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Storage Tips

The True Power of Climate-Controlled

By | Storage Tips

Self-storage units are not just any space to store goods, there are options out there, such as climate-controlled.   Imperial Storage Solutions and other facilities have this, the really cool thing about Imperial Storage Solutions is the capacity, the budget-friendliness, and the cool fact that is run and operated by a local Fort Bend family and not your standard corporate office that can make things a little complex.  The facility has something called “Climate Controlled units”. Some people who are new to us may be asking, “What in the world is that?!”, “What is it used for?.”  The Climate Controlled units are storage units that have cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter. Let’s go over some of the benefits of having one:

Benefits of Climate Controlled Units

  1. You can store things that wouldn’t do well in hot, burning temperatures.  Such as candles, let’s say you have the cool candle business, can you imagine what would happen to your product in a standard storage unit.   Or let’s think about canned food. If you store foods for emergencies, for a rainy day, or even for distribution, you need to store canned goods at a safe temperature.  This is the option for you.
  2. Imagine storing items in the burning weather Texas offers, let it be in a climate-controlled unit.  I’ve moved my stuff around before, and man does it burn when you’re moving stuff in a non-climate unit during the hot summer.
  3. Preserve your belongings in a safe condition and for longer.  Climate-controlled units definitely give more life to your belongings, you’re able to preserve them without something going bad because of the heat or because of the cold.

I know you’re not thinking about getting a climate-controlled unit, but when it comes to getting storage space, make sure you think smart, and go for a climate-controlled unit, they sure come in handy.

 

Tips to Make Extra Space for Your Home This Summer

By | Storage Tips

One of the most liked seasons known as summer is almost here! The hot temperatures, the sun, and the time to spend with the family start next month. One of the goals this summer for many is making space, to better make use of the home when the kids are out of school, or just have space, a clean home.

Here are some tips to get some extra space for your home this summer:

  1. Re-arrange your furniture to find a good layout. If you move around your furniture, you might be able to find a good layout that has even more space than the last one you had, giving you more breathing space, and feeling less cluttered.
  2. Clean out things you don’t need anymore. Like the spring-cleaning approach, you and your family, could make some space and clean out closets and other rooms, and whatever you don’t need now, donate it, or store it away. Doing this will increase your space efficiency.
  3. Most garages contain many things that don’t get used often. Ever since the COVID-19 quarantine, we have had gym equipment, old clothes, unused toys, holiday decorations, pictures, or things used for another season. The garages have become some sort of self-storage space. Instead of keeping them there until the right time, or until more clutter builds up, you should get a dedicated self-storage space to free up rooms and have a clean home.  Remember, a clean home means a clean mind.  A clean mind means room for great ideas and great times.

Get some space, clean your clutter, and get a self-storage unit. You can use it to fit new things for the summer or just to make your house look clean and feel good. Come to Imperial Storage Solutions and get started.

The perks of being a family company

By | Storage Tips

Family businesses are usually inherited from the next generation. This process may give rise to concerns among those associated with it because of the uncertainty of delegating decision-making.

However, the constant search for up-to-date companies may be a guarantee that allows permanence and growth. Everything is based on commitment, preparation, and appropriate strategies for continuous growth.

There are benefits of being a family company.

Increased longevity in leadership is an essential characteristic in a family business and retirement is the reason to take over the management of the business. This sustained leadership develops the identity of the work and ensures the continuity of the business strategy, a key reason to face crises.

The level of engagement is higher as the success of the business is the main breadwinner for the family and partners. To do this, it is necessary to prepare members about the activity they are engaged in and the optimal administration of the family business. This means that you need to have an early succession plan.

Flexible roles in the business can ensure operability and lower costs. Thus, in times of economic recession, they could reduce their wages and even contribute to capital, if needed.

The future is a factor that distinguishes them through patience and a broader perspective that extends into the longer term. Through this vision, decisions can be made less quickly, and planning and strategies are designed for a longer period of time when the benefits are more promising.

