How do I know what my costs will be once Bluebird Self Storage is managing my facility?

Bluebird can create a budget tailored specifically for your facility in order to demonstrate the economics our self storage management platform can provide. By utilizing data from existing Bluebird Self Storage properties, we can give you an accurate projection of your costs, occupancy levels, and revenue potential.

How long does it take to transition my facility to be managed by Bluebird Self Storage?

The typical transition takes 30-60 days. Generally speaking, it helps to transition at the beginning of the month. Bluebird's self storage management team works closely with the owner to make this transition as smooth as possible. We have a dedicated financial, HR, operations, and marketing team who will perform the transition without disrupting potential customers and move-ins!

How much is self-storage in Toronto per month?

Depending on where you rent in the city, there are an assortment of facilities and price points to suit your self-storage budget. Prices also fluctuate from month to month due to companies offering special promotions, rental vacancy, and more. Teams that specialize in storage management in Toronto like ours have a finger on the pulse when it comes to finding the right pricing for your company.

How profitable is the storage business?

Annual revenue varies based on facility size but generally ranges from $30,000 – $5,000,000. The storage business can be very profitable, but you will need to ensure your day-to-day facility operations like self storage property management are being properly handled. Your profit also depends on size and location of the facility, effective pricing strategies, and managing your expenses carefully. Working with the Bluebird Storage Management team means you have access to industry experts who can help you strategically plan and execute changes to reach your self storage revenue goals. Our free store review provides valuable industry insight and a comprehensive look into your store's performance. Schedule your review today!

How will bookkeeping work?

Bluebird handles all self storage bookkeeping for your property. All transactions from our self storage software are imported into our accounting software. We are happy to provide you with sample reports to demonstrate what is provided to third-party self storage management owners. We can email your reports to you on request, and owner distributions are done via ACH to the owner's preferred bank account unless specified otherwise.

I want to build a Bluebird Self Storage facility; how does this work?

Bluebird can help you through every step of the development process, including the market demand study, store size, and unit mix. Our Bluebird team has managed 30+ locations across Canada. There are crucial elements and development decisions that directly affect maximizing the property layout and the future financial performance of the store. Once we get a better idea of construction timelines, most self storage management onboarding tasks will begin 60-90 days before the grand opening. We have a dedicated financial, HR, Operations, and marketing team who spend 500 hours to get your store ready to open! Contact us today to get started!

Is a self-storage facility a good investment?

The storage business is considered a good investment by many financial experts due to its ability to generate high margins and returns. ROI depends on many things including size and location of the facility, whether you used a loan to acquire the property and how you're using the facility to generate income. Working with the Bluebird Storage Management team means you have access to industry experts who can help you strategically plan and implement changes to reach your financial goals. We operate some of the best self storage facilities in the country – let us help you too!

What should owners look for in a third-party management company?

When selecting a third-party self management company, it is critical that the owner understands not only how a self storage property management company operates, but also how closely the company's vision and values align with their objectives. It's important to meet the operations team, set up a call, visit a store, try the online chat, and even test out renting a unit. Bluebird operates over 30 properties across Canada, and our team has over over 100 years of combined experience within the self storage, finance, accounting, and customer service industries. We benefit when our owners benefit—that's why we love to see the success of each store! As a self storage management company, we have monthly bonuses for our staff, daily checklists to care for the property, and dedicated regional managers to support our site-level teams. In addition, each facility will have a dedicated website page, marketing resources that will increase online sales and improve Google search results, and a Care Centre that handles online chats and calls missed by our store staff.

What should owners look for when shopping for a storage management company?

There are several things a storage facility owner should consider when shopping for a self storage management company. Finding a reputable management company with a track record of successful partnerships is essential. It's critical to partner with a self storage property management company that can provide dependable results for your business. Additionally, ensure the storage management company has a great website. This is critical to the customer experience, ranking high on Google, and getting more rentals! If you're seeking a self-storage property manager in Toronto, you can trust Bluebird to optimize your facility's performance. Finally, it's important to find a company that is proud of its brand and offerings and is willing to invest in a profitable partnership that will last. As the leading authority in the industry, Bluebird is dedicated to creating the best self storage companies in Canada.

What size or geographic characteristics make facilities a good fit for third-party management?

Generally, properties need to have a minimum 300 units or 30,000 Net Rentable Square Feet for it to make financial sense to hire a full service property manager. Bluebird manages properties in six provinces and is the premier Canadian self storage brand. Thanks to technology, Bluebird can manage a store anywhere in Canada. If your property is less than 300 units we can discuss the potential of managing your property with limited service or providing marketing and revenue management consulting. Please contact our sales team here to discuss your specific property, location, and goals.

