Storage Facility Theft Prevention

Recently in Houston, a string of robberies has occurred in several self storage facilities. Not only is this tragic for the victims of the robberies but the self storage facilities as well. Your business is reliant on whether or not your customers trust you and your services. A robbery can break their trust and make them look elsewhere for a more secure storage facility.

Just some of the ways you can protect your customers as well as your business:

• Require disc locks: These locks are harder for thieves to cut thus making the individual unit safer.
• Video surveillance: Standard surveillance might not be enough in today’s tech savvy generation. Thieves might be aware of how to get around standard, single-angle surveillance (as appears to be the case in one of the Houston burglaries). Having multi-angle cameras and motion detection lights will help to catch thieves in the act.
• Fencing: standard fencing is not enough to keep thieves out. High concrete walls are ideal but if you have chained link fence they should be lined with barbed wire.
• Urge your customers to inventory their belongings: By keeping a list of stored belongings with serial numbers recorded on high-value items such as electronics, police will have an easier time locating any missing items. You might even think about providing a simple inventory form to new customers.
• Stress to customers not to share codes: Police in the aforementioned case have a strong suspect in one of the facility’s renters since his code was used around the time of the burglaries. However, there is always a chance it was someone else who got a hold of the renter’s entry code. Make sure your customers keep gate codes to themselves and in a safe place. Also let them know not to allow anyone to follow them into the facility.
• Check units often: Have your customers visit their units regularly to make sure they are not missing anything. Customers should also check for signs of tampering with their locks.
• Storage insurance: As a last line of defense suggest that your customers get storage insurance. In the unfortunate event that something does happen it’s better to be prepared than to be at a total loss.

All of these suggestions will help to ensure both you and your customers safety and peace of mind when it comes to the belongings they are trusting you with. What measures have you taken to prevent theft at your facility?

Self Storage Owner Denies Liability for Damage Caused by Admittedly Faulty Roof

The owner of a self-storage facility in Washington D.C. is denying any liability for water damage to its tenant’s belongings, caused by a leaky roof which the owner admits has been in poor shape for over a decade. As a recent article at DCist.com explains, the facility’s owner lays the blame on the contractors he hired to fix his faulty roof, and on the tenants themselves.  “Things can happen to your stuff in storage,” and “customers need to have renters' insurance,” according to the owner.

It is of course true that tenants should be aware of the risks to their belongings during storage, and that a good insurance policy can protect the value of belongings damaged by various perils. However, most tenant insurance policies would not likely cover such a claim as this one, where the facility owner admits to having a faulty roof for so long.

Who do you think is liable here—the owner, the tenant, or the contractor? Check out the full article at DCist.com and let us know what you think by commenting below.

Embracing Changes in Tough Times

Two weeks ago, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke predicted confidently that “we will see growth in the third quarter continuing and that growth will continue into 2010.” Indeed, The Wall Street Journal reports the pace of job losses in the U.S. continues to slow, but what does this mean for individual industries?

While sectors heavily rooted in intellectual capital (such as technology) have been showing signs of bouncing back, companies where operating costs are much higher could take longer to recover. This month, we highlight two forward-thinking companies who have benefited from embracing change.

Inside Self-Storage reports that industry veterans Dan Kasman and Michael Gyory of New York have gone green with their latest venture with the opening of Thornwood Self Storage Center. From the re-purposing of the former warehouse structure to its energy-saving features, the new facility aims to attract the ever-growing group of eco-minded consumers who are looking for green alternatives in all facets of their lives.

Advantage Storage of Texas continues to grow by catering specifically to upscale clients. As reported by Collin County Business Press, the company’s new multi-story Craig Ranch facility blends in with the architectural style of its surrounding homes and country clubs, complete with stucco and stone construction. Advantage also specializes in corporate customers, offering a shipment receiving service, flexible space, and month-to month leases.

While both examples above come from self-storage, niche markets are proving to work in tough times for all sorts of companies within the relocation industry and beyond. While not necessarily the answer for all businesses, at the very least we hope this article has you thinking about who your customers are, and what you can offer them to better suit their needs. Who knows, you may just stumble across a new business idea!

We want to hear your success stories. In what ways have you been creative to keep business thriving?