Consequently, a commercial boost can be achieved with the potential to ensure the success of generation after generation.

 

Do you know some storage features?

By | Storage Tips

The first thing to keep in mind is that organization and good warehouse design are essential to perform the following duties:

  1. Receipt of goods. In this first step, you need to do a thorough analysis of the products received in the warehouse. Such as the dimensions and weight of the load units, the frequency of arrival of each material, and the number of goods received in each dispatch.  To receive, prepare and stock any merchandise, the warehouse must have one or more docks or drive-up access to the receiving area, and another area to prepare for receipt.
  2. Perform immediate quality control. The main objective is to verify that the packaging matches the content. It is useful that everything is accompanied by a shipping list detailing the characteristics of the product received, which will help certify the quantity and quality of the shipment, along with the packaging resistance.
  3. Monitor and maintain control of inventory in stock. Perform a product count and capture data within a central system. This process ensures that all defects are dealt with immediately.
  4. Proper storage for goods. It is important to have the proper machinery to house the goods and the staff who handle the machines, tools, or even can load adequate volumes.
  5. Prepare shipment to other destinations. Having space to prepare orders with shelves or in a free area of the warehouse is essential because handling the machinery is easier and faster. Either in the rack or on the floor, this work increases the efficiency of the staff and facilitates the activity.
  6. Send orders as soon as possible. Avoiding delays and interruptions in the distribution chains is critical. The speed of execution of shipments is due to the good organization of the warehouse.

This is a brief explanation of some of the storage features because there may be others that enrich the correct operation and the advantages of storing your goods or products in a storage facility to increase productivity, have more space, and grow your business.

Imperial Storage Sugar Land - Storage

3 Reasons to consider Off-site Storage for Apartment Living

By | Storage Tips

1. Free up some space in your apartment

This seems to be the obvious reason to rent off-site storage when you are living in an apartment. If you do this then we recommend you pick a vendor that is close to your home, within 1-3 miles. I’ve seen some customers come to their unit weekly. I think that’s smart! They arrange their unit with shelving and organize it for easy access. Some folks also need a place to store an extra vehicle as well.

2. Preserve your belonging in the right environment

f you want your stuff to last, then store belongings professionally and at the right temperature. The Texas heat can do damage on your electronics/TV/Computers, leather furniture, wood/antique furniture, artwork, photos, keepsakes, and holiday décor. These are the types of items that need climate-controlled storage. If you have boxes of paper, garage/car parts, lawn equipment then Non-climate will be perfect for you.

3. Unexpected reasons

For instance, you have a washer/dryer, but your new apartment already provides a set in your unit. The apartment won’t allow you to put patio furniture or bikes on the balcony, or you have a broken-down car that can’t be parked on the property – all kinds of reasons. Instead of selling it, you can store it until your next move.

What to expect

Storage Units are rented month to month. No long-term agreements. Generally, there is a one-time administrative fee ($25 is standard), Insurance Fees start around $8 a month for $1,000 coverage, and you’ll need to purchase a lock for your unit. There are 2 standard types of units: Climate Controlled (A/C & Heat) and Non-Climate Controlled (gets up to 140-150 degrees in the unit). Units range from 5’x5’ to as large 24’x40’. Here in Sugar Land, TX a non-climate 10’x10’ unit runs for less than $100, the same unit in Climate controlled starts around $110 per month. Rates change, so ALWAYS call for the latest rate. If you go to one of the big storage places, there will be multiple floors – which means multiple trips down long hallways, packing an elevator or carrying belongings up flights of stairs. Careful… make sure you ask what floor it’s on, the cheaper units are the hardest to get to. Also, make sure you pay your rent. They have late fees, and if you abandoned or stop paying on your unit – the storage vendor has the right to auction your unit to recover their lost revenue.

Consider storing with Imperial Storage Solutions

We are less than 2 miles from your apartment, and all our units are on the ground floor. Our property is well lit, secure, and family owned. In fact, the owners are on the property every day. UHaul rentals are always available and we have covered parking if you need to store a vehicle.

