Hi
Is road frontage really necessary - I've seen many units that are very secluded - you wouldn't know they were there unless you searched for them. I have enough road frontage to do a driveway and a large sign to advertise. I'm thinking that seclusion would be positive as long as there is good security. What do you think?
Thanks!

Hi Michael & welcome to the forum!

Speaking from someone who has worked for several facilities that had no street front visibility, I can tell you it's a hard road to hoe from the marketing aspect.

As you point out though, if you are off the beaten path a bit, the nuisance crimes like graffiti and other issues are almost non-existent.

Given my druthers, I'd rather have frontage road and signage visibility. Despite massive, intensive marketing here for over a dozen years, it still hurts a little when in our town of 38,000 someone walks in and says "I never knew this place was back here." Ouch! I always wonder what rock they've been hiding under that they didn't know we're here.

Thankfully that happens with less frequency now than in years past, but it is a battle you'll have to face if you tuck in and hide away. At least put up a great sign so you have a marker to send people towards. Anyway, this is just one opinion, you're sure to receive others. Good luck with the project!

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Gina 6k
CochraneStorage dot com
Morgan Hill, California
twitter.com/CochraneStorage

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!
I am not an attorney, just an experienced manager who is willing to share what I have learned. Your thoughts, practices or opinions may vary and neither of us may be right.

I agree with Gina.

We have a large mural painted along the entire length of one of our buildings. It is visibile from the freeway on-ramp. In case folks have forgotten our name, they do remember the mural. "Oh, you're the place with that big nice mural." And yes, indeed, we are.

My very first property, back in the orange door days, was in Elmhurst, Il., along side I-290. Only problem, was, you can't get there from here. You had to find the right exit, not our street, come back to a particular restaurant, go around behind it, and then find the driveway.

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Bob Taylor (Astro)
Blue Ridge Self Storage
Cashiers, NC

Disclaimer: What Gina said....'cause the the cheese fell of my cracker.

if they can't see you, they can't find you. Being visible, which usually means being easy to get to, matters in a world filled with infinite choices for just about everything.

To get to 'me' you have to go around and pass another facility, I can't imagine how many we lose that way. We are in a residential area and I am starting to take 'phone calls' the other way to visit us and it seems to be helping.

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No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

We have a lot of road frontage, sort of.... we are set back from the road and have about 2 acres of open field out front.

The majority of our tenants are from drive by.

As some others have stated - if they can't see you they can't find you.


geraldine1051 -- are you just off the 405? I think I've been past your facility.

Astro -- we have an orange door just like that here in Palmdale --you can see it from the freeway, but you can't get to it

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Wayne
Jamestown, ND


All arguments can be resolved ... with high explosives and Humor!!!

Wayne we are very similar! We sit back with a big field in front of us too. Our facility is built on a hillside though, so we are very visible from the road. I have had people stop in just because they were driving down the road and they either saw our RV Lot or Penske Trucks or the units.....

I do agree that visibility is a must! How many potential customers would you lose if they never see you.

And ELPHA I love it that you are sending people another way to get to you!! Very Smart Girl!!

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By permission from Auto Doc

All arguments can be resolved ... with high explosives and Humor!!!

Hey Autodoc, not me. You have to keep traveling north, north and more north on the 101 to the junction of 255. Come on up!

I agree yes it is a big issue... if the doors aren't visible from the street, people don't recall that you are there. Since location is a major deciding factor in where to rent, it's really important.

A tall sign or tower on the building might help serve as a landmark if it's allowed in the area...

Steve