PhoneSmart, an off-site sales and reservation center for the self-storage industry, will donate 10 cents for each customer lead or reservation it generates this month, up to $1,250, for Kure It Cancer Research, a nonprofit dedicated to funding kidney and other cancer research.

Kure It was launched by self-storage industry veteran Barry Hoeven, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1998. In April 2007, Hoeven partnered with cancer center City of Hope to create the Kure It! Kidney Cancer Research Fund, which raised more than $400,000. Kure It Inc. was established in January 2010 to grant funds to cancer researchers investigating progressive treatments and cures. To date the organization has raised more than $1 million.

We want to show how much money can be raised for Kure It even when donating such a small amount at a time, said Tron Jordheim, president of PhoneSmart. It would be a busy month, but we can definitely rent the 12,500 storage units needed to meet our goal. We also hope to bring each of our clients into the network of Kure It supporters by making these pledges for each reservation we generate on their behalf.

PhoneSmart was founded in 2000 to serve its parent company, StorageMart, and offer off-site sales support and call-center services to other companies in the self-storage and property-management industries. The company answers rental inquiries for more than 100 client companies and 800 individual properties in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Southern Self Storage, which operates 21 facilities in Florida, recently purchased Embassy One U-Store in Port Richey. The 52,000-square-foot facility was constructed in 2008 and offers indoor and outdoor units and computerized gate access.

This facility has many of the qualities that we look for, said Donald Toler, regional manager. Its centrally located and already has a great tenant base that we can build on. The facility has 461 units with approximately 70 percent air-conditioned space to non-air-conditioned space, which is an ideal mix that we typically look for.

Weve already started our rebranding efforts, said Tresha Powe, marketing manager. We hope to have a grand re-opening ceremony in June that will allow members of the Port Richey community to meet the team and see all of the wonderful improvements made.

Southern Self Storage is a Florida-based company that opened its doors in 1985. Most locations offer free truck rental for new customers, extra wide doors and wide lane access for trucks. A few other benefits include computerized gate access to enclosed lighted grounds, painted concrete floors, delivery acceptance and video surveillance.

World Class Capital Group (WCCG), an Austin, Texas-based real estate investment firm, has purchased a five-property portfolio from an undisclosed publicly traded self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT). Four of the facilities are in Houston and one is in Indianapolis. Together, they comprise more than 2,500 storage units in 330,000 square feet. The facilities will be rebranded as Great Value Storage.

We are excited to add these five facilities to our growing portfolio, said Nate Paul, president and CEO. We continue to find valuable opportunities to expand our platform and grow our national presence. As we expand further, market concentration will continue to be an emphasis in an effort to further operational efficiencies achieved in markets where we own and operate multiple assets.

The transaction is WCCGs third self-storage portfolio acquisition in less than a year. In that timeframe, the company has added 27 facilities comprising more than 15,000 units and 1.8 million square feet.

Given the current state of the industry, we see a tremendous amount of opportunity for well-capitalized private operators, said Jake Walker, vice president of acquisitions. We have a long-term outlook for the platform, and will continue to be a significant acquirer of self-storage facilities nationwide.

WCCG pursues investments in all U.S. markets, primarily focusing on real estate and private equity. In addition to self-storage, the firms portfolio includes office, retail, industrial, multi-family and land. Great Value Storage currently operates 38 self-storage facilities comprising more than 20,000 units and 2.8 million square feet.

TCL Media Group, a developer of websites focused on self-storage auctions, has launched VirtualStorageAuction.com, a free listing service for self-storage lien sales. Units can be listed by storage facilities, auctioneers or private sellers, and bidders can use the site to research available units before placing an online bid.

Online auctions enable self-storage operators to recover 25 percent to 100 percent more than traditional in-person auctions, company officials said. In addition to units put up for lien auction by storage facilities, the website also lets private sellers place their units for sale to avoid foreclosure or sell unwanted items. The site also enables facilities to hold a virtual auction concurrently with an onsite auction.

