Self storage companies are well-known for supporting their communities and giving back to numerous charities. There are some companies that make charitable work a cornerstone of their business by paying employees when they volunteer at a local charity for a given number of hours. As important as this is to them, they don’t forget what matters most—taking care of each other. [More]

There are two things that are for certain, death and taxes. No matter what happens or who is elected to office—be it federal, state, or local—the one thing that they will all always be looking to do is increase revenue. Too often that means raising taxes for someone or something. [More]

Many people look at the start of the New Year as a new beginning; a chance to stop whatever bad or destructive habits they had gotten into in the last year and start fresh. It is often a time where we find it easier to imagine a greater place in the world for us, as well as a greater us taking a place in the world. [More]

The UK Self Storage Association recently released data that indicated people have increased the length of time that they keep their possessions in storage units. In 2007, the average length of stay was 22 weeks. In 2010, the length increased to 38 weeks – almost double the length of time compared to what it was in 2007. On average, businesses use storage for 56 weeks. [More]

The Texas Self Storage Association (TSSA) along with the national Self Storage Association (SSA) has worked hard to lobby for an update to the state’s self storage lien laws which had become antiquated and burdensome to facility operators. Last month, Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill that modernizes the state’s 30-year-old lien law. To assist self storage operators with understanding the ins and outs of the new law, the TSSA is hosting a webinar on July 26 for its members. [More]

So far this year, self-storage legislation has been signed into law in California, Illinois, Nevada and Tennessee. Now Maine has joined the mix. Legislative document 1428, “An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Self-Service Storage in the State,” was signed by Maine Governor Paul LePage and includes legal improvements for the state’s self storage facilities. [More]

Championed by the Nevada Self Storage Association (NVSSA) with financial support from the national Self Storage Association (SSA), Nevada Senate Bill 150 (SB 150). that revises state-wide self storage lien laws was signed into law by Gov. Brian Sandoval on June 13. The lien law, which improves the state’s lien laws and limits operators’ liability regarding protected property, goes into effect on Oct. 1. [More]

One of the bad things about living through bad economic times is that it is not just businesses and consumers that are feeling the pinch. Governments are feeling the pinch as well. When you consider that they operate pretty much due to the taxes they collect, if people are not making much money and are spending even less than tax collections and essentially government operating budgets feel the crunch as well. [More]

The Self Storage Association’s (SSA) aggressive efforts to update archaic lien laws throughout the country is slowly paying off. The latest victory is Senate Bill 1394 (SB 1394) that will modernize the Illinois Self Service Storage Facility Act. It has passed both houses and currently awaits the signature of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. [More]

The self storage industry is a $22 billion dollar business that is thriving in the United States, enjoying economic growth as the country faces an economic recession. Currently, low variable rates and limited day-to-day obligations make self storage a less demanding industry to break into than apartment rentals or running a laundromat. New businesses are opening every day and this industry that is 90 percent owned by entrepreneurs was named one of the best industries for starting a business in 2010 by Inc. magazine. [More]