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by Scott Meyers of Self Storage Investing

With the continued rise of self storage units throughout the country, more and more consumers are finding a use for what was once only thought of as a place to hold their belongings. Full garages and basements were paired with a self storage unit, creating ample storage space for those all over the U.S. But, as many are finding out, the units aren’t just for storing.

Self storage facilities are now offering more and more amenities, such as climate control, running water, and sophisticated security systems – allowing for a wider variety of options. The most popular use by far for these higher end units is office space, a trend that has continued to grow over the past decade, for several reasons. Tenants find the contracts much more flexible, renting space can be customized, and of course, they’re saving money. Renting out a unit (or two or three) is much, much cheaper than commercial real estate.

Added security measures are found helpful as well, eliminating the need for businesses to purchase and install them on their own. And companies with large overheads can also use units for their original purpose: storing.

Businesses all over the country are taking advantage of higher end self storage units for company purposes. And with tens of thousands of options, you’re sure to find a unit that will fit your business’ needs.

To find out more about the self storage industry, head to SelfStorageInvesting.com and download our free report.

by Scott Meyers of Self Storage Investing

One major blip in the efforts to go green is the constant travel that can be involved with placing your goods into a storage unit. Even if just a few miles away, multiple trips can add up over time, costing gas, travel time, and adding to Mother Nature’s pollution level. But, just because accessing your unit regularly may be necessary, doesn’t mean you can’t make efforts to increase the green-ness along the way.

The next time you need to make an exchange, head to an auction, or head to a self storage unit for any reason, keep these simple tips in mind.

Conserve Fuel

-Do you have an electric car? A hybrid? Can you safely fill your tank with Ethanol 85 blends (E85)? If so, use this vehicle when making the trip, especially if you’re only picking up (or dropping off) a small load. And if it’s a really small load, you can even take public transportation. Relieve the stress of driving and save some fuel in the process.

Make Fewer Trips

-Not every event can be planned ahead, but things like seasonal changes and holidays are two that can. So when heading to your self storage unit to pick up Halloween decorations, why not pick up the Thanksgiving ones as well. Or when taking the snow blower or shovels to storage, get out the basketball goal and bikes – saving yourself from making two trips, even if it may not be quite warm enough.

Borrow a Vehicle

-In the case where you’re dropping off a big load of goods, using your hybrid or electric car won’t be very practical. Load up a large truck or van and make the haul in a single trip. Will they take more fuel and power? Yes, but it’s still more practical than making multiple runs with a hybrid.

Recycle Your Extras

-When unloading, unwrapping, or packing up items, chances are you’re going to have a few pieces of trash leftover. Instead of tossing everything in the nearest trashcan, see what can be recycled and sort them for reuse. Many self storage facilities will have their own recycling bins. And for those who don’t, take the items home and place them in the recycling there. With minimal effort you can help recycle many items throughout your storing lifespan.

For more tips on using a self storage unit or if you’re interested in getting started in the business, head to SelfStorageInvesting.com.

Below is a customer testimonial about using One by One Self Storage directory

I work from home. I am an internet marketing consultant and also a blogger. I have many blogs latest one I put up is a soccer blog called a goal apart. Anyway since I work from home, I want my little tiny ocean view loft in San Diego to be clean and neat allowing me to be creative and productive. So I am used to selling my extra items online on craigslist or ebay, but some items are too valuable for me to sell. So I decided to store them in a self storage in San Diego area.

San Diego is a bit town and there are many self storage areas. I didn’t want to drive around to learn about the nearest self storage area, so I found One by One and it was great. I was able to see all self storage facilities nearby, find their pictures, and learn more about the facility. This is great site I highly recommend it.

- Al S.

Extra items inside of a home are usually stored in attics, garages, and closets because those rooms are the only places to store. Apartments are not made with extra storage space so a big dresser or a large wardrobe wouldn’t have any place to be stored. Many people now buy a self storage unit to store all of their extra items. There are many different reasons that people choose to use a self storage unit. It is common because people want their items to be in a safe and secure location. A great way to do that is to go out and rent a storage unit. Because more people want a storage unit, the rates for the storage units are high.

