Self-Storage Talk http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/ Self-Storage Talk is an online community catering to the needs of self-storage professionals including owners, operators, managers, developers, investors and suppliers. The forum is open to all industry members wishing to ask questions and share information about self-storage management, construction, development, technology, security, financing, real estate, marketing, legal issues, insurance and more. en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:20:24 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/images/styles/RoyalFlush/misc/rss.png Self-Storage Talk http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/ Rant about auctioned units http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/general-storage-chat/7906-rant-about-auctioned-units.html Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:55:50 GMT :confused:We got a call the morning of the last auction that someone would call in a payment at 1:00, auction is at 10:30, (its in the letter, that was "unclaimed") too bad, yep other manager got a call after 1:00 and was told it was gone and they asked if she was kidding, nope!

I got a call today from someone who was auctioned 3 auctions ago wondering if anyone here had his "important" papers, court documents, ss cards, etc. Nope, you picked up what the buyer brought to us and most likely ended up in the dump. He said how do we know it went to the dump, I don't but how do I know it was in his unit? Real simple concept, pay for your %^&* storage and what you put there, stays there.

Funny about the personal affects that are turned in, including cremains, pictures, yearbooks, etc. In over 6 years only 2 or 3 people have picked them up! How can anybody leave poor ole Uncle Bob or whomever in a storage unit to be auctioned off?

People are nuts.

Thanks, I feel so much better now. :) ]]> General Storage Chat Billings Storage http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/general-storage-chat/7906-rant-about-auctioned-units.html Hurricane Season and Forecast 2013- Are you prepared? http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/legal-insurance-issues/7905-hurricane-season-forecast-2013-you-prepared.html Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:49:00 GMT Hurricane season is predicted to be for active than average. If you are an operator with facilities at risk, are you prepared in the event of a strike or brush? http://phys.org/news/2013-06-north-atlantic-hurricane-above-average-season.html Hurricane season is predicted to be for active than average. If you are an operator with facilities at risk, are you prepared in the event of a strike or brush?

http://phys.org/news/2013-06-north-a...ge-season.html ]]> Legal and Insurance Issues Storpro http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/legal-insurance-issues/7905-hurricane-season-forecast-2013-you-prepared.html Hello from Perth Australia http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/newbie-lounge/7904-hello-perth-australia.html Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:05:40 GMT Hi All,

We have been in the storage business in Perth Australia for over 5 years now. We've had plenty of ups and downs but generally in a positive direction.
I am really happy to have found this forum with like minded people.

cheers
Mal ]]> Newbie Lounge Storemal http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/newbie-lounge/7904-hello-perth-australia.html In Memoriam: Robert Bret, Florida Self Storage Association http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/general-storage-chat/7903-memoriam-robert-bret-florida-self-storage-association.html Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:06:56 GMT All of us at Self-Storage Talk and Inside Self-Storage would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the Florida Self Storage Association and the family of Robert Bret who apparently died while vacationing with his family. We do not yet have details regarding what happened. Robert was executive... All of us at Self-Storage Talk and Inside Self-Storage would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the Florida Self Storage Association and the family of Robert Bret who apparently died while vacationing with his family. We do not yet have details regarding what happened. Robert was executive director of the FSSA and recently spoke at the ISS Expo. According to Lewis Pollack, FSSA president, a memorial service will be held on June 27 at 3 p.m. at Christ Fellowship Church, 5343 Northlake Blvd., in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. A reception will follow at the residence of Robert’s sister, Nicole Hardy.

Please feel free to post any thoughts of remembrance and share any memories of Robert in this thread. ]]> General Storage Chat TonyISS http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/general-storage-chat/7903-memoriam-robert-bret-florida-self-storage-association.html Bob Copper Books Now Available in the ISS Store! http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/iss-self-storage-talk-news/7902-bob-copper-books-now-available-iss-store.html Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:55:08 GMT Hey Everyone, I am excited to announce that we now have nine books by Bob Copper available for purchase in the Inside Self-Storage Store. Bob is owner of consulting firm Self Storage 101 and is a popular speaker at ISS tradeshow events and workshops. Among the books available in the ISS Store... Hey Everyone,

I am excited to announce that we now have nine books by Bob Copper available for purchase in the Inside Self-Storage Store. Bob is owner of consulting firm Self Storage 101 and is a popular speaker at ISS tradeshow events and workshops. Among the books available in the ISS Store:

Self Storage Employee Handbook
A compilation of policies, procedures, conditions and expectations to guide employee/employer actions in the operation of a self-storage facility—a code of conduct and information source.

The Self Storage Owner Operator Executive Leadership Guide
This guide contains high-level strategies for increasing the value of a storage asset, covering topics such as hiring, marketing, site "rentability," audits and operational reviews, revenue, expenses and more.

Self Storage Facility Operations Manual
This detailed, comprehensive guide instructs facility owners and managers in how to manage the day-to-day functions of a self-storage facility, from opening and closing the office to everything in between.