If you’re not sure what size unit you need, we can help find the best one to fit your budget. Our staff is well trained, friendly and dependable.

Also available is Mail/Package delivery services.

Storage Tips

By | Storage Tips

Storage Tips

After choosing the right storage facility that fits your needs, it is essential that you pack your belongings in the storage unit correctly. Here are some tips to consider for preventing damage:

  • Determine whether the goods you are storing will be better protected by placing them in boxes, totes, or other containers. You may need to purchase specialized boxes and other packing supplies to protect your items during the move and while they are stowed away.
  • Thoroughly clean, disinfect and dry refrigerators, freezers, stoves and other appliances. Appliances with doors can be stored with the door slightly open, and some can be stacked on top of each other.
  • Be sure to clean and dry all electrical equipment before storing in your unit.
  • Retard rust by wiping down all types of metal surfaces before storing. Use a few drops of machine oil to lightly coat these items for preventing rust and possible deterioration in the storage unit.
  • Pack all books, files, and documents flat, and use bubble wrap or newspaper to fill any empty spaces in the boxes or totes.
  • Store clothing on hangers before folding them into cartons. Make sure all drapes, curtains, linens and clothing items are washed and dry, or dry cleaned to avoid attracting pests.
  • Use bubble wrap and other packing materials when storing dishes and glassware. Pack similar items in the same box and fill empty spaces with packing peanuts, bubble wrap or newspaper.
  • Disassemble furniture and place pieces on a corrugated cardboard mat or plastic sheet before placing on a pallet.
  • Stack lightweight chairs “seat to seat”, but avoid stacking other types of furniture on top of each other. Cover all upholstery with light cotton dust covers.
  • Wrap lamp bases in padding and store the lamp shade and base separately.
  • Holiday decorations can be stored in their original cartons. Wrap glass ornaments and other delicate items in bubble wrap or newspaper before storing in boxes or totes.
  • CDs, tapes, records and other music items can be stored in boxes or airtight cartons to prevent damage.
  • Cover computer screens and large televisions screens with dust covers and wrap in bubble wrap if you are storing these items next to furniture and other equipment.

Prohibited Storage Goods
Even though you alone control access to your storage space, there are some items that cannot be stored in your unit at any time. These include:

  • Live animals
  • Perishables
  • Liquids
  • Explosives
  • Flammable liquids and fuels
  • Toxic materials
  • Any items that need to be in a controlled environment

Sources: Self Storage Association (SSA)

 

Imperial Storage Solutions

By | Storage Tips
THE STORY

Imperial Storage Solutions

Like most owners of multiple businesses, I do not micromanage. “I empower my manager and become a consistent resource to my leadership/management team so they have every reason to succeed. I give them complete autonomy to run the property as long as they follow my seven key performance indicators (KPIs), which include: selling retail items, keeping occupancy rates up and managing employees and cleanliness of the property. We go over the numbers weekly and the manager gets compensated based on the profitability of the store.

“Everything is tied together. If the manager decreases staff because he doesn’t want to pay enough people to power wash, then that wouldn’t work because the quality of the property would go down. But, I let him make his own schedule with his employees. We don’t operate as a hierarchy. This is a family-owned business. My cell phone number is on my business card and on the door of the facility. I don’t hide out from people. We also run that way with employees and they can call me anytime. However, if my manager tells you to do something that my employee doesn’t want to do, then I’m not going to help you.

Hiring Talent
“Interviewing is by far the biggest challenge I deal with. I look for leadership and job stability. If someone has 15 jobs in 10 years, that doesn’t fly with me. I don’t know why you would want to be the new kid on the block several times a year. I look to see if they’ve been promoted. I check references. I want to know why they left their last job.

“I want to know what have they done to improve themselves professionally and in life. It doesn’t matter to me if they have a college degree. I don’t have a college degree. I’ve completed a lot of things. I look for people who have demonstrated the ability to educate themselves and stay on their jobs, who are self-starters and don’t need a babysitter.

