fresh linens as well. You do not have to wash all of your things, just enough to ensure you do not have to reuse the linens that you used to move. They might be a little dusty.

Make a list of everything you need for your new place so that you do not forget anything at the store and get your place set up right away. No one likes to make multiple trips to the store. So make a master list of everything that you need at the store so you only have to go once. You could also save yourself some money by reusing some of the things from your old home. It is totally up you to whether or not you want to start over. Property managers have seen many customers bring all their old things into storage and buy all new. It can be pricy some people want to have a fresh start.

Clean and paint before you move in so you don’t have to work around all your things. Maybe the color scheme to your home is not what you were looking for, so you want to paint things before the move. Your home is completely empty so it will be the best time to paint everything. Your local self storage property manager can help you find a self storage space if you need to get all of your things out of your old place. If the company you are buying your home from will give you a couple of days before the move to get in there and paint that is a great option as well.

Property managers have seen many customers move in and out of their properties. They hear all kinds of good tips and moving disasters from their previous or current customers. They have a lot of insight from them and would love to pass on their knowledge to you if you ask. The good property managers will volunteer the knowledge they know. Listen up to what they have to say because maybe something they can teach you can turn a potential disastrous moving day into a great moving day.

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

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As a property manager you will see many people come in with their RVs and look for a place to store them. It does not have to be a particular time of the year, people will drive their RVs right into your facility in order to have them stored and taken care of. Most property managers have facilities in which all of the needs of the customer will be met. What do most people need out of the properties their RVs will be stored?

The best managed properties will be sure to include wash bays, dump stations and also a public rest area for the customer. Customers love to have a facility that has wash bays so they can have their RV nice and clean before they store them. The wash bays are also great so their RV will look good before they hit the road again. A facility having a dump station goes without saying. There will not be another place in which you will be able to dump the access waste. A good property manager would ensure that the owner had a place to expel of the waste before they advertised that facility had RV spaces.

There are many types of RV parking available these days.  Most RV parking is in the form of a standard outside parking space.  However, some storage facilities have units which fit RV’s inside.  These units must be taller than a regular storage unit, and must have a higher door clearance as well.  There are also many properties which have covered parking spaces.  These spaces are protected by car ports.  All three types of RV parking are secure, since most parking is usually inside a security gate.  However, in terms of nature, the inside or car port space will insure your things will be protected in case of inclement weather.

Being a property manager and running a RV storage facility can not always be the simplest situation. The thing is that many people have RVs that they are looking to store, but they do not know where they can put it. When people call into the facility to discus RV storage, the property manager has to be able to inform them on the reasons they should rent from them. A property manager has to wear different hats, especially that of a sales person.

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

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A lot of the times the self storage customer thinks that they have it rough. Sometimes the customer wants to call to yell at their property manager about their bill or say how often that property manager is not on site. The customer does know that the manager is not always going to be sitting there by the phone waiting for every single phone call. Unfortunately the property manager will have other people to take care of. They will have to walk their property every so often and show new comers the facility. So when something goes wrong on the property, they are the ones that will have to deal with it. One of the things they might have to deal with would be their access controlled gate.

The access controlled entry gate of a storage facility can be quite a hassle.  When someone does not pay their bill, the gate locks out the tenant’s code.  So when the tenant tries to go in, their code does not work.  This can lead to many issues.  The locked out tenant may try to follow someone else inside the gate.  This will trap them inside the unit, since the gate does not register the tenant as entering.  The tenant may also call after hours numbers, thinking they should still have access.  Finally, the tenant will find a lock on their unit, which will keep them from being able to access their things.  This can lead to potential property damage costs being added to the tenant’s rent charges.  Make sure you always pay on time so this does not happen to you.

Yes customers have their fair share of things that happen to them, but some of the things that happen are self inflicted. They sign a document at the beginning of the lease stating that they understand the terms and conditions. So when they do not pay their bill or get out of the gate on time, it is the fault of the customer. Now the property manager can sometimes do whatever they can in order to assist that customer, but most times, the customer has to put the blame on their selves and not the property manager.

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

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

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Sometimes as a property manager, you will have to find a way to make situations work in your favor. You will not always have all the tools in front of you to run your business well. The customers that you are serving do not always care that you do not have something that you need to serve them. They are looking for a solution right then, and now. As property managers you want to take care of the needs of your customers but it is not always easy.

In the self storage world it would seem simple enough for a customer to come into the office, rent a space and then begin to store. In the perfect world that would be the case. Just like in any other business the system has be functioning correctly and the product or space has to be available to use. There have been times, not often, that a door to the storage unit will not roll up or the computer says a space is available when it really is not. At that point, the property manager has to think quickly on their feet in order to take care of that customer without losing them.

