Thursday, November 12, 2009

Finding a Cheap Self Storage Unit

At some point in life you are going to find yourself up to your eyeballs in stuff and your quest to find good, cheap self storage will begin. While you may not be ready to part with your belongings you may also not be ready to pay a lot of money to store them. You might think that the words good and cheap don’t go hand and hand but in the world of self storage they sometimes can.

There will of course be certain factors you want to look at before you give any of your money away. You will want to consider things such as security, gated or not, and access to the unit for yourself, and these are questions you should ask every storage unit facility you talk to in order to help you make your decision.

Finding a cheap storage unit can be a daunting task or it can be an easy task, it just depends on how you go about it. Here are some ways for you to find good cheap self storage:

• Online: To find a cheap storage unit in your local area all you have to do is conduct a Google, Yahoo, or Ping search for ‘cheap storage units’ followed by your zip code. This will bring up any storage unit facilities in your local area that use the word ‘cheap’ in their description. You can also try ‘low cost’ or ‘affordable’ in your search as well as many business owners will shy away from the word cheap in their advertising. Once you locate a handful of storage unit facilities in your area call them up and ask all the questions you want answered.

• Yellow Pages: This step will require just a bit more leg work on your part. You begin by searching in the yellow pages under ‘self storage’ and then just start dialing numbers. Your first phone call will be nothing more than asking how much they charge for your ideal size storage unit per month. After you have called a couple dozen or so you can see which ones offer the cheapest prices and then call those specific storage unit facilities back and ask all of your questions then.

• Hit the streets: This step will obviously take you the most amount of time. It entails you getting in your car and driving to the different storage facilities and acquiring price information. One advantage to this type of searching is that you actually get to see firsthand how the facility looks. You can simply look around in stealth mode or you can actually ask all the questions you want and request to see the storage unit you are considering renting. If you are not in a talkative mood, go with the stealth operation and be sure to get a business card so that you can call the cheaper storage unit facilities at a later time.

If your area is like most areas in the United States these days, there are a number of different storage unit facilities that you will have to choose from. This is a good thing for you as they will all be trying to undercut one another. With just a little bit of work and a handful of questions asked you too can find a good cheap self storage unit.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Review of Mozy Online Storage

Every year people just like you lose countless documents and important files because of the unforeseen, but with online storage companies such as Mozy, this scenario can be avoided forever. With Mozy, everything on your computer is backed up and encrypted so if anything happens such as a hard drive crash, a flood, or theft of your computer, your files are easily accessible and ready to be restored. What are all of your files worth to you?

Here is how Mozy works to protect your important files:

Sign up for an account: Before you can begin to start backing up your files you must first open an account with Mozy. Once that is completed you can then go about getting Mozy on your PC.
Download software: Mozy software downloads in seconds and is simple to use.
Back-up files: Once your software is loaded up you can back up all the files you want. You can simply click on files to be backed up or you can designate specific files and or directories that you want backed up. Mozy will back up your files whether they are open or closed.

Now that your files are backed up, you are probably wondering how Mozy keeps them safe; what are the advantages?

128-bit SSL Encryption: Mozy uses the same type of encryption that banks use to keep your files safe.
Extra precautions while in storage: They further use 448-Blowfish encryption while in storage so that your files remain untouchable even to the most skillful hackers.
Automatic backup: Mozy allows you the flexibility to decide when you want your files to be backed up. Once you set the time you can forget about it as Mozy will handle the rest. You can change this preference at any time.
Saves even the little things: Mozy seeks out and finds even the smallest changes and is sure to backup the newest version of your documents every time.
Backs up Outlook: Mozy can even back up your Outlook files so that all of your e-mail information will be kept safe.
Only backs up the new: Mozy’s system distinguishes between files that are already saved and new ones that need to be saved or changes that require files to be resaved. This makes all subsequent backups lightning quick.

Should you ever need to retrieve your files, Mozy makes it as easy as a few clicks of your mouse. Mozy offers you unlimited online backup for less than $5.00 per month and what’s more, Mozy offers you a way to try before you buy. Mozy actually lets anyone store up to 2 GB of files absolutely free so you can store a good number of files with them and test the waters so to speak. Best of all, this free trial requires no credit card information to be given.