In additions to free listings, bidders can join the website without registering a credit card.

Focus Property Group, a Colorado-based real estate investment and development company, will build two more environmentally friendly Greenbox Self Storage facilities in downtown Denver later this year. The company opened its first facility in January in Denvers River North district. That facility is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified from the U.S. Green Building Council, company officials said.

The downtown Denver population is growing at an exceptional rate, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon, said Bahman Shafa, founder of Greenbox. There are currently over 17,000 downtown residents and 44,000 students attending school in the metro area, so the need for storage has never been greater. Were very excited to be offering these new storage solutions to Denvers urban residents.

One of the new facilities will be at 2424 Delgany St., just north of Coors Field. The 130,000-square-foot, two-story building will offer 650 units, large warehouse space, and amenities such as computerized keypad access, climate-controlled units, video surveillance and free use of moving trucks.

The facility will also feature a Small Business Solutions Center offering shipping services, fax and copy machines, WiFi, and a private conference room. As part of the companys mission to focus on the community, the center will also serve as a small-business and start-up incubator, allowing customers to run their business and store, ship and receive inventory at the location, company officials said.

The Delgany building will also feature a 90-foot glass-and-steel tower designed to enhance the downtown skyline and become a landmark for the neighborhood.

The second new facility will be located at 1385 S. Santa Fe Drive in the South Broadway area of Denver. The lower level will offer 45,000 square feet of rentable storage space, with 407 units ranging from 25 to 2,300 square feet. The buildings upper level will be leased primarily to Urban Lights, the citys largest lighting showroom. Drive-in boat/RV units will also be available.

Both facilities will have sustainable designs, including  energy-efficient insulation, recycled building materials and approximately 300 solar panels at each location that are expected to save the company a combined 500,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

As the economy started to tank, we all tightened our belts and hunkered down to bear it out. Now, several years have gone by, and some facilities are bearing the marks of hard times. Perhaps the economic storm isnt over, but there comes a time when you need to assess the damage, accept it for what it is and rebuild.

Indicators show the self-storage industry is on an upswing. Facility owners who want to take advantage of it need to prepare now. As our industry has matured, so have the tenants. Consumers have become self-storage savvy. Many are repeat users and know their way around a facility, so to speak. They expect things like move-in discounts, electronic gates, security cameras and online-payment options. With self-storage now a one on every corner business, customers are spoiled for choice.

So that leads us back to the basics. Great customer service and high curb appeal are a must to distinguish your facility from the competition. Begin this rental season with a good assessment of your site. Look at your facility from the tenants viewpoint, the eye of a potential buyer and, most important, through the eyes of asset management.

Consider Your Facilitys Appearance

Simple things like replacing stained ceiling tiles, repainting doors and door frames, and replacing worn flags and signage can make a huge difference. If a potential buyer would put it on the first things to be done list, so should you. Put new ropes on the doors and replace rusted hasps. If you can fix it, fix it. If its been seven years since the office was overhauled or repainted, it probably needs it. This may also help jar your manager out of a rut.

During your assessment, look for potential liabilities. Have you walked past something on your site and thought, Someone may trip over that? Someone probably has. Dont wait any longer, get it fixed. The economy is what it is. Its up to you to do the best to keep up your property value.

Keep Pace With the Market

If you havent visited your competition lately, you should. After a period of time, its easy to get complacent about the market. Actually go out there and visit. How does your facility stack up? Take a look at cleanliness, staff professionalism, customer service and curb appeal. If you needed storage today, would you rent here or from your manager?

Use this visit as a chance to find out what pricing and specials are being offered in the market. Sure, you get this information from the Internet and your manager submits a survey every month, but the information that goes across the counter may be very different. Storage managers dont often get a chance to talk shop and are usually willing to share their thoughts on the business. Start a conversation to help determine if your prices, specials and occupancy level are within an appropriate range. If you find out youre way behind the others, its time to make some serious changes.

