How to manage a self-storage facility

You’re thinking about going into the mini-warehouse business? We have some tips in store to help you manage a self-storage facility.

Here are some tips to help you achieve your goals and make your storage facility a success.

Even if you’re surrounded by competent employees, figuring out how to manage a self-storage facility is not easy and requires some versatility. You need to think about advertising, customer service, the cleaning and maintenance of storage units, leases, personnel, and compliance with the business standards and the law.

All your efforts to start up a worthy storage business will be wasted if nobody knows about your services. You have to become as visible as possible to a large client base. Marketing, these days, is all about maintaining a presence online and in social media.

So, your first step should be to set up an attractive website that has all the information customers are looking for, including photos of your units, a list of your services, costs, map directions and a secure online payment option. The latter should be available to all the different platforms (PCs, tablets and smartphones).

Now that you have your website set up, start developing your outreach on social media sites. After you open your profiles, post photos and incentives that will get people interested in following you, or at least get them clicking on a link to your main website. You might also want to think about mailbox flyers and newspaper ads.

Some people say you shouldn’t trust appearances, but in your business, first impressions count. Managing a mini-storage facility is all about looking professional and therefore attractive to people with property to store. Treat phone calls from the public as sales opportunities. How you respond on the phone may well turn a simple query into a loyal customer.

Have you thought about value-added services that you can offer to better meet the needs of customers? You could, for example, rent out moving trucks or offer various insurance programs to clients. Or you could offer movers for hire or a shipping container drop-off and pick-up service for people who don’t have time to bring their belongings to you.

Need a bit more help to manage the self-storage facility? Why not get some additional training from a career centre or use specialized business-management software to help you get organized? If you’re a franchise owner, don’t hesitate to talk to the head office to get some support or advice.

Last but not least, surround yourself with competent people whom you trust and who have an interest in seeing your business grow.