Hey Everyone,

For some of you who dont know we are changing the way our secret shopping works.  Dont be afraid!  I know a lot of you are scared of change, but change can be a good thing!  We have set our new system up so that people can shop from home all month long.  The calls are posted online so that anyone can view them, and give them a try.  The way to get involved is to come see either me or Daniel and we will give you a little training (about 5-10 minutes if you have already done shops before) and we will send you an invite and you will be one your way.  Its a great way to take a break from explaining storage, and its also a great way to learn a little extra if your a newbie.  We need all the help we can get, so come see us, send us an email, call us, do whatever you have to - get some shops!

Selfstoragecomparison  : http://www.Selfstoragecomparison.info

Using PhoneSmart as a way to get your calls answered when you are not available.  It is more than just getting you reservations when you dont answer.  Using PhoneSmart will allow you to give your current customers, or your walk-in customers the type of service they need.  If your employees dont have time to answer the phone, with PhoneSmart you dont have to.  You can let the phone ring and not have to worry about missing a storage rental.  I am not sure why all companies dont use a call center when their employees are unable to answer the phone.  The storage industry is one of those industries that a customer could be satisfied with many diffrerent companies.  If someone calls your facility, and there is not answer, they will most likely go to the next store in the phone book and rent from them if they answer and have a reasonable price.  Storage owners need to realize the value of having someone there for you, all the time!

Self-Storage-Lockers : http://www.Self-storage-lockers.com

Selling self storage is not an easy thing to do.  Customers have so many choices when looking for somewhere to rent that you really have to find a way to set yourself apart from the competition.  Weather it be security or convenience simply giving a customer a price just won’t cut anymore.  You really have to sell your facility to get the large volume rentals.  It is important to remember that almost all storage facilities now are pretty similar and a lot of your sale is based on what you tell the customer.  If you tell your customer something about your facility, and another place they speak with doesn’t mention it, they might as well not even have it.  There is a lot to be said about what you say!

selfstoragecomplaints  : http://www.selfstoragecomplaints.com

I was very amazed by the fact that there is actually car storage, and boat storage.  I always pictured self storage as just the 10x10 unit with the roll up door, and that’s all that I ever thought.  Now I see that there is such a wider range of things that you can store.  I have recently been looking into finding a place for my old car.  I cannot bring myself to sell it, and yet it cannot remain in my driveway any longer.  The whole point of keeping it was because it is a classic, why would I let it sit outside all day?  I called around a few places and found some car storage!   I am very happy vehicle storage even exists!  I couldn’t believe that they also had boat storage, I have always wanted a boat, and now I am thinking of selling my car and getting a boat since I know where I can find boat storage for it!

Boatstorageunit.com : http://www.Boatstorageunit.com

Self storage is a wonderful thing.  I recently moved out of my apartment and into a new apartment.  The only problem is, there was about 2 weeks where I didnt have a place for my stuff.  Sure I can crash on my buddies couch, but my foosball table just wont fit.   Thats when I decided I needed a storage unit.  I got one and it was so easy.  They even let me borrow a truck to move my stuff.  I thought it was going to be a pain, it turned out that it was very easy to do!

Jason

Selfstoragesheds  : http://www.Selfstoragesheds.com

How could the shark become prey?   A rock solid Irishman, defending champion of the open, and the first european to win it twice in a row in over 100 years, Padraig Harrington.  Greg Norman couldn't handle the pressure, or make quality decisions.  The 53 year old vetran showed up as only he could.  Driver in hand, and heart on his sleeve.  The Shark, once again, loses a 54-hole, lead on Sunday, in a major.  I cannot even begin to know what that feels like, maybe you would think about putting your clubs in to storage and never playing again.  Perhaps renting a moving truck, and leaving any memory that may remind you of that dreadful day.  Even taking home a T3 for an 8.5 million dollar purse, the Shark wanted on more victim, the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, instead he found a whale.

Selfstorageroom  : http://www.Selfstorageroom.com

I have been thinking lately, trying not to hurt myself, about the current situation with the housing market.  It seems as though your house doesn’t appreciate in value they way it used to.  Its always been the idea that you get a house and you make money building equity.  Well I have another thought, instead of paying $1000 a month home a mortgage, why not rent and apartment for $500 a month, and invest the other %500 in a high yield savings account.  It seems safer to invest money in a bank than a house.  You won’t get to live in a house, but your heating and cooling costs should be much less.  Renting seems a little but safer, and you would have money each month if there was ever a financial problem.  You could put your things into a cheap self storage unit and save/make money every month!  Any thoughts?

selfstoragecomplaint  : http://www.selfstoragecomplaint.org

There is a growing demand for call center outsourcing and for very good reason.  Whent it comes to industries such as; selfstorage, property management, or any kind of renting in general, there is money being lost everytime you don't answer the phone.  Many times people wil be out of the office showing a potential customer what personal storage is all about.  While they are away from the phone, if it rings, it is potentially costing you moeny everytime.  For the cost of about a small unit, you could be enjoying the piece of mind that comes with using a reputable company, such as phonesmart, to answer the phones for you.  Many places that use PhoneSmart as an offsite sales force expierence reservations even after their local business hours.  Most people, who are looking for storage, will get the phonebook out and start dialing, if the first one doesn't answer, it is right on to the next.  The first person to answer is going to greatly increase their chances of getting the rental.

