Building a Self Storage San Jose fortress: How the right security and access control tools can bring in high-paying renters

Break-ins and theft are big worries for future Self Storage San Jose owners. As more people turn to Self Storage San Jose during moves and for commercial storage, vandals and thieves have started targeting Self Storage San Jose facilities more and more as easy targets. So what can storage owners do to protect their renters and their property from illegal activity like burglaries and live-in renters? If you’re building or retrofitting a facility, you’ll want to include security and access control tools in your construction budget and truly design your facility around security. Before you ever rent a storage unit, you’ll want to ensure your investment is well protected against vandalism, arson, theft, and illegal activity. Creating fortress-like security for mini warehouses or a newly-built climate controlled building just takes the right tools and proper planning - and doing so will help your storage business make more money in the long-run.
So what will you need?
  • Property fencing
  • Lighting and motion sensors
  • Keypads and access control hardware
  • Security cameras and video monitoring
  • Gate and digital gate operator
  • Unit alarms and electronic door locks
Let’s break each one of these down (including how these tools bring in renters and help YOU make more money):

Property fencing

Installing a fence at your facility is a basic step toward protecting your renters’ belongings from theft. The type of fence you choose will largely depend on whether or not you’ll be providing climate controlled storage or traditional Self Storage San Jose units, or outdoor parking for vehicles, motorcycles, RVs, boats, and campers. A property full of shiny, expensive vehicles is definitely more likely to attract theft, and you’ll likely want to opt for razor wire and cut-resistant mesh over attractive (but less secure) ornamental fencing. If you’re in a high-crime area (or a market where storage facilities have been targeted by thieves in the recent past), you’ll also want to consider heavy-duty commercial fencing that is both climb and cut-resistant.
It’s easy to get carried away with fencing and create a prison-like appearance. Your goal isn’t for people to drive by and say, “wow, what are they storing in there - dinosaurs!?” But it is vital to choose a strong barrier fence that is functional first, and attractive second. There are tons of great options for storage operators that are both functional and attractive - I highly recommend checking out a national trade show to see samples in person, or calling a fencing rep and asking for references in your area. Nothing beats checking out a fence in-person and getting the lowdown from another owner about their experience before making an investment into property fencing.

How it drives revenue: Your storage renters hear about Self Storage San Jose break-ins on the news all the time. By having a top of the line security fence with reinforced, hard-to-cut and hard-to-climb mesh and razor wire, your renters will feel like their stuff is safer at your property than at Storage Joe’s down the road. Your fence is an investment that really sells itself - renters can see just how secure the property looks from the heavy-duty fencing, and they can also compare it to your competitors just from a quick drive-by. If your property appears more secure and hard to break into than your competitors, you’ll both deter crime (saving you thousands of dollars and tons of negative PR) and drive rentals for higher-priced units. Tenants who are looking to store their higher-priced home and business items are willing to pay for top-quality security and climate control to protect their stuff. Having great security at your property brings you one step closer to attracting your ideal renter - someone who is clean, responsible, and pays on time.

Lighting and motion sensors

Even if you’re not planning on offering 24-hour access at your facility, bright lighting and motion sensor triggers are essential to protect the property from break-ins and theft. When burglars are scoping out potential properties to break into, they’ll be wary of your brightly-lit parking lot and unit driveways where their illegal activity will be easy to spot. Motion sensor lights attract even more attention - it is easier for someone to blend into the shadows of a lit parking lot than it is to hide from motion sensor lighting that pinpoints their every location. Motion sensor lights can also greatly lower your energy costs and lengthen the lifespan on expensive LED light bulbs. Flood lights, area lights, and canopy lights are all great options for bright, outdoor lighting for your parking lot, entry/exit points, or unit driveways. There are many professional lighting vendors and tons of options available to owners. Whatever you do, definitely make sure you get LED lights - you’ll pay more up front, but save tons on your energy bill and extend the life of your lighting system (meaning less maintenance and work for you). Many LED light bulbs will even let you change the light’s color with a remote or smartphone app, so you can get a little festive during the holidays and really wow your customers!
How it drives revenue: Just like your property fence, your facility’s lighting is easy for renters to see and evaluate when checking out your property. Whether they’re checking out your property in the evening or wanting a storage solution where they’ll feel safe day or night, safe and secure, bright lighting is essential to bringing in customers and creating a secure environment at your facility. With modern building and facility lighting, you’ll also beautify your property and create great drive-by marketing after hours. Make your building’s sign and logo stand out at night with LED lights and deter crime at the same time, and you’ll consistently attract new customers seeking secure Self Storage San Jose.

