Month: December 2017

When you rent a storage unit, you are entitled to add an alternate contact to your account. It’s your storage unit and you likely don’t think it’s necessary. Read further to learn more about when an alternate contact for you storage unit comes in handy.

 

What’s The “Real” Definition of An Alternate Contact Anyway?

An alternate contact seems pretty obvious at first glance. To comply with state statutes an alternate contact:

• Cannot have the same phone number as the person who rented the storage unit
• Cannot have the same address as the person who rented the storage unit

An alternate contact for your storage unit can live in another state. The most common people that someone uses as an alternate for their unit include:

• Family member
• Relative
• Close personal friend
• Co worker

 

When Does An Alternate Contact Come In Handy?

An alternate contact is helpful in the following situations:

• The person renting the storage unit dies
• The person renting the unit moves, and does not provide us an updated address
• Their phone number is changed

We get calls monthly from people in the Appleton and Neenah areas. A family member dies and they knew this person was renting a storage unit somewhere in the Fox Valley. They just make random calls trying to locate their unit. If the unit has gone delinquent for several months it may be too late as the contents may have already been auctioned off. Without an alternate, items important to your family can be forfeited and never recovered.

In some cases a person moves and all of their contact information changes, or there are incarcerated. Several months pass without a payment being received at our office. The storage unit reaches the lien stage and the contents of the unit are auctioned to recover some of the lost income. In both of the above cases an alternate contact for your storage unit could easily help our attempts to reach out to you to be more effective.

 

You now know exactly what an alternate contact is, and how it can help you. It only takes a minute to provide this information when you rent your unit, and we hope you take the time to do this.  If you have further questions, or want to rent a storage unit in Appleton or Neenah give us a call at 920-734-1265.

Many of you have seen television shows about storage unit auctions, but what happens in the months prior to the auction? Here is a summary of the process and how it works.

 

I just got a letter that my storage unit is being auctioned, what happened?

 

If you pay your bill, your unit cannot be sold via an auction. If you don’t pay your bill on time, you will start to receive some notices in the mail.

• First Late Notice (sent around the 7th of month)
• Second Late Notice (sent just before the middle of the month)

When you receive the second late notice, this is also know as the overlock stage. A storage operator can disable your lock or place another lock on your unit.

 

If your unit is delinquent three consecutive months you will reach the Lien Stage. At this point the steps to auction off the contents of your storage unit will begin. They are as follows:

• First Notice of Public Auction – delivered via us mail
• Second Notice of Public Auction – delivered via a letter with a certificate of mailing
• Your Storage Unit is Inventoried – pictures or a video of the contents
• The Auction of Your Unit is Placed in the Newspaper – a description of the contents and the unit number/location
• The Storage Unit Auction Takes Place – auction may be in person on online

In recent years climate (temperature) controlled storage units have become a more readily available option for consumers.  A well maintained storage unit that is not climate controlled continues to meet the needs of most people shopping for storage. However, for some a climate controlled storage unit is the best way to meet their needs.

The definition of climate controlled storage varies among storage companies, but the most common difference between climate controlled storage and temperature controlled storage is humidity. Temperature controlled facilities usually only manage temperature, while climate controlled facilities may manage both temperature and humidity. Both humidity and temperature work together to control moisture levels in a storage space.

Climate controlled facilities use high quality HVAC systems (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), customizable thermostats and heavy-duty insulation to manage temperature and humidity. Air conditioners are very effective at dropping humidity levels. Our main climate facility utilizes a redundant heating and cooling system for protection against mechanical failure. We have installed two heating and cooling systems to best meet your storage needs.

Air flow is extremely important. Our main storage facility circulates the air within the storage space 24/7. The climate units are also vented to allow optimum airflow.

Questions to ask yourself when considering a climate controlled storage unit:

• Does the air temperature where you are storing items drop below 32 degrees or rise above 90 degrees Fahrenheit?
• Is the storage facility in a high-humidity climate?
• Do any of your possessions have high sentimental or cash value?
• Will you need to visit the unit frequently and require comfortable conditions?
• Can I afford the extra monthly cost for this type of unit?

A Climate-controlled storage unit is kept at a temperature between 55 and 85 degrees (F). In general, climate-controlled storage is beneficial for storing valuable or environmentally-sensitive items. Climate-controlled storage units are almost always indoor, and with stable temperatures and humidity levels, your valuables will be better protected from damage in long-term storage.

What kinds of belongings are typically kept in a climate controlled storage unit?

• Product samples that a corporate sales representative needs to properly store
• Medical equipment
• Sensitive electronics
• Heirloom furniture that cannot be replaced
• Items of extreme sentimental value
• Important financial or legal documents
• Vinyl records
• Wine

Our climate controlled storage facilities are located in Appleton. If you are in the market for a climate controlled storage unit (or storage in Appleton or Neenah), please give us a call to find out our current availability at 920-734-1265.