Self-Storage Talk - Day-to-Day Management http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/ All things relating to the day-to-day management of self-storage facilities: customer service, sales, taking payments, policies and procedures, site maintenance and more. en Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:21:39 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/images/styles/RoyalFlush/misc/rss.png Self-Storage Talk - Day-to-Day Management http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/ Business Tenants http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7909-business-tenants.html Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:23:27 GMT Does your facility rent to business owners? If you market specifically to this group, what avenues have been successful for your facility? What services do you offer business tenants: faxing services, flexible gate access, conference rooms or Wi-Fi? Is this customer base easier, harder or the... Does your facility rent to business owners? If you market specifically to this group, what avenues have been successful for your facility? What services do you offer business tenants: faxing services, flexible gate access, conference rooms or Wi-Fi?

Is this customer base easier, harder or the about the same as residential tenants? ]]> Day-to-Day Management acampbell http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7909-business-tenants.html Discounts for pre-payment http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7908-discounts-pre-payment.html Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:49:19 GMT We offer 2.5% discount if tenants pay for three months at time, and 5% discount if they pay for 6 months at a time. Do other operators do this? It's nice to get the money up-front but I don't want to give unnecessary discounts. ]]> Day-to-Day Management Peterbynoe http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7908-discounts-pre-payment.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 <![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
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]]> Day-to-Day Management Paso one http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7896-heres-test-what-would-you-bid.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 StorSmart Tenant Insurance http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7890-storsmart-tenant-insurance.html Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:34:43 GMT Does anyone use StorSmart and if so how is it working? We are switching over soon from Bader and would like to find out more from real world users. Does anyone use StorSmart and if so how is it working? We are switching over soon from Bader and would like to find out more from real world users. ]]> Day-to-Day Management Advantage IT http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7890-storsmart-tenant-insurance.html Have you used or heard about TXT Collector? http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7887-have-you-used-heard-about-txt-collector.html Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:17:01 GMT I came across this service called TXT Collector that integrates with SiteLink to send reminders and notices via text messages to customers who have an overdue balance. It seems like it could be a great tool. Is anyone using this? or have you heard anything about it? I came across this service called TXT Collector that integrates with SiteLink to send reminders and notices via text messages to customers who have an overdue balance. It seems like it could be a great tool. Is anyone using this? or have you heard anything about it? ]]> Day-to-Day Management NoNonsense http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7887-have-you-used-heard-about-txt-collector.html Online Auction Website http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7886-online-auction-website.html Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:13:31 GMT Hi everyone,

I have been contacted by Bid 13, an online auction website that seems to be specializing in self storage. Judging by what they currently have up, they seem to be located in the Toronto area. I'm wondering if anyone has either used them, or another similar website to conduct auctions.

Cam you provide me with feedback on how it went? Did you see an increase on what you got for units? ]]> Day-to-Day Management mseguin http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7886-online-auction-website.html Searching for an Auctioneer http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7880-searching-auctioneer.html Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:54:37 GMT So, I have spent a leisurely afternoon perusing the Ohio Revised Code as it pertains to self storage liens. Surprisingly I am not cross eyed. :rolleyes: Anyhoo, the current owners have had this property for 3 years and have not had to do any auctions. Until now. We have 3 10X20s that it... So, I have spent a leisurely afternoon perusing the Ohio Revised Code as it pertains to self storage liens. Surprisingly I am not cross eyed. :rolleyes:

Anyhoo, the current owners have had this property for 3 years and have not had to do any auctions. Until now. We have 3 10X20s that it looks like we are going to have to auction. I have been given the task of figuring out the procedure for this. This is my first time managing or even working at a storage facility. I was in law enforcement for 6 years so I understand the legalities and what I have to do as far as notification, etc. However, I have no clue where to start to find an auctioneer. How do you guys choose your auctioneers? I've been looking at the local auctions on auctionzip.com and checking out the different auctioneers listed there, but what should I be looking for? What qualities do you look for?

