As a business owner, it’s important to consider the many reasons why self-storage is necessary. People use self-storage for lots of reasons – not just because they have extra stuff. Business owners know that self-storage is a solution to many problems that people face in life. What are the top 10 reasons that people use self-storage?
- Moving/downsizing. The most common reason for people using self-storage is moving or downsizing. In fact, in 2020, when many people were converting an extra bedroom to a home office, downsizing drove people to seek out self-storage during this time.
- Organizing. When people find they have too much stuff in their space, they turn to self-storage to organize their belongings. Many people find it difficult to part with belongings, and therefore find it easier to use self-storage.
- Seasonal storage. Many homes today simply don’t have enough storage. Add to that the fact that many families live in apartments, which means there is even less storage. According to RubyHome.com, 32% of the United States population lives in apartment housing. This means that there’s a lot of people in need of storage, as apartments are limited without storage closets or attic space that homes may offer.
- Projects. When homeowners begin a project in their home, self-storage becomes a life-saver. Replacing your flooring and need to move ALL furniture out? Self-storage is the perfect solution. Repainting the entire house? Self-storage to the rescue. Many families rent self-storage on a month-to-month basis for issues and projects like these.
- College students. A recent post also covered college students and the need for self-storage businesses to market to this demographic. No parent, and no college student, wants to drag all of their belongings back home for the summer and find a place to put them all.
- Small business inventory or other business storage. Many households are operating small businesses from their residence. What better way to manage inventory and supplies than using self-storage? Think Amazon resellers, Etsy creators, artists, and thrifters. Targeting this demographic is smart.
- Cars, RVs, boats, and other toys. This niche is a favorite because many neighborhoods now have HOAs to decide where you can park it. Self-storage allows people to have their toys and gives them a place to put them when not in use. A self-storage facility that can focus solely on this niche is a great idea.
- Death of a loved one. From personal experience, it’s better to rent a self-storage unit for a few months or years when the death of a loved one occurs, rather than act hastily to dispose of items and look back with regret. Many households are moving family heirlooms to storage to deal with them when they are ready.
- Divorce. When divorce changes a family dynamic, many households find self-storage is the easiest part of a difficult transition. Storing items in self-storage while separating household items is a smart way to navigate this season.
- Hobbies. Adults are finding creative ways to keep their hobbies from taking over the house. Painter? Band member? Woodworker? These are great reasons to use self-storage.
Whatever the reason for using self-storage, it’s important for self-storage owners to directly market to these individuals. The best tenants may be found in these niche markets. Hiring a smart and technology-savvy manager or associate who can create social media content to reach out to these demographics is essential. Owners can also find marketers to create content on a contract basis for affordable prices.
At Coastal Storage, we see many different types of self-storage owners. We see those who are great at marketing, and we see those who are unsure where to begin. Whatever stage a business owner finds themselves in, our expert staff at Coastal Storage can help. Call us today at 904-591-0140 to work with our team of experts to find your next investment.