Thursday, June 3, 2010

Review of Public Storage

One of the better known names in the self storage industry is Public Storage. Because they have been in business for so long they now boast over 2,000 locations within the United States and their numbers are growing at a good pace with each passing year. They are a very accommodating company and their unit prices start at only ten bucks a month. They even offer a move in special of only one dollar for the first month.

One of the nicest attributes with Public Storage is their interactive website. On their website they have many features that make it easy for you to determine what you need and where to find it in the world of self storage. These features include:

• Storage Facility Locator: On the website you will find an extremely easy to use facility locator. On the home page you simply type in your zip code and within seconds you are presented with a list of facilities that are near your area. This makes determining the location nearest you a breeze.
• Size Guide: Public Storage also has a visual size guide so that you can better determine just how big a self storage unit you will need to accommodate all of the things you wish to store. Public Storage has self storage units from five feet by five feet all the way up to 10 feet by 30 feet.
• Tips: Also included on their website is an entire section dedicated to storage and packing. Here they offer you easy to implement tips and tricks that will help you to get the most out of the self storage space that you rent with them.
• FAQ Page: Public Storage’s ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ or FAQ page is filled with the answers to many of the common questions in regards to self storage. A quick glance is all it takes and usually the answers you seek are right there.
• Customer Hotline: If you can’t find what you are looking for on the FAQ page then Public Storage has a customer hotline that can be reached by dialing a toll free 800 number. Once connected a customer service rep will be happy to assist you with any questions you have.
• Mobile Device Friendly: Public Storage works interactively with many mobile devices such as your iPhone in order to better assist you. With your portable device it is possible for you to reserve storage space and even pay your bill. Talk about keeping up with the times.

Because Public Storage has such a wide variety of self storage unit sizes there is more than likely a Public Storage unit that can accommodate just about any size need and any size budget. Their easy to use website allows you to find out a whole host of information in regards to self storage units and their commitment to helping their customers seems to be one of the best in the industry. Public Storage is defiantly an example of how personal touches can sometimes make a big difference.

Helpful Self Storage Websites

When you are seeking out information on self storage facilities or even portable self storage companies a great place to begin your search is online. There are many high quality self storage companies both traditional and portable that have wonderful websites that are chalk full of great information.

The problem may lie in knowing which ones to look at. While each self storage website may offer something that is unique to its own services there are four in particular that offer a wealth of information not only on their services, but on the entire business of self storage as a whole. These four helpful websites are:

1. PODS.com: The website for Portable On Demand Storage or PODS is filled with insightful information. Unlike many other self storage websites, PODS.com will actually give you an estimate quote right online. They also have a section where they estimate the size of the container you will need to effectively store your things and have a toll free 800 number if you need additional help. The website also has a location map which is an interactive and easy way to find the PODS nearest to your location.

2. SelfStorage.com: SelfStorage.com offers information for those looking for a self storage unit and also contains information for those who own self storage facilities. Using their interactive map on the home page you can quickly and easily find all the various self storage facilities that are in your area. If you are interested in buying or selling a self storage facility then SelfStorage.com can help you out in that department as well.

3. PublicStorage.com: Public Storage is one of the most well known self storage franchises in the United States and their knowledge is well reflected in their website. The site contains a facility locator that is like the others in that it is interactive and easy to use. They feature a toll free customer service hotline so that you can have any of your questions answered before, during, and after you use their service. Additionally, the website will work interactively with your mobile device, such as your iPhone, and allow you to reserve a storage unit and even pay your bill all by pressing a few buttons.

4. 1800PACKRAT.com: 1-800-PACK-RAT is one of the fastest growing portable storage companies in the industry and their website is also full of useful information. They too have a section where they help you to determine what size container you will need and they also feature an 800 number that can be used to ask any questions you may have. They even have interactive videos that offer tips and insights to the whole portable storage business.

There are many other self storage websites for both traditional and portable companies that you will find if you conduct a Google or other search engine search. While you could spend all day seeking the information you are after, you can skip all the leg work and use any of these four and be sure to find all the information, and then some, that you seek.

How Portable Self Storage can be Moving Self Storage

If you are getting ready to move you are no doubt under some stress, but you can make your life a lot easier and let portable self storage become your moving self storage. Unlike traditional ways of moving, when you rent a portable self storage container it can serve as a welcomed substitution to the whole ordeal of renting a moving truck.

By looking at portable storage as moving self storage you can cut out renting a truck, trying to figure out if you need that extra insurance, and then picking up and dropping off the truck. Forget also about getting the truck back by six o’clock and being sure that you have swept out the back and filled the gas tank. You can also forgo the whole ordeal of begging 20 of your friends to show up on a weekend to help you load and unload the truck and then be disappointed when only your two closest friends make the effort.

Portable self storage containers are the perfect solution because you can have the portable self storage company drop off the container in your driveway as far in advance of your move as you would like. This allows you to load up your things at your leisure and when your moving self storage container is full, you simply call the portable storage company and have them pick up the container and deliver it to your new home.

