Rental Industry News Today

Why It’s Called A Law

A story dated September 19, 2012 in the Chicago Daily Herald adds credence to the old adage that truth is indeed stranger than fiction, and provides evidence for the theory of the law of attraction described in the best seller The Secret.

If you were going to choose a place to stash your ill gotten gain from the alleged sale of dope, you might think twice about tempting the laws of attraction by choosing a locale that included the name Lock Up.

Yet apparently, that’s what Federal authorities uncovered in an investigation of the activities of a Chicago resident related to a drug operation.

He Did Not Choose…..Wisely

In short, the accused subject did not choose wisely when he selected a public self storage facility to warehouse the profits from the sale of his illegal contraband. He chose, of all places, a self storage business by the name of Lock Up Self Storage.

So now, in keeping with the law of attraction, he is locked up.

In a way, it’s unfortunate investigators stumbled upon the lease agreement for the storage unit after the man was arrested. Had they not been tipped off to the use of the storage unit, it potentially would have made for a jaw dropping episode of Storage Wars.

We’ll Start The Bidding At 500 Thousand

Imagine if our unlucky suspect had gone to jail without the authorities finding his self storage stash. When the unpaid rent on the unit finally forced the proprietors to auction off the contents, here is what bidders would have found behind the locked door, according to court documents:

•    133 one-hundred troy ounce silver bars
•    547 ten troy ounce silver bars
•    859 five troy ounce silver bars
•    10,001 one troy ounce silver rounds
•    Five 5-gallon buckets filled with gold and silver coins
•    $75,000 in cash

Total value of the contents of the self storage unit was estimated at 1.4 million bucks. Can you say: Jackpot!

Hindsight is 20/20, but going forward it might behoove aspiring criminals to select somewhere other than a public self storage business to squirrel away their lucre. But if indeed they must, perhaps a look at actual storage rental businesses with the name Strongbox, Fortress, or even Extra Space would be a wiser choice.

Residents and business owners in the Boston suburb of Waltham, Ma who want to do business with a public self storage facility that is clean, secure, and staffed by knowledgeable professionals are invited to visit Extra Space Self Storage.

Conveniently located just off Interstate 95 at 195 Bear Hill Road, this imposing structure offers indoor heated and climate controlled storage units in a variety of sizes to fit your storage needs.

Extra Space is customer focused, a dynamic, growing company, and currently the second largest self storage provider in the USA. One visit to this site and you’ll see why.

Among the amenities:
1.    Multiple video cameras capturing activity throughout the property
2.    Electronic coded gate access for restricted secure entry
3.    Climate-controlled units to protect from humidity and temperature extremes
4.    Convenient freeway access
5.    Sturdy moving carts let you easily move heavy and bulky items
6.    Lifts available for hassle-free upper-floor access
7.    Loading dock for smooth loading and unloading
8.    Covered loading bay keeps you protected from the elements
9.    RV Storage - Recreational vehicle spaces.

Call or stop by this self storage fortress and see for yourself what they have to offer. Their staff will be happy to give you a tour and answer your questions. Seeing is believing.

When evaluating self storage facilities before choosing a Miami-Dade County rental self storage unit, there are several important considerations which generally make the checklists of prospective renters.

Cost, convenience, security, and staff professionalism are usually at the top of most storage shoppers’ lists, and apply to both both standard and climate controlled storage options.

There is one sometimes overlooked item which is also important and warrants attention from those shopping for self storage units for rent. That factor is the cleanliness of the facility. In the humid, sub-tropical climate experienced in the Greater Miami, Florida metropolitan area, this is especially true.

A Clean Storage Facility Is Important

Why is a clean facility important? A clean self storage business is much less likely to attract pests and rodents. This is vitally important when storing furniture, clothing, and pharmaceuticals. You do not want to be bringing in any new and uninvited house guests when you remove your items from storage and bring them into your residence or business, nor do you want your items in storage to be damaged by infestation. Be sure to ask management what measures they take to maintain a clean and pest free environment.

Cleanliness evaluation starts when you pull into the parking lot. Are the facility grounds well maintained and free of litter and debris? If there is landscaping, is it healthy and well cared for? It’s a good sign when the management is aware of curb appeal to customers.

Pay attention to the office environment as well. Is the office area clean and orderly, desks organized, and floors sparkling? Is there a lingering odor, especially of smoke? Not a good sign. Have the trash cans been emptied? When was the last time this office saw a paint brush?

A Hard Place To Hide

A great place to check to get an idea of the management attitude toward maintaining a clean environment is the public restroom. A dingy restroom that makes you feel like you might need to take a shower after you get home is an indicator that perhaps the facility is not focused on cleanliness.