Really for less than $60 per year there is no excuse not to have your important files be protected from being lost forever. Mozy makes it easy and affordable to have peace of mind 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Read Mozy reviews to see what Mozy customers have to say about their service.

The Top Three Mobile Storage Unit Companies

Mobile storage units are fast becoming the way that many people choose to go when it comes time to move their things or to store them. Mobile storage units are great because they are brought right to your driveway and allow you to take your time when packing up your things. The convenience continues when you are all packed up as you simply call the company and they pick up the storage unit for you and either transport it to your new home or store it for you in their facilities.

Because of the growing number of people beginning to see the benefits of mobile storage units and their increase in popularity there seems to be a growing number of mobile storage unit companies popping up. So which ones are worth their salt?

There are pros and cons with most companies, but the three that always seem to stand out as far as service and reliability go are:

1. PODS: PODS stands for Portable On Demand Storage and when it comes to mobile storage units these guys are one of the best. They have facilities in 58 States, Provinces, and Territories in the United States, Canada, and Australia so weather you are moving down the street, across the country, or across the globe, PODS will have you covered. They have outstanding customer service and an 800 number that can be called at any time to assist you. You can get a free quote with them online or by calling their 800 number.
2. 1-800-PACKRAT: 1-800-PACKRAT is somewhat smaller than PODS but they are quickly gaining momentum in the world of mobile storage unit companies. They too offer a toll free number that can be utilized to get answers to the questions you may have. They can handle a move within the city and they can also handle a move across the country. Just like PODS, you can get a free quote online or by calling their 800 number which is of course their name too.
3. SMARTBOX: SAMRTBOX is another fast growing company in the industry. They can handle a move within your city or they can move your things for you across the country. As with the other top two they also offer an 800 number that can be called at any time to assist you with anything that you may need. You can also obtain a free quote online or by calling their 800 number. Their website is very user friendly and there are even a couple of tutorial videos that show the entire process of how SMARTBOX works from A to Z.

There is no doubt that moving or storing your stuff with a mobile storage unit company is the wave of the future and probably a great idea for you should you have the need. But you must be sure that you select a reputable company that will not only give you a good price, but outstanding service as well. You can search the Internet all you like but you will be hard pressed to find other mobile storage unit companies that offer you more than these top three.

Save 5-10% off a Pods storage unit rental by using a Pods promo code.

PODS Units are Popular for a Reason – Actually Several

In the world of portable storage units there is no name that is more recognizable than that of PODS. PODS stands for Portable On Demand Storage and when it comes to convenience and great customer service these guys are tough to beat. Their growing popularity seems to have no bounds but they are not just popular because their name is recognizable, they are popular for a reason.

Actually, PODS is popular for many reasons, here are just a few:

Convenience: PODS will drop off your portable storage unit right at your doorstep and leave it there for as long as you want. You can then take your time and load up your things and when you are done they will come and pick up the packed up unit from you. You then choose whether you want PODS to move the unit to your new home or whether you want them to store your things for you in their climate controlled warehouse. You can store your things for a day or for a lifetime; it is all up to you.
Customer service: As with any business, it is the customer service that often makes or breaks it. PODS offers a toll free 800 number that can be utilized and there is always someone on the other end that is knowledgeable and that can answer your questions in a timely fashion.
Free quotes: Before you go with PODS for your portable storage needs you can obtain a free quote for how much their services will cost you. You can choose to get your free quote online or by calling the toll free 800 number and speaking with a customer service representative.
Availability: PODS currently serves 58 States, Provinces, and Territories in the United States, Canada, and Australia. What this means is that you will probably not have a problem trying to find a PODS service in or near your local area. This also means that PODS is a true international company and can handle your move down the street, across the country, or even across the globe.
User friendly website: The PODS website is one of the easiest to navigate in the entire industry. They have several interactive tools such as video tutorials which makes the entire process a lot easier on you. They break down the dimensions of the different units and tell you how much you can expect to fit inside them. If you get lost at any time or have further questions, remember that help is but a toll free phone call away.
Trust factor: PODS has over one million moves under their belts and that number grows with every passing day. When you go with PODS you know you are not only getting a great price and great service, but you are also going with a company you can trust.

There is no doubt that in the world of portable self storage units that PODS is one of the best, but they have certainly earned their popularity with unbeatable reliability and unmatched service.

Save up to 10% on a Pods rental by using a Pods promo code.