We took to the streets and asked past and future renters what they thought of self storage facilities and what some of the worries they have/had while renting. In doing so, we found a wide array of answers and many were claims which didn’t resonate with us. We set out to debunk these claims and came up with a list of the 10 biggest myths in renting a self storage unit.

1. Storage Units are Expensive

   
   Storage units vary in cost anywhere from $5 per month to several hundred dollars per month depending upon the size of the storage unit, location of the storage facility, features and amenities of the storage facility, type of storage unit (climate controlled, RV, Boat, Wine etc) and other factors. If a person is storing expensive jewelry, fine art, paintings or antique furniture, even a few hundred dollars per month is a small expense to keep these heirlooms in your possession.

2. Storage Facilities are Not Safe

   
   Sparefoot CEO, Chuck Gordon, recently stated, “Certainly, crime does occur at self-storage facilities, just as it does anywhere else. However, our analysis of thousands of consumer reviews clearly indicates that self-storage crime is not rampant. By and large, self-storage facilities around the country are safe and secure…..owners and operators spend millions of dollars on safety and security measures like electronic gates, secure building access systems, security cameras, fences, lighting and more.”

3. Storage Facilities are Dirty

   
   Modern storage facilities are very clean as well as sleek looking. They are routinely cleaned and the storage units themselves are cleaned once they are emptied. The older facilities do a good job of keeping their facilities clean in order to keep customers coming back and to compete with the newer facilities. Cleanliness is not a worry at most storage facilities nowadays.

4. I Don’t Need a Storage Unit

   
   While you may not need a storage unit in the way you need food and water, a storage unit is a great option to have. They are an affordable way to keep your beloved possessions while you wait for a new home to be built, work your way through a divorce or downsize in a tough economy.

5. I don’t Need Insurance for My Storage Unit

   
   Storage facilities are generally not responsible for the contents of your unit. It is always a good idea to insure the goods you are intending to store. Storage insurance is almost always available to you at the time you rent your unit. Sometimes the facility collects the premium from you directly. When they do this, they usually have a financial interest in doing so. Before you buy insurance from the manager, check with your own agent, because sometimes your homeowner’s or renter’s policy will cover you for no extra cost. Your home/renters insurance should also cover your stored possessions if you ask your provider. There will most likely be a small additional monthly charge to do so.

6. The Small Print of Your Storage Unit Contract Doesn’t Have any Hidden Surprises

   
   Before signing a contract of any kind be sure to read the fine print. Some companies may try to be deceptive (not storage companies of course) and some will assume you have read the contract. If you are unsure what you are signing, ask the manager to explain it. Sometimes the larger storage REIT’s will have stipulations allowing them to raise your rent after your first month of renting. Read Carefully!

7. The Self Storage Facility Will Not Have Adequate Space for My Vehicle

   
   Storage facilities are no longer metal warehouses. They are state of the art, sleek looking structures. They are painted inside and out to make you feel welcome and safe. Many have coffee/snack bars, free WiFi and helpful managers onsite. They are updated, renovated and modern which makes them appealing for many people. In addition, not only will they be able to store your car in a self storage unit but you can easily drive a car or truck directly up to your storage unit in many cases. The pathways typically wide enough to fit 1-2 cars through to make it easy and convenient for renters to store and retrieve their items.

8. Storage Prices are Fixed and There is No Room for Negotiations

   
   Monthly prices for storage units can generally be negotiated, especially if the storage facility is not full of tenants. Another way to negotiate a storage rate is if you have been at the facility for several months, pay on time and may only be there for a short time longer.

9. A $1 Monthly Unit Charge is a Great Deal

   
   These deals are typically what you see at the major self storage REIT’s. Although a $1 monthly charge may seem like a great deal, they often try to up-sell you with insurance, locks, boxes and other charges you may not need. You may also be required to stay several months as your monthly rent increases from $1 to the normal going rate of the storage unit. Remember, if a deal looks to good to be true, it usually is. Tread Carefully!