How does your manager stack up to other managers in the area? Look at how theyre dressed, their attitude and customer-service skills. Do they understand how to sell self-storage? Good managers maintain asset value, but great managers drive it up.

Estimate Discounts, Rent Increases, Delinquency and Complimentary Units

Its easy for time to get away from us in this area, too. When the economy is bad, everyone wants a discount; and discounts are a great tool when used effectively. Unfortunately, what was intended to be a short-term reduction can become a long-term money drain if rates arent regularly reviewed and adjusted. Business expenses rise every year, and you must account for that in your income. Tenants understand that and will not balk at a reasonable rent increase, especially when they see youve put a new rope on their door and fixed the lock on the ladys room door.

Evaluate your complimentary and company units. Make sure you arent giving away income-earning inventory. These, along with manager units, should be the ones that are undesirable or more difficult to rent, not your prime real estate.

The economy in recent years has played havoc on delinquency control at a lot of sites. Good people have been hit hard. This can make delinquency a challenge, especially for a manager who knows his tenants well. It didnt happen overnight, and it will take some time to clean it up. Just start from where you are, make a plan, and move forward to get it under control. If delinquency is out of range, the asset value of your property is diminished.

Budget for Larger Items

Time flies and suddenly the office equipment is several years old, some of the cameras are burned out, and the golf cart doesnt go very fast anymore. During your assessment, you may find several items that are potentially large one-time expenses.

Put this list in priority order and develop a time line for completing these repairs or upgrades. Rather than guess at these costs, get a few quotes so you can plan accurately. Will completing this task increase income, decrease expenses, limit liability or increase asset value? If it doesnt fall into one of these categories, dont spend the money.

Do Preventive Maintenance

Understand and anticipate the life expectancy of major facility components. Computers and cameras will fail, roofs will leak, the gate will get hit, etc. Its all part of the business. Spending a few bucks to keep things in good condition can go a long way toward meeting or exceeding life expectancy.

Scheduled maintenance to change the air-conditioner filters, replace golf-cart batteries or defrag the computer are easy ways to get the most out of your equipment. As items age, budget for their replacement or repair rather than wait for an emergency.

Embrace Technology

Self-storage technology has evolved. If youre not keeping up, youre falling behind. Updated management software that links gates, the security system and credit cards and provides an online payment option is a must. Web-based software allows for stronger controls and greater accountability than older standalone software. The ability to have real-time data is crucial, and the integration with QuickBooks saves time and avoids data-entry errors. The initial cost to convert software is minimal, and the process is pretty easy. The time saved and efficiencies gained are well worth the making the change. As in any business, using the right tools is always the best answer.

Move Ahead

When you look at your business as an asset manager would, its easier to evaluate the operation objectively and make a plan for how to proceed. Your assessment may only uncover minor adjustments, or you may find theres some major work to be done. Either way, it didnt get that way overnight, and it wont get fixed overnight. The sooner you start, the faster it can be set right.

The economy has not been kind over the past few years, but business goes on. Accept it for what it is, rebuild, and prepare to get your share as the industry upswing continues and your asset value grows.

Linnea Appleby is the owner of Lime Tree Management, a self-storage management and consulting firm based in Sarasota, Fla. To reach her, call 941.350.7859; e-mail [email protected]; visit www.limetreemanagement.com .

After two years of preparation, Self Storage Base has launched its new website that will allow consumers to comparison shop available storage options. Selfstoragebase.com helps customers choose between self-storage, onsite mobile storage and warehouse-style mobile storage.

The website's database includes more than 40,000 companies. Users can compare pricing, sizes, features and benefits of self-storage and mobile storage, right on the same page. They can also filter listings based on distance or specific features, such as climate control or drive-up access.

