People often complain about the cost of boat storage.  I keep thinking to myself, "well you were obviously able to afford the boat..." whenever I hear their initial reaction to the price.  I have, however, spoken with some intelligent people who were considering purchasing a boat.  These people are smart enough to research all of the costs involled before jumping into the purchase.  These people also know that if they cannot budget all of the costs involved, then they probably should not be purchasing a boat in the first place.

I have decided it would be a good idea to come up with some basic criteria for people considering a boat purchase:

1) Before purchasing a boat you should already own or consider purchasing a high-powered truck with a good trailer hitch.

2) Before purchasing a boat you should already own or consider purchasing a home with a very large 2-car garage or large drive-in storage shed.

If you cannot meet the above conditions, then here are some things to keep in mind:

1) You probably should not be buying a boat.  If you are stil thinking about doing it anyway, then add approximately $3,000 per year to store in in an outside parking space, and $6,000 per year to store your boat inside of a storage room. Happy fishing!

Self storage comparison  : http://www.Selfstoragecomparison.info

Whenever an assumption becomes a habit it can affect your sales approach.  Most of the time, when I talk to someone inquiring about a storage unit for the first time, I assume that person is only interested in finding a cheap storage space.  This assumption is very wrong.

Today I spoke with a man who was storing some personal items that belong to a friend of his.  That friend was terminally ill and was given 6 months to live.  The man told me that his friend had asked him to make sure that the personal items in his home were taken care of so they would not be lost.  The man also told me that he liked our location, but would need a truck or move-in service.  I told the gentleman that we did not offer a truck service, but we had much lower prices for our units than the competition.  So the man went ahead and reserved a storage space with us.

To my surprise, the same gentleman called back in a couple of hours to cancel his reservation.  When I asked him why he wished to cancel, he informed me that he had found another company (not as conveniently located and much more expensive) that would pack up the boxes he wished to store, deliver them to their facility, and even place them into a unit for him.  The gentleman told me that it was worth it to him because he was not ready to face the emotional impact of having to pack up and store his best friend's personal belongings.  Once I understood his circumstance, I understood his need.  Cheaper isn't always better.

Self storage complaints  : http://www.selfstoragecomplaints.org

The most incredible mini storage invention of all time is the zip lock type sandwich bag.  These bags are great for keeping your important belongings (your driver's license, wallet, your lunch and almost anything you dont want wet!) from certain peril and destruction when you are on a float trip.  They are also very good for filling with ice to place on bruises, headaches, and sunburns after the float trip.

Speaking of mini storge, I often wonder who thought of the fanny pack?  Although they were pretty hip when they first came out, they now irritate me.  Can't you just put your stuff in a zip lock baggie and tape it to your body?  It would be so much less distracting.  Women's purses, however, can look very fashionable.  That is why I found it to be so hilarious when those big "clear" tote bags came in to fashion.  The clear bags are nothing more than giant zip lock baggies with straps.  Come on!  Who are the women's handbag designers trying to fool?

Zip lock baggies have evolved from mini storage solutions into mega-must-have necessities.  There are now bags big enough to hide all of your good bathroom towels, good comforters, and good linens from visiting in-laws all in one place.

Self storage shed   : http://www.Selfstorageshed.com

As the recent victim of a home invasion, I began taking steps to think about my home security.  It never dawned on me that anyone would want to break intom y home until someone actually did.  Aperson's home, I thought, was the secure storage area for all of their worlldly possessions.  If I lived in a really rich neighborhood, then I would have taken greater care to secure my home from potential invaders.  What I learned is that no matter where you live, someone may decide to invade your sanctity.

The first thing I noticed, when I took a look around my home, was that there were not a lot of lights around at night.  The very next morning, I went to my local hardware store and bought several different types of outdoor solar lighting.  After reading the directions, and properly installing all of the lighting, my home now looks like a landing area for an alien battleship.  The point being: now we can see you!!!