In the market the storage units come in a variety of rates. They have extremely large storage units and they have really small units. The smaller units can hold very few items and the large units can hold up to a four bedroom house. Not only does a facility store your household items but they also can store boats, cars, and RVs. The rates depend on the size the renter wants to purchase.

Many features come with storage units. However the small ones do not. They only offer an area big enough for basic items. The larger storage unit can even include shelves and hanging hooks for organization. Different locking mechanisms come with different facilities. If there are more features then it will up the costs for renting the storage unit. If the storage unit comes with a lot of features then it will also come with a higher price. The greater the number of features and the more sophisticated they are, the higher will be their charge.

Eddie Munoz, San Diego Storage Onebyone
611 K Street B143, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
(858) 888-9250

by Scott Meyers of Self Storage Investing

When planning a move – whether from home to home or to a new self storage unit –goods and items are often found that we forgot even existed. Perhaps you’ve found your kids’ old artwork or your old sofa from college. While some of these pieces, such as the artwork, are sentimental and worth renting extra space for, some items – like the old couch – are worth getting rid of. And what if you could earn some extra cash in the process?

The best tactic to use when moving is to decide what items you’d like to hold onto – no matter the size. Rent a self storage unit (or two) for items you rarely use or do not have the basement or closet space for. However, as far as the items you have been holding onto for years, selling them can often provide more use from others, and will save you from the hassle of moving them (and can bring in extra cash).

Donations vs. Sales

Another option is to donate your items to a second-hand store or charity auction. You will receive a receipt for your donations (for tax purposes), and earn peace of mind that your items have gone to help others. This is also a great option to unload any items that aren’t purchased at your garage sale. And while sales will bring in more money, they will also take more of your time as they have to be set up, advertised, and ran. In comparison, donations take only loading and dropping off time.

One more option is to advertise a few key items – those that are worth more in value – on Craigslist or in the local newspaper and donate the rest. That way you can still pick up a few extra dollars, but avoid a heavy workload of a yard sale.

When moving, there are plenty of stressful events that can take place. Help cut down on the word load by using these simple tips – consider yard sales for unused items, while a self storage unit is more appropriate for long-term storage.

And for more self storage tips, or if you’re interested in starting your own, head to SelfStorageInvesting.com.

There are a variety of materials that can be used to create a self storage building. Steel and wood are used more than any other material. Not too long ago, wood was used more commonly than anything but now steel is being used because it is more durable than wood. However, the two have their pros and their cons. The atmospheres humidity tends to rot wooden structures very easily. But, even steel can get corrosion over a long period of time. To protect both wood and steel structures from the harmful effects of the atmospheric humidity, it needs to be painted to endure the weather conditions.

Termites are very likely to attack the wooden buildings which may result in damage to personal belongings inside the storage unit. Because steel storehouses are less vulnerable to catch fire, they can get insurance benefits. Wood on the other hand, can’t get any insurance benefits because it is extremely vulnerable to fire.

Wood isn’t cheap, which makes it less used to create a storage building with. Trusses have to be close to each other when constructing a wooden building. Trusses can be set further away from each other when it is a steel building. It cost a lot of money to purchase trusses for a wooden building because they need more trusses than steel buildings. The one good thing about wooden storage buildings is that they look better than the steel ones because they can be made into different designs. Aristocratic traditional houses are matched with beautifully designed wooden storehouses to complement the ambiance.

Eddie Munoz, San Diego Storage Onebyone
611 K Street B143, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
(858) 888-9250

The self storage software handles about hundred of tasks very quickly and efficient. Some programs offer different benefits such as security, record keeping, marketing, advertising, and everything else. The people that own more than one facility can benefit from these programs because they can standardize every business operation and link them to each other resulting in the corporate head quarters having complete access to all information. This gives every store a plan of action and the network database includes all the information.

It is astounding how easy it is for the self storage software to identify the status of all units. Some programs have color coded maps that give the owners and staff a frame of reference. The user can see which units are paid for and also see which units are rented or vacant. Not only is a user able to see which units are currently rented and which are currently vacant, but also which units are paid in full, payment pending, past due and even in collection and lockout procedures. Some of the programs can restrict the customers who haven’t paid or are involved in lock out or collection procedures from entering the facility through the gates.