Selfstorageroom  : http://www.Selfstoragerooms.com

I hope that everyone had a great 4th of July, I did! I had to make a quick run over to my storage unit to grab my fireworks and patio furniture. I find it best to buy them the year before, after they go on sale. I set of an absurd amount of fireworks this year, about $300 and 5 burnt hands were the only cost. Me and some friends went to a bridge out in the middle of nowhere and illuminated the sky for a good hour. The 4th is probably my favorite holiday, I’m glad I was able to get off of work to enjoy it. To top off a great weekend, I got to see the greatest Wimbledon match in the history of tennis. World reining number 1 Roger Federer was knocked off by the big swinging lefty Rafa Nadal! The young Spaniard took the title home for the first time in over 40 years! Add that to Spain’s win over Germany in the Euro Cup match, GO SPAIN!

selfstoragecomplaint  : http://www.selfstoragecomplaint.com

Call centers are a great way to answer your phones when you are not in the office.  Many companies over the last few years have been outsourcing their call center to save money.  It is questionable weather or not some of these companies actually saved any money.  It is true that they spent less money on paying call center employees you must ask yourself if it’s worth it.  What was the “actual cost” of having your call center outsourced to another country?  Even in other countries, you get what you pay for.  If you pay them less, which is the reason to outsource in the first place, you will get less quality.  A company like PhoneSmart is a great way to get a balance of a great price, and excellent service.  These companies are gaining in popularity because they get results!  If you are thinking of going elsewhere, or hoping that your employees can handle the phone calls themselves, you are taking an unnecessary risk.  In the world of mini storage PhoneSmart really has an excellent call center staff!

Selfstoragecomparison  : http://www.Selfstoragecomparison.info

There are some things to keep in mind when choosing a storage unit that you are going to rent.  It is important to consider what type of weather you will have outside of your unit, as it will have a direct impact on your storage unit.  Is it extremely hot because of the summer, or is it freezing cold in the middle of a Canadian winter?  If the weather is extreme, climate control is your thing!  It is amazing that now we have storage units that can maintain a comfortable temperature so your possessions do not get damaged.

Another important thing to consider is the size.  The difference between two sizes could mean all of the value in the world.  Remember tetris?  This is the same thing, pack it so it fits!  If you take a size smaller you could save enough money to maybe even pay for an entire month!  Storage representatives can help you estimate a size, but only you will have the final word, make a wise decision!

selfstoragecomplaints  : http://www.selfstoragecomplaints.com

Recently I have been trying to get a little more active, get out and enjoy the day. The only time I have been out all summer so far is to move my stuff into a storage unit! While that was tons of fun, I like to be competitive. Playing tennis seems to be a great way for me to get out, get some sun, and some exercise! I am looking for anyone who would like to join my, send me a message and we can go out to Oakland Park. If Oakland is full we can always go to the Cosmo Park too. Singles or doubles is fine, my girlfriend is just learning the game so mixed doubled would be even better.  If anyone else has any ideas about something fun to do outside, let me know, I have a wiffel ball set that hasent even been opened yet!

Selfstorageclip  : http://www.Selfstorageclip.com

Selling over the phone is very different than traditional/retail sales.  The person that you are speaking with cannot see anything that you can see.  It is very hard for the average person to picture what you are saying to them.  When you are selling self storage the problem gets even worse.  This can be seen as a drawback, or you can see it as an opportunity.  The great thing about not being able to see each other is the fact the customer cannot see you either.  This gives you a unique opportunity to create price stalls.  A price stall is a great way to build value to your store.  A great example that has been proven to work is the computer loading price stall.  Everyone can relate to waiting for a computer to "load".  While the information is being pulled up, now you have a chance to tell the customer why they should rent there.  If something is worth storing, then its worth having it in a nice place.  With these price stalls you will be able to have uninterrupted time to explain what sets you apart from the competition.  Let them know the type of quality that you can offer them.

Selfstoragebins  : http://www.Selfstoragebin.com

Secret Shopping is a great way to earn some extra cash!  Self organizers this is for you!  It’s not just a way to earn extra money; it also helps determine how a business is operating. Have you ever been on the phone or at a store and an employee did something that made you never go or call back? This happens all of the time and managers and owners are unaware of what is going on. A secret shopper keeps the people who need to know in the loop. It is very important that a manager knows that their employees are not operating to their potential, and in some cases not operating at all. That’s where the secret shoppers come in!  Becoming a secret shopper is actually very easy! We have websites where you can go get signed up. You can help shape the business world and bring customer service back!  Mystery shops help keep employees on their toes and it allows you to monitor your employees whenever you are not around.

