If you’ve been reading along, you know that we mentioned security, unit condition and accessibility are top things to look for when you first visit a storage facility, but there are other things that can be almost as important.
Friendliness and Availability of Staff
It could almost go without saying that customer service should be king in a storage facility that wants your business, but sadly, that is often not the case. Remember that the day you stop in to consider renting a storage facility is the day that the staff has the most to gain by being extra friendly and helpful. If they aren’t great to deal with that first day, don’t expect it to get better.
You should look for a storage unit in a facility where the staff seems happy to be there, eager to show you the property and knowledgeable about the storage units that they are offering. Sure, everyone can have an off day, but if the staff is hard to deal with before they have your business, you might want to consider another facility.
Simplicity of Billing
When you are looking for a storage unit, one of the things to ask is how the billing works. Some storage facilities don’t send out bills at all. Others send out bills only after you get behind. Ask the storage staff what type of billing they offer. Find out if automatic payments are available.
We once worked for a facility that didn’t like automatic payments and made it difficult for customers to use them. Why? Because the owner there viewed late fees as a significant form of other revenue. He also didn’t send out bills and had no consideration for customers whose payment was delayed because of things like snowstorms that delayed mail delivery.
Finding a facility to work with isn’t difficult, but you should be able to find one that remembers what customer service entails and offers it.