I come from a family with a large military background.  Far too often, I have waved off a family member as they head out to fight for freedom.  Although most of my family already had their own homes, they still used storage to keep some of thier items protected.  My cousins also had to store some things, including his vehicle.  At one time, thier were several family members storing in the same local storage facility .  I soon realized that at our local facility, there were over 60 percent military personell storing thier things.

It is no suprise that the busiest time of year for the storage industry is the summer months.  Most people get self storage between the months of April and August.  That being said, there are people that get storage outside that time frame.  The reason why the summer is so busy is because that is the ideal moving time.  Most people have summer vacations, and kids are often out of school.  Relocating during the summer is also popular.  It is important to remember that when looking for storage.  Also start looking about a month in advance and reserve a space whenever possible to make sure it is there when you need it.

Many of my friends ride 4 wheelers in the summer.  They store their vehicles in self storage in the winter to save some of their garage space.  They work on their vehicles and even own a local business that repairs 3 and 4 wheeled vehicles.  By storing thier vehicles, they have more room to work on projects in their garage.  Some day, they plan to build a garage addition, but for now, they like using self storage .

Do storage facilities allow tenants to store firewood?  I have a lot of firewood on my property, and I do not need it for the summer.  I want to save the wood, so I would like to store it to keep it dry.  I know that most places do not allow living or organic items, but would they make an exception for firewood?  I guess I could store it outside, but I feel it would keep the wood more dry if I used self storage .  It would take a little work to pick up and drop off, but it would be worth it.

With the way consumers spend money today, more and more people are looking for a place to put all their stuff.  It seems like a persons collection is never complete until they have bought the next big thing on the market.  After a while, you end up with a lot of junk to find a place for.  Most people use free space storage to store their stuff and make room for new things in thier home.  To me, it seems like a vicious cycle, but I too am guilty.  The only way to ensure you have space for everything you own, is to make smart purchases.

All self storage properties have a way of disposing belongings left by someone who fails to pay thier bills.  Most places auction the items.  An auction is an excellent way to get a lot for a little.  If someone fails to pay over a certain period of time, the manager opens the space and allows bidding to the public.  While most places dont let you inside the unit, they let you bid on the space from outside, so you get a good idea of whats inside.  I have seen someone get a nearly brand new snowboard for less than $100. 

My mother was in the army for a short time.  When I was younger, she applied and was accepted.  She soon after shipped off to begin basic training.  Because she was gone, I had to move in with my father on the other side of town.  We got my mom a storage unit to put alot of her things into, since she did not plan to come back for a while.  She wrote me every day she was gone.  In week six of her basic trainin in Ft. Jackson, SC, she got hurt and had to return home.  I was happy although she did not complete thier basic training.

There are a lot of different type of storage containers.  You can use boxes with tape and bubble wrap.  You can also use plastic tubs with lids, with are much more durable and stack easier.  Some people use bags, which is good for clothes or other objects that don't easily break.  However, it is also important to properly pack items as well.  This prevents things from breaking while in storage.  By packing properly and using plastic bins, you can protect your things in storage .

Most people do not realize what terms factor into the pricing of storage facilities.  Location is one of the most important aspects.  Self storage is similar to real estate in that aspect.  If a unit is in a bad part of town, the property value will be less and vise versa.  Availibility is also an important term.  If a facility only has a few units open, the rates of those units will most likely cost more.  Finally, the ammenities of the property also contribute to price.  If a property does not have good security, ie video cameras, fence around the property, they will be cheaper.  Keep these things in mind when shopping around.

I have had a lot of crazy calls during my time in a self storage call center.  There have been so many incidents that I have decided to seperate my experiances into more than one blog.  This first encounter should prove interesting enough to keep you reading.

I once had a guy call in to look for storage.  The caller sounded normal enough at first, but when asked what he planned to store, he responded with a strange request.  He wanted to store his children.  At first, I thought the man was joking, but he was serious.  He claimed he could not afford a baby sitter, and the kids were too young to be in school.  He said he wanted to put them in there with food and water, then lock them in there until he got off work.  Needless to say, I was not able to help him with a space.

There will be plenty more posted stories, so check my blogs regularly

Part 1.  A Strange New Lock

The year was 1965.  The sun was shining bright in the beautiful city of Saskatoon, SK.  A young girl was playing in a field behind the apartments her and her mother lived in.  She had always loved to pick flowers and give them to thier nieghbors.  As she skipped across a sea of dandilions, she noticed something shining in the dirt.  As she reached down, she realized it was a lock.  It looked similar to the lock momma used on her storage unit down the street.  However, this lock was unusually clean and shiny for being in the dirt.  A small key was attached to the lock bolt, which fit the lock perfectly.  She began making her way back to the apartment complex, but stopped suddley when she heard a noise.  She was sure it came from the lock, but that was crazy.  She heard the noise again, and this time the lock vibrated slightly in her hand. 

