Inside Self-Storage

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Georgia Governor Signs New Lien Law

Earlier this month Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law Senate Bill 61, an amended self-storage lien-law bill that updates the state’s ...read more

Safety Hazards and Bodily Injuries

As one of their many tasks, self-storage operators must guard against accidents that can occur on the property to tenants, visitors and staff. ...read more

The Danger of One Bad Apple

Commonly used self-storage terms like “free” or “secure” may seem innocent, but all it takes is one bad apple—a disgruntled customer with an ax to ...read more

Do You Keep a ‘Do Not Rent To' List?

See what Self-Storage Talk members have to say about keeping a "do not rent to" list of problem past tenants, the criteria used to make the list and ...read more

Maximizing Your Sales Program DVD and Workbook

In this powerful training session, you'll discover better ways to educate customers about storage, set yourself apart from competition, generate more ...read more

Latest Headlines

The Internet and Records Management

Think back to the 1960s. Computer salesman H. Ross Perot formed a computer company called Electronic Data Systems; Polaroid introduced color-film prints that developed in 60 seconds, manual typewriters were still in use, people listened to vinyl records ... Much has changed ...More
May 1, 2003 Scott Bidwell
Posted in Articles, Technology
On Loyalty and Perserverence

On Loyalty and Perserverence DEAR INSIDE SELF-STORAGE, Besides being a great manager, Sherry is also a gifted cook. The tenants know every holiday she will whip up batches of brownies, breads and cookies. Former tenants still stop by for coffee and cookies and to visit ...More
May 1, 2003 Bill Howard
Posted in Articles
Price and Yield Differences

One of the misunderstood characteristics in commercial records management is the difference between price per unit and yield per unit of storage. This article discusses the difference and how to improve yield. In the business of commercial records management, a contract is ...More
May 1, 2003 Cary F. McGovern
Posted in Articles
technoware

I was discussing this issue with my art director, when I confided I was having difficulty writing this month's letter. "There's just so little I can say about software and technology that hasn't already been said a hundred times. This topic does not inspire me!" She ...More
May 1, 2003 Teri L. Lanza
Posted in Articles, Technology
Using Software to Enhance Customer Service

Storage operators put their management software to good use by tracking payments, improving collections and managing many other primary business functions. But management programs also offer increasing opportunities to mine customer information for more personal and prompt ...More
May 1, 2003 Markus Hecker
Posted in Articles, Technology
Recognizing and Reducing Slips and Falls

Self-storage owners should be concerned with recognizing and reducing liability exposures. One of the largest types of claims seen among insurance companies is the ever-popular slip-and-fall injury. Judges are cracking down on storage owners who allow dangerous conditions ...More
May 1, 2003 Amy Brown
Posted in Articles
Nuwanda

I didn't attend a posh preparatory school like the Welton Academy featured in the 1989 film classic Dead Poets Society. And, granted, I graduated 30 years later than the film-set year 1959. Even still, who didn't feel inspired--and just a wee bit melancholy and maudlin--by ...More
April 1, 2003 Teri L. Lanza
Posted in Articles
Self-Storage Technology: Advancements Over the Pond

I love change. I live for it. And I've always been at the front of the queue when it comes to embracing the opportunities created by the organism we call the World Wide Web.I'm on the technology bandwagon in this issue. Three years ago, as a director of the Self Storage ...More
April 1, 2003 Andrew Donaldson
Posted in Articles, Technology
The Software-Survival Toolbox

It's a fact: Computer hard drives fail without warning, viruses destroy company records, and unauthorized eyes try to spy on your business. How can you safeguard your valuable files and optimize computer performance? By using a simple collection of indispensable software ...More
April 1, 2003 Doug Carner
Posted in Articles, Technology
Call-Center Update

The first call center designed to support independent self-storage properties was created two years ago. The concept of using a call center to capture potentially missed rental inquiries was not new. The top five largest operators had previously established internal call ...More
April 1, 2003 Stan Colona
Posted in Articles