Keypads and access control hardware

Access control is a huge topic in Self Storage San Jose - and we’ve written extensively about access control hardware and technology on our blog. There are tons of options, from basic, low-tech keypad entry to state of the art access systems, and every storage facility has unique access control needs. Since it depends so heavily on your target market and your business model, here is no one-size-fits-all approach to access control. Your most basic access control hardware will consist of a keypad that opens a gate when a correct code is typed in - usually four numbers followed by the “#” key. A more advanced access control system will communicate with your software to automatically deny gate access to tenants based on their delinquency status, providing an easy way to lock out tenants who are overdue on rent. Even more advanced access control systems integrate with your software to provide instant access to online renters and in-software alerts showing access histories, including who is on-site now. Keep in mind that everyone who accesses your property needs to use your access control keypad or entry system - including managers, lawn care teams, maintenance workers, and construction crews - so you’ll want a system that makes assigning non-tenant codes simple.
As far as hardware goes, you’ll need to find the right keypad, card reader, fingerprint scanner, or bluetooth reader for your environment. If you’re from a northern state that endures extremely cold winters (or Canada!) you’ll want to ensure your keypad is extremely hardy and won’t freeze up in sub-zero temperatures. Sand and sun can also be hard on keypads, wearing off numbers, causing buttons to stick, or in extreme heat situations, melting the plastic of your keypad. You don’t want your hardware to melt into a puddle, so if you’re in Arizona or a similar hot, desert environment, you’ll want an equally hardy keypad that can withstand the sun’s wrath and won’t burn your tenants fingers when they try to enter the property.
How it drives revenue: Convenience, convenience, convenience. Whether your tenants access their unit once a week or once a year, they want it to be a smooth experience. Business renters love an effortless system (such as bluetooth scanners that allow access without the tenant even having to roll down their window) that lets them get in and out of your property fast and on with their busy day. Renters who don’t visit the property very often like something that’s easy for them to remember and simple to use. If they’ve forgotten to pay rent, some access control tools will lock out their code and even send an automated, customizable text message letting them know they’re locked out because they’re overdue on rent and providing a link to your website’s pay online portal. A modern access control system makes collecting rent easier and helps tenants access your property securely without the constant headache of trouble at the gate. As any manager knows, it’s a pain in the butt when a tenant in good standing calls you from the gate complaining their code isn’t working and they can’t get in.

Security cameras and video monitoring

Possibly the most important element to building your secure, Self Storage San Jose fortress is video surveillance. Security cameras are a great way to thwart burglars, deter crime, and monitor activity on-site. There are tons of styles of security cameras, from box cameras that look like an old VHS camcorder to PTZ cameras that allow you to pan, zoom in, and tilt the view, all the way up to thermal imaging cameras that detect heat changes in complete darkness and wireless IP cameras that offer push notification alerts to your smartphone when motion is sensored.
If you can afford the setup cost, a wireless IP camera system is top of the line. These internet-connected camera systems provide the ultimate protection against theft and illegal activity - you and your team can receive instant notifications when movement occurs on site, then simply open the app to view what’s happening live. However, these cameras also have drawbacks: if your cameras are highly sensitive, you might get late night notifications whenever an opossum wonders across your parking lot or a moth flies in front of the camera. Usually these cameras allow you to adjust sensitivity so that every passing bird isn’t seen as a threat.
Whatever you choose, consider this: security cameras work best when they’re blatantly obvious. Whether that’s through large cameras placed conspicuously throughout your property or with signs that say “smile, you’re on camera” or “property under video surveillance.” Also, be careful of the verbiage you choose when marketing your security cameras to potential renters to prevent legal woes: 24-hour video surveillance or CCTV implies to renters that a security guard or manager is monitoring the video feed 24/7. “Security monitoring” is a safer phrase unless you plan to have someone to watch your live video feeds day in and day out.
How it drives revenue: It’s pretty simple - cameras remind tenants of your commitment to protecting their stuff from illegal activity. They’re also pretty handy when it comes to he-said, she-said battles - you have the footage to backup your claims in the event that someone tries to sleep in their unit or skip out on their bill by cutting their overlock. If you ever do have a break-in, security footage will be crucial when working with police to apprehend the individual and prevent future theft. High-tech security cameras are a very marketable security feature that can help bring in new renters online and boost occupancy. Many people consider security cameras to be a must-have before renting a storage unit, so don’t skimp on this technology tool.

Gate and digital gate operator

The topic of gates is a big one - in fact, we wrote a big ol’ blog post all about choosing a gate and gate operating system for your storage facility last year. If you’re building a new facility, you’ll want to research gates carefully and plan your property layout before breaking ground on any construction. Some storage owners regret implementing both an entrance and an exit gate - using one gate for both in and out traffic can save owners a substantial amount of money and headache when it comes to gate maintenance.
Remember that every entrance and exit point on your property will need to be professionally maintained, outfitted with access control tools, protected by security cameras and alarms, and well-lit. If you’re offering indoor, climate controlled storage, you’ll likely have several “man doors” to maintain and secure as entrances/exits into your building, as well as elevator controls. Most of the time it’s necessary for a facility to have both an entry gate and an exit gate, but it can help to cut down on traffic if you’re located on a busy street or intersection.
Article Source




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Need to Attend a Self Storage Auction? Here Are Some Strange Findings

Institutional speculators take a greater bit of the Self Storage San Jose pie