Self-storage-search-engine  : http://www.Self-storage-search-engine.com

Secret shopping is an excellent way to make sure that your employees are adhering to your guidelines even when you are not actually monitoring them.  It is a great tool to use to maximize profits as well as quality.  An increasingly popular form of secret shopping is done over the phone.  This allows one person to shop stores thousands of miles apart within minutes.  This means there is not limit to what a single person can do.

How to get quality work out of your employees has been a question many managers have asked themselves in many different fields.  You can offer them incentives, but why should you have to pay them more to do their job?  Well you won’t have to do that anymore.  Instead of paying extra money to your employee when they do their job correctly, consider sales training and quality control from secret shoppers.

The secret shopping field is growing in popularity thanks to the free exchange of the prices of goods or services.  There are fewer and fewer instances that Americans are going to places because they only have one option.  Since there is so much competition it puts a premium on quality.  Even if you have the quality, you must be able to explain that to a customer over the phone.

Secret shopping will train your employees on how to be a better manager because they never know who they are talking too.  They will always strive to do their best because they know there is a chance they are being graded.  For well less than the cost of a storage unit everyday you could have the piece of mind that your employees are performing to their fullest potential.

Self-Storage-Quote : http://www.Self-storage-quote.com

Summer is coming soon!  The long wait for the snow and ice to melt is over, and the forecast is climbing up in to the eighties.  The long harsh winter has gone and you can now proceed with your summer plans.  It is time to clean out your house and once again reclaim your space!  I know what your thinking... I didnt have anywhere to put those things when I crammed them in my garage, or stuffed it in to my basement last year, but this year is going to be different.  This year you are going to let your local self storage facility expand your home.  You have been inside all winter looking at what a mess your house has become.  Now it is time to take action.

It can be difficult to begin the storage rental process, but luckily your local storage facility is more than willing to help you out.  All of the customer service representatives are fully trained to help you maximize your dollars.  A quality control team uses secret shopping to make certain that the customer experience will be a great one.  Only speak Spanish?  They have Spanish speakers too!  They are very good at determining the size of the unit you will need based off of the information you will give them.  This takes the pain out of trying to decide for yourself what size unit your things will fit in.  This is the only thing that makes it easier, most storage places offer all of the items that you could ever need if you are moving or just getting organized.  With the new wave of high tech security your belongings will be safer than ever.

The best part of storing all of your old junk that you just cannot bring yourself to throw away is that you will free up space and you can finally be comfortable in your home. 

Self-Storage-Lockers : http://www.Self-storage-lockers.com

Many people have given up their parking to store all of their miscellaneous belongings.  Your car deserves its spot back.  There are other options than just letting your car be exposed to the elements all year long.  You can free yourself from all of those seasonal decorations, sports equipment, and all that old stuff that you just cannot bring yourself to throw away.

Selfstorage has become easier and more convenient than ever before.  With one phone call to your local self-storage facility you can have your very own space to store whatever you like.  These days self storage isn’t just a door and a lock.  These days storage units have high tech security, packing supplies, trucks, and many more amenities unique to each location.  You can even use portable self-storage and let the storage come to you!  Can you imagine portable self-storage?  It is a good idea to see what your local storage facility can offer to you.

Clean out all of that old junk and let your car sleep comfortably, after all it is probably one of, if not the biggest, purchase you have made in your life.  Imagine getting into your car in the middle of winter in your climate controlled garage.  That was the plan when you moved in and it is time to reclaim your garage!

Don’t forget that your garage doesn’t have to be the only space you could free up.  Are you sick of having your basement look like a garage sale?  Do those things that you planned on doing, and free yourself of that ugly mess!  Let your local self-storage facility help you achieve your goal!

Carstorageunits : http://www.Carstorageunits.com

Many people that answer phone calls for storage facilities could be helping their company much more than they are.  It is very important to remember that you represent your store every time you answer the phone.  Employees should use their name, as well as ask the customer their name, every time they answer a call.  It is very important to build a rapport with potential customers.  In the storage world most stores will be similar, the prices will be competitive and sizes will be standard.  This places a premium on customer service.  Customers will have many storage facilities to choose from, it is important they choose your store.  A customers needs must be met in order to do business with them.  If employees are not asking the appropriate questions with the right attitude, a customer is likely to take their business somewhere else. 

 Attitude on the phone is so important.  When you are talking to a customer on the phone, keep in mind that customer cannot see you.  The customer cannot tell that there are five people in line waiting for service.  They cannot see anything going on at the store they simply think that if you answered the phone then you have time to talk to them.  When the customer feels rushed they immediately think you don’t want to help them and they interpret it as a bad attitude.

It is also very important to remember that most people do not know what will fit in a 5x15 unit.  In order to ensure that they get the right size for their needs, the manager must ask the right questions.  Asking the questions up front gives the customer more confidence that they will get the size they need and makes it more likely that they will go ahead and rent the unit.

Self storage relies heavily on their phone staff.  If the customers do not like the person they are speaking with, or do not feel like they received the customer service that they wanted, they will rent from someone else.

Selfstoragebin  : http://www.Selfstoragebin.com