“I also look for people who are creative and are always looking for ways to do it better and be more of a servant leader to our customers.

Key Communication Techniques
“I put everything in writing. I take the time to put my thoughts down before a meeting. Then we have a meeting with my notes in front of them. I also ask my team to have written notes when preparing for a meeting with me so that we can cover everything in one sit down meeting versus spotty conversations throughout the day/week. I put my thoughts on paper so I don’t go all over the place when I have the meeting.

“Experience has taught me people hear differently than others. In that regard, I can say the same thing to five different people and each person will hear something different. When I have a meeting, I make sure when I communicate, everyone heard the same thing. That way, if something breaks down, we can figure it out. It creates clarity for others.”

Knowing When to Let Go
Sometimes, you just have to walk away when something isn’t working. “OMG have I ever! I must say, I have done so many times and some in very small ways and others after major investments of hundreds of thousands of dollars. I have, and I hazard to say, that I may again. Business is not a guarantee, and as such, it takes great planning, market research and so much more but even the best plans do not always work out.

“I say I am not a gambler and admittingly I do not play slot machines, buy stocks or even a lottery ticket, but what I do is play the game of business and I play it to win!

“One example is a moving company I started. I brought on a general manager with gobs of moving experience. The moving company was a lot of work and cost a lot of money. However, I noticed when I was in the business, the individual I hired didn’t have the qualities I thought he had, so I let him go.

“In the meantime, I filled in as general manager while looking for someone to fill that position. I was also running my core business and dealing with employees of the moving company. I learned I didn’t want to do that. I swallowed tens of thousands of dollars to get out of that business. My wife, who has the special title of CFnO (CF- no) said, ‘you are not doing this anymore.’ This time we were on the same page and when she said that, that was it for me.

“My wife and I are a good yin and yang. I’m an entrepreneur and I would do everything. I’m a bull in a china shop. She puts the brakes on. If it were up to her, we wouldn’t do things. I push to go down the alley and then she adds input. We make a good team.

“I know it is time to start over when I have invested all I am prepared to invest in an idea, strategy or concept at that time. It is time to start over when the direction I am headed in is not getting me where I want to go. It is time to start over when the benchmarks I have set out are not being achieved.”

Staying Motivated
“I’m motivated by a challenge. I’m a salesman. My biggest challenge is to sell, how to turn a no into a yes, or turning a small possibility into a big possibility. Everyone in my company is compensated based on commission. I like to take advantage of challenges that help drive revenue. I’m motivated by exceeding what I consider to be already aggressive goals.

“I’m also motivated to make my family (both my personal family and my business family) better off by my efforts. I want to do well for my family and myself. It’s always been about climbing the next rung on the ladder, challenge wise, not necessarily rank, title or compensation. Why do people climb a mountain? To get to the top. My mountains are sales, real estate and selling a corporate jet. People don’t fall out of the sky wanting to buy a jet. We currently have 60 aircraft listings and things are going well.

“I’m self-motivated. I have a little engine inside of me. I set higher and higher goals, diversifying my interests.”

Setting Key Differentiators
“I believe in the Peter Principle, which is promoting someone to their highest level of incompetence and then put them back down a notch. Everyone has that level. A dishwasher can be promoted to an owner, while a different dishwasher may only be competent as a short order cook because he or she may not have a tolerance for risk.

“I’ve taken a receptionist and put her in charge of marketing where she excelled. However, when I promoted her to sales, she failed. Then I brought her back to marketing so she can succeed.

“I also pay my employees a commission for everything they do, renting a storage space, renting a truck or trailer, selling moving supplies, insurance, and even a soda out of the refrigerator. We’re a UHaul affiliate so we rent trucks, trailers, etc. I want every employee asking, ‘Do you need boxes, locks, moving supplies?’ I pay a commission to anyone who logs into the computer to do anything that makes me money. It’s a win-win deal. Employees earn an hourly wage, except the manager who is salary, plus commission.

