It’s time to give your self-storage facility a face lift, but do you have a solid game plan detailing how you will go about remodeling your site? Renovating your facility may seem pretty straightforward, but poor planning can end up costing you in the long run.
Keeping your customers in mind is key to making self-storage renovations that will pay off big dividends and help you stay ahead of competitors.
There are plenty of tips related to the best practices for self-storage renovation projects, but it’s also important to take note of some of the biggest mistakes and how to avoid them.
We’ve outlined these 5 self-storage renovation mistakes and what you can do to ensure that your remodel project is a winning strategy.
Going it Alone
Even if you feel confident that you have the perfect game plan for renovating your self-storage facility, it’s still a good idea to consult with some experts before you get started.
Asking the experts can help you navigate through the more complicated parts of a self-storage renovation. Consult with your insurance company about what your plan is and how they come into play. It’s also recommended to contact your local municipality regarding building codes and how they relate to your facility.
If you plan to replace any part of your facility as part of your self-storage renovation project, it’s a good idea to contact the manufacturing companies whose products you plan to install. Lastly, talk with a legal expert to make sure you’ve taken care of everything possible liability and ADA compliance.
Procrastination
It’s inevitable to see plenty of small maintenance issues to pop up here and there at your storage facility. Letting these things go unresolved can cause a minor issue to snowball into something that costs you more than it should.
If you’re planning to do a self-storage renovation project, it’s best to take a comprehensive approach and take care of anything that might cause you to lose customers. Paying attention to the minute details are part of what makes a renovation project successful.
Focusing on Exterior
Curb appeal plays an important role in attracting customers to your facility and giving off the impression of a business that takes pride in what it has to offer. When planning your renovation project, make sure you budget for more than just aesthetic upgrades to your facility’s exterior.
Take an inventory to make sure your facility’s security system is fully functional and inspect things like self-storage doors and unit interiors to ensure that nothing gets overlooked.
Overlooking ADA Compliance
Even if your facility is older and has a high occupancy rate, ADA compliance will be a factor sooner rather than later. According to Randy Tipton, owner of Universal Insurance Programs, ADA compliance issues will become more prevalent in the self-storage industry in the near future.
Taking extra precaution now can save you lots of headache down the road.
Taking Your Customers for Granted
Taking care of your customers means taking care of your facility. Listening to the concerns and feedback from your tenants is the best way to make sure you are meeting their needs and expectations.
If you aren’t sure whether or not your customers are happy, ask them for feedback. Knowing what your facility needs depends on understanding what your customers want.