If you are not going to be ready for your things for a while that is no problem. You can have all of your things stored in a climate controlled warehouse facility that is owned by the portable storage company and there your moving storage unit will sit safe from the elements until you are ready for it. Take a week, take a month, you pay for the time it is stored.

Once you are ready for your stuff to be delivered to your new home then one call is all it takes and before you know it your things will be in your driveway. Now instead of rushing to unload a moving truck so you have time to get it back to the rental company, you can take a day or a month to unload your things and never feel one bit of pressure to get the job done as fast as you can.

Once your moving storage unit is empty then simply call the company to come pick it back up and they will take it away for you in a timely manner. Really there is no better or easier way to move these days.

With the ease of using a portable storage container as your moving storage unit, it seems silly to put yourself through the pains that typically come with moving. Face it, you are going to be stressed out enough with the move so why not cut out a big part of that stress and find a reliable and affordable portable storage company that can help you move at your own pace.

Use a Pods promo code to save 5% off your next Pods portable storage unit rental.

Different Uses for Self Storage Rentals

Self storage rentals are obviously a great way to help free up your home or garage and take back control of your life, but there are many other things that a self storage rental can be used for. While the many uses are all legitimate, you still need to be sure that you check with your self storage facility before you implement any of the strategies.

Here are just a few things that a self storage rental can also be used for besides storing your stuff:

• Band Rehearsal: Many people who are in a ‘garage band’ find that it means having to worry about annoying their neighbors and also clogging up their garage with band equipment. By using a storage unit that has electricity supplied to it you can kill two birds with one stone. You can practice at the storage unit itself and when practice is over you already have your band equipment ready to be safely stowed away.
• Inventory Storage: If you have a home based business in which you sell multiple items on a daily basis then you certainly need a solution to your inventory needs other than leaving your items all around your home. By using a self storage rental unit you can effectively keep all of your items out of your home and even set up a packing and shipping station inside. This helps keep your business organized and running smoothly while keeping your home clutter free from your inventory.
• Office Space: Thanks to wireless internet cards it is now possible to set up an office space inside a self storage rental and get to business immediately. All you need is a desk, a chair, a file cabinet or two, and a lap top with a wireless internet card and before you know it your own little office can be set up.
• Business Supply Storage: Some businesses such as landscaping require you to haul around mowers and other lawn equipment that can clog up your home garage at the end of the day. Using a self storage rental to store all of these types of items is a relatively inexpensive way to safely store your expensive lawn equipment items and to keep your garage un-cramped.
• Document Storage: If you work for a big business or a big law firm then many times you will be required to keep document files that date back many years. If this is the case then you may eventually run out of space. By using a self storage rental you can quickly free up space and so long as you stay organized have an easy way to access any files that you may need as the years roll on.

Again, as great as all of these ideas are, they mean nothing if your self storage rental facility will not allow you to use your self storage rental space as such. Before you implement any of these ideas be sure to check with the facility’s management and let them know what it is you are planning on doing. This way, if you get the green light then you know you will be good to go and ready to use your self storage rental to help better your situation.

Factors that Help Determine Self Storage Prices

Many people who have let their personal belongings slowly build over time eventually find it necessary to rent a self storage unit. These same people are often caught unaware that there can be a huge difference in self storage prices and there are a number of factors that will help determine this.

Of the many reasons that are used to factor in the price you will pay for your storage unit some are obvious and some are not so obvious. Here are some of the factors that can be used to determine self storage prices:

• Unit Size: As expected, the bigger the unit, the bigger your bill with the self storage facility will be. To ensure you are getting the most for your money, be sure to inquire about the right size unit for your needs so you don’t inadvertently rent a space that is too big. It also helps to actually look at the unit itself before you pay your first month’s rent.
• Climate Controlled or Not: If you have delicate items that you wish to store then you will need to go with a climate controlled self storage unit so that the temperature is consistent no matter how hot or cold it gets outside. By renting a climate controlled unit it is you the tenant who will have to pay for such a luxury and often times, a climate controlled unit that is the same size as a non-climate controlled unit will be much greater in price, maybe even double.
• Accessibility of the Unit: Some storage units are located outside and have a nice big roll up garage type door on them. This makes it easy to load and unload your items. Other units will be located inside of a building and will not feature the same easy access. If you are planning on having easy access to your stored items then you can expect those self storage prices to be a bit more on the expensive side.
• Amenities: Many self storage facilities are very accommodating and allow you use of their dumpster and even have a manager who lives on-site so any theft is deterred. While these amenities are nice to have you will certainly pay for them in the price of your self storage unit.
• Hours of Operation: Self storage prices can also be directly affected by the hours of operation of the self storage facility itself. If the facility is open extended hours then that means they will have to pay their employees for that extended time. Those costs will be passed through to you by way of higher self storage unit prices.

Basically you can expect anything that will cost the self storage facility more to cost you more in your self storage prices. When looking for a self storage facility to rent from you need to first know what you will and won’t require as far as services go. Remember, the less you can live with, the less you will pay each month to store your stuff.