There's no such thing as a stupid question...…...or is there ???

MrFugate

I had a lady cone in to rent a 10x10 unit the other day for a neighbor she just met that day. The neighbor was getting kick out of her house & the lady was "Doing the right thing" by helping her out,( Her words not mine). My property like most others in our are has gate access from 6am-9pm. the lady asked if there was any way to get 24 hour access so they could stay in the unit for a night or 2 . The quick answers -NO & NO that's against the property rules & unsafe.  I bit later she tells another customer that she is a real estate broker & I think to myself I bet you have a few houses that are empty that they could stay in for a night or 2.  

Drew_Scadoo

Omg reading that just made my day!!

Shawnab8

Some people! 

dbudgen

I agree, if she's a good agent she should have a house or 2 they can stay in.

JamesStorage

Sounds a bit like the phone call I had where a prospective customer asked if we allowed appliances (a stove and fridge) in the unit. I told him he can store what he wants so long as it follows property guidelines. He then proceeded to clarify that he meant to use. 

I had to explain to him that sleeping in a storage unit was illegal (in my state) and unsafe to boot. He tried to argue that he was renting it, so he could technically do what he wanted. I pointed out to him that he was still bound to follow the rules of our rental agreement, just like he would be with any apartment, and that it specifically sates no sleeping in units. He finally gave up after that.  

Mind Boggling!

MrFugate

My other favorite question pertains to parking spaces. At my property we require proof of ownership ( A copy of the title in your name ) , Current Res. Current Ins.& the car must be drivable. We do not rent if you do not have those things & A Bill of sale is a no go as well .

" The truck belongs to my buddy, he got it from a guy in another state & never got a title, the motor is out of it as well, Can I still rent a parking space for it ?? I'll pay extra if I need to . "

JamesStorage

@MrFugate That sounds like what I like to call small town syndrome. Basically everyone in a small town is so used to just making deals with each other on stuff they get totally blind-sided when someone is strictly by the book. I have never had issues like this in a big city.

MrFugate

JamesStorage said:

@MrFugate That sounds like what I like to call small town syndrome. Basically everyone in a small town is so used to just making deals with each other on stuff they get totally blind-sided when someone is strictly by the book. I have never had issues like this in a big city.

Ya, there are parts of Houston like that.

Pat

We also require proof of ownership for all vehicles stored. Last week man came in with an apparently rarely used motorhome - said Yeah, I got all the right papers - last registered in Indiana 11 years ago, "friend" wrote out the bill of sale, besides the missing windows and compartment doors. Guess he was riding around til he found some one that would take it in.  We are in Houston also.

Orkocean

Thankfully when we ran a site in Pasadena we were the high end facility in town. We'd get the occasional riff raff trying to rent but we stayed full enough that we were more than happy to miss out on a rental if it meant less headaches for the staff and facility.

MegumiM

WOW! People actually tell you that they need it to live a unit? People are sneakier about it around here. We had a lady that we evicted a few years ago because we caught her changing in the unit with the door wide open. Later we found out she was a prostitute and was working out of her unit. What makes it even grosser is it was just a conventional unit. 

Orkocean

Hah reminds me of one my original company had in ft lauderdale. It was right down the street from a strip club that dennis rodman was a regular at, but from the stories I was told of the place back in the day it was common place to see girls in their work attire walking guys to units. Lock cuts found a mini amateur porn studio setup at one point it seems as it was a bedroom setup with cameras on tripods. 

JamesStorage

@MegumiM To be fair, he admitted that to me all on his own. Most of them aren't that honest/dumb. But every once in a while we have someone who comes in and just flat out admits it. I have yet to have to deal with any one from prostitution circles, but I've dealt with one guy who was determined to store his ammunition and (full) propane canisters in an outdoor unit in 100+ degree weather...

jhopkins6977

I once heard an NCO in the Army ask a guy, How many waters in that water can? I can only assume he meant gallons.

CVSSSTORAGE

We had a guy ask if he could live in his RV on site. I told him no and he got so upset, I said if something were to happen to you, an ambulance or fire couldn't get in here. 

JamesStorage

The common theme I'm getting from this thread is "You miss every shot you don't take"

teamcapitola

Anytime we get the dreaded "I'm a real estate broker who wants to pay for a month of storage for my client"

 it ALWAYS translates to "I'm evicting these people because I sold the house they were renting...they have nowhere to go & no money, so I'm paying for storage (they cant afford) just so they will leave the property"

And in 50% of those cases, someone tries to sleep in the unit within the first week!

Never have had someone straight up tell me they were renting the unit to live in though! although the flags are:

"is there power in the unit?"

"Do you have 24hour access"

"tell me about your security procedures"

"Can I see your restrooms"

JamesStorage

@teamcapitola Your icon profile pic matches the theme of your comment lol. I feel like I'm the only one who's never encountered that particular issue. I usually get the drug addicts. We caught someone hotboxing the other day.

teamcapitola

My profile pic is my 15 month old son Asher....he inherited his fathers cynicism & sarcastic looks.

AnitaJohnson1269

So, Do I get the $25 credit for referring myself? 

CVSSSTORAGE

@AnitaJohnson1269
 if I had a dollar for every time I heard that one lol. 

Riverbird

I tell everyone, Use of Space is for storage only.  No meetings, band practice or living in.

MrFugate

Riverbird said:

I tell everyone, Use of Space is for storage only.  No meetings, band practice or living in.

What about a Mime troop practice ? 

MrFugate

Pat said:

We also require proof of ownership for all vehicles stored. Last week man came in with an apparently rarely used motorhome - said Yeah, I got all the right papers - last registered in Indiana 11 years ago, "friend" wrote out the bill of sale, besides the missing windows and compartment doors. Guess he was riding around til he found some one that would take it in.  We are in Houston also.

I send people like that to Public Storage.. lol