“My manager’s bonus is on achieving certain levels based on economic occupancy because it can’t be lied about. You can rent 15 spaces at 50 percent off, but you can’t lie because the system knows they should rent for $100 per month. If a manager cuts rates to show full occupancy, then they won’t hit their numbers. Economic occupancy must be above 90 percent unless there are extenuating circumstances. The manager’s goal is to make sure things run properly.

“The manager also has to meet commitments we’ve made to UHaul and reach other KPIs to a bonus. We can see what everyone is selling and if anyone is underperforming because everyone must log into the computer. We can see who rented a space, who sold insurance, etc. If someone is underperforming, then that is an opportunity to train.

“As a U-Haul affiliate, we have access to UHaul University which teaches you to do everything. It’s phenomenal training at no cost. Without them, we wouldn’t have the numbers. We went from 65 percent to above 90 percent occupancy.

“Our location is hidden. Even Google Maps can’t find us! We took UHaul on as something else to do. I had no idea the impact it would have on our infrastructure, the training and coaching they provide, our increased traffic and their software. It was so good, we wanted more and more of it.

“Our involvement with UHaul also afforded me the ability to add 1 ½ employee. Without them, I couldn’t have justified the expense without them doing those jobs associated with UHaul and additional functions. We’re one of highest volume U-Haul dealers in our area.

“But our key differentiator is that in everything we do, we put our customers first. I believe in empowering our employees and they, in turn, empower our customers. We empower them by laying out rules of property and letting them manage that. Most of our customers intermingle on the property. A lot of businesses operate out of our property. I empower them to operate without being interfered with and encourage them to connect with people on our property for needed services so that it serves as a business network as well.

“I coach my employees rather than dictate enabling them to make this business better and in doing so, I request that they stretch themselves as much as possible.

“It’s all tied together. My employees win when they can exceed our customers’ expectations and I win when they win.”

Make Room for Your Seasonal Clothes

By | Storage Tips
MAKE ROOM FOR

Your Seasonal Clothes

Sometimes we tend to misjudge the amount of space we have in our homes or apartments when we’re shopping for clothes to add to our wardrobe. In the midst of an exhilarating shopping spree, one can become lost in the thrill of the proverbial shopping hunt and purchase items without thinking about how they’re going to make room for them. However, at Voss Rd Storage, we offer storage in Sugar Land that can make your quest for a larger wardrobe a far easier task to tackle.

And over shopping isn’t something we do intentionally. Sometimes it seems as if a myriad of clothing suddenly found its way into our homes and apartments without our knowledge and, the next thing we know, we’re navigating through a seemingly endless sea of garments and barging our way through jam-packed closets. A simple solution to this lack of space is by storing your seasonal clothes into storage in Sugar Land.

We offer various sized storage that can accommodate the space equal to a single room, an apartment or condo, a mid-sized home, and a large home in order to meet your unique storage needs. We even have climate controlled storage available if you feel that your clothes or any other items may need to be stored at a regulated temperature. We aren’t the premier storage facility in Sugar Land, TX for no good reason. Aside from the wide array of storage options we make available, the state of the art security system we implement, and the on-site management we provide, our main emphasis is on customer service.

How to Prepare Your Clothes for Storage

This is why we’re taking this opportunity to let you know how storing your winter clothes and accessories with us can have a dramatically beneficial effect on the amount of space you use in your home. With the summer season upon us, storage in Sugar Land has never been a more obvious choice to store your winter wear.

Before you store your winter clothes in one of our storage, it’s a good idea to wash them. This way, any dirt, pet dander, or other particulates won’t damage your clothes during the summer season. Also, instead of storing your clothes in cardboard boxes, using airtight plastic storage containers will help to ensure the integrity of your garments while also allowing you to see through the containers so that you can quickly know which articles of clothing are in your storage. To keep your winter wear from being squished or distorted, packing the heavier containers on the bottom of our storage is also a good rule of thumb.