Eddie Munoz, San Diego Storage Onebyone
611 K Street B143, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
(858) 888-9250

by Scott Meyers of Self Storage Investing

There’s an old saying farmers used to pass around stating, “Never plant a garden before graduation.” With graduation usually taking place in May, depending on where you live, there was still a good chance of a freeze up until that point. But now that April is nearly over, it will soon be prime garden-planting time all over the country. And while many view gardening as “something that is only done in the country,” it is a great way to cut down food expenses, reduce your carbon footprint, and ensure you have plenty of fresh foods year round.

If you live in the city, there are community garden plots where you can rent growing space. Don’t have room for your gardening supplies at home? Keep them in your self storage unit. Smaller plants can also be grown in pots around one’s home. This can help improve your breathing air, as well as provide you with fresh foods to eat.

But for many, the biggest perk of keeping a garden is the ability to keep canned goods (freshly canned goods) year round. While vegetables and fruits will only produce for a few months, by placing them into jars, you can enjoy the same foods throughout the next year. Simply place a shelf or two inside your self storage unit, and leave your jars for safekeeping. This way you can pick up items as you need them, but don’t have to worry about cramming a year’s supply into your kitchen.

The benefits to eating fresh foods are tremendous, especially when it comes to vitamins and nutrition. But most of all, canning your own foods can help cut down on your grocery bill significantly, while helping to reduce your carbon footprint. Self canning requires re-usable glass jars, helping eliminate the need for aluminum cans or the labels that surround them. And by storing your healthy, cost-effective goods in a self storage unit, you won’t have to worry about making extra space.

Consider planting a garden of your own to reap the many benefits they have to offer.

And to find out more about self storage or if you’re interested in starting one of your own, head to SelfStorageInvesting.com.

Self storage industry is not only for consumers who want to save their extra items or movers who want to save their items in between their move. Many businesses use self storage as well. A good example is the company that runs the website Adidas Soccer Balls. The company is same company that runs a very popular soccer blog in San Diego.

Self storages are becoming more and more common for commercial enterprises mainly because sometimes they are more affordable than if the businesses were to extend their current commercial space so they take advantage of self storage facilities to store their extra inventory, store fixtures, or office equipments.

And One by One Self Storage search engine is a great place to compare and contrast self storage facilities, look at their pictures, and etc.

by Scott Meyers of Self Storage Investing

It’s no doubt that the country (if not entire world) has been working harder and more frequently to make the environment a healthier place. Laws are being put into place to restrict pollution levels, machines are being built with lower outputs, and recycling is reaching an all time high in terms of households who participate and in goods that are salvaged each year.

As a renter (or future renter) of a self storage unit, this is something that can and should be taken into account. Using a storage center outside your home means that you have downsized your home, or are living in an appropriately sized dwelling. Lowering energy usage and building space, by consolidating your storage into a central facility location, you are helping cut down on the world’s carbon footprint.

However, there are other steps that can be taken in order to store your goods with the environment in mind. Chances are many of your items are kept within cardboard or thick paper boxes. With the growth of recycling, the amount of reused cardboard has grown considerably. When looking for storage boxes, be sure to use those that have the familiar recycling triangle on the side. Or, when you’re getting rid of extras, take them to the recycling plant or donate them to another who needs boxes

Another energy saving tip can be considered in climate-controlled units. The fact is, some items do need to be stored in moderate temperatures and simply can’t handle the extremes. But, that doesn’t mean your storage unit should sit at 60 in the summer and 75 in the winter. By leveling out the temperature difference (hotter in the summer and colder in the winter), you can help commit to using less energy. (Although, keep in mind that not all climate controlled units will have a thermostat for each self storage unit.)

Help out the environment by taking a few simple tips when storing your goods. Just by taking a few small steps, you can help the plant get big results.

To find out more about the self storage industry, head to SelfStorageInvesting.com and watch our free case study video.