Managing a Self Storage Facility - Book and Training Workbook Combo
This discounted combo package includes a book and companion training manual that will help self-storage operators manage their properties effectively and professionally.

In addition, there are books on revenue management, sales, customer service and more. Please click on the individual links above to see full book descriptions or visit the store's Book section to see all of the titles available!

Best,
Tony ]]> ISS and Self-Storage Talk News TonyISS http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/iss-self-storage-talk-news/7902-bob-copper-books-now-available-iss-store.html Newbie from Toronto http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/newbie-lounge/7901-newbie-toronto.html Mon, 17 Jun 2013 06:25:26 GMT Hello everyone, Simply considering what temperature different business storage solutions (http://www.centronstorage.com/locations-features/for-business/) keep their climate regulated buildings???? I keep mine set 56-78 degrees. I know some individuals set theirs 64-78 degrees and others go the... Hello everyone,
Simply considering what temperature different business storage solutions keep their climate regulated buildings???? I keep mine set 56-78 degrees. I know some individuals set theirs 64-78 degrees and others go the distance up to 80 degrees. Kindly gave me a chance to know how yours are, so that I can check whether I have to make a conformity.

Thanks in advance!!!! ]]> Newbie Lounge tonyjacobs703 http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/newbie-lounge/7901-newbie-toronto.html complete car or car parts?? http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/legal-insurance-issues/7900-complete-car-car-parts.html Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:17:38 GMT Hey to all, I have a legal situation going on right now as we sold a storage unit at auction with what appeared to be simply car parts inside. There was a distinguishable body, incomplete frame and a partial motor along with other car parts inside the unit. The tenant was furious because it... Hey to all,

I have a legal situation going on right now as we sold a storage unit at auction with what appeared to be simply car parts inside. There was a distinguishable body, incomplete frame and a partial motor along with other car parts inside the unit. The tenant was furious because it was her brother's car and it had been stored inside the unit for several years without incident. She fell behind on payments to the point where the area mgr. decided to take her account through the proper procedures for North Carolina auctions. My boss said it would be easier to take a loss on this since she now has decided to pursue legal action against us... I feel differently and I'd just like to get a few opinions and/or advice given this situation. When the tenant 1st decided to store with us it was brought in as it was stored (in pieces/parts) and no title was presented at time of check-in. ]]> Legal and Insurance Issues kaitew4 http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/legal-insurance-issues/7900-complete-car-car-parts.html SSA Globe http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7899-ssa-globe.html Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:06:23 GMT I recently recieved June issue of the SSA mag and I love to read all the stories. One of my favorite parts of the magazine is the legal section questions. This month a property manager asked about lien sales and help with transfering a deed for a piece of land. How greedy can a buyer be to... I recently recieved June issue of the SSA mag and I love to read all the stories. One of my favorite parts of the magazine is the legal section questions. This month a property manager asked about lien sales and help with transfering a deed for a piece of land.
How greedy can a buyer be to actually ask if that is even possible?!? I mean the land is not in the unit, just the deed to the land. What makes you think that a piece of paper makes you an owner of something not in a unit?
Just irked me and I needed to vent! LOL


I have never had this happen to me..but has it happened to any of you guys? ]]> Day-to-Day Management unclelourocks http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7899-ssa-globe.html New in NC! :) http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/newbie-lounge/7898-new-nc.html Sat, 15 Jun 2013 14:27:20 GMT Hey to all! This is my first experience with SST and I certainly appreciate all of your combined knowledge and expertise when it comes to everything self storage! I manage a facility in Raleigh/Durham, NC and have been in this position for 5 years! Thank you for being here as this is an awesome... Hey to all! This is my first experience with SST and I certainly appreciate all of your combined knowledge and expertise when it comes to everything self storage!
I manage a facility in Raleigh/Durham, NC and have been in this position for 5 years! Thank you for being here as this is an awesome website and I look forward to
getting to know you all better as well as enjoying the wisdom between everyone! ]]> Newbie Lounge kaitew4 http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/newbie-lounge/7898-new-nc.html Day of shame. I should fire me. http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/legal-insurance-issues/7897-day-shame-i-should-fire-me.html Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:27:48 GMT Finally sat down to start liens on some seriously past due tenants. For some reason we've seen a rush of new customers in the past week and it's time for me to clear out the old deadwood for some brand new deadwood. I completed 23 preliminary lien notices for a total delinquent balance of......

$57,3000.

