Approximate sizes

[Manager_1986]

Just got a call from a woman who stores at another facility of ours. She wanted to speak to an owner, and I always get those calls because it seems people "know" company headquarters is above my office, even though we don't advertise it. Lol.

Apparently, she has rented a 20x8, and is pissed because she measured it and it is only an 18x8. I tried to explain to her that sizes are approximate and are only to label the units. She argued that it doesn't say that in the contract. I read the contract verbatim where it says that and told her where to look to find it.

She threatened to take us to court over it, so I referred her to the part of the contract that discusses disputes, and what happens if we go to court.

I was really nice to her the whole time, and I let her know that I would relay the message, but could not guarantee that she would get a call back because she needs to discuss this with the managers. She is expecting some sort of credit or discount, because she rented a "20x8" unit and says it is "18x8". That is not going to happen.

Our contract states: "The size of the storage space is approximate, and for identification as to type of unit only."

One thing that does bug me and brought me here is, she stated she could understand if it was "approximate" and only off by a couple inches, but (as she claims) it is a couple feet. Is it common for approximate sizes to be off by as much as a couple feet? Lol.

[The MCMS]

Re: Approximate sizes

A few inches, I think is reasonable, but 2 feet is a lot of approximate. I would want to measure a similar bay, in the same building, if one is open, or have her take her tape measure, and 'show me'.
We once had a fellow come in as the ink was drying on the contract, and said the bay is not 10 ft deep, as stated in the 10 X 10 price sheet. I agreed, it was 9'10" of actual storage space, but 10 foot to the edge of the concrete lip. He wanted 10 feet, no ifs, ands or butts. I reminded him that when he buys his first real house, that the size of rooms is from the center of the walls. When he continued his hissy fit, I took his copy of the contract, tore it up, gave him back his check, and said goodby. The suit thingy was uttered, and I told him 'have a nice day', go see your attorney, or maybe visit the other storage place in town. Grief avoided, IMO.

[Guest]

Re: Approximate sizes

Ask any of them if they have bought a 2"x4" stud recently. It is called a 2x4 but is 1 1/2" x 3 1/2". I have never seen a lease that didn't say approximate sizing. Don't like it, then leave and rip up the lease like The MCMS did. Square footage in apartments and houses are either from center of wall to center of wall or in some cases from outside of wall to outside of wall. When asked that I tell a tenant that the slab starts out at say a 10x10 but by the time you add wall thickness, wall studs, roller guides for the roll up door, the door itself rolled up inside the top of unit and any wall that is a cinder block, will all take up space and that is why the unit is advertised as "approximate." A lot of facilities have 8' ceilings and if I go by that then I tell the tenant that I am not charging extra for my 10'+ ceilings in my unit and that makes up for any wall sizing discrepancies. I started here in sept. 2013 and have not lost a single tenant because of that.

[Manager_1986]

Re: Approximate sizes

I think I will request that the managers of that facility double check. When she said that, I kind of agreed with her (though I couldn't tell her that).

I don't understand why she doesn't just leave if she isn't happy. Why call wanting to speak to the owner and get a discount?? Why threaten to sue? We definitely aren't the cheapest facility/facilities in town, that's for sure. I have a Public Storage right next door that is way cheaper than I am. LOL.

No one is tying her hands and making her store with us.

I just don't understand some people.

[RandyL]

Re: Approximate sizes

Our units are measured based on the size of the slab the building was built on so each unit is a couple inches short of the described unit size due the door sitting in about couple inches from the outside of the slab.

We don't have units that are 2' off though, that is a pretty significant size difference. As the above poster stated I would go and measure the unit with the tenant to check out her claims

[Guest]

Re: Approximate sizes

I think I will request that the managers of that facility double check. When she said that, I kind of agreed with her (though I couldn't tell her that).

I don't understand why she doesn't just leave if she isn't happy. Why call wanting to speak to the owner and get a discount?? Why threaten to sue? We definitely aren't the cheapest facility/facilities in town, that's for sure. I have a Public Storage right next door that is way cheaper than I am. LOL.

No one is tying her hands and making her store with us.

I just don't understand some people.

KOlney, some people just wake up and that is their day to b**** about something, no matter what. They go around all day feeling slighted if something as simple as holding a door open for them does not happen. That lady will be a thorn in the side of the facility manager, mark my word, if she stays. That episode about sizing will come up at any time there is a late fee, can't get to unit after gate hours, someone else is parked in front of her unit when they are at their unit, facility toilet low on paper towels....I mean anything!