Hopefully my home can be that secure storage area I always dreamed of.  My neighbors commented on how much they actually liked the way it looked so they went out and bought some of the same lighting for their own home.  The best part of all is that I'm not paying any extra on my electric bill because I'm "bringing the light to the night"!

self storage complaint  : http://www.selfstoragecomplaint.org

It seems like my entire neighborhood goes throught the same routine every weekend.  Fridays everyone likes to barbeque, spend time with the family, and enjoy the outdoors.  Saturdays, however, are the major yard cleanup days.  I swear, the entire neightborhood is mowing their lawns, weeding thier gardens, and trimming their trees.  Me, on the other hand, I would much prefer to let the trees grow, the weeds grow, and the grass grow. Unfortunately, the city does not like it if you do that.

I have been a homeowner for 6 years and I have a very small garage.  Once you start accumulating the necessary equipment for keeping up with the joneses you realize that some type of outdoor storage shed is a must.  Honestly, as a single mother, I know more about lawn mowers, weed eaters, leaf bloweres, step ladders, rakes, hedge trimmers, shovels, and weed control agents than the people who mow my neighbor's yard.  When I couldn't fit my car in the garage anymore, I gave in and bought a small outdoor storage shed.

Now I spend more time in and out of my shed on Saturdays than I do in my own home.  I keep thinking how much I wish it was winter, but the snow shovel, the salt, the de-icer, and the sand are all in the shed too.

Car storage units : http://www.Carstorageunit.com

The new mobile or portable storage containers are a really convenient way to pack you home into your driveway, but I think the industry needs an upgrade.  What would be really nice is if they can find a way to upgrade the unit to include an awning that rolls out from the container straight to your garage or front door entry way.  Then you could stay dry (or out of the hot sun) while you load.

Another excellent upgrade would be to install an air conditioning unit in the container itself.  What if it's 100 degrees outside and you're trying to pack your 3 bedroom home into an 8x20 container?  First of all, we amateurs woud have to really think about how to make that challenge possible.  Secondly, we might die of heat stroke in the process.  If not an air conditioner, then what about a portable swamp cooler to help keep us cool?

Finally, we would really like to see some color!  Why is it that we are forced to pay for this big ugly container that looks like someone dropped off a dumpster in our driveway?  Certainly even the neighbors would appreciate something a little more attractive.  I don't know who to talk to in the portable storage marketing world, but it is time to make the convenience of mobile storage into more of a luxury. 

Self storage clip  : http://www.Selfstorageclip.com

Not that I am one of the greatest self organizer in the world, but what is it about teenage girls that I am missing as a parent?  My daughter has a knack for finding whatever it is she is looking for in a pile of hazardous material she calls a bedroom.  How she is able to do so is still a matter of complete mystery to me.  I walked into her room last week and stepped on a CD cover that was under a shirt on the floor ans I was severely chastised for the error.

Apparently I am not alone in this delemma.  There were 3 people I spoke with recently who are having the same problem with their teenage daughters.  Call me silly, but everyone always told me that boys were the messy ones.  My teenage son (her older brother) is the complete opposite.  I have determined, therefore, that the cause of this chaotic excuse for a bedroom was achieved through no parental misconduct of my own.

I had also determined that the best way to alleviate these issures would be to simply cut down her clothing items to 1 of each item she needed to get through the week.  When I presented this new theory to my daughter she demanded clarification.  I said, "We'll cut down t 1 coat, 1 sweater, 1 hooded sweatshirt, etc. until you can get organized."  She said, "Okay!  I need 1 black coat, 1 brown coat, 1 long coat, 1 short coat..."  Teenagers!

Self storage bin  : http://www.Selfstoragebin.com

A lot of people want the kind of storage room that you can drive right up to, put your belongings in, lock up, and drive away.  What some people don't know is that it is often possible to save a little money by considering indoor storage.  Especially in the big cities, where it is common to see multi-levelstorage facilities, that the drive-up-accessible unit type may actually cost you a lot more money.

Unless you are a vendor of some kind, most people really don't need a drive-up-accessible unit.  Ordinary people choosing this unit type are doing so because it is the most convenient.  Storage companies know this and will often increase the price of their drive-up-accessible units in comparison to the same unit size inside of thier building. Indoor storage can also be better for your contents, as they will be less exposed to the outside elements.