It's fun to dream that every one will come in and pay their total balance. :rolleyes: ]]> Legal and Insurance Issues Storman http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/legal-insurance-issues/7897-day-shame-i-should-fire-me.html <![CDATA[Here's the Test what would you bid??]]> http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7896-heres-test-what-would-you-bid.html Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:39:20 GMT I'm trying the online route.
Painless so far as I only had to open the unit for the auctioneer to take the pictures.
The bidders can only view on line.
What would you bid seeing these two pictures.
The web site the auction company I'm using has 8 pictures not any better than these two.
I'm Shocked so far two days in and the Bid is $ 605.00
P1030201.jpgP1030197.jpg
Attached Images
]]> Day-to-Day Management Paso one http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7896-heres-test-what-would-you-bid.html Storage Fortune http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/general-storage-chat/7894-storage-fortune.html Fri, 14 Jun 2013 07:11:54 GMT Wouldn't call what I discovered fortune yet profited. I acquired my first storage units in Toronto for $70 and after a ton of hard work I have sold essentially everything for $500. Will attempt to purchase an additional unit this weekend. It is a mess of work however could be gainful. The most work is enduring everything and choosing how to offer it to expand the benefit. ]]> General Storage Chat rickymeyer703 http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/general-storage-chat/7894-storage-fortune.html <![CDATA[PETA Praises Uncle Bob's for Banning Glue Traps]]> http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7893-peta-praises-uncle-bobs-banning-glue-traps.html Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:53 GMT So I posted a story today about PETA giving an award (and “a big box of vegan chocolates shaped like mice”) to Uncle Bob's Self Storage for banning the use of glue traps in its facilities. The back story appears to be that an online petition targeted an Uncle Bob's in Virginia trying to pressure them to stop using glue traps there. Apparently the ban is network wide. It's not every day that PETA targets the self-storage industry, and I suppose Sovran avoided some potential negative publicity from maintstream media, not to mention naked models picketing outside their headquarters. You can read the story here.

Just curious to get your reaction to Sovran's decision to ban the traps. Anybody ever get any pressure from animal-rights activists regarding their pest control? What are your thoughts on glue traps for controlling rodents, pro and con?

Thanks,
Tony ]]> Day-to-Day Management TonyISS http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7893-peta-praises-uncle-bobs-banning-glue-traps.html <![CDATA["Stuff" the show...]]> http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/general-storage-chat/7892-stuff-show.html Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:59:43 GMT Anyone ever heard of it... The introduction page sounds kind of interesting... But I've never heard of it. Just happened to stumble across it.
Stuff: The Show ]]> General Storage Chat Satyra From PhoneSmart http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/general-storage-chat/7892-stuff-show.html Shocking green door story from yesterday, check your doors http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/technology-software-security/7891-shocking-green-door-story-yesterday-check-your-doors.html Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:57:27 GMT I recently picked up a disgruntled customer from the green door facility nearby. She claimed to have been ripped off 3 TIMES during her tenancy there. I couldn't believe it. According to her each time her lock was still on the unit when she opened it to find it ransacked. Not surprisingly, the "insurance" she was forced to buy as part of her rental contract found that she must have been at fault since the unit was locked, and denied her claims.

So recently I delivered my truck to that facility for her to load and move to my facility. The guy she brought to help her move was a nice guy, and he asked me to come look at something. This facility is a concrete shell with metal hallways, partitions and units built 3 stories high within. I had never been inside this particular building. He walked up to the 10x20 unit and asked me if this is supposed to happen... He grabbed the disc lock with his right hand (which locked the hasp in the locked position), put his left hand on the face of the door and pulled/pushed the whole door to the left enough that the lock slide came through the hole in the track on the right and he rolled up the door! The expensive disc lock was still locked into the hasp.

I stood there in disbelief. I inspected the hasp to see if it had been cut to shorten it's throw through the hole, but it looked to be fine. I then looked at the tracks to see if they had been messed with. From what I can tell, this was just a design flaw and lack of maintenance. That maintenance being that the sheet metal screws and members holding the tracks to the metal jamb were just flexed and tired. They were tight, but there was too much flex to the whole assembly. The whole door could probably be moved an inch in either direction. As I walked down that hall, I noticed that every single one of the slide part of the hasps I saw were pushed to the center of the doors as far as the locks would allow, as if someone was trying each door with the push/pull method. Furthermore, I pointed out to my new tenant that the alarm contact on the door didn't meet the alarm contact on the metal arm holding it, it had been bent out of line. I also pointed out that the little wire that was attached to the alarm contact on the door frame had been cut.

I know that many facilities are constructed using these metal pre-fab components. I'm glad that all of my units are studs and sheetrock with 1" lag bolts holding the tracks so they're immovable. If you have a metal building, it might be worth taking a look at the tracks and their installation, maybe even trying this for yourself on an empty unit.

A recent orange door refugee told me that the throw on his hasp had been cut and shortened so that with just a minimal amount of effort a bad guy could slide the hasp 1/4" and get the door to roll up even with the lock still on. His claim was denied too after all of his stuff was stolen, denied because his lock was still on there and they said he must have left it unlocked.

Another story is how I feel about these "insurance" companies.... :(

Edit: I'm confident that I'm preaching to the people that don't need this kind of reminder, it's the managers that turn a blind eye to this stuff that need to be slapped. They're likely not a part of this community on SST. ]]> Technology: Software and Security Storman http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/technology-software-security/7891-shocking-green-door-story-yesterday-check-your-doors.html