So you have a storage facility. Or maybe you are thinking about renting a unit to run your business out of. Either way you are looking at that office space and wondering how to make it not suck. I get it.
I have been in so many storage offices over the years. Some of them are great. Like you walk in and you feel like everything is under control. The person behind the desk actually looks happy to be there. The space feels clean but not like a hospital waiting room. You know what I mean.
Then there are the other ones.
I walked into a place once and the guy had his desk buried under so much paper I could barely see him. He was eating lunch over the keyboard. The air conditioner was rattling like it was about to die. There were boxes stacked everywhere. And I am standing there thinking, if this is how you run your office, how are you running the actual storage units?
That is the thing people forget. Your office is not just an office. It is a billboard. It tells people everything they need to know about you before you even open your mouth.
Where You Point Your Desk Matters
Let me tell you about my friend Mark. He runs a facility down in Florida. When he first started he set his desk up facing the wall. He said he liked it that way because he could focus on the computer and not get distracted. Sounds reasonable right?
Except every time someone walked in he had to spin around in his chair. And because he was facing the wall he could not see the parking lot. So people would pull up with a trailer, stand around looking confused, and Mark would not even notice until they came banging on the door.
He finally moved his desk so he could see the door and the main driveway. He said it changed everything. Not just for customers but for him. He felt more in control. He could see someone struggling with a lock and walk out to help before they got frustrated and drove off.
That is the kind of stuff nobody tells you in the storage business manuals.
Storage People Are The Worst About Clutter
I am going to be honest with you about clutter too.
Storage people are the worst about clutter. Because we have all this space. Oh there is an empty unit? Just throw the broken office chair in there. The old marketing signs? Shove them in the back. Next thing you know you have rented out all the units and suddenly your junk has nowhere to go except back into your office.
I have done this myself. Not proud of it. But it happens.
Here is what I learned. Your office should only have what you need for that day. Not next week. Not next month. Today. If you have paperwork from three years ago sitting in a box behind your desk, you are never going to look at it. Throw it away or scan it. Do not let it sit there taking up space and making your office feel cramped.
And the counter space. Oh man. People pile stuff on the counter because it is convenient. But that is where your customers stand. If they have to move a stack of papers just to hand you their ID, that is a problem. Keep the counter clear. If you need to set something down for a second, fine. But at the end of the day clear it off. Walk in the next morning and the first thing you see is a clean counter. It changes your whole mindset.
Security Is Not Just A Buzzword
I want to talk about security too but not in the corporate buzzword way.
Here is the real deal. Your office holds the keys to everything. Gate codes. Customer information. Maybe actual keys to the units if you do that kind of setup. If someone gets into your office when you are not there, you have a major problem on your hands.
I know a guy who used to leave his office unlocked when he went to show a unit. Just a quick five minute thing. Then one day he came back and someone had walked in and grabbed a stack of move-in paperwork off his desk. Customer names, phone numbers, addresses. He had to call every single person and explain what happened. That is not a phone call you want to make.
So lock your office. Every time. Even if you are just walking to the bathroom. It takes two seconds and it saves you from a nightmare.
Same thing with your computer. Lock the screen when you step away. I cannot tell you how many times I have walked into an office and seen the computer wide open with the management software still up. Anyone could walk behind the counter and start poking around. Not good.
Comfort Is Not Weakness
Let me tell you about the comfort thing too because nobody talks about this.
You are going to spend hours in that office. Hours. If you are miserable in there, you are going to hate your job. And if you hate your job it shows. Customers pick up on that energy.
Get a good chair. I mean it. Do not buy the cheap one from the big box store. Your back will hurt. Your neck will hurt. You will be cranky by 2pm. Spend the money on something that actually supports you. It is worth every penny.
Lighting matters too. If you have those buzzing fluorescent lights that make everything look like a hospital, add some lamps. Seriously. Go to a thrift store and get a couple floor lamps. Put them in the corners. It changes the whole vibe of the room. Makes it feel like a place where people are welcome instead of a place where they are about to get bad news.