Using our storage to store seasonal clothing and accessories is one of the best ways to optimize the space in your home or apartment. You’re simply not going to be wearing that Christmas sweater this July or any of those extra bathing suits in December, so let Voss Rd Storage safely and securely store your seasonal garments while you focus on having a great summer!

Climate Controlled Storage

By | Storage Tips

Why Do You Need Climate Controlled Storage?

Perhaps you’re simply running out of room at home. Or maybe you’re in the middle of a big move. No matter the situation, there are times in our lives when we need extra storage for our belongings. And, with summer in full swing and temperatures reaching well above one hundred degrees, AC storage in Sugar Land, TX from Voss Rd Storage could be your saving grace.

The climate that your belongings are stored in can have significant effects on them; especially here in Sugar Land, where we get seemingly endless summers with record-busting temperatures. Some of our most prized possessions can be greatly affected by high temperatures. Wooden family heirlooms, musical instruments, photographs, videotapes, leather, and other organic material, can be damaged if not stored in one of our storage here in Sugar Land, TX.

High-Temperature Damage

High temperatures can cause wood to bend and crack, photographs to stick together, videotape to warp, and leather goods to crack. Along with high temperatures comes humidity. Humidity can also greatly affect your belongings; especially the 100% humidity we see from the GulfCoast. The excessive moisture produced when the environment becomes too humid can damage electronics, artwork, and musical instruments like pianos, violins, and acoustic guitars. Anything that has the ability to soak up moisture can be severely damaged by humidity, so leaving your most prized possessions in a safe environment is key.

Our climate control in Sugar Land, TX help to ensure that your delicate belongings remain in an environment free of excess heat and humidity. So, even if you’re not looking for extra space, it’s a good idea to store your most prized possessions in a place where you can rest easy with the knowledge that they won’t be damaged by extreme heat and humidity levels. Anything you consider priceless, irreplaceable, or extremely expensive and susceptible to humidity levels should be stored in one of our climate controlled storage. We can even make access to your storage available to suit your unique schedule and our on-site management helps to make sure that your belongings are safe and secure.

If you’re interested in storage in Sugar Land, TX, contact us at 281-988-8677!

Making College a Little Less Stressful

By | Storage Tips

Making College a Little Less Stressful

Storage in Sugar Land, TX can greatly benefit college kids. As college students, young adults have to quickly get used to keeping their heads screwed on straight amidst an often hectic schedule and substantial workload. Whether their parents are paying their tuition, they’re taking on large student loans or working as much as possible to pay for classes themselves, the pressure to do well in college can be significantly overwhelming. And a knee-jerk reaction to this idea may cause one to think “Man up, kid! Just wait until you’re in the real world!”

Well, actually, the challenges that college students face can stand up to a great majority of anything you’ll find in the “real world.” It’s not just homework, studying and finals that students have to worry about, but finding a place to live during college semesters is a daunting undertaking in itself. A student can find themselves in between living quarters much of the time, and storage in Sugar Land, TX can be just what they’re looking for.

In Need of Space

During summer breaks, it’s not uncommon for the average college kid to be actively looking for a new place to live. Some college students commute from their parents’ home and use the summer break to find an apartment to move into. Others decide that dorm life simply isn’t for them and need the summer break to find a new place near campus. And still, others are just in between leases. No matter the situation, there are times when college students need a place to store their belongings during times of transition. This is where storage in Sugar Land, TX can be a welcome relief.

We have a variety of storage sizes that can accommodate the needs of any college student in the middle of a move. We also offer climate-controlled units if necessary. And, working with Voss Rd Storage, a college student can rest easy knowing that their belongings are safe and secure because of the state of the art security system we implement. Our managers live in the facility and can work with our customers to give them special access to their belongings if necessary. We also offer moving supplies to make the transition as seamless as possible. With storage in Sugar Land, TX, college students can cross off one more stressor and focus on keeping that GPA up!

If you’re interested in storage in Sugar Land, TX contact us at 281-988-8677!