Once, while at my parents house, I tried to determine what sized storage unit they would need if they planned to move.  I began counting all thier furniture.  Yes, I was really bored.  They live out in the middle of nowhere.  The have two bedrooms, the master and my sister's room.  They also have a game room complete with pool table, and a 2 car gargae with sheet metal equipment.  My parents own a Heating and Air Conditioning business, so the garage is a shop.  I determined that they needed at least a 10x30 for the house, and a 10x20 for the garage.  Too bad they don't need storage right now.

Most people do not realize exactly how storage works.  So here are a few pointers to keep in mind when looking for a unit.  1.  Cheaper is not always better.  2.  Make sure to look for locations with good security.  3.  Pest control is important.  4.  Ask about additional fees like deposits and security fees.  5.  It is always good to have insurance on your things.  6.  Look for properties in good neighborhoods.  7.  Make sure you have good access hours.  8.  Ask about specials.  9.  Do not wait until the last minute to hold a space.  Make sure you get the right sized space for what you plan to store.  With this information, you should be able to make an informed decision.

Crates are great for storing things.  I have over 50 which I store clothes, shoes, and other personal things in.  I have lined each milk crate with a bag, since they have holes in them.  They stack perfectly, creating orginization.  The best part is that you can usually get them for free.  So do not worry about getting tubs that cost 10$ each.  With milk crates, you can save money and still be organized.  That is just one way to save money when storing things.

If I wanted to store vintage comics, I would make sure to go with a climate controlled space.  Recently, a friend who runs a comic book exchange needed to find free space for his valuable merchandise.  I suggested a storage unit.  He liked the idea.  But when we went down to the property to look, we realized they did not have any climate control spaces.  We ended up driving around for two hours until we found a place that did.  I understood why, since most of the comics he is storing is very rare.

Cats require a lot of extra supplies.  My cat has three scratching posts alone. I have had to turn a closet into makeshift storage unit to make sure everything is stored properly.  We also needed a place to put the cat litter and food.  We have a dog that likes to get into things, so we had to keep it out of his reach.  Finally, I decided to build shelves in the garage.  This worked out much better, and made the cats things more accessible to us.  I'm glad we have an open closet again.

Yesterday, I had a woman who called in from her storage unit .  She had just signed the lease on her space earlier in the day.  She had not put a lock on her space, and had left the property to bring back a load of her stuff.  Becuase there was no lock on the space, the manager put a red lock on it to make sure anything inside would not be stolen.  She was furious because the office was closed and she had all her things but could not get in.  After trying to contact the manager, I told her that they would be open tomorrow.  The manager could fix it then.  She asked what time and I responded with 12.  She began cussing at someone in the background then became upset because the office was going to be open while they were in church.  

I could not believe the mouth this woman had on her.  On top of that, she apparantly goes to church.

I have often fantisized about the future possibility of human life on other planets.  If mankind does ever get to that point, Im sure we will need storage .  However, the designs will most likely have to change.  A lot of how storage would look on other planets would come from how the planets were developed for human life.

The best way to save space is by learning to condense.  By stacking and condensing your things, you will be able to save a ton of space.  Some people spend a ton of money on a storage unit .  But if you can part with things you do not need, then pack the things you do, you can wind up fitting a lot in a little space.

Right now I am so hungry I could eat the entire contents of a 20x20 storage unit .  I ofter wait to eat until my mid shift lunch when I am at work.  Usually, I have to skip breakfast.  I don't want to, but I usually don't have time to make anything and eat before I leave.  I am writing this about thirty minutes before I get to eat.  I can barely wait.

I am not a big fan of vegetables.  Dont get my wrong, I like some of them.  But I dont like a majority of vegetables.  Some of my favorites are olives, green beans, carrots, potatoes, homany corn, and lettuce.  I cannot stand tomatos, even though my family loves them.  To me, they are  bland and mushy.  Perhaps I could use a storage space to place canned vegetables.

What is the difference between self storage in Canada and storage in the United States?  Not much, actually.  Nearly all storage facilities in Canada are modeled after US facilities.  This is mostly due to the history of the storage industry.  When storage units in the United States became popular, most entrepenuers decided to expand into the great north.  They created properties similarly, and began to operate them in the same fashion as well.  The properties in Canada even use feet as the space measurement size, although Canada uses the metric system.

My grandfather has a TON of ties.  He has been collecting them for over 30 years.  He has a lot of cheesy ones too.  I asked him a while back where he would put his new additions, once his closet was full.  His reply was that he would probably need a 10 by 30 storage unit .  I suggested that he sell some of his lesser used ones.  While he pondered the idea, he finally decided he would keep every tie.  Someday he plans to donate the ties to a charitable cause.  But until that day, they will most likely stay in my grandfathers closet.