Business & Records Storage

How Self Storage Can Benefit Realtors, Home Stagers and Movers:

Statistics show a well staged and clutter-free home spends 50% less time on the market. Self storage offers a great place to store extra belongings while homes are on the market. Our affordable storage options coupled with our month-to-month leasing policy means there are no long-term commitments. Our customers only pay for the space that they need and only for as long as they need it. Here are some expert tips on how self storage can be used to help stage a home:

• Store extra pieces of furniture and knick-knacks so rooms appear larger
• Store bulky pet items and furniture to alleviate apprehension from not-so-pet-friendly prospective home buyers
• Clear out or better organize a cluttered garage or basement to show off all that extra square footage to potential buyers
• Help prospective buyers visualize a house as their home by storing a lot of personal belongings, such as personal artwork, photographs and other items that may only appeal to a specific type of person
• A clutter-free home will stand out (in a good way) against other local homes for sale. If a home is well presented then there is an increased chance that the owners will achieve the optimum sale price. Statistics show that a well staged home sells for at least 7% more than a comparable non-staged home

Moving can be a difficult adventure for your clients, but self storage can help ease the transition by providing a safe and convenient place to temporarily store items. Our affordable storage options coupled with our month-to-month leasing means there are no long-term commitments so they only pay for the space that they need and only for as long as they need it. Ask a location near you about our real estate agent referral program! We offer realtors discounts that can be passed on to their clients! Some practical ways realtors can advise their clients to use storage to ease their moving experience:

• Make a home sparkle and look the best it can by using storage to help in staging a home while it’s on the market. (See information above for more information on using storage while staging)
• Store items safely while waiting for a home to be built or sold
• Get a jump start on packing – box it up and get it out of the way
• Sometimes there is not enough room for all of your clients items in their new home, or their old couch that fit perfectly in their old basement, just doesn’t quite fit the same in their new one. Offer self storage as a suitable option as opposed to throwing away expensive furniture

Storage for Pharmaceutical, Medical and Sales Personnel

Our self storage facilities offer a convenient location for pharmaceutical sales reps to store inventory, receive shipments, store drug samples, literature and marketing items close to their clients’ offices. Pharmaceutical sales reps may wish to consider the following when choosing a self storage facility:

• Location – by choosing a facility in close proximity to a reps sales territory the rep and their company can save valuable work time by keeping the pharmaceutical rep out in the field, face to face with clients as opposed to worrying about small logistical details.
• Climate controlled space - is essential to prevent damage to pharmaceutical samples caused by extreme temperature fluctuations.
• Security features – providing a safe environment for the sales representatives that store with us is critical. Our security features include 24-hour video recording, perimeter fencing, on-site management, keypad access and other site specific security measures to ensure you and your goods are secure.
• Access – our facilities and units are clean, well-lit and offer flexible access hours so that pharmaceutical representatives can access their units when convenient for them. Our facilities also offer free use of hand trucks and hand carts to assist sales reps with moving goods to and from their units.
• Deliveries – our facility staff will receive and temporarily store packages for pharmaceutical reps and other sales personnel. With documented permission our staff can even place received packages inside of a unit on behalf of our customers.

Storage for Medical, Legal, Dental Offices/Personnel and Financial Data

Self storage units provide a convenient way to store corporate documentation, but keeping these records secure requires a careful approach. Most of our facilities offer the following features for your benefit. Contact the individual facility or review the property information online for site-specific features: Our Security Features

• Our facilities offer access 7 days a week and are open early in the morning until late in the evening so you can access your items anytime that you need them. Some facilities can even arrange for extended access hours on an as needed basis
• Our gated keypad entry systems track incoming and outgoing traffic
• Most of our facilities have perimeter fencing around the entire facility
• Our facilities offer 24 hour video recording and are well illuminated
• Some of our facilities have on-site manager(s) for additional supervision
• Most of our offices are alarmed and well secured
• Our climate controlled units (available at most facilities) are important for loss prevention; central air and heat maintain a temperature between 55 and 80 degrees, protecting paper and media against damage from extreme temperatures and humidity
• Some units are individually alarmed

Proper Packing of Documentation and Data

• Make multiple backups of all stored documents and keep them in a separate location
• Consider using locked containers such as file cabinets or fire safes
• Use airtight packaging to prevent mildew or water damage
• Consider storing all documentation on password-protected CD or DVD; anti-static packaging for videotapes, DVDs and CDs is recommended to prevent data loss
• Use racking systems or pallets to keep boxes off floor and organized
• Cover boxes with a tarp
• Fill boxes, even if just with packing material – loosely packed materials can shift during transport and lifting; do not use newspaper, as the print can transferuse only white news print (sold in stores.)
• Packed boxes should weigh no more than 30-50 lbs. for safe lifting
• Pack for longer than you plan to store – just in case
• When packing files, place binders in between groupings to lend sturdiness
• Label boxes clearly and carefully with waterproof labels / markers
• Stack boxes with oldest information at the bottom in the back

Storage for Contractors, Landscapers, Plumbers and Electricians

Self storage facilities offer the perfect solution for landscapers and contractors. Our top-notch security features will ensure that the expensive equipment, tools and vehicles associated with both occupations is kept safe. Our facilities allow access seven days a week, and many offer 24-hour access as needed, so no matter when the job starts or when it ends, you and your employees will have access to your storage space.

• Safely store all of your equipment including mowers, snow blowers, leaf blowers etc.
• Securely store expensive tools, ladders and work vehicles
• Store client invoices, and company records
• Save costs by keeping excess job site materials for later use, such as lumber, glass, or other scraps
• Store inventory
• Create a small office to process paperwork, create and respond to bids etc.
• Create a mini-warehouse

Storage for Retail, Restaurants and Night Clubs

Every square inch of your business should be used to make a profit. All business owners could profit more by using self storage to store supplies, seasonal décor, inventory or unused marketing materials. In most cases, self storage space will cost less per square foot than the same space in your restaurant or store. Plus it provides a convenient way to stock up on inventory and stay organized when storage space is limited. Keep these guidelines in mind when planning to use self storage for your business:

• Your schedule may require access to your unit at unusual times such as early morning or late night. Talk with your storage facility manager about typical keypad entry access times, or if necessary, special arrangements. Some of our facilities allow 24-hour access.
• Security at a self storage facility may exceed what you have in your store or restaurant. Keypad access, security cameras, perimeter fencing and on-site management are common security measures in facilities.
• Arranging for deliveries to be accepted by the facility manager is another cost-saving benefit to self storage.
• If you plan to store items that are sensitive to extreme heat or cold, or plan to visit your unit regularly for lengthy periods of time, be sure to check if the facility offers climate- controlled space. This may cost a bit more, but ensures the temperature within your storage space stays within a more comfortable 55-80 degrees.

• Estimate size based on long-term use (most people end up storing more for longer periods than they originally planned).
• If you have multiple locations for your business, multiple, smaller storage units can be more convenient than one large unit. Some units may be used for longer-term storage, while others used primarily for inventory and delivery.
• The location of the unit within the facility can make a difference if you are loading and unloading heavy or awkward objects. A unit near on the ground floor, near an elevator or close to the entrance may cost a little more, but can save a lot of effort.
• Drive-up or outside storage space is useful for parking delivery vans, lawn care trailers and equipment, and other business-related vehicles.
• Storage of non-perishable items such as canned foods or wines is permitted, but perishable items can attract unwanted pests so storing them is generally prohibited.
• Selling directly from a self-storage unit is not permitted.