Renting a storage unit is almost like renting an apartment or house

When a prospective tenant comes into the facility wanting to rent a storage unit they have to fill out an application (a very brief one) just to let us know a little about themselves.

Their name, current address, phone #’s, employer.  We initially make a copy of their driver’s license and keep the copy in our files along with their application.  We also ask for e-mail address, as this is how monthly invoices are sent out and always remind them that if they don’t  receive the invoice in regular e-mail to be sure to look in their spam.

Sometimes, and we don’t know why, the invoice winds up in spam.  We also ask for an alternate contact person.  This is just in case we can’t reach the tenant, and if we need to, we can reach the alternate. This does not allow the alternate contact to have access to the unit or the authority to access the leased unit only if permission is provided by law or by consent of the occupant. We always ask how the tenant heard about our facility.   Most of the time, if the tenant is a local person; they usually drive by maybe a few times and then decide to come in.  There are many other ways they learn about us:  Internet, a referral, recommendation from a previous tenant or even just looking in the yellow pages.  If they use the internet sometimes there is a coupon they can print to use towards the rent.

The length of the rental is when the date indicated on the application and shall end on the last day of the month in which the agreement is signed.  This is a month to month rental facility.  It can be a short term or a long term lease, depending on how long the unit is needed.  Our only request is that the tenant stay at least one month and also gives us at least 10 days notice when they decide to vacate.  There is also a “Vacate Release Form” that we ask the tenants to sign indicating that the occupant is vacating the space and that the space will be returned back to the owner. This is also the mechanism used to get their deposit refunded to them.  We do ask that the tenant leave the unit clean and that it is broom swept and to be sure that all their belongings are taken.  They also have to know that if the unit is not completely empty and the lock is not removed from the door that the tenant is still responsible for the unit and that the rent will continue to be their responsibility until these simple requests are followed.

The rent is due on the first of the month.  There is a ten day “grace” period until the 10th of the month.  If the rent is not paid by the 11th a late charge is assessed to the account and the tenant will receive a letter #1 or letter #2.   Letter #1 indicates that the rent is past due one month and the letter #2 indicates that the rent is past due two months depending on the lateness of the account.  If the rent is past due two months we give the tenant ample time to be able to pay and have the account under 2 months, thereby eliminating the need for the Auction process to start.

As I indicated above renting a storage unit is almost like renting an apartment/house, which a lot of people do not realize.

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