TIA,
Christie
Taylor Road Storage
Reynoldsburg, OH ]]> Day-to-Day Management SouthCarolinaTiger http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7880-searching-auctioneer.html Charging rent after publication http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7879-charging-rent-after-publication.html Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:19:40 GMT What is everyone's thoughts on charging a customer rent and late fees even after they've been published? Do you think that we should continue to charge them up until the date of auction or not? ]]> Day-to-Day Management mylee http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7879-charging-rent-after-publication.html Looking for day to day schedule http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7876-looking-day-day-schedule.html Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:42:48 GMT Hi everyone, I'm wondering if anyone uses a day to schedule or log and what is in each? I've toyed with the idea but haven't really nailed either down yet. I feel like it would be a good idea but unsure how to make it work?? Any suggestions would be GREAT!!!! ]]> Day-to-Day Management MotherHen http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7876-looking-day-day-schedule.html <![CDATA[Using Sentinel Systems' Winsen vs. Quickbooks for invoicing]]> http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7872-using-sentinel-systems-winsen-vs-quickbooks-invoicing.html Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:35:57 GMT Currently we use Sentinel's Winsen for access control to our facilities. We use QuickBooks for invoicing our tenants because we have used this for other businesses in the past, so it is out of habit. What this means is that we have to manually prepare notice letters and manually add late payment fees and generate invoices. Does anyone have any experience using Sentinel's Quickbooks interface? Should we start using Winsen to create invoices and transfer the data to Quickbooks by using the interface? Any opinions? ]]> Day-to-Day Management Peterbynoe http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7872-using-sentinel-systems-winsen-vs-quickbooks-invoicing.html <![CDATA[Auctioning someone who doesn't have a lease?]]> http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7868-auctioning-someone-who-doesnt-have-lease.html Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:22:25 GMT Hello all! I just basically had a general question. I am a property manager for Valley Storage in Hagerstown MD.

In Maryland we certify after 30 days of being late and then auction them 30 after that, so basically a 60 day process. I have a tenant who's paid to date is 11/30/2012. I had certified her in January for the February auction and then realized there wasn't a lease in her file. :mad: So I start going through all the tenant's files looking for it, can't find it anywhere. then I pull all the end of month reports for the last few years and my assistant and I search for her lease, with no luck. So I finally after 4 months of trying to reach this person get ahold of her (she has relocated to TX) We work out a payment arrangement that she will pay a large amount on April 1st. I tell her that I am going to mail her a payment plan form that she needs to sign and an updated lease that I need signed and sent back. April 1st comes and goes, no payment or paperwork. I leave many messages. 3 weeks later, she calls after hours and says that she just mailed the paperwork and that now she can't pay until May 1st. So i am anxiously awaiting the mail to come, so I can have the lease to sell her if need be. NOTHING!!! Called, called, called again. She said that she forgot to mail it and will put it in the mail. I told her that I need that paperwork to be able to take any sort of partial payment from her, she undertands, yada yada. She will get it send out. Then on May 22nd, she called and said she can't pay till June 1st. WHAT DO I DO? I have no leverage to hold on this woman, because I have no lease. It is now June 5th and I'm sure you all could have guessed.... NO PAYMENT OR PAPERWORK!!! I am so upset about this because my a/r's are now through the roof because this ladies rent is $178.00 per month so you can imagine how much her bill is at this point.

So does anybody know if there is anyway that you can sell a unit at auction without a lease on file?

Please Help!! :) ]]> Day-to-Day Management smilburn24 http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7868-auctioning-someone-who-doesnt-have-lease.html Customer Compliments http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7866-customer-compliments.html Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:55:42 GMT We sometimes get fixated on some of the negative things that occur at self-storage facilities, so here is something I'd be interested in learning more about from our managers. What's the nicest compliment (or act of kindness) you've ever received from a customer about you, your customer service or your facility in general? ]]> Day-to-Day Management TonyISS http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7866-customer-compliments.html Summer Specials http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7864-summer-specials.html Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:34:57 GMT So who's offering summer specials, what are you offering and how are you marketing it? ]]> Day-to-Day Management acampbell http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/day-day-management/7864-summer-specials.html