Month: January 2018

Why would a storage unit facility tell customers how to avoid fees instead of hoping to collect more fees? We want happy storage customers at Stor It Storage. When you come to visit us at our office in Appleton we prefer to see smiles.  Happy customers tell their friends and family about their experience, which leads to more customers. We want your storage experience to be a good one. We take pride in having repeat and referral customers at our Appleton and Neenah locations.

 

Typical Fees That A Storage Facility May Charge

•         Late Fee
•         Overlock Fee
•         NSF Fee
•         Unit Cleaning and Disposal Fees
•         Storage Auction Fees
•         Lock Cutting Fee
•         Emergency Trip Fee

 

Late Fee

Payment for your storage unit is typically due in one of two ways:

1.       On the first of the month. This means that your first month is pro-rated based on how many days are left in the month when you move into your storage unit. This is how we structure our storage due dates. This is simpler us to manage and for you to remember. Everyone’s rent for their unit is always due on the 1^st of the month.
2.       On your anniversary date. If you move in on the 18^th of the month, your rent is due every month on the 18^th.

A storage operator is allowed to charge a late fee if payment for your unit is not received at their office within x days of the due date.  If you have ever rented an apartment you are familiar with late fees in your lease.

 

Overlock Fee

What happens if your payment is not received by the storage facility by the

Due Date, and they still don’t have payment when the Late Fee day comes and goes? A storage facility is allowed to place an ‘overlock’ on your storage unit at a certain point in the month, and charge for this process. An overlock will usually occur in one of two ways:

1.       The lock on your storage unit will be disabled. The storage manager has a key that allows them to make your key no longer work.
2.       Another lock will be placed on your storage unit that only the storage manager has a key to. Your lock will still work, but this second lock will prevent access to your storage unit.

Once you pay the balance for your storage unit, the overlock is removed. The fee is to cover the time for the storage manager to go to your unit and apply the overlock, and return on another trip to allow access to your storage unit.

 

NSF Fee

If you write a check for your storage unit and it does not clear the bank you may be charged this fee.  NSF checks are known as bounced checks or bad checks. The acronym (NSF) also describes the fee incurred from these checks.  A bank will charge a fee for this.  A storage facility will assess a fee to your storage unit account to cover this charge.

 

Unit Cleaning and Disposal Fees

If you leave anything in or near your storage unit when you move out, the storage facility can charge for cleaning out your unit and disposing of the contents. Leave your storage unit the way you found it and you can easily avoid these fees.

 

Storage Auction Fees

 

These fees can really add up. If you fail to pay for your storage unit for three consecutive months state statutes will allow the storage facility to auction your unit in an effort to recover monies owed to them.

 

The storage unit will need to be inventoried and have pictures taken. If the value of the contents of the storage unit are deemed to be less than a certain value the storage facility may dispose of the contents and charge for their time. Letters are mailed to the person who rented the storage unit as well as their alternate contact. Advertisements are places in the local newspaper, usually the Appleton Post Crescent. The auction is conducted in person or online. We now use www.bid13.com for all of our storage unit auctions. No one has to stand in the snow or rain to bid on a unit. Fees can be incurred for many of the above auction procedures.

 

Lock Cutting Fee

 

You lost your keys and can’t get into your storage unit, now what? If it’s your lock, the storage manager may or may not help you. If they do help you, some may charge for this service. If the facility provides the lock and keys, they likely have a spare key in a secured location.

 

We provide the lock and keys at Stor It Storage, so we are here to help you with any lock issues you may have. When a storage customer loses their keys we are able to have them stop by our office with a photo ID and borrow our spare key. Sometime they find their original keys at a later date and do not have to pay for new keys. If you have an issue with the lock to your storage unit, we can stop by and look into the problem without having to set up a time to meet you at your storage unit when you can get there with the keys. This process has allowed us to keep any fees for lock cutting to a minimum. We have not charged anyone this fee and hope to keep it that way.

 

Emergency Trip Fee

 

If you need help with your storage unit after hours or in an emergency a storage facility may charge for this service. We have not charged for this service to date, and will do our best to continue this trend.

 

How Can I Never Pay Any Fees For My Storage Unit?

 

No one loves fees. We don’t rejoice in collecting storage unit fees and honestly wish that all of our customers were set up with automatic payments on the 1st of the month. Autopay would be our first piece of advice for anyone renting a storage unit.

