Dino’s Storage Billboards Making a Difference!

Dino’s Storage is a Christian based company with a philosophy to understand the customer, provide the highest level of customer service and bring self-storage to markets previously under-served through the development of self storage facilities. We always keep our customers in mind! We love getting feedback from customers as well as prospective customers. If you have ever driven past any of our locations we have billboards with inspirational message or Bible verses. The messages are changed daily. We have received an awesome email from a prospective customer.

“I just want to tell you that I really appreciate those sayings that you guys put up on your billboard on the side of your building.  The one I read today said, “Do not envy those who do evil”.  I am a Christian and I find those sayings that you post on your billboard very uplifting and encouraging.  Thank you so very much for doing that.” –Cory

It makes us feel great that our signs are making a difference in peoples lives!

HELP DINO’S STORAGE RESTOCK THE FOOD BANK

As you may know from previous blogs, it’s important to our owner of Dino’s Storage to serve and contribute to and within the community. So one of the things he encourages the individual facility managers to do is run specials at our storage facilities that help non-profit and charity organizations.

So this month at the Center St (Midtown) facility I am running the following special:

HELP US RESTOCK THE FOOD BANK!!

Donation of 5 items gets you $5.00 off the monthly rate for a 10×5 unit.

Donation of 10 items gets you $10.00 off the monthly rate for a 10×10 unit.

Don’t have time to go to the store? Monetary donations of $5.00 and $10.00 can also be made directly to the Food Bank at http://www.foodbankheartland.org

Offer valid only once, applies to new move-ins only, and items or receipt must be presented at time of lease signing.

MOST NEEDED ITEMS ARE:
peanut butter, crackers, canned fruit, canned vegetables, macaroni & cheese, pancake mix, cereal, pasta sauce, pasta, canned soup, canned meat, pork & beans,
hamburger helper & other boxed meals

ALL DONATION GO DIRECTLY TO THE FOOD BANK FOR THE HEARTLAND.

The Midtown location is an indoor, multilevel, climate & humidity controlled facility with 5×5 – 10×20 size units available. Facility amenities include 24/7 access, digital camera surveillance, and individual coded access to the building.

Kerry Lambert  – Property Manager

5328 Center St – Omaha, NE  68106

(402) 504-4600

Another Example How Dino’s In Des Moines Cares About It’s Community

It is no secret to most people that HUNGER is a real problem here in America. Here in Iowa we have a Child Food Insecurity Rate of 19.5% and an overall Poverty Rate of 11.6%. Dino’s in Des Moines on SE 14th has teamed up with The Food Bank of Iowa to help in this matter. The Food Bank of Iowa delivers food to 55 of the most desperate counties in Iowa. Last year they received 7,673,765 lbs. of food from donations! All though this is remarkable news, it still does not cover what is needed to feed everyone in need ALL year around. I have set up a bin in my facility to collect donations for the month of November and December, anyone can donate. However, I have set up a SPECIAL for the months of November and December for anyone signing a new lease with us here at Dino’s on SE 14th. We will take off the $10 application fee if you bring in 2 non-perishable items to donate to The Food Bank of Iowa. How great is that, you can help out Hungry Iowan’s and save yourself money too! Anyone can donate, you don’t have to sign a lease with us, BUT if you do you will receive the great discount on your application fee. So stop in and see me and let’s fill this bin to the top! Thank you from ALL of us here at Dino’s!

GRIT

If you are a western movie fan, the first thing you think of when you see the word grit is probably the movie “True Grit” with John Wayne as “Rooster” Cogburn. Others may think of the food, grits that comes out of the south. Grit is something else.

Grit is not a trait that requires immediate, positive feedback. Grit is not “I tried my best” and giving up. Grit is being able to stay determined and motivated over a long period of time despite failures and adversity. It is the stamina to “stay the course.” Grit is perseverance, motivation, ambition to overcome the challenges and obstacles. Our society needs a little more “grit” today, I pray we can find it.

“People are blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.” G.B. Shaw Mrs Warren’s Profession 1893

Boo, Blessings, Ho, Ho, Ho

Isn’t it fun to see all the holiday decorations–on a Halloween drive finding ghosts, witches, spiders, and jack-o-lanterns: a Thanksgiving drive seeing Pilgrims, turkeys and pumpkins; and the best is a Christmas drive spotting Santa, sleighs and reindeer, lighted trees, candles, and a manger scene.
After it is over, where do they put all those wonderful decorations for next year? Do they stick them in the basement, or attic, or maybe the garage? Many have found the best solution is to take them to a storage unit. A storage unit means the decorations are safely out of the way but so handy when needed for next year. A unit at one of the Dino’s Storage locations might be just the ticket for your holiday decorations.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND A BLESSED CHRISTMAS.

Storage Auctions

Storage auctions have increased in popularity over the last decade due to the various TV shows. If a lessee defaults on the payments, the storage facility has the right to legally auction the items in the unit. Dino’s Storage holds auction every month for units in default for non payment or abandonment. There will typically be between 15-25 attendees and while there are regular bidders, we do occasionally have new people that attend our auctions or call to inquire about the auctions. I would like to take this opportunity to share a few of the more common questions that are asked by storage auction attendees.

