A mini drive up storage facility meets a common need: people run out of space. They have filled their homes, their offices and their garage has become an unexpected museum of unneeded items. Consequently, space becomes a highly sought after commodity.
There are many reasons why customers rent storage units: moving, downsizing their home, business owners needing a place for their products, equipment or promotional items, and even people needing space for recreational items.
The beauty of this business is its simplicity. When the storage facility is operating efficiently, very little time is used to manage it. Unlike an apartment, the storage tenant does not typically call in the middle of the night to report a leaking faucet; boxes, for the most part, behave themselves.
Location is very important in the success of a mini storage facility. Facilities located near new growth areas, clustered around high density housing or close to commercial areas typically have a strong demand. The visibility of the storage facility is also important. A facility located behind a big warehouse may have difficulty attracting customers. A facility located on a main thoroughfare should be able to attract customers without a major advertising expenditure.
Security is also a huge consideration for customers. Gated access to the facility, security cameras, good lighting and individual locks on each unit will put the customers' mind at ease. A store customer that has family heirlooms will think of security differently than a store customer that has Darwin's eyelid.