Temperature is another one. I walked into a facility last summer and the office had to be 85 degrees. The manager was sitting there sweating through his shirt. He said the AC broke two weeks ago and they were waiting on a part. I asked him why he did not get a window unit in the meantime. He just shrugged.
Do not do that. You are asking people to hand you money while they are sweating. It does not work. Keep the space comfortable. If your AC goes out, get it fixed immediately or get a temporary unit. It is not optional.
What If You Are Working Out Of A Unit?
Now if you are one of those people using a storage unit as your office, the game is different.
I have seen some really creative setups over the years. There is a guy who rents from us who runs his whole eBay business out of a 10×10. He has a little folding table, a battery pack for his laptop, and these really bright LED lights he rigged up with magnets. He goes in there for a couple hours every day to pack orders and print labels. Works great for him.
But I have also seen people try to make it work and struggle because they did not think about the basics.
Lighting is the biggest thing. Storage units are dark. That one little bulb on the ceiling is not enough. You need to bring your own light. Battery powered work lights are cheap and they put out a lot of light. Get a couple and set them up where you actually need them.
Airflow is next. Units get stuffy fast. Especially if you are moving around in there. A battery powered fan helps a lot. Some of the newer portable fans run all day on one charge. Worth the money.
And be realistic about how much time you are going to spend in there. A storage unit is not a climate controlled office. In the summer it is going to be hot. In the winter it is going to be cold. If you need to be in there for more than an hour at a time you might want to look at a climate controlled unit. It costs more but if it lets you actually get your work done it is worth it.
We have climate controlled units at our facility for exactly this reason. Some people just need a space to work and a standard unit does not cut it. We get it.
Sell Stuff Without Looking Like A Garage Sale
Let me talk about selling stuff in your office for a minute.
If you are running a storage facility and you are not selling locks and boxes and tape, you are leaving money on the table. I know it seems small but it adds up. And more than that, it is a service to your customers. They show up with a truck full of furniture and realize they forgot a lock. Now they have to drive to the hardware store. Or they can buy one from you and get moving in five minutes.
But how you display it matters.
I walked into a place once where they had the locks and boxes stacked on the floor next to the door. Looked like a garage sale. And the prices were handwritten on masking tape. It just looked cheap.
Take a little time to set up some shelves. Put everything out where people can see it. Clean looking. Prices clearly marked. You do not have to be pushy about it. Just have it there. Most people will grab what they need without you even saying anything.
We keep a small display right by the counter at our facility. Nothing fancy. Just some shelves we picked up at a hardware store. People grab locks all the time. They grab tape. Sometimes they grab boxes even though they came in just to rent a unit. It works.
Small Stuff That Makes You Look Like A Hero
Here are some little things I have learned that make a difference. Just random stuff.
Keep a phone charger behind the counter. People show up with dead phones all the time. Letting them plug in for a few minutes while they do paperwork makes them feel taken care of.
Keep a small box of basic tools. Screwdrivers. Pliers. A utility knife. Someone will need to cut tape or fix a latch. Being able to hand them what they need saves everyone time and stress.
Keep a list of local movers and handymen. Customers ask for recommendations constantly. If you have a few names ready to go, they appreciate it. And honestly those movers will send business back your way too. It is good for everyone.
If you have people bringing dogs, keep a bowl of water out. Maybe a few treats. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen someone walk in with a dog that is clearly hot and thirsty. A little water makes a huge difference in their mood.
These are not big things. But they add up. They make people feel like you actually give a damn.
Your Office Sets The Tone
I think about our office a lot. Not because I am obsessed with it but because I know it sets the tone for everything else. When someone walks in and the space is clean and organized and comfortable, they relax. They feel like they are in good hands. And honestly that is half the battle.
If the office is a mess and I am stressed out and the AC is broken, that person is going to walk out wondering if they made a mistake. Even if the units are perfect. Even if the prices are great. That first impression sticks.
So yeah. Set your office up right. Move the desk so you can see the door. Clear the clutter. Get a good chair. Lock up when you step away. Make it a space that actually works for you.
You spend too much time in there to hate it. And your customers spend too much time looking at it for it to be a mess.
That is really all I have got. Just stuff I have learned from being in this business and seeing what works and what does not. Hope it helps.
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