10. The Type of Lock You Choose Doesn’t Matter

    
    Most renters are so consumed with finding the best storage unit, at the cheapest price, nearest to their home and then cramming all of their belongings in the unit that they forget about one of the most important factors – a good lock. Next to insurance and security, a good lock is a huge factor in keeping your belongings safely locked in the unit. A good lock will deter potential criminals from entering your storage unit and will keep your possessions safe. There are several types of locks to choose from but your best bet is a disc lock as they are nearly unbreakable and affordable.

Ever wonder what kind of crazy stories self storage mangers have? Think about it…they can meet hundreds of people every week, each who have a different reason why they are storing some of their prized possessions. We asked storage managers to give us straight answers about storage tenant nightmares, exciting tales and what really goes on behind storage doors. These answers could save you, the renter, time and cash. Here is what we came up with:

1. The price of your storage unit was cheaper online.

   

   Many times, self storage facilities will offer discounts for reserving a storage unit online through coupons or third party websites.

2. This storage facility has been burglarized several times in the last year.

   

   Photo courtesy of indyweek.com

   Storage facilities are not immune to burglaries or thefts. In order to avoid a potentially unsafe storage facility ask the storage manager if you can talk to existing customers. Ask what kind of locks the customers use and if there are alarms on each of the storage unit doors.

3. This storage facility is in a terrible neighborhood.

   

   Photo courtesy of anders.com

   If you are new to an area or even on a tight budget, you may end up finding cheap storage units in a not so great area. The facility might offer cheap rates in order to draw in more customers because higher paying customers are in a better neighborhood with less crime and theft.

4. We found a meth lab in that storage unit last month.

   

   There is almost no way to know who or what was in the storage unit prior to you putting your couches and chairs in. The manager may not even know and wouldn’t tell you even if they did. Unless the unit had fire damage or the tenant left items behind you will probably never know who or what was in the unit prior to you.

5. You most likely will not make money on that storage auction.

   

   The word is (mostly) out. Everyone has watched the TV shows and read the articles about ‘Storage Wars’. Most of the items in the storage units are staged and it is very difficult to continuously make money on storage auctions.

6. Your rent will probably increase in 2 months.

   

   Some storage facilities will move you in on a low rate and raise the rent a few months later. Ask the manager how often they raise their rates and how long you are guaranteed this low rate.

7. Our competitor down the street has nicer storage units.

   

   The storage industry didn’t take the hit the rest of America did during the Great Recession but it wasn’t immune either. The storage industry is a fairly tight knit group but sending customers to another storage facility will rarely happen. One customer means, on average, a $800 sale and a 6 month stay. The industry is charitable, but not that charitable.

8. We have free moving trucks.

   

   Some storage facilities will offer rental trucks to customers but most are probably not totally free. You may have to pay for gas, mileage or an hourly rate.

It shouldn’t be a secret that a great self storage lock can keep all of your possessions safe and secure. Most people worry about what type of unit, size, price and amenities are available and dont put much stock in the quality of their storage lock. As many storage managers know, the type of lock a customer has can deter criminals and be the difference in a potential break-in. Customers should take careful consideration when picking between locks and not simply choose the cheapest one available.

Disc locks and cylinder locks are most likely the best locks to use for a self storage unit. Here are some items you DO NOT want to use to lock a storage unit.

1. Twist Ties

   

2. Shoelaces

   

3. The Club

   

4. A Hockey Stick

   

5. A Bike Lock

   

6. Christmas Ribbon

   

7. Rubber Bands

   

8. Duct Tape

   

9. A Fork

   

10. A Chair

    

What do you think? Can you come up with any other poor ways to lock your storage unit? Sound off in the comments!

SelfStorageFinders.com, a comparison shopping experience for the self storage industry, officially launched its much anticipated “SEO Guide For Self Storage Operators” today. Self storage owners and operators can now find all of the SEO information they need in one convenient place.

The comprehensive SEO Guide for Self Storage Operators details nearly every aspect of Search Engine Optimization from start to finish. The guide is easy to understand and follow, and was written to be a complete SEO guide whether you are an SEO pro or novice.

