Buying Abandoned Self-Storage Units: “One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure”

February 27th, 2011 Posted in Storage Units in Missoula
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In this era of mass consumerism, many Americans have more stuff than they need or can possibly use! We’re on a treadmill of aquisition, measuring our success by our material possessions. When we run out of space in the garage or attic we pay for the privilege cramming the overflow into a self-storage locker.

There are forty to fifty thousand self-storage facilities (with sometimes hundreds of individual lockers in each facility) in the United States filled with unused belongings. Sometimes we just keep our off-season clothing, Christmas decorations, lawn and garden equipment and bicycles stored, but more often than not it’s just stuff we can’t bear to part with: old furniture, family heirlooms, books, baby stuff saved for the next bundle of joy, redundant household goods from previous marriages, the contents of grandma’s house after she has moved into a nursing home. All stuff that probably should have been donated to the thrift shop.

Many renters just get tired of paying every month to keep stuff they don’t really need and abandon the unit. Some renters can’t keep up with the monthly payment and the unit gets foreclosed by the owner of the self-storage facility. These units are often sold auction-style, and the winning bidder becomes the new owner of all the possessions the locker contains.

You never know what treasures you might find. An owner of a self-storage facility told me of a friend of his who bought a locker and found ten thousand dollars in cash inside!

If you plan to buy the contents to resell them, as I do, then you need to bid low enough to make a profit. It’s tricky, because you usually can’t see everything in there. Lots of stuff is in boxes or bags so it becomes a guessing game. You have to estimate what you might get for what you can see, and bid accordingly. Don’t get so caught up in the bidding that you lose your potential profit! If you are buying for your own use then you might go a little higher if there’s something there you really want.

It’s easy to find self-storage units that are up for auction. Just call any facility in your area and chances are that they hold auctions several times a year. If you love to make money with flea markets or yard sales, this is the best way to find a variety of merchandise to add to your inventory.

Article Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/221464/buying_abandoned_selfstorage_units.html?cat=24

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A Business Can Cut its Energy Use by Using Self Storage Units

October 3rd, 2010 Posted in Storage Units in Missoula
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Many businesses these days like to flag up their environmentally friendly credentials as part of demonstrating corporate social responsibility (CSR).

There are plenty of ways to make a business premises more environmentally friendly. They include recycling all re-usable waste, like paper and glass, using biodegradable packaging, having staff bring in cups or mugs for tea or coffee rather than using plastic throw-away cups, trying to cut down on paper use by not printing out unessential documents and by communicating as much as possible by email, remembering to switch off lights and computers when not in use and perhaps encouraging employees to car share.

But there is another way to cut down on energy use and reduce the carbon footprint that perhaps some businesses have not considered.

If you have a business that needs to keep paper records of customer and client information, which can be a legal requirement for organisations such as health authorities, residential homes, solicitors, will writers and accountants, the question is how and where are they being stored?

It is not always possible to convert all paper records to a digital version. It could eat up hours of staff time that might be better focused on the day’s business activity. It may also not be practical to do it for older, historic records that have a legal validity only in their original form or may not conform to modern standardised paper sizes.

However, it is worth considering how much floor space is being used within the business premises because it is additional space that has to be lit and perhaps also heated. As businesses are now required to record their energy and emission use it could cut the energy use by consolidating it all and storing it off site in a centralised self-store facility.

Business archiving is not the only thing that can be centrally stored to reduce the carbon footprint.

We know of an e-business in Ipswich, UK, that sells all its products online and keeps its stock in a self-store facility. Its owner says it means using less space, and therefore less energy, keeping its carbon footprint to a minimum.

Similarly, a children’s centre in the town has a vast collection of donated toys for both indoor and outdoor use. Keeping the surplus in a self-store facility means that outdoor play equipment can be protected in the winter, prolonging its useful life, and indoor play equipment can be rotated to allow for repairs and cleaning and also to ensure that there are regularly new ranges of toys to keep the children stimulated.

There are other advantages to centralising storage. It helps to declutter the office and it is possible to install shelving or racking for stock and equipment, or filing systems for archiving, in a self store unit to make it easy for the business to access anything it needs quickly.

Self-store facilities themselves contribute to energy efficiency because most of them have heat or motion-sensitive lighting indoors and for outdoor security.

Using a centraliserd self-store unit can therefore give a business not only environmental but financial benefits.

Article Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=3419322

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People With Stuff Need Self Storage Units

October 3rd, 2010 Posted in Storage Units in Missoula
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Have you ever known anyone who has a lot of possessions and not enough storage space? Perhaps the person has tried leaving things with friends or family only to have the items damaged, ruined, or lost. Fortunately, self storage space can be the solution for people who are dealing with a lack of adequate space to accommodate their furniture, clothing, electronic gadgets, or other items. In fact, there are a number of reasons why people turn to self storage space or storage units, in order to meet their needs.

One reason why people choose the option of self storage is that they’re facing a move to a smaller living space. For example, perhaps a person is moving from a large fully furnished house to a small apartment. Naturally, not all of the furnishings in the house will be able to fit into the new space. A self storage unit is helpful in this scenario because an individual can safely store their items until they are able to accommodate them again. Furthermore, the self storage option may be a person’s alternative to selling the excess, beloved furniture.

Secondly, a person may want to take advantage of a self storage unit if they are planning an extended trip. If the person is not keeping an apartment while they are away, they’ll likely need a place to store furniture, appliances, extra clothing, and more. In addition, while they are away, the person will be assured that their possessions are safe and protected.

