Real Estate: Year 2000

I don't know about you, but talking about the end of the century still seems a littlestrange. All through the '90s, it just sort of loomed out there, at least a few yearsaway. Not anymore. It's 1999--where did the time go? I've always been told that as you getolder, time only seems to move faster. For me, this has held true, with seemingly everyyear moving faster and faster.

But as we move full-steam ahead towards the year 2000, it pretty much forces us to takea look both backward and forward. In the real-estate industry, looking backward presents agood view. The last five years have been very strong, to say the least. Looking forward,though, isn't quite as clear--according to Michael McCune of Argus Self Storage SalesNetwork. McCune gives us his thoughts--along with some other industry veterans--on thereal-estate situation facing self-storage as we hit 1999.

When you're looking for a business or service in your town, what is generally the firstplace you look? The Yellow Pages? Probably. I know I do, along with hoards of other folksnot only looking for the best price on things, but also location and quality. If you're anowner or operator of a self-storage facility, there may be nothing more important tokeeping your site filled than a good Yellow Pages ad. Check out Michael Zervas' article,about how to make the most of your Yellow Pages ad money.

Continuing with the features this month is Aziz Khan of Heller Financial. Khan explainshow self-storage is now gaining respect as a viable business in the public eye.

Don't forget to check out the collection of our regular columns this month--includingthe first of a new bi-monthly column by industry favorite and self-storage consultant JimChiswell. It's called "Thoughts From The Road." Also, continuing his monthlymarketing piece, Harley Rolfe introduces self-storage to traditional marketing concepts ofobtaining and keeping business.

Last but not least, if you're reading this at the Inside Self-Storage Expo in LasVegas, stop by our booth and say hello. We always enjoy meeting our readers and gettingyour thoughts on the magazine and industry in general. If you're reading this after theshow, we hope you had a terrific and knowledgeable time, and we hope to see you again at afuture event.

Best Regards,

Tom Brecke
Editor