“This could potentially be a game changer for self storage owners looking to do their own SEO,” SelfStorageFInders.com Marketing Executive Brian Barwig said. “More and more advertising and marketing dollars are being shifted from traditional forms of advertising to internet advertising, but some storage owners still don’t understand what they are spending their money on.”

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has many complicated aspects and the SEO Guide is intended to illustrate each area of SEO. Storage owners will be able to learn, understand and analyze their own SEO efforts with help from the Guide.

“With regards to SEO, there is still a large amount of false information floating around in the storage industry,” Barwig said. “We are trying to put the myths to rest, get the facts out there, inform owners how to go about SEO the correct way, and put it all in one place so it is easy to find and comprehend.”

SelfStorageFinders.com lists thousands of storage facilities on their web platform already, so why publish the SEO Guide? “Even though we have a vast web presence, the fact of the matter is we aren’t in every city, nor does every storage facility want to be listed with us,” Barwig said. “We are trying to help every storage facility in the country create a web presence and gain exposure in their towns even if it’s not with us.”

SelfStorageFinders.com lists more than 5,000 storage facilities nationwide and offers an easy to use comparison shopping experience for potential renters. Self storage owners can list their storage facilities on SelfStorageFinders.com at no cost and pay on a cost per reservation model. SelfStorageFinders.com is committed to aiding customers in finding self storage quickly and easily while maximizing return for storage owners. For more information, please visit http://www.selfstoragefinders.com.

Even though the economy is starting to pick back up, times are still tough. The Holidays are upon us and it’s great to spend time with friends and family but let’s face it, the Holidays can be a stressful time as well. Money seems to be flying out the door for gifts, dinners and donations and the in-laws are sure to drive you a little bit crazy.

Self storage is a great way to de-clutter your home around the holidays or hide presents from your kids and significant other. Though self storage units are inexpensive and convenient, they can cause you added stress as well. Here are 8 ways self storage can cause depressive thoughts……

1. Walking into the storage unit reminds you of your prison time and “being in the hole”.
2. Having your $3000 wedding dress ruined while it was in storage would push anyone to the edge.
3. Having to drive your belongings across country in order to take the new job promotion in the big city, with a smaller apartment and higher rent.
4. Going through a divorce and losing half your stuff can’t be easy.
5. Ruining your 500 bottle wine collection by forgetting to put it in climate controlled storage units.
6. The thought of having to pay your storage unit bill on time each month or risk all of your possessions being auctioned off in front of millions of people on ‘Storage Wars’.
7. Keeping your storage unit meth lab secret from everyone is a difficult task.
8. Having to store your TV, stereo and surround sound system from your newly renovated man cave in order to turn it into a bedroom for your mother in law who now needs a place to stay would drive anyone nuts.

Self storage facilities are everywhere. They are easy and hassle free to rent and are non-threatening (ignore the ‘Self Storage’ horror flick coming out soon) which makes them an easy sell for date night.

1. Take her to your climate controlled wine storage unit for a romantic evening. The temperature is right, the wine is aged and sparks are sure to fly!
2. Hop in your boat stored at the storage facility and feel the cool breeze. Disregard the fact that you won’t actually be on the water. Instead, imagine what it would feel like to be zooming through the waves with the sun beating down on you.
3. With self storage, you now have a place to stash all of your comic books, Dungeon and Dragons and Magic cards so she won’t find them. It worked for Andy Stitzer in the ’40 Year Old Virgin’.
4. Chances are, your storage unit has less mice and roaches than your nasty apartment. Get away from the mess, mice and clutter and step into a night of romance at your clean, organized storage unit.
5. With some planning, the storage unit can be turned into a dance studio, bar or movie theater.

What do you think…any other ways self storage can help you get a date? Sound off in the comments!

Free-Press-Release.com– Apr 14, 2010 — Self Storage Finders, an online self storage directory, announced today the addition of Optivest Properties and Alpine Self Storage to its growing directory. Both companies will now be featuring their storage facilities before tens of thousands of potential customers who search Self Storage Finders each month.

