Is your self-storage facility aging? It happens to the best of us. There are ~50,000 self-storage facilities in the United States to choose from, so be sure yours is up-to-date, safe, clean and accessible. Maintaining and updating your facility can help attract new customers and keep your current customers happy. Plus, with a little boost in your self-storage curb appeal, you can increase your revenue stream.
First impressions matter. For those customers who find your business online, be sure your website is clear and easy to navigate. All photography should be high quality and representative of your facility. Also, be sure your social media outlets are current and consistent with your brand.
In this post, we’ll dig into what it takes to make your facility’s physical space the best it can be. Consider what it’s like for a customer when they approach and enter your facility. Does it feel welcoming? With so many self-storage facility choices, you’ll want to win over your competition with a friendly and secure atmosphere. Here are some simple ways to upgrade and maintain your facility from the experts at Boxwell:
1. Keep Your Units Up-to-Date.
DOORS: Replace old, unattractive and poor functioning doors, which are hard for people to open. It’s easy to do a color match on roll-up doors for a seamless look. Choose from 20+ paint colors to complement your existing color scheme and logo and complete the look of your facility.
ROOFS: Older facilities may have leaking, rusting roofs. Choose Boxwell units with corrugated steel roofs. Our roofs are seamless and designed to protect against the elements and prevent water from pooling or leaking.
PAINT: Repaint where necessary. Chipping paint is not a good look. Also, if you have a parking lot, be sure to keep the stripes painted.
2. Keep Your Facility Safe.
LIGHTS: Be sure your site is well-lit and check your bulbs and fixtures. This is such a simple way to ensure that your customers feel safe on your site in the darker hours.
TECHNOLOGY: Upgrade to new wireless entry and locking systems. You can keep your gates secure and give easy (and hands-free) access to your customers. Also consider installing security cameras with live streaming monitoring.
FENCING: Replace any outdated fencing around your perimeter. If a customer sees broken, dilapidated fencing, chances are they’ll move onto the next facility.
3. Keep Your Facility Clean and Welcoming.
WASH: Power wash the walls, doors, and curbs. Regularly clean your lot and the exterior of your buildings. For the interior of your available units, go through with a shop vac and sanitize the entryways.
DECLUTTER: Remove trash and unnecessary items from your site. Remember that people are storing their items here to remove clutter from their own homes and businesses!
PEST CONTROL: Look for signs of pests and take measures to mediate. Choose from a manufacturer like Boxwell who produces storage units that are seamless, so your customer’s items are safe from the water, wind, dust and rodents.
GROUNDS: If you have room for landscaping, keep bushes, trees and lawn trimmed. If you have an office, keep it clean and warm with a pot of coffee at the ready.
4. Keep Your Facility Accessible.
LOCATION: Ideally, your facility will be easy to find and easy to enter. Clear signage is important for customers to locate you. Be sure to indicate your facility’s current vacancy status.
FLOW: Once through the gate, cars should fit within driveways and there should be parking available. Clear the walkways for pedestrians.
ADA COMPLIANT: Be sure your facility is compliant with ADA regulations for customers and employees with disabilities.
Boxwell believes that manufacturing a quality, long-lasting product is paramount. Every piece of every part of our product reflects that quality. Over time, regular use can still lead to some wear and grime. Boxwell has a created monthly and annual checklists to help you stay on track with facility maintenance. Keeping up with maintenance and making necessary upgrades will enhance the value of your facility and keep things safe. Plus, you’ll see an increase in revenue for a total win!
At Boxwell, we aim to grown and thrive — as individuals, as a team, and as members of our local community. We are thankful for our health and the success of our business, and we work to support those who are in need. Through innovation and perseverance, we set out to reinvent storage and create the best product in the industry!
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