Learning Self Storage Trends

It has been just a little over a year since I started working here and selling storage at PhoneSmart. I can’t believe how much I have learned about storage and storage trends in that amount of time. One lesson I did learn last year was that spring is a very busy season for storage. People need storage to declutter a home going on the market. Others may be starting projects for home improvement and need some extra space to displace that room. Then there are the college kids. Thousands of out-of-state young adults around the country are just waiting till the last minute to get storage. College kids are a sub-class of the motivationally challenged who don’t procrastinate about the paying of bills (Mom and Dad usually take care of that part). However, they do procrastinate in obtaining the unit.

For those who don’t know, we’re in Columbia, Missouri. It is home to two colleges and a big 12 university. So come March, the race is on to get the last storage unit. Now obviously, not much fits in a dorm room, so the first units to go are the smaller units.

Timmy Freshman: Hi I need to store my mini fridge and 4 boxes.

Me: The smallest unit I have available is a 10×10

Timmy: That’s a hundred square feet! I only need like five.

Me. Are you a Freshman?

Timmy: Ya?

Me: You’re upper classmates started getting storage about a month ago. They learned their lessen last year.

Timmy: Fine. I’ll take it. The other place I called only had 10×20’s left.

Comparing last year to this year, our first store in town sold out around mid May. This year, our first two stores sold out in April.

The college kids are catching on. Have we as a storage industry?

Written by: Julio Montes

Thanks for reading our property management blog. We give you an inside look at the self storage and property management industry.

PhoneSmart is your offsite sales force and call center in Columbia, Missouri.

Rent self storage at 7233 Windsor Mill Rd, Baltimore, MD 21244

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Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.

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