Optivest Properties offers third party management services to over 35 storage facilities in 6 states. They bring a wealth of knowledge, leadership and influence to the Self Storage Finders platform. Optivest has 37 listings on the directory and has chosen a direct link from Self Storage Finders to each of their facility pages. One example can be seen by searching Dallas self storage.

Alpine Self Storage operates 16 facilities in 5 different states, including storage in Florida, Texas, Utah, Ohio and Louisiana. A simple search for Lake Worth self storageis an example. Currently, they have 16 listings where potential renters can view facility information such as amenities, descriptions, pictures, specials, unit sizes, office hours and even visit the facility website.

Marketing Director Brian Barwig stated, “We are excited to have Optivest and Alpine Self Storage on our directory. Both of these companies are leaders in the storage industry and have taken steps forward by listing on our website and continuing to be innovators.” The added presence of these Preferred Members will not only enhance the Self Storage Finders website and brand name but also improve user experience and value.

Selfstoragefinders.com is committed to aiding customers in finding self storage locations quickly and easily by providing storage unit locations and contact information for facilities around the country. Prospective tenants can search through the Preferred Member listings and Neighboring Member listings on the site to find the best personal fit. The company offers unique opportunities to storage owners in addition to prospective renters. Selfstoragefinders.com generates exposure for its Preferred Members by offering premier visibility on major search engines connecting prospective renters to self storage owners.

Shawnee, KS, February 17, 2010 –(PR.com)– Self Storage Finders, an online self storage directory, is proud to announce the launch of a new and much anticipated website redesign. The new design is a key factor in order to establish brand awareness, provide clarity of communication and foster business to business marketing and lead generation.

The website incorporates sleeker design architecture with clean, aesthetic lines optimizing the overall consumer experience. The simple and clean site design is part of the company’s mission to continuously meet the needs of its Members and potential renters by providing improved navigation, better organization of content, interactive communication functions, user friendliness and current website technology.

The website redesign is one of several tactics Self Storage Finders has incorporated into their integrated marketing campaign. “We are happy to unveil our new website redesign. Being able to stay current on technology advances is a priority for us. As an innovator in the online storage industry, we must give the customer and client a positive user experience. We are confident the new redesign will achieve this objective,” said Brian Barwig, Marketing Director of Self Storage Finders.

“I am very pleased with the new site,” says Barwig. “It is not only aesthetically pleasing but it also has enhanced load speeds and design flexibility.” He adds the site will continue to grow as Self Storage Finders does saying, “We are constantly evolving and adapting while encouraging our Members to be vocal about what they like and do not like about the website.”

Enhancements have also been made to the sites general website directory and blog organization.

They continue to strive for excellence and have designed the site to be a primary source of storage information on the internet – a one-stop resource for potential renters.

All of the updates allow users to more easily find the information they are searching for, in the most logical places, and to support them in their research, evaluation and selection of a storage unit. The redesign will continue to contribute to the value Self Storage Finders customers and Members receive through the company. The redesign is another step in efforts to continually enhance user and Member experiences, as well as to deliver additional functions and features.

The website was redesigned by Fox Web Creations, a Kansas City based company servicing various businesses in several industries.

SpareFoot, the online self-storage marketplace and industry solution provider, announced it now boasts the largest advertising network in the industry—larger than all of its competitors’ combined (Compete.com, March 2011). This benchmark follows SpareFoot’s recent agreement to power SelfStorageFinders.com.

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Shawnee, KS, August 26, 2010 –(PR.com)– After reviewing the results of a successful three month trial on the Self Storage Finders directory, Simply Self Storage requested to become a Preferred Member with the company. Simply Self Storage operates self storage facilities in 16 states and Puerto Rico and is the sixth biggest operator of storage facilities in the United States. Christina Furnia, Director of Marketing, states, “We joined SelfStorageFinders.com because they offer a great online presence and get us great exposure as they continue to increase their SEO efforts. Their internet presence, web interface and price point were major attractions for us.”

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