The Business of Self-storage facility

Self-storage is also the same as 'self-service storage', or sometimes known as 'mini storage'. It is a facility where the owner of a store leases its space to individuals or businesses to store inventory of furniture and equipments. The rented space is known as unit. It is secured using the tenant’s own lock and key, thus it is totally private and safe. Even the operators of the store do not have access to the goods being stored in the unit. However, some professional warehouseman might have the access if a lien is imposed for non-paying tenant. To strengthen the security, the store usually installs a computer-controlled access with the use of security cameras.

There are many self-storage facilities being developed in the US and other countries. The size of the self-storage property usually ranges from three to seven acres. In big cities, large size lands near the commercial and residential areas are converted into a self-storage space as the competition is pretty ugly and every self-storage company strives for survival by providing top services for their clients. Some of the most popular unit sizes include 10ft x 5ft, 10ft x 10ft and 10ft x 20ft. These storage units usually are windowless, all walled up with corrugated metal, and are lockable by the renter. Wire mesh might provide higher security compared to the suspended ceiling. Usually a tenant is allowed to store any non-hazardous items, non-toxic and non-perishable materials such as personal items, furniture, office equipments, office files and papers and even vehicles such as motorcycles.

According to a survey, the most popular reason for the use of self-storage is moving house, (LINK) packing the items yourself and moving them to the storage unit – or employing a (LINK) moving company to transport them. The second popular reason is because some people need more space than the space they have at home. The third reason is because students need temporary space to store their items while they move from home to university or from university back home. The same reason goes to the military and businesses whereby they need temporary spaces so that they can move to a new place easily. However, should a customer does not pay the rent for the storage unit, a lien is imposed and they storage company has the right to auction off the items and products stored within the unit. In case the auction of the items does not cover the rental, the tenant is still liable to pay up whatever it is due.

Due to the competition among the self-storage companies, some of them even come up with portable storage or also known as mobile storage. Portable storage is made up of large containers that are built onto trucks so that the trucks can go to the customers’ place and pick up the items. It is a whole new idea, with many possibilities with growing bigger in the future - and even now the popularity is rising. There are huge demands for this service. The best thing about this service is that the client can load and unload their items at anytime, as they like. This is one of the reasons why it is popular other than being safer and has more privacy.

The most recent products are climate-controlled storage and also cold storage. Climate-controlled storage is when they control the climate within storage to prevent mold and other moisture problems. The most important control is the humidity rather than the temperature. Cold storage facility is by providing rooms of low temperature to store perishable goods such as meat and vegetables. These are usually stored as most of the perishable products are shipped via the railways but with the invention of cold storage on truck, this has become a common service.

The birth of self-storage also brings life to many other forms of small storage facilities such as luggage storage, bicycle lockers and locker rooms. These facilities are normally available at amusement parks, gyms, parks, swimming facility and public community halls. Often these small storage facilities or mini storages require a small amount of fees payable to the attendant who is watching over the storage facility, or you simply insert some coins into an automatic locker. They may charge by hour or just impose a one-time fee. Self-storage service is also expanding into (LINK) international business. This business is going to grow bigger and bigger in time to come.