 

Some storage tenants wait to mail their check until the 5th, this is when we commonly see storage fees occur. If you mail your storage payment, mail it early. The postal service is not perfect, delays and holidays happen. Mail your unit payment a few days prior to the 1st of the month and you should be fine.

We have outdoor parking spaces at our storage facility at 1641 W Evergreen Drive in Appleton. Space is limited so please plan ahead of time if you are looking to store a vehicle or trailer.

 

Parking Your RV on Gravel or Pavement – Which is Better?

Your tire’s worst enemy is moisture coming out of whatever the rv is parked on. This contributes to the dry rot that everyone attributes to the sun. The sun is a contributor but not nearly as harsh as moisture. If any surface touching your tires retains moisture, dry rot will attack your tires. Some who have poured concrete slabs to park on have laid down plastic and poured over that but that still does not stop moisture from coming up out of the concrete. Be sure as that water cannot puddle around your tires wherever you park and store your RV.

 

Boats and RVs are large items items to store, and you may not have enough space at your home to store them. If you are unable to park them in the street or your driveway you should consider renting outdoor storage.

 

Winterizing Tips

Not familiar with how do you know how to properly winterize and prepare your boat or RV for storage? Here’s a helpful guide listing the items to get done before storing them for the winter.

 

Tips for Properly Storing Your Boat

• Add a Fuel Stabilizer – Some small engine professionals suggest that you should fill the tank and add a stabilizer to keep condensation from forming inside the engine. Ask your boat mechanic what they recommend.
• Clean and/or Wax Everything – This can minimize the amount of time you have to spend on it when the weather is nice again.
• Change the Oil – A common best practice is to change the engine oil as well as the antifreeze.
• Make Any Necessary Repairs – If your boat needs attention, now is the best time to make repairs. This way, boating next year will happen when you want it to. Pay attention to the hull, engine, electronics, tires and any protective covers.
• Remove Electronics – You shouldn’t leave any electronics inside the boat over the winter. In Appleton Wisconsin you will want to remove the battery and keep it at home on a trickle charger over the winter.

 

Tips for Properly Storing your RV

• Clean and/or Wax Everything – This will keep your RV looking brighter the time next season, and provide some protection from the elements.
• Drain All the Tanks – This includes the fresh, black and grey water holding tanks. A cracked tank in spring is not a welcome event. Drain the water heater.
• Prop The Fridge Door Open – To prevent stale air and mold.
• Use Only RV Antifreeze – Automotive antifreeze could poison your water lines. Contact your RV service department for their recommendation.
• Fix What’s Broken – Save time when the next season arrives and eliminate any spring surprises. This includes the engine, electrical system and roof.

Placing your belongings in a storage unit is typically a short term situation. Do you need insurance on your storage unit? The following information can help you decide what’s best for your situation.

 

The Storage Facility Has Insurance So I Don’t Need Any

This statement is half true. We insure every single storage unit we own in Appleton and Neenah, and have coverage for fire, wind, hail, water damage etc. What is actually covered by our insurance carrier are the physical structures, the “storage unit” itself. What is not insured is the “contents” of the storage unit, your stuff.

 

Are You Trying To Scare Me Into Buying Storage Insurance?

No we are not. When you come to our office we are not going to pressure you into insuring your unit. We offer storage insurance as a service to you so that you can have one stop shopping when you need a storage unit. You get to choose if you insure your storage unit, as you know what’s in there and how much value it has to you.

 

Odds are fairly good that nothing will happen, which is also why storage unit insurance is cheap. You can have $2,000 worth of coverage with no deductible for about $10/month. Higher coverage amounts are also available.

 

Has Any Storage Facility In Appleton Or Neenah Had Major Damage?

In the past 5 years we know of a few examples. One facility East of Appleton went up in flames when someone was trying to heat their unit while they were in it in the winter. A facility in Neenah was hit by a tornado and pulled the roofs off of two buildings. Everything inside got soaked.

 

Can I Just Put My Storage Unit on My Renter’s or Homeowner’s Policy

Absolutely! The main difference between the two is that if you file a claim with your primary insurance company they may raise your rates. Our insurance is provided by an exclusive storage insurance company, so your primary carrier won’t have a reason to increase your rates.

 

Our carrier offers a $0 deductible if you use one of our cylinder or disc locks. Your carrier will likely have a deductible of $250 or more if you have a claim.

 

The Choice Is Yours

We are here to make insurance easy to add if you want to insure the contents of your storage unit. If you have questions please text, email or call us at 920-734-1265 and we would be happy to assist you further.