What I think is really crazy is that nobody seriously wants to store their household furniture in their own garage, so what makes a drive-up-accessible unit so great at a storage facility?  If we all make the effort to bring our furniture indide our own home, why not consider the same effort inside of a storage building? If you can make it inside building, ask about lower rates on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

self-storage complaint  : http://www.selfstoragecomplaint.com

Long distance movers have it all figured out compared to the local moving companies (who move your belongings from one side of town to the other) who obviously don't have a clue.  Why would you want to spend an eight hour day packing boxes, loading them in the truck, wrapping furniture, loading it in the truck, then driving it all a few miles accross town only to unload it again?  Wouldn't it be smarter to pack boxes, load them in the truck, pack the furniture, load it in the truck, and then go for a nice long drive?  Long distance movers get paid for the time they are driving, the gas or mileage they drive, and the physical labor.  It makes much more sense to me to have a very large break in between loading and unloading, while still getting paid.

If I were to start a moving company, I would specialize in a long-distance moving service that owned the largest number of earth-friendly trucks.  Are they even making earth friendly semi trucks yet?  What a great way to capture the business of all of the "green" people, help the earth, and still get paid to go on a long drive.  Does anyone want to parner with me?

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

I went without power in my home for a few days recently.  The loss of electricity taught me the value of my refrigerator.  A refrigerator and the accompanying freezer is nothing but a climate controlled storage container in your home. However, you do not necessarily appreciate the value of that climate controlled storage container until you don't have it anymore.

First I had to take out everything that was perishable (90% of the contents) and find a place to put them.  Thank goodness I had gone on a five day float trip earlier in the year and was able to put most of the contents into the two large food coolers I had purchased for the trip.  That's when it dawned on me that my coolers were portable storage, and they were climate controlled storage.  The colers, however, were not as good at regulating temperature (compared to my fefrigerator and freezer).  Most of my frozen stuff began thawing in just a couple of days.

I am glad that I don't have any leathre, antiques, or oil-based paintings in my home.  My air conditioner wasn't working either.  Not to mention the water heater.  Cold showers and warm food are no fun.

Self-storage unit locations  : http://www.Self-storage-unit-locations.com

Wouldn't it be hard to be one of the furniture movers?  It ahs to be a difficult job.  Moving has never been a good time for me in my life just because you have to put so much work into it.  First you have to buy a bunch of boxes, pack everything into the boxes, rent a truck, load the truck, drive the truck, unload the truck, and unpack all of the boxes.  Movers have to do all of that stuff everyday (except for unpacking the boxes) and I can't see how they don't go insane.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a lazy person.  I have moved on my own at least 13 times.  What really gets horrible is that the older you get, the more junk you own. My last move was 6 years ago and I had to haul all of my furniture & boxes up a flight of steps.  Some of that furniture included 3 sofas and a very big heavy desk that my dad built.

By the end of the day I was SO exhausted, I swore that I would NEVER move again.  Of course, now I understand why so many people retire and buy RV's.  You can move your own stuff anywhere and everywhere you decide to go without all the hassle.

Self-storage room   : http://www.Selfstorageroom.com

The car accident my son and I were involved in was pretty traumatic.  The lady that hit our vehicle had hit us so hard it totaled his vehicle.  While all of the ambulances and firemen were running around trying to help us (we were both injured), neither one of us thought about what was going to happen to the car.  Obviously it was blocking traffic, so we knew it would be towed somewhere.  We found out the next day that my son's vehicle was eventurally towed by a local towing company to a facility that was less than five miles from the site of the accident.

Although we both recieved injuries from the accident, we knew we needed to get the car out of the towing company's auto storage yard right away.  The reason for this was the dollar amount they wanted to charge us was unbelievable.  Apparently because either one or both parties involved in an accident have insurance, towing companies like to charge an exorbitant amount of money for car storage.  It is bad enough to face lost pay from being unable to work, but to learn what these towing companies charge is overwhelming.  What if we had been at fault in this accident and were injured?  How many days would we have had to pay the  $74 a day they charged us?

I wonder if anyone in the storage indurstry has thought about this?

