Save the Date for Santa Clausets!

Save the Date for

Santa Clausets!

What? A place to store and wrap all of your Black Friday and Cyber Monday gifts until Christmas.

When? From November 15-Christmas Eve

Where? All Budget Self Storage locations

How much? 5x5 (or smaller) units are $19. That is less than $1 per day!

What else? Budget accepts packages deliveries for FREE for our customers. Complementary wrapping stations are available at all locations!

Write a Google+ Review: A How-To Guide

You just had an excellent experience working with Budget Self Storage! Now you want to write a review on Google+ to let others know about your positive encounter with the company. You have never written a review for a business using Google+. Where do you go and what should you do? The simple steps below will help you accomplish that task:

1.      At the top right of the Budget Self Storage website, under the “check out our social media” subheading, click on the lowercase “g” icon. This will link you directly to the Google+ page for Budget.

2.      Next, you will be brought to a list of different Budget Self Storage locations. Click on the lowercase “g” icon next to the location that you would like to write a review for.

3.      Once you click on the “g,” you will be prompted to sign in to your Google+ account in order to write the review. If you do not have an account, simply create a new one.

4.      You will now be on the “About” page. If you are not brought to this page, please navigate there by clicking the “About” tab.

5.      On the “about” tab, scroll down until you see the “write a review” section.

6.      Click on this option and proceed to write your review.

7.      Above the text box where you wrote your review there will be 5 white stars. Hover your mouse over the stars until they become yellow. Rate your experience with one star [hated it] all the way to all five stars [loved it]. You will not be able to submit a review unless you rate your experience using the stars.

8.      Click “Publish” and you are all done!

 

5 Things You Can Implement To Simplify Your Life

National Simplify our Life Week is about making small changes that reduce stress and free up your time.  After all, you deserve it! Budget Self Storage has come up with 5 easy ways to help simplify your life:  

1. Remove Clutter:  Look around your home or office to see what is essential or necessary, everything else is clutter.  Box it up and clearly label the box on two sides.  Get a storage unit for the items for easy access.  Find out more about reducing clutter on our March blog post.
2. Hire Someone:  It’s not only easier but; better to leave the job to someone else.  Life is about balance.  There is nothing wrong with getting a little extra help. Check out our community page for local business partners that provide service.
3. Pay Bills Online: Set-up auto bill pay through your bank; it’s free!  As soon as the bill comes in enter it with future payment date, file with receipt, it done and forget it!  It’s easier than you think and Budget Self Storage offers our customers easy online and auto bill pay options.
4. Finally Sort the Piles of Paperwork:  Make it fun, not a chore by drinking a cocktail and watching your favorite TV show.  Have your shredder handy or keep it simple & drop off all the shredding at a Budget Self Storage location.  Watch this helpful YouTube video for more organizing ideas
5. One Lid Size Fits All:  Invest in containers that one lid fits all different sizes and only use these. Think you can’t waste all the perfectly good containers you already own?  Repurpose them as drawer/cabinet organizers. Get some tips from Ellen Damashino organize & recycle the lid & containers.  Check out Rubbermaid’s great selection of containers and coupon. 

Self Storage Tips for Business Owners

Self Storage Tips for Business Owners

A cramped workspace can make it difficult to find what you need, distracting you from business at hand, and requiring extra effort to keep things organized. You may have considered renting additional commercial space, but were shocked by the cost and loss of valuable time. That’s why, for today’s businessperson, self-storage is a cost effective and efficient solution.

Essentially, a storage unit can function much like an extra office. Take advantage of these tips to get the most of your investment:

·         Tip #1: Make a list of all of the items you’ll be storing in your unit, and keep an ongoing inventory.

Based on this list, you can then determine the amount of space you will need. It’s easy to forget over time what you’ve taken out or added to your storage space, so consider keeping a running inventory on a PDA, laptop or website. This way you can stay organized and easily insure the items you are storing.

·         Tip #2: Consider climate control.

If you are storing computers/computer parts, any sensitive equipment, important paperwork, pharmaceutical samples, furniture, or anything else that can be damaged by extreme temperatures, a climate controlled unit is a must. The additional cost of climate control is nothing compared to the return on investment.

·         Tip #3: Proper packing is key.

Remember to put computers in a box and pack them securely. Office furniture should be turned on end vertically, and archival documents and paperwork should be packed in easy-to-stack boxes.

By following these tips, and working with your Budget Self Storage manager, you will find this solution to be one that takes the least amount of valuable time away from your primary tasks.

 

Florida Hurricane Season should not be taken lightly

Experts are projecting that the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season will be “extremely active”.  What does an “extremely active” season really mean to residents and business owners?  In short, it is translated to above average in comparison to previous years.   That is about as good as it gets for an explanation.