In situations that happen beyond the control of the property manager, they manager hopes that the customer is calm and will work with them. Some customers know it is not the fault of the property manager and they will be patient. Other times, that is not the case and the manager needs to do something to make the situation right as soon as possible. In any case, have a back up plan and potential a back up plan for that back up plan. It is good to be prepared even if you do not have all that require to take care of them.

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

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A customer walks into a self storage property office to see a clean office with a smiling face behind the counter. The customer sees that everything has a space and all the supplies are labeled correctly. There is not one obstacle in the way from the door to the service counter. They are very pleased with the presentation. As they walk up to the service desk and they are greeted, this is where the customer really begins to feel that this is the place for them to rent. If the property manager can help them with their situation in a friendly and courteous way, that customer will decide to use their services for a long time.

Many businesses do not truly understand customer service and how important it can be for their business. As a property manager you are in charge of that business and how smoothly it runs. If you are not a friendly person of the people, then you will not do well. People want to be talked to in a professional and friendly manner if they are going to make a purchase.

A person wants a professional property manager when they are trying to store their things in a self storage unit. They want to know that their belongings will be safe and that if there is a situation that arises, it will be taken care of. If they first greet the property manager and they do not feel from that first meeting these things will happen, they will most likely decide not to rent there. Other times you will find customers will rent at a storage facility regardless of the property manager because the location is very convenient for them. In any case, there is not point to risk losing a customer over bad service.

Each person can not be treated the same. Many property managers get into a rhythm and they try to use the same presentation on everyone that comes through their door. Unfortunately it does not work that way. If you as a property manager treat each customer with respect, friendly and listen to all they say, you will be very successful manager.

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

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When a property manager is looking at their monthly or quarterly business plan, they have to ensure they have a good plan of action in place. They want to ensure that their company is being run well and there are not any unforeseen gaps in the business. Companies will look at all facets of their business and determine if there are any holes in the system. Even if there are not any holes in system they want to look to see if every department is running at their max capabilities. If something is out of the ordinary or falling short of expectations, a correction can be made right there instead of when the situation gets worse.

Many companies feel comfortable where they are so they see no need to change any thing that they are doing. They will put off painting the exterior of the facility, changing out that part of the fence that really needs to be fixed and so on. Some will let it get to the point in which major work needs to be done when it used to be a minor issue. Some feel that their reputation is enough to get customers in the door so their customer service starts lacking where it used to be top notch. These same property managers do not seem to put the necessary effort into their properties unless they feel threatened by another competitor. Otherwise they are pretty much set in their ways.

In any economy you can not afford to sit back and wait to see what others are going to do. You have to be proactive and ensure that your properties will flourish no matter what economic obstacle is presented. Your properties are very important and should thus be treated as such.

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

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In order to get good tenants to call your number or to show some interest in your properties, you will have to good properties for them to rent. When a potential renter drives by your property they will want to see how nice and well kept your properties are. What can really turn off a prospective tenant is to not have a clean property. There is not an excuse that is available for the renter to see the property not ready for them to move into.

There are many good renters out there you just need to find them. You can advertise a lot and people will come to check out your properties. Price and location will attract people to your properties the most, but now you need to decide on how particular you will be on who lives on your properties. You will find that some property managers will advertise that they are looking for good tenants with a particular credit rating and spotless credit history. This of course will limit the amount of people who will apply and ultimately rent. You have to remember that just because they meet some criteria does not always make them the best tenants. That is why it is important to interview each potential renter.

Ensuring that every renter is on time with their rent or on some sort of payment arrangement is crucial to your business. Renters have to pay their rent on time in order to keep the property paid for. The property owners like the idea of paying the banks for the properties that they own so they expect the property managers to do their jobs and get the rent on time from renters.

Many property owners do not want to manager their own properties so they have someone do it for them. This could be because they do not want to deal with the every day hassle of keeping up the property, dealing with renters and ensuring that all is paid on time. They rather sit back and let someone else handle that for them. Of course they want to keep in communication with their property managers to ensure that their properties are being run well. Some owners will check in monthly while others might not check in for quite some time or when they feel something is wrong.

Being a property manager is not for everyone. There are many that do a great job managing their properties and maintaining great tenants. They have a lot on their plates and have to make sure the property owners are happy with their performance. Even though it is a difficult job, many property managers would not have it any other way. To them every day could be a new adventure for them.

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

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

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

Tweet This Post 

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

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