Self-storage comparison  : http://www.Selfstoragecomparison.net

Every Holiday Season we hear more and more people are going to their computers to shop before braving the crowded stores.  This internet shopping behavior is on the rise throughout the year as well.  More and more people every day are researching or inquiring about a product online before ever picking up the phone or walking into a store.  If you ask, about 1/3 of todays Storage Inquiries say the heard about the company online. 

Modern day bloggers, texters, and emailers have turned out to be the answer to the Phone Book.  This new group lets their fingers do the talking (not the walking).  This means there are about 1 in 3 customers looking for their storage facility online.  If your company has not taken key steps to make yourself visible to 30% of your potential clients, then it is time to take a step forward into the year 2000.

There are a lot of companies online that can help you create, build, and place your website in the fingers of the modern day shopper.  Before choosing one to help, explore their history and talk to some of their clients.  If you're reading this blog, then you understand that fingers really can talk.   Give your store a chance to talk back!  You don't even need the most complex site in the world, just a simple "hello" will due.

Self-storageunit provider   : http://www.Selfstorageunitprovider.com

This is to the tune of  "You Never Even Called Me By My Name"

Well, I was stumped the day my stuff was on the doorstep.  Any the movers won't pick up in the rain.  But before I could get it all loaded in my pickup truck,  I got a flat tire and I had no spare. So I gave a call to StorageMart around the corner.  And they rented me a truck that same day.  You don't have to call me Darlin, Darlin!  Cause StorageMart took care of me anyway.

Well I called around to a few places in the PhoneBook.  And nobody seemed to have a decent space.  But StorageMart saved me money with a discount.   AND You never even called me by my name.

So I drove my U-Haul to StorageMart around the corner.  And I put my stuff in storage that same day.  You don't have to call me Darlin, Darlin.  Cause StorageMart's taking care of me today!

Well I got my stuff in storage before sunset.  And I saw you pass by their store that very day.  But StorageMart has a locked gate and video cameras.  AND you never got on the property to call me names.  SO I'll hang around as long as they will let me, and I never minded standing in the rain.  And you don't have to call me Darlin, Darlin!  Cause StorageMart has my stuff with them today.

Self-storage bin  : http://www.Selfstoragebin.com

Long term renters are storage companies dreams.  These renters are like lifetime members of a fraternal organizeation; they made their choice based on price, convenience, amenities, and personal interaction.  Some facilities offer incentives to this golden group in the hopes of roping them in.  Here are some of the options your facility may consider offering to appeal to the long term renter:

1) Prepay Discounts: If your property is not offering some kind of prepay discount, you're missing out.   Many people considering long term storage have set asside funds to accomodate the expense.  Most storage companies offer 6-month to 1-year prepay discounts.  Find out what your company can afford to offer to anyone willing to pay in advance.

2) Waive the Administrative Fee:  If your potential long term client tells you they like your location and your current special, but won't commit because of the price, then offer to waive the administrative fee.  Sometimes just this little bonus gesture will sway them your way.

3) Payment Options:  If your company only offers the traditional means of payment, it's time to upgrade.  Long-term customers need the ability to pay by auto-draft from their debit or credit cards as well as the opportunity to pay their bill online.  Make it convenient for them to pay their monthly rent.

Whatever the strategy, find out how you can get more of "the elite" long timers in your corral!

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

The average storage facility manager can spend a lot of their day on the phone.  With both incoming calls from storage inquiries as well as the outgoing calls to follow-up, the minutes could add up fast.  With today's Call Center options, managers have been given the opportunity to spend more time taking care of customers at the counter while someone else takes care of their incoming calls.

Any decent Call Center can provide a storage facility mananger with a number of leads containing detailed informantion.  Most of these leads tell the manager who it was that called, what was discussed, and how to reach that person back directly.   What separates the professional manager from the amateur, are the ones that call those leads back immediately.  A quick follow-up response from the site manager simply augments the opportunity to get that customer in to rent.

Call Centers can provide a great sales staff to go over the basic information, amenities, prices, and specials of any property.  However, only managers on site can provide detailed information, offer alternate specials or discounts, and answer any specific questions that caller may have.  Any manager who currently follows up with their Call Center leads will tell you how much it increases their opportunity to reserve and rent a unit to that caller.  Who would want to pass up that chance?

Car storage units : http://www.Carstorageunits.com