affordable storage – Dino's Storage

Dino’s Storage visits Winnipeg when it is colder than Mars!

Our Owner and Operations Manager made a recent trip to our location in Winnipeg, Canada to welcome our newest manager to Dino’s team, Cyrena Syrowitz. While visiting the weather was frigged, according to the Curiosity Rover, Mars reached a maximum temperature of -29 C on Tuesday, a temperature Winnipeg only reached shortly before 3 p.m.

In Winnipeg, the daytime high temperature for Tuesday was only expected to reach –31 C, but the windchill made it feel more like –40 to –50. That means exposed skin can freeze in less than five minutes. On Monday, it got as warm as –28 C.

Self Storage for Businesses

Most people think that storage facilities are only used for individuals storing personal items. I hear this often when business owners call to ask about storage options, storage units for businesses big or small are a great way to save money and space. Prime example here at Cedardale; I have several businesses who store seasonal items, items needing archived, and especially now with the overflow of holiday items they do not have room for. Utilizing space in a business is important so remember that Self Storage for businesses is very common and a great way to help your business grow.

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

Dino’s Storage is a Worthwhile Employer

I would like to take the time to write about something to plug the ownership of Dino’s Storage this month as opposed to trying to tell you why you should send all of your storage business my way! Yahoo or Google does not take the time to write articles about every admirable thing that every small business does, so I am going to tell you about the great things that Dino’s Storage ownership did this year for its employees. In a year when half of the nation is complaining about the Affordable Care Act, and how it will jeopardize their profits (and should even be appealed), and big companies saying they will no longer cover spouses as part of their benefit package the owner of Dino’s Storage, last year had an open enrollment, for ALL of it’s full time employees (over a year before it would have been required). They offered the employees 2 different plans, because all people have different needs, but both were top of the line coverage. As things ended up working out, the company could have waited another year before even making this option available, as small businesses received a year extension from their requirement! Instead, Dino’s Storage did a very noble thing…….they moved forward, as any leader would do……….made these benefits available, and now have a very grateful workforce. Every employee can do more positive work when he has fewer things to worry about outside of the workplace. So much for plugging Dino’s ownership………but if I was looking for a service (of any kind) it always helps me to make a business decision if I know the integrity of the people I am doing my business with. Good job Dino’s!!!!

IS MY STUFF INSURED?

This is a question I get occasionally while helping people with their storage needs. Or some people don’t even think to ask about insurance coverage; they’ve never used storage before and it doesn’t occur to them to ask.

And most are surprised when I say the answer is No, ANY storage facility will tell you they do not insure the items you put in the building. In no way, shape, or form can we be responsible for the items in the facility. In the event of a tornado, fire, flood, storm damage, theft, etc, etc.; the proper insurance coverage is the responsiblity of the tenant. It’s similar to renting a home, apartment, or business space. Your landlord doesn’t insure your belonging in your apartment and a storage facility can’t insure your belongings in your storage space.

I always tell my new tenants if you have homeowner’s insurance don’t just assume your things are covered while in storage; every policy is different and some only cover contents that are in the actual home. So when you move those contents out the home and into a storage unit; you may have 10% of your policy coverage for those items; or worse yet, no coverage at all!! I advise calling your agent and asking about something called “off premise policies”. Tell them “these items are going into a storage facility, do I have my FULL policy coverage?”. Depending on your individual policy, you may need to add some sort of renter’s rider or additional coverage.

A general renter’s policy will most times be sufficient to cover your belongs in storage, but again, every policy is different. So if you haven’t, it is still a good idea to call your agent and make sure you have proper coverage.

While Dino’s Storage itself doesn’t insure your belongings; we do work with a company that does. Bader Company is a storage insurance company that offers month to month policies, same as your storage lease. If you don’t have existing coverage for your storage unit, don’t want to shop a policy on your own, or simply want additional coverage; ask your manager; it’s simple and the premium can be added to your monthly storage rent. If it’s worth storing, it’s worth insuring!!

Contact Kerri at Center St for current specials this month, 402-504-4600 or Centerst@dinosstorage.com

STORAGE IS MOVING UP IN THE WORLD

I’ve noticed when some people inquire about public storage and I say “I’m a……multi level facility…” they say “Multi level? Do you have anything available on the 1st floor?”. But there are several great advantages to being high in the sky and Dino’s Storage will change how you may feel about a multi level building.

When Dino’s laid out the plans for our buildings we thought about our customers and did it better than some in the past, we installed elevators!! I had someone ask me once “Do you have elevators?”. Apparently they had used a multi level facility in Arizona and had to lug their belongings up stairs. I said “Yes we have elevators, not only do we have elevators; we have large freight elevators that will easily accommodate any big furniture pieces. You can even fit items loaded and wrapped on pallets. We also have flat carts available to our tenants for loading and unloading (yes, furniture fits on them too). Save your back and stop lugging heavy boxes. Just put them on a cart, step into the elevator, and roll your way down the aisles.

If you’ve ever used regular ground level storage you’ve probably had a manager or owner tell you “..to ensure you don’t come back to damaged belongings, it’s a good idea to put your stuff on pallets or up on boards and not directly on the concrete floor”. This is for several reason; but one is concrete is a porous material. When the ground is cold and the temperature in the unit is hotter, concrete can sweat. Which means condensation will collect on the floor (kind of like the tank on your toilet when you take a hot shower, or the windows in your car). So if your nice wooden furniture or cardboard boxes are directly on the concrete floor eventually it will wick up this condensation and can warp. This will not happen when you are off the ground.

Another concern with regular ground level storage is rodents. No matter what precautions you and/or the facility take; rodents can, and sometimes do find their way in. Especially in the winter. It’s cold outside and they scurry around the ground seeking shelter; as sometimesthat shelter is in your unit. Hey if you’re not on the ground you don’t have to worry!!

So when your thinking about what you want in a storage facility, set your sights a little higher. Once you store on the penthouse levels, you will want to stay there. And the best part is Dino’s doesn’t charge any extra for it, it’s just as affordale as the ground floor!!

Contact Kerry the Property Manager at Dino’s Storage in midtown Omaha for multi level climate control storage specials #402-504-4600, Centerst@dinosstorage.com