What if a hurricane (categorized from 1 to 5 or commonly called CAT 1, CAT 2, and so on) were to hit the Tampa Bay area?  Outside of the obvious damage caused by powerful winds, how bad would the flooding be? 

Here is a little information for Budget Self Storage Insurance and a visual to illustrate some flooding in upper Tampa Bay. There is a small city located of the northern-most tip of Tampa Bay called Oldsmar.  In the lobby area of their City Hall Building, a banner stands tall to show residences and businesses the effects of Mother Nature.  Please prepare yourself accordingly.

How important is it to have Self Storage Tenant Insurance? What is peace of mind worth to you?

Learn why insuring your goods are essential…before it’s too late!

Having tenant insurance to protect your personals is similar to insuring those essential items in your life; home, business and auto.  Fact is, the personal items must be important for you to store in the first place, right?  So, whether you’ve rented a storage space or thought about it, the time is right now for you to become familiar with your insurance options since the renting facility will not cover your “stuff”.

As far as your homeowners or renters insurance coverage, several policies will not insure your off-site contents at a storage facility.  In case of a major disaster, fire, flood, or human-caused,  having a peace of mind knowing that your contents are protected from loss or damage makes quite a bit of sense.

DEFINITION OF SELF STORAGE TENANT INSURANCE

The equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another in exchange for a small fee.

Did you know that most homeowner’s insurance policies contain a deductible of $500 or more?

The Tenant Insurance policy is a low cost solution for insurance coverage specially designed for the contents stored in your storage unit, and available with $0 deductible.

Did you know that most storage facilities take every precautionary step for securing and maintaining the property?

We here at Budget Self Storage do everything we can to make sure your belongings are safe.

Our Storage facilities are equipped with video cameras, steel doors and electronic gates, along with our experienced management team; which are just a few of our security features.

Unfortunately, we cannot control disasters from Mother Nature or predict when a burglary will take place, that is why we provide insurance options conveniently available at all of our locations for you to purchase.

What if I do not know the value of my contents?  How do I manage my inventory?

The value of each item can be based on a purchase receipt, a published value or from a recent appraisal. These documents will also be your “Proof of Purchase” to show that you own these items in case a file is claimed for lost or damaged items.

Did you know that self storage tenant insurance provides a $0 Deductible and covers a wide range of natural disasters and other perils?

Burglary, vandalism, fire, smoke, water damage, wind damage, building collapse and more!

Did you know that there are coverage options available?

$2,000 coverage for $9 per month

$3,000 coverage for $13 per month

$5,000 coverage for $21 per month

Be protected from the unexpected.

Protect your contents from the unexpected with Budget’s self-storage tenant insurance program. Our coverage gives you peace of mind in knowing your contents are covered from the moment you move into a unit.

March is clear out the Clutter Month for both Home and Office

Are you feeling overwhelmed and nowhere to put things?  You are not alone.  It is a fact that clutter stresses Americans out and therefore, it affects your health. Clutter makes people feel tired, lethargic, ashamed, confused, stuck and it even affects your weight and eating habits, not to mention ones attitude and aptitude.   Clutter has a way of piling up around us and raises a series of questions.

1.    Have you lost your spare room and making excuses why family can’t come to visit? 

2.    Are your closets filled to the top, vacation suitcases still out and nowhere to go? 

3.    Is your car a stranger to your garage because it’s filled with outdoor adventure gear, boxes of paperwork , holiday decorations, seasonal clothes and other personal items that just don’t fit in the house?   

At your office, simply said, clutter affects productivity, organization, and professional image.  If you have boxes of old files stacked high, extra equipment laying around, supplies hanging from shelves, and extra office furniture that you are not using at the moment, it is worth $50/month or less to clean up your work environment and productivity.

The change of season is a perfect time to clean up, organize and prepare for summer activities.  So, make a plan to take back your space and bring back your joy.  Start your plan by using the  four  sorting method:

·         Sell or Donate It

·         Put It Away

·         Trash It

·         Store It

Donate or Sell It.  Take advantage of the tax write off by donating to the many local programs that make a difference in your community.  Garage sale and craigslist is a great way to sell your items. 

Put It Away.   After you have removed the extra clutter you will have room to put the items back in their place.  Using containers and baskets can keep things in order and look organized at the same time.  For container ideas, please go to Containerstore.com.

Trash It.  This should include what is not worth donating or selling.  Damage and broken items and documents that no longer need to be kept.  Never through paperwork in the trash, it can get in the hands of the wrong people.  Shredding services are available for drop off or pick up at a facility near you. 

Store It.  Storage units are the best way to keep what you want to keep and free up space in your home or office.  Let the storage counselors at Budget Self Storage help you choose the right storage for your needs. Budget has it all from climate control to garage units open 7 days for your convenience. 

So pass through the tiredness and reap the rewards!  Your family, customers, employees and even your vehicle will thank you.  Read on to learn more on the effects of clutter.