The most frequent question is, “How many units do you have?” That varies from facility to facility. I typically will have 3-5 units on a monthly basis that default into the auction process, whereas, another of our Des Moines locations rarely has any units for sale. The lessee that has defaulted technically has up to the time of auction to settle their debt and reclaim the unit, so it would be best to call the property the day of the auction and ask the manager how many units they anticipate selling.

Next, we get asked “What size units are you selling?” Again, that varies month to month and most managers will announce the unit size just as the door opens before bidding starts. We have units ranging from 5×5 all the way up to 10×30. And it is hard to judge by size alone until we open the door for you to peak in. I have auctioned a 10×20 unit with only a couple items, then turned around an auctioned a 5×10 that was packed to the brim.

A lot of people will ask, “Do you have anything good today?” This question really is a matter of perception. What I think is “good” might be completely different from what yours is. Or perhaps you are looking for something in particular or have a certain taste in style. I have been a storage manager for 5 years and I have seen many auctions. I have seen buyers come out way ahead and I have also seen buyers bust on a purchase. Since you can not see what is in every box or bag, buying units is often a surprise and you take the good with the bad.

For those of you that have attended a live storage auction or have at the least seen the process on TV, you know that we open the door and give you a few minutes to view that unit without touch anything or going into the unit before the bidding starts. I have had people ask me if we sell individual items out of the unit and that would honestly take all day in most cases, so no, we sell the unit as a whole.

That brings me to the next question, “How long do we have to clean out the unit?” The Des Moines auctions are usually held on the last Friday of the month and we will give the buyer 24 hour access to remove all the items by Monday morning or we will be happy to lease the unit to the buyer if more time is needed.

I try to keep my comments to a minimum during the auction process to ensure everyone is playing on an even field. Of course you will have the regular bidders that come every month and know a little more about bidding, winning and re-selling the units but we also have new bidders or people that just come out to see what storage auctions are all about, but everyone deserves a fair shot at winning a unit. So, if you are a small business owner that buys units regularly or a first time bidder, bring your credit card and try your luck at one of our storage auctions…Happy Bidding!!

Dino’s FAQ’s

dinoslogo

The majority of the customers we serve have never used storage before. Here is a quick and simple guide to some of our most frequently asked questions, visit our FAQ page.  http://dinosstorage.com/omaha/faq_omaha.html.

 

The Power of Volunteering

 As the seasons are changing, the days are getting colder, the holidays are approaching, and we need to step back and look at those that are in need during these times. I have had the pleasure of volunteering at Des Moines Homeless Shelters and Services in the past and during the holidays. Being a volunteer is one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had and seeing the look on the faces I have helped is priceless.

Whether it is going to a nursing home and spending some time with the elderly, visiting children at the Children’s Hospital, working at the soup kitchen, or even just donating items to a shelter can help. Sharing your time and talents as a volunteer can bring happiness to those around you and to your own soul.

Some places to volunteer in Des Moines, Iowa are:

Central Iowa Shelter & Services
Amy Olson, VISTA Program & Volunteer Coordinator
515-284-5719
volunteer@centraliowashelter.org

Youth Emergency Services and Shelter
Jana Daisy, Community Activities Manager
515-282-9377
daisyj@yessiowa.org

Hope Ministries
515-265-7272
info@hopeiowa.org

Hawthorn Hill
515-243-7456
Brittany@hawthorn-hill.org

As Mother Teresa states, “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely, and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”

Giving Back

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Here in Papillion I am running an awesome special to help give back to the community. The Food Bank is running low on supplies and with the holidays coming up I believe it is very important to give back to those in need. Right now if you come in to sign a new lease and bring 10 dry food items, I will remove the $10 processing fee. If you bring 15 or more, I will remove the processing fee and take half off of your 2nd months rent! We are trying to replenish the food bank so every little bit helps. If you are not interested in renting a unit and would still like to help you can drop your items off at :
921 Cedardale Rd. in Papillion.

Most-Needed Food Items:
Peanut butter
Macaroni and cheese
Canned tuna and chicken
Cereal
Pancake mix
Canned fruit and vegetables
Pork and beans
Pasta and sauce
Boxed meals

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
― Winston Churchill

For more information or other locations to drop off your donations please check out the food banks website at www.omahafoodbank.org/

Oversizing

5x10-with-furniture-2    In the years that I have been operating storage facilities there remains one consistency…..people always think they need a bigger size storage unit than what is actually needed.

Before using storage, it is a good idea to think things through, and decide what you would like your storage unit to do for you. For example: if you are going to be leaving your belongings stored away while out of town or just not using them, then you want to get the smallest possible unit, and pack everything tightly. If you have decided that using a storage unit will be part of your new lifestyle either from not having enough room, or moving from a large house into an apartment or condo, you may want to get a storage unit 35% bigger than what you had expected just to allow yourself the room inside to make seasonal changes, or to locate stored items much easier. Whatever the end result is for you, either bigger or smaller, you will enjoy your storage experience much more if you think these things through, and work with your property manager to make the right decision.

I would really enjoy getting some feedback from you readers out there, concerning my blog. Those of you who take the time to write a comment will receive 1/2 off of their application fee when leasing a unit from me. Hope to hear from you!

Tom