by Winnie Hsiu
May 13, 2011 10:17 PM
Today’s society is one that has become one that appreciates stuff. We like to own things; sometimes because we need them; at other times just because we want them. Regardless of the reason that we do buy whatever it is, we want to do whatever we can to make sure we hold on to our stuff.
Even though the current economy has many people forced to downsize their living establishments in recent years, the self storage industry has made it possible for them to hold onto their precious belongings a bit longer. That has given rise to a resurgence in self storage making it a worthwhile investment in a time when there are not too many of those.
Just like every other business segment, the self storage one is rife with competition. In order to be competitive, different self storage entities have to do what they can to stand out from the pack and make themselves look better than the rest in order to draw in customers.
No matter what different things many self storage companies will try to do to draw in customers there is one thing that every prospective tenant can be swayed by regardless of other amenities—security. Regardless of whatever else a self storage facility will offer, if the perception of security is not there people will not want to leave their stuff there.
"Unless a customer feels secure in the facility there at, they're not going to rent a unit from you," said Colt Lightfoot, manager of Penny Pinchers in East Charlotte, North Carolina.
However, the perception of security may depend on what people think they are getting with it. Conventional wisdom says that security is in place to stop thieves, but many self storage managers will say that it is actually more of a deterrent.
Having enough security to stop crime would put your self storage facility out of business. It would take way too much in either on site security, digital surveillance, and locks or alarm systems to even claim that a facility was crime free. With the right things a company can look too tough for criminals to want to take a chance on.
Many things can be done to give the perception of security. Home owners will often place security company signs in their yards. Companies offer self storage facilities fake cameras for sale to give the illusion of surveillance. The problem with measures like that can be once the trick is out or if people do not know about them, than an even bigger liability can result from that.
One recommendation that many self storage companies are encouraged to employ involves developing a relationship with their local police department. Offer them storage for whatever they may need or even invite them to engage in training scenarios on the premises. Then in return if units on patrol can swing by the facility you get the best crime deterrent you could hope for.
Sources Used:
“Storage Facilities Crack Down On Security.” FoxCharlotte.com; 23 April 2011.
“WXII Investigation Reveals Fake Cameras At Storage Facility.” WXII12.com; 04 May 2011.
“Creating the ‘Illusion’ of Self-Storage Security.” Inside Self Storage; 22 May 2009.