According to Self Storage Base, an onsite mobile-storage unit is generally an 8-by-20 or 8-by-40-foot container that is dropped off and kept at the customer's property. The container is protected from the elements, and customers have easy access. With warehouse-style mobile storage, customers store their belongings in a storage container that is transferred to a local warehouse until it is needed. The lack of ready accessibility can be a drawback; however, the these containers are a good option for customers who are moving from one location to another.

For a monthly fee, Self Storage Base will also allow storage companies to market their products and services to its website visitors. The company's marketing package of $79.99 per month includes unlimited phone and e-mail leads, an admin portal where operators can manage their listings and listen to phone leads, and upgraded listings that include facility photos, promotions and more.

Armadillo Self Storage in Hull, England, held a rugby-league match last month to raise funds for Jasmine Jones, a local girl diagnosed with cancer. Organized by Life For a Kid (LFK), the game raised £1,500 for Jones' ongoing medical and transport costs, £50 of which was donated by Armadillo.

Established in March 2009, LFK is a charitable organization that helps children and families who have been affected by serious illness. The group provides funds and equipment to help children under the age of 16 live a better life. It also assists children who require life-saving or life-changing operations. The foundation was based on the fundraising efforts of the Great Britain Rugby League All Stars.

The Armadillo rugby match was between the All Stars and a local Hull team. The All Stars were coached by rugby league legend Andy Gregory and captained by Paul Newlove, another former Great Britain player.

 Every year, Armadillo Self Storage gives free storage space to LFK valued at £1,794. John Colley from the Armadillo Hull branch also gives regular monetary donations to the charity. In gratitude, LFK Founder Dean Hoggard agreed to put the Armadillo logo on the All Stars league shirts, which will be seen as they play up and down the country raising money for LFK.

Help from John Colley and Armadillo is priceless for the Life for a Kid charity. A big thank you to John for his continued support," said Hoggard.

OpenTech Alliance Inc., a Phoenix-based provider of self-serve kiosks, call-center services and other technology solutions for the self-storage industry, is now licensing its LiveAgent! call-center software application and LivePhone! VOIP call-center phone service to self-storage operators to use as part of their own in-house call centers. For the past 10 months, the company has been offering these integrated, cloud-based services to select storage operators as an alternative to using a third-party call center, including its own. The technology is already powering two in-house call centers in the United States and two in Canada, with others slated to come online later this year.

In addition to allowing self-storage operators the ability to license its technology, OpenTech offers a safety net. The INSOMNIAC Live! XtraAgent service kicks in when the in-house call center finds itself unable to serve all the callers in a timely manner, or during early mornings or late nights when it's too expensive for an operator to keep his in-house call center open.

The OpenTech solution equips call-center personnel with access to the data within a facility's property-management system as well as data stored in OpenTech's Facility Content Repository, also known as its Self-Storage Cloud. When a call-center agent answers an inbound call, his screen automatically switches to the LiveAgent! application with pre-populated facility and caller data including unit pricing, inventory, payment history, address/directions, hours of operation, critical customer data, special offers, and competitive advantages over rival facilities.

"While we think most self-storage operators find using a third-party call center a very effective solution, some just want to oversee their own and feel it's a simple process," said Robert A. Chiti, OpenTech president and CEO. "Having started one from scratch and seeing firsthand the challenges, I'm not sure I get it. However, we felt the right thing to do was to be open and license our technology instead of forcing these operators to take on the risks associated with developing a call center on their own or using a third-party call center. We've been very pleased with the response and results. We've not really figured out if we are limiting our traditional call-center business, but we felt our best approach was to just give operators what they wanted."

OpenTech provides several models of INSOMNIAC self-serve kiosks as well as a range of self-storage rental solutions including the INSOMNIAC Live! Call Center, INSOMNIAC Online Web and mobile applications, LiveAgent! software products, and the INSOMNIAC ILock System, all available through the company's Self-Storage Cloud.