A self-storage business that lacks strong security will not be a great self-storage business for long. Eventually, customers will suffer a loss that leads them to other places to store their treasured items. Today’s clients need storage for business inventory, personal possessions, and other valuable items that would be devastating to lose or find damaged. Self-storage businesses that embrace advanced technology measures are doing well because clients trust their items will be secure.
Self-storage businesses must have a strong security plan and a good manager to attract clients and keep them happy with their choices. A strong security plan will include advanced access control systems, video surveillance, motion sensors, perimeter security, and security guards. While most security plans do not include 24/7 security personnel, it’s important to include them because a human presence naturally deters criminal behavior. If people know they’re being watched, they are less likely to steal something to avoid being caught.
The best way to create a secure environment for your self-storage business is to create layers of security throughout the operation. These layers include knowledgeable staff, security features, property maintenance, and relationships with law enforcement. Let’s discuss.
- Knowledgeable staff
- Enhanced security features
- Property maintenance
- Law enforcement
Knowledgeable staff
The staff at a self-storage includes the manager and additional employees. It’s important to hire people who will treat the business as if it were their own. A strong compensation plan will help staff members feel valued and as if their work is important to the business’s success. Staff must be reliable, honest, trustworthy, and have excellent customer service skills. Staff are the first impression most customers will have of the business. Staff must also be trained to notice if there are issues of concern with potential tenants. Demonstrating that the staff is valuable and crucial to the success of the self-storage will result in an important first layer of security for the business as a human presence naturally deters many criminals from acting on their plans.
Employee insurance for liability and theft is a wise investment. Expect the best when hiring and training. Protect the business with insurance always.
Enhanced security features
Are you building or acquiring an existing facility? If the business is new construction, it is valuable to plan for visibility on the property. Older facilities may have obstructions to visibility that can’t be corrected, but a new construction facility can be designed to minimize this issue. Additionally, the use of security cameras at blind spots will be crucial to lowering risk in those specific areas.
Conduct an assessment of a current facility by walking from the entrance to the back of the property to check for any blind spots or visibility issues. One-way entrances with 24/7 camera surveillance are vital to security at a drive-up facility. Anyone entering the property will see cameras recording whenever they are on the property. Frequent inspection of the cameras is necessary to ensure that nothing is missed.
Gate access with assigned entrance codes takes security to another level. When customers can select their access code, the codes can be easy to figure out. When management assigns the codes, they are more difficult to figure out. With assigned codes, management knows who is on-site at all times.
Smart locks are an additional feature that only opens for the customer they’re assigned to through an app. Similar to smart features found at hotels, customers are assigned a smart lock on their unit that opens only for them through an app. There are no keys or locks that can be cut. The door won’t open without proper authorization from the app. This also enables managers to suspend access if rent is paid late which is an added feature that is beneficial to owners and operators.
Lighting is another important feature that will deter criminals from accessing a property. Lighting should illuminate all areas of the property to provide greater visibility for the cameras recording in the event of an issue on the property.
Property Maintenance
The importance of property maintenance cannot be overstated. With regular inspection of the property, security measures like gates, keypads, cameras, and lighting remain in good working condition. These items should be checked daily for tampering to ensure that they are functioning properly. Remove debris, trash, and anything that obstructs the views of the property. If tenants leave items out whether by accident or mistake, those items should be removed and stored until the property owner collects them. Leaving items out in plain view attracts would be thieves and it provides people passing by an idea of what items may be stored on the premises. Additionally, items that are left obstructing the view make it difficult to see if anyone is hiding inside the perimeter fence.
Law enforcement
It’s important to know the law enforcement who will respond to a call at a business. Contact the non-emergency line for the law enforcement agency assigned to the location and ask for an officer to stop by. Police officers can inspect the property’s security and suggest ways to enhance security. Additionally, they know areas of concern and can provide information that will help business owners be more aware of their surroundings. Get to know the law enforcement in the area and work together to keep the community safe.
Coastal Storage has over 40 years of experience in the self-storage industry. As self-storage experts, our team provides consulting for security and self-storage setup as a courtesy to our clients. Call us today at 904-591-0140 to discuss your self-storage business needs.