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Security and data privacy in self-storage is a huge concern
We hear about it a lot in the news these days, data breaches and hackers trying to get our personal data—especially credit card info. Does your facility have a plan in place if you get hacked? Has it ever happened to you?
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Climate control and humidity control
It's getting hot this summer, and humid too :) Does your facility offer dehumidifiers as well as climate control? Many customers store items sensitive to humidity, like art, electronics, and maybe books or wine, do they ask about humidity control at all? What do you charge for that?
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Abandon Vehicles
Does anyone know how to fill out the Ohio BMV forms 1173 & 4202?
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Do you update your Google maps street view?
Customers looking for self-storage may use Google Maps to find your location, plus they can get a nice visual by zooming in and getting the Street View. I've done this, and it's a surprise when you drop the "pegman" and see...snow on the ground? (it's summer), or piles of dirt and a building under construction (but the…
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Marquee Ideas
I'm always looking for new and clever ideas related to storage for my marquee. I also use these to make social media posts. Any new ideas out there?
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Does text messaging help reduce past dues?
Maybe tenants are more likely to respond to a text message than a notice in the mail. Does messaging get results faster than email, phone calls or snail mail? Tell us your past-due strategy!
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Commercials for Self Storage Facilities?
I know I've seen some Public Storage commercials occasionally when I'm not too busy fast forwarding past commercials but has anyone else used this method of advertising and found it to be good/bad? I just spoke with a local rep of the media company here and this is my first time to hear pricing but it sounds like a pretty…
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5 Reasons to Automate Your Collection's Process
Past due rent can quickly become a self storage operator’s achilles heel. Consider that the average facility manager with 75 overdue tenants: Makes 50 phone calls Leaves 31 voicemails Finds 5 disconnected numbers Speaks to 14 people live Receives 4 promises to pay Spends on average 3.5 hours a week “dialing for dollars” in…
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Website overhaul—is it worth the investment?
Our sales team gets this question from customers, so I thought I'd ask for everyone's input... "Is a website overhaul a good place to put advertising dollars? Did the added expense paid off in more rentals?" Add your comments about this important topic...
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Firing a manager
How often have you fired a manager? What were the reasons, and how did you go about doing it?
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They pay their rent but could have a meth lab. What should a storage operator do?
Exploding Methamphetamine lab sparked storage unit fire in Summit Township http://fav-meth-head-of-the-day.com/2017/02/21/exploding-methamphetamine-lab-sparked-storage-unit-fire-in-summit-township/
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Pests and Pests and Pests
We in the storage biz know a lot about pests. Whether it's bugs, vermin, or that one annoying tenant. Today I was cleaning our gutters and when I reached the top of the ladder I was surprised to be face to face with multiple hornets nests! So I grabbed my pest spray and went to war! I felt like King Kong when he was atop…
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Abandon Vehicles
We are a storage facility in Berea Ohio and I am trying to figure out exactly what forms that need to filed at the Ohio BMV and how to fill them out correctly
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Maintaining a Waiting List with Inquiries/Reservations?
How do you utilize Inquiries/Reservations as a waiting list?
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Chip Cards: Everything you need to know
If you're looking for more info on chip cards (EMV), how they work, requirements, etc., check out this excellent forum category: SiteLink Merchant Services EMV FAQs There you'll find answers to questions like "How does EMV technology benefit merchants?", "How are EMV transactions different?", and much more. Feel free to…
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When you're not the only shop in town, how do you beat the competition?
Tell us what grabs the attention of the drive-by customer—maybe it's signage, spotlights, landscaping, or something else...
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Landscaping and curb appeal—how important is it?
Do you spend tons of time or money making the outside of your facility gorgeous? Or maybe you have awesome signage that customers love. Pictures welcome!
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What sources do you use to find new properties to purchase?
If you've ever been in the market for a new store, tell us how you found it!
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Which accounting software do you use?
What do you like—or dislike—about your accounting software? Have you tried different ones?
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Trade shows: Are they worth it?
Maybe you're a regular at every self-storage trade show, or maybe you avoid them completely...
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Robots in Self-Storage?
https://vimeo.com/212129319 Robotics is finding its way into every industry. Self storage included. Like all industries where this is happening, I think the best approach is to hone your human skills as much as you can. Do what robots can't do, then you probably won't be replaced by one. What do you think? Can your site be…
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Renting to rockers: Is your facility band-friendly?
Some say it's an ideal rehearsal space... http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/rock-locker-how-your-band-can-use-a-storage-unit-to-rehearse.html Has this ever come up at your site?
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Motorcycles willed to wife but my assistant put the storage unit in husbands name
Can anyone tell me the rules about married couples and whose name should be on the lease? As the discussion title explains, a couple came in with 2 motorcycles to store. My assistant put the unit in the husbands name but the mc's were willed to the wife. Do I need to put her name on the lease instead? I'm only concerned if…
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Do you know how fast the self-storage industry is growing?
Who would have thought selling 10x10 foot spaces would be so profitable but once was an untold story and industry that hardly anyone was talking about, is now an upcoming and profitable industry to invest in. The first quarter 2016 data shows that non-climate controlled properties saw rent growth of 3.9 percent, ahead of…
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California Customer Record's Law and Receipts
California Civil Code section 1798.80-1798.84 talks about what is considered personal information. A tenant's address is on the list of personal information to be protected. A lot of payment receipts that are generated by Self Storage software have the tenant's home address on there. Anyone making a payment on the account…
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Enough is enough! I'm calling the cops if...
Irate customers, illegal activities...when is it time to call the police?
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Employee theft: Has it happened to you?
Over 37% of employee theft is committed by a manager. The average time fraud lasts before being detected is 2 years. Men steal from employers more than women. Seems like it's a big problem in general, how about in self-storage? Click here to read all eye-opening stats!
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Review of Lease Agreements
I don't know if this question is allowed. I am looking for a new company or firm to review our rental agreements out here in California. Does anybody know of any good ones to look into? Thanks in advance!
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MAY 2017 POLL: How often do you run a promotion?
This poll is now closed.
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NSF Checks in Sitelink
I had a tenant with a bounced check. When I went in to the NSF reversal screen to input this as an NSF check it let me click on a check from 2011 and do the payment reversal on that check. When I realized what I had done I went into the correct payment and did the same thing and then went into the customer payment screen…