Another spot to check to get an idea of the cleanliness culture of the facility is the dumpster storage area. Is there trash outside the dumpsters? Are there fenced enclosures around the dumpsters, and if so, are they well maintained and free of dirt? Are the dumpsters overflowing or the lids unclosed? This is a prime spot to check as it will be a pest and rodent magnet if it is unclean and/or disorderly. Some customers might leave it that way temporarily, but a good management team won’t let the dumpster area go unchecked.

So if you live in the Miami-Dade County area and are considering renting a self storage unit, do take cost, security, and staff professionalism into account, but with all the wildlife and pests known to inhabit this region, the overall cleanliness of your prospective self storage rental facility is an important factor you’d benefit from not overlooking.

As home to an airport and one of the largest ports in the country, Long Beach, Ca is a departure point for many overseas excursions. Undoubtedly, some of these flights and cruises take individuals overseas for an extended stay, if not an outright relocation. So what are some practical considerations for your furniture and belongings if you are going overseas for several months or several years?

You can elect to rent or sublet your home, condo, or apartment fully furnished to someone, which could be ideal if you’re pretty familiar with the individual to whom you are renting. This way you don’t have to sell or store your furniture and can keep your friendly familiar space for when and if you return.

Another option is to give up your space and ship your furniture overseas. This is not only an expensive option; it can also become both a planning and logistical challenge. Besides running into many thousands of dollars cost wise, it requires jumping through a lot of hoops like customs as well as determining if some items, like mattresses, will even be allowed into the country to which you are moving. Be prepared for a lot of your possessions to be inspected and pass thorough the hands of various third parties. As a rule of thumb, shipping furniture and possessions is only practical if the items have great value. It is much more practical to sell off what you can, give away or donate the rest, and simply buy replacements in your new surroundings.

Most individuals in this situation elect to move their possessions into secure self storage. This way, you keep your options open if things don’t work out and you decide to return to home sweet home. Self storage businesses are very familiar with individuals in this situation, and can offer practical suggestions to make the best of the situation.

Fortunately, the metro Long Beach area is home to a number of very good professionally staffed and managed self storage facilities. They offer storage solutions which can accommodate a single room, right up to the contents of an entire home. Many also offer boat and vehicle storage as well, so you can deal with one provider. Bear in mind that some items like upholstered furniture are best stored in climate controlled facilities, especially if they are susceptible to humidity and temperature extremes.

Talk to a reputable local storage provider. They will be happy to share their knowledge and experience to help you manage your possessions, and allow you peace of mind while you’re away.

Going Green and recycling are integral parts of an ongoing effort to raise awareness of what you can do to help keep your environment healthy and sustainable. If you are getting organized and need to rent a self storage unit in Long Beach, CA you can also recycle your e-waste instead of throwing it away.

An important aspect of protecting the environment is utilizing electronics recycling and proper e-waste disposal, especially computer recycling, according to the EPA. Choosing to recycle electronics versus setting them on the curb on garbage day or throwing them into a dumpster is going Green in a big way.

One of the worst options for disposing of electronics is sending them to a landfill. Not only is this practice wasteful, it is also extremely harmful as toxins and chemicals contaminate the earth and water supply as, over time, they leach out of the electronic waste. 

Environmentally friendly alternatives to sending outdated or unusable electronic equipment to the landfill are becoming better known. For example, an organization known as Greenspot Dropoff now makes it easier to find a convenient location to take your unwanted computer, tv and related electronics for safe disposal. Best of all, the service is free.

Greenspot Dropoff was founded in California in 2009 to promote as well as provide a responsible way to dispose of e-waste. Currently most Greenspot Dropoff locations are in California and Texas. Greenspot’s goal is to build out and establish electronics recycling drop off locations within 10 miles of most population centers in the USA. 

So what can you recycle at Greenspot Dropoff? With the exception of appliances, if you can plug it in and it has a circuit board, they will accept it: televisions, fax machines, oscilloscopes, computer monitors, optical drives, PC boards, DVD players, laptops, VCRs, keyboards, printers, radios, computer mice, and stereo components are all eligible. They’ll also take cables and cords.  

On March 9th of 2012, the e-waste recycling program received a significant boost when Greenspot Dropoff announced an alliance with Extra Space self storage facilities including 48 of their locations in California. Extra Space Self Storage is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is the second largest self storage provider in the United States.

Now businesses and individuals in cities like Long Beach, California can take advantage of e-waste recycling at self storage unit rental providers and the community will benefit not only environmentally, but financially as well. Extra Space and Greenspot have pledged to donate one dollar to schools and charitable organizations for each CRT monitor, television, computer, flat screen and laptop brought to any participating Extra Space location for recycling.

Regardless of whether you live in the areas currently served by Greenspot Dropoff and their partners like Extra Space, it will benefit you and future generations to recycle your e-waste at a facility or drop off that will dispose of it properly. An online search usually will provide locations in your area. Your earth will love you for it.