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Have you ever wondered what really drives consumer behavior when it comes to self-storage? Why do customers choose to rent from one facility over another? What factors are most critical to their decision-making process? How do they use self-storage? How important are discounts? What ancillary services do they crave?

This slideshow presents the results of a recent online survey of self-storage tenants conducted by SpareFoot, an online marketplace that streamlines the rental process for self-storage customers. The data provides insight to the above questions and more. Some of the results should be in line with what you may have experienced in the operation of your own self-storage facility. Others may surprise you.

Interested in joining a live conversation about consumer expectations regarding self-storage? Visit Self-Storage Talk, the industry's largest online community, and participate in the thread, "“What customers have to have…”