There is urban legend going close to, designed by some "gurus" trying to sell their books, that you can handle an total self-storage facility from a "kiosk", essentially a stroll-up automated teller like an ATM machine. Even though the concept of obtaining a "robot" handle a self-storage facility is attractive from a price-financial savings and reduced management viewpoint, it is, unfortunately, a fantasy with about as considerably practicality as the photon torpedo out of Star Trek.
The causes you can't manage a self-storage facility from a kiosk are quite a few:
A kiosk only operates if the consumer knows what they are doing
The cause that ATM machines can function smoothly is that just about everybody knows how to work 1. But can you imagine what would transpire is nobody had utilized an ATM ahead of. They'd attempt and put their card in upside down and break it off trying to shove it in. They'd forget to pull the cash out on time, and have it sucked back in. In their aggravation, they'd beat the machine to a pulp.
The kiosk concept for self-storage facilities is new and different, and nobody knows how it operates.
Someone has to handle the kiosk
Just as an ATM machine requires constant, day-to-day management, such as re-stocking it with money and catering to break-downs, so does any other type of kiosk. Banks have staff on website all day to make the repairs and watch above the kiosk. No kiosk can function in the absence of human intervention.
The notion that you can leave a kiosk alone and come back periodically and take the money out is crazy. Just ask the people that handle vending machines - something that is incredibly straightforward but breaks continually.
Kiosks are prone to vandalism
Some people like to break items. And what is a far more appealing target than an unsupervised kiosk in an out-of-the-way location? Do you feel there is any teen in America who would not have entertaining with that toy?
Inquire the owners of self-service automobile washes their leading 10 stories of vandalism to their gear.
Folks demand human interaction
Would you entrust your belongings to a self-storage facility that has no human supervision, or even a human to explain the rental technique? Effectively then, who would? There is as well a lot competitors out there that supplies genuine, reside managers to walk you via the approach and give you a warm, fuzzy feeling. You may acquire a Dr. Pepper without human interaction, but rent a self-storage unit? I don't think so.
But there is some truth to the story
There are effective self-storage owners who use kiosks. But they only use them after-hours, when the manager is off-duty. The manager then checks them each and every morning as he opens up for organization. He can make certain they are working and re-loads them with supplies. That is what kiosks are for in reality. But never ever as a replacement for a manager, just an after-hours supplement.
Conclusion
Successful self-storage facilities need to have managers - and a kiosk is not a manager. It is a tool utilised by managers. If you are arranging on utilizing a kiosk as a complete-time manager -- as desirable as that sounds - you are going to quickly locate that your robotic manager will have to get fired for performing a lousy occupation. Till the Jetsons appears as primitive as the Flinstones, you far better stick with a human for managing your self-storage facility.
Frank has been involved in all facets of Commercial Investing. His knowledge consists of acquiring and operating over 25 mobile property,RV Parks and Self Storages as an investor, executing "due diligence" on hundreds of other mobile house and RV parks, speaking at mobile home park investing seminars and true estate clubs and telling it like it is! Go to http://www.selfstorages.com for far more insights on ivesting in Self Storages.
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