[Manager_1986]

Re: Approximate sizes

Ask any of them if they have bought a 2"x4" stud recently. It is called a 2x4 but is 1 1/2" x 3 1/2". I have never seen a lease that didn't say approximate sizing. Don't like it, then leave and rip up the lease like The MCMS did. Square footage in apartments and houses are either from center of wall to center of wall or in some cases from outside of wall to outside of wall. When asked that I tell a tenant that the slab starts out at say a 10x10 but by the time you add wall thickness, wall studs, roller guides for the roll up door, the door itself rolled up inside the top of unit and any wall that is a cinder block, will all take up space and that is why the unit is advertised as "approximate." A lot of facilities have 8' ceilings and if I go by that then I tell the tenant that I am not charging extra for my 10'+ ceilings in my unit and that makes up for any wall sizing discrepancies. I started here in sept. 2013 and have not lost a single tenant because of that.

I started March 2013 and this is the first I've had this complaint. It isn't my facility, it's our other local facility. I am always very clear when I go over the contract with my occupants that sizes are approximate. I have yet to have anyone question it over here.

[Manager_1986]

Re: Approximate sizes

KOlney, some people just wake up and that is their day to b**** about something, no matter what. They go around all day feeling slighted if something as simple as holding a door open for them does not happen. That lady will be a thorn in the side of the facility manager, mark my word, if she stays. That episode about sizing will come up at any time there is a late fee, can't get to unit after gate hours, someone else is parked in front of her unit when they are at their unit, facility toilet low on paper towels....I mean anything!

That's for sure. Lol! We just got rid of our truck rental option so we are no longer open 7 days a week (both facilities). One customer (over there) had the nerve to pitch a fit because she won't be able to use the restroom on Sunday's.

Wonder if it was the same lady...haha.

I think I will also tell them to consider telling her to leave, because you are absolutely right. Terminate the agreement, per contract, and leave. I have yet to kick anyone out, but I have refused to rent to people who were previous occupants that went to auction.

It really seems they get all the "crazies" over there....

[Kirkus]

Re: Approximate sizes

We have a statement on our addendum that reads: "All unit sizes are approximate and for comparison use only. They are not guaranteed to be exact measurements."

But here we're talking inches. I think advertising a 18'x8' as 20'x8' is overreaching the approximate size thing. I mean that's 16 square feet she thought she was getting.

We did some remodeling awhile back, dividing several large units in smaller ones. Because of support beams and they way the remodel had to be done, in one building I have 2-8x15s and 2-11x15s, rather than 4-10x15s. I guess we could have identified them all as 10x15s but some customers would have received an extra 45 square feet for the same price.

Just my opinion, but I think several inches is OK. Several feet? Not so much.

[mmidgley]

Re: Approximate sizes

i would double check.. ours are off by at most 4-5 inches... and those are the few extreme units we have here.

2 feet is a joke to me (if i was a tenant) and would not pay rates based on that. I dont know if i would approach it like she did, but i definitely would expect some sort of discount if i was going to stay... or would move into another unit that was closer to the proper size

[Guest]

Re: Approximate sizes

What height ceiling is being approximated with all these references to everyone's units and their approximate sizing? I don't know about you but units are tall as well as width and length. If the tenant wants to bring in a tape measure, no problem. If they also want to negotiate a discounted price if the approximate size difference is too much, then I got no problem with that. I also have the right to say no and that tenant does also. But as soon as disparaging words get thrown about and threats to sue and whatever, they can go as far as I am concerned. I negotiate with sensible people, not demanding people.

[MamaDuke]

Re: Approximate sizes

Last month we had a lawsuit at our other facility. The woman was a longtime customer. Years ago, the size was written on the contract. (Now, just the unit number!) Her unit size was written to be about 300 sq ft (not my property, so I don't remember exactly), and was priced according to that. She actually had about 450 sq ft, so got about 150 free every month for about 10 years. But she was irate when she measured at move-out and found it to be different than the contract. Yes, she really did take us to court over it!

She lost...

[Guest]

Re: Approximate sizes

She was getting more square footage and still sued. That right there is a very prime example of someone trying to get free money. The entitlement era and then some. "You have more than I have and I want and deserve it so I am suing you." I hope she had no kids to pass such great parenting skills along to.

[WSSMonroe]

Re: Approximate sizes

Approximate is 9' 9" for a 10' dimension. NOT 18' on a 20' claim. Your dimensions are sloppy and probably from taking over an existing facility and the sizes never checked or confirmed. I doubt the owner was doing anything intentional but would be best to fix known problems.

[MyStorageOps]

Re: Approximate sizes

You are 10% off size wise. It's a hard pill to swallow but my guess is you would lose in court.

I would agree with a lot on people here. My rule of thumb, a 6" rule. If it's over 6" it gets rounded up. Under and it's down. Since 97% of my units are indeed over 6" from approximate size is rounded up. I do have a few units due to the fire walls that are rounded down giving me some odd sizes. As our managing partner said, "can you still rent them." Yes I can and they rent just as well.

Pac has an excellent point. We don't advertly advertise height but they are all 10' tall, 2' taller then all but one competitor and still a 1' taller then that one. When making the sales pitch I try to throw that in. It's an excellent thing to keep in mind.