OMG - - LIVING in a 10x10 for 5 years!!! I am surprised the city lets them get away with that! That is disgusting!! I bet they don't pay over minimum wage either!

I also think I know which area of Phoenix you are talking about (used to live there) I would not put up with that! I would be beefing up security or looking for a new job! too dangerous for me!

I like living on-site and giving my tenants the satisfaction of knowing that everything that can be done is being done to keep their stuff safe.

Our owners pay us a fair wage and treat us like equals and allow us the freedom to handle things as we see fit.

Living in a unit and calling it a resident manager -- (shaking his head and walking away) ,,, that is just WRONG!!!!

I have to agree with Storage Security. We live on site, and our closest competitor (a few blocks east of us on the same street) does not have on-site management, plus they are closed on Sunday. It's easy to tell prospective tenants that from 6pm on Saturday evening to 9 am on Monday morning, there is no one in a position of authority on that property. We also have individually alarmed units and they don't. We are 99% occupied, and after 14 months, they are less then 20% occupied. I think the numbers speak for themselves.

There is also another storage facility about 4 blocks away and around the corner from us. They had 3 break-ins over the last year that we know about. Again, no alarms and no resident managers. My opinion is that if someone is of the mind to break into storage, they would pick the facilities with the least amount of oversight. Why would you try to burglarize a facility with alarms and managers on site most of the time, when there are easier pickings to be had?

As StorageSecurity said, I am also a lot more picky about where I would store my stuff if I ever needed to, and also advise my grown sons what to look for when they need storage in their areas.

Here's our salary info.
$30,000+
No Health Insurance. Instead we give $100 medical stipend/month
Free Dental Insurance Provided
1 week vacation per year worked (no more than 3 weeks)
Monthly bonuses avg. $300 (there is not limit on how much you can earn/month)
Christmas bonus: $100 cash/year worked + $100 gift card + 1 weeks pay THIS ROCKS!
On-site apartment optional - None of our 6 employees live in one - we rent them out to other people.
Most of our managers have worked with us 5+ years. We are a newer company started about 12 years ago. We have 6 stores with little turnover. Our owners are very good to us. If you run your facility very well and continue to increase net income each year, there is minimal micromanaging.

__________________
Danielle

I really like the company we work for, they seem like nice people, the pay could be better, but not bad for missouri, comes with nice 2 bedroom apt, only when I was hired they said it was a team thing but only one of us is on the paperwork and the salary is only for one person. I do get paid vacation, but I really wish they offered health insurance. I guess since this is my first position in this industry, I really do not have a lot of experience, I do know that the people we replaced were horrible, people hated them. The owners seem so pleased with our work so far. This is facility has over a 1000 units so it requires a lot of attention, maybe someday I will find a great one to work for but til then I will just get better at this since we have only been here 6 months, I learn a lot each day.

May I ask a question? Just how many of you are working at this facility? I hope that it's just one of you, since only one of you are on the payroll, being covered by worker's comp, etc.

Surely you or your spouse isn't working "for free"?

There are some sad tales here. Its not all Wine and Roses down under but its not as bad.

Most owners know they have to pay the right money so they just can't get anyone to work.

The best tip I can give to any manager or staff person out there is to know your systems, software and procedures well.

That will make you a more valuable commodity over the next guy who cant be bothered learning the systems.

In my experience as a GM of a group, owner and vendor its these staff that stand out as the ones worth the most as they are the ones that can deliver.

yes, it is actually, just me working here. My husband helps me out by doing the mowing and a few odd jobs so I do not have to do it all myself, but I do everything else, I work a lot of hours. I really like this position, I used to work the 8 til whenever job that I has to fight traffic to get to every day, not to mention the office politics.. I don't think I want to go back to that world so I guess I have to make a few exceptions. I am the type of person who strives on hectic work aholic schedules, and I like not having someone tell me when and how to do it, my owners know that if it needs done, I have probably already done it. I love waking up and walking into my office and having my coffee and breakfast when ever I choose. My owner drives thru about once a week or so, only has praise for how things look. Never seems to have any other request or complaints. Maybe some day I will wise up but for now, I am happy being here.

That to me is the most important thing that anyone could say.

Some people are driven by money, some are driven by power and others are driven by happiness!

I am from the last group -- I have had power (offered a VP position once - turned it down!), I have had money (made more in one year then some make in 10 years) and then I have worked here!

It's sad to say that it took me all these years to finally find a position where I could be happy and not care about my position or if I make more then the guy down the street.

Am I happy working here - YES. Could I make more money elsewhere - yes (been offered many positions in other states) - will I ever leave here - only if I win the Lottery and buy my yacht.

Just my .02c

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Wayne
All American Self Storage
Palmdale, CA.
webmaster@all-americanselfstorage.com

The best way to make sure everybody wins is to put a mediocre hourly rate attached to an amazing bonus opportunity. This makes their actual pay in direct proportion to their performance. This way, they make more money when YOU make more money. You want to have a incentive driven employee anyway. We don't need another self storage baby sitter. We need motivated go-getters that understand that they can make their pay whatever they want it, and both of you can laugh all the way to the bank!