The next reason that people opt for self storage has to do with inheritances from relatives. For example, people who inherit furniture from family members or relatives often find that they don’t have the space for the extra items in their home. Consequently, they need a clean, well-kept place to store the furniture temporarily. Self storage can be the solution for a person in search a secure place to keep furniture until the pieces can be moved home.

Storage units can be extremely helpful to a person with a basement or attic that is either full of items or unsuitable for storage purposes. For example, a basement may be damp or prone to flooding. Valuable antique furniture cannot be safely stored in a basement that has a tendency to flood. Furthermore, an attic may not be suitable for storage due to lack of easy access or perhaps it’s already overloaded with items. In short, secure, clean, self storage can prove useful to anyone whose own storage capacities are questionable.

Along with the practical benefits of storage units, there are other reasons why they are so appealing to many individuals. Some people enjoy the easy access and convenience of a place where they know their items will be protected. Other individuals appreciate storage units for the clean, well-kept environment they offer. In short, self storage is a simple option for a person who cares enough about the condition of their possessions to find a place where they will be safely tucked away.

Article Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=3419713

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Why Customer Service is Vital in a Self Storage Business

August 31st, 2010 Posted in Storage Units in Missoula
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Businesses basically have two major goals – to get more customers and to earn profits. The first is the most important objective because without people to buy from them, these entrepreneurs will not earn anything.

In the self storage industry, customers are also an important part of the business. As a matter of fact, they’re the life of these highly valuable facilities and for this very reason, storage providers should take it upon themselves to attend to their clients in the best way they can.

Private individuals and organizations that utilize self storage or any service for that matter normally give priority to the way businesses support their clients. They gauge the reputation and success of a facility based on various factors and one of them is a quality customer service. People prefer to work with an organization or company that they know will meet their needs and look after them as well as the items they own. They would also usually choose a provider that offers a variety of choices to meet their requirements.

For self storage facilities, there are different aspects of customer service that owners and operators should take into consideration. When these are provided, there’s a good chance that the business will attract more customers and retain existing clients moving forward.

Friendly staff. Having employees who are friendly is a big plus. Potential clients normally feel comfortable when during their first meeting, the front desk staff of the self storage facility are easy to approach and are friendly. These people are always ready to talk to customers with a smile and get along with them with ease.

Knowledgeable staff. More than just being friendly, the staff should also be well trained. In other words, they should be knowledgeable about the sizes and types of rental units available, the rates per month or per year, the payment method, security system, pest control, deposit required, insurance coverage if any as well as other terms and conditions. As customers will always have questions before making a decision, the front desk staff should know how to answer them properly.

Manner of communication. The way a self storage employee talks to customers is essential. As facilities need clients to be successful in their business, the staff should be trained to improve their communication skills. They should learn not to be emotional when dealing with customers regardless of the attitude being shown to them. Any instance that an employee shows a negative reaction to a potential client such as being sarcastic in answering queries, he or she risks discouraging that person to avail of their service.

Information on policies. The frontliners of a self storage facility must also be responsible for informing clients of the company’s policies. However, this should not be limited to just giving them a flyer or brochure with the policies in there. Employees must also be able to explain further to customers should they find it hard to understand certain terms and conditions. Sometimes, the clients’ knowledge of a facility’s policies also depends on how well the staff were able to expound on them.

For information on self storage visit MyStorageWorks.com, a leading self storage company in the Maryland and Pennsylvania area.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kalyan_Kumar

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Self Storage – Why Society Swears By It

August 6th, 2010 Posted in Storage Units in Missoula
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The concept of self storage has so deeply penetrated our society that it’s difficult to do without it. Whether it’s a household or a business, almost everybody faces the need for storage space. Therefore, it’s no surprise to find storage facilities in every nook and corner of the cities, providing a safe place for belongings you don’t want to part with but also can’t accommodate them at home.

Why Climate Control Storage Is Stealing The Limelight

Units that have a regulated humidity and temperature conditions are ideal for storage of antiques, leather goods, oil paintings, electronics, photo albums and old books, art pieces, jewelry, warm clothes, fabric furniture, musical instruments, and other delicate items that are affected by heat and moisture.

A climate controlled self storage facility is designed to maintain a steady temperature ranging from 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This varies with the geographical area and its weather. There is no better place than a self storage unit to store your fragile goods. Garage and attics fail to provide such safety from weather elements.

Solution For Large Inventory

Businesses have, at last, found the perfect solution for storing their surplus stock and other office equipment in self storage warehouses. Some of the reputed facilities feature wide spaces in which you can easily park your truck or van for unloading items. The units are equipped with advanced security systems, besides the regular fencing and presence of armed guards.

Whether you’re moving office or renovating, you can get a suitable place to store your items. Most of the moving storage services offer competitive prices for professional work that leaves you awestruck, thanks to their sheer efficiency and flawless style of working.

Boat Storage

How can the idea of self storage leave behind the boats and yachts? There is no dearth of water sports lovers, divers, cruisers, and people working at the ports. This means that there is a substantial need for self storage buildings specifically designed for boat and yacht storage.

Every boat or yacht owner needs a place to park his water vehicle. This place should be secure with no worries about thefts or damage to the boat. Only a self storage building with proper security gadgets in position can provide such a place.

Moving and storage are quite common in the US. With the changing economy and climatic conditions, a large number of people are moving to favorable locations. For this, they need transportation as well as storage ways that can take the worry of safety of their belongings out of their minds.

Self storage is a broad concept encompassing many facts. The site provides wide knowledge about storage units and moving storage services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wakanda_Aaron

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