What Storage Types Should I Offer?

Storage types are storage space options you offer patrons based on niche or specific needs. Household, business, and moving storage You should ideally be offering household storage, business storage, and moving storage solutions at every location! Are boating, vehicle, and RV storage available? Some facilities offer indoor and outdoor vehicle storage, outdoor RV parking, and outdoor boat parking. We suggest you ask for proof of registration and insurance. Also, make sure the vehicles are in good working condition. Once those are confirmed, the patron can store their vehicle as long as they'd like within the storage unit or in our on-site parking lot.

When should owners consider hiring a third-party management company?

There are many reasons to outsource self storage management, depending on the owner's goals for the property. We work with owners, investors, and developers at all stages of the business. Whether you are new to the industry, want to expand your commercial real estate portfolio, or simply looking for someone to take care of your property as priorities change, we work closely with the owner to find the best solutions for the property and future goals. Outsourcing the management of the store is actually more profitable than running it on your own. Not only will you free up time to do other things, the store can make more profits even after paying management fees. Solid branding, marketing and revenue management can more than offset the cost of hiring a self storage property manager. While there are quite a few third-party self storage property management companies to choose from, Bluebird offers complete transparency into the operations and has dedicated site staff, regional managers, and an accounting team. We also provide marketing services, self storage manager software, and revenue management consulting. Please click here to contact our sales team so we can help you transform your business into one of the best self storage companies around.

Will Bluebird Storage Management retain existing staff when it takes over a facility?

Yes, the current site staff is encouraged to apply for a job with Bluebird! Bluebird strives to streamline the self storage management process so facilities and owners benefit from the smoothest transition possible.

Will branding and signage change?

As part of transitioning your store to Bluebird Storage Management, certain brand elements will need to be changed. Having all stores with a single brand has benefits and efficiencies from a marketing standpoint. Upfront costs can vary based on the condition of the property and they typically include computers, phone systems, exterior signage, and interior branding elements.

Will my site be treated the same as the facilities that Bluebird Self Storage owns?

Yes. Unlike most self storage companies, Bluebird directs potential customers to their local store. Rather than routing all calls, chats and email to a centralized call center, the Bluebird staff at your store will take all phone calls and inquiries. Only when the staff is busy, or after hours, will calls go to the Bluebird Care Centre. We care deeply about the operations and performance of all stores.

Are marketing and an online rental system necessary?

Yes, the best self storage companies know that in order to thrive in the industry, customers must be able to locate information about the storage facility easily. Efficient marketing will ensure a storage company can reach potential customers and increase its clientele. Marketing strategies include Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services, pay-per-click advertising, content marketing, and more. SEO services help drive traffic to the company's website and increase the facility's visibility in search engine results. Content marketing involves creating informative and engaging content that drives organic traffic from various sources. A strong marketing strategy can help build brand awareness, establish customer trust, and generate leads. In addition to driving traffic to our website, our easy to use rental system increases the conversion rate (% of customers who rent online). Bluebird's online rental system enables customers to easily reserve, rent, and keep track of their storage rentals. Not only does this lessen your workload, but it also increases online rentals through a streamlined, organized system. As a self storage management company, Bluebird offers proprietary, cutting-edge software that will revolutionize your rental process.

Is there a downside to using a third-party self storage management company?

No, Bluebird is a national self storage management brand with the resources and expert staff to operate 30+ stores across Canada. Our team of experts has seen it all! We have the experience to know what works, what doesn't, and how to execute quickly and effectively to create the most profitable self storage facilities. While you may find a cheaper storage management company, we have the best staff and revenue management team in the business. Some of the many benefits of our full-service management approach are peace of mind, more free time for owners, and increased profitability. Scheduling a call with our sales team is an excellent first step to begin understanding third-party management benefits and services.

What is a self storage property manager?

A self-storage property manager's primary role involves overseeing operations in a facility that offers storage locker rentals. A self storage management team should always be ready to provide excellent customer service and ready to assist patrons! Additional responsibilities can include ensuring that the storage units are clean and that the security systems are functioning. Finding and retaining top quality staff to manage your storage facility can be difficult. Many storage facility owners benefit from hiring an expert self-storage management company like Bluebird Storage Management to handle operations like hiring staff, managing customer service, and much more!

What is self storage software?

Self-storage software is used by both single and multi-property managers. These systems manage things like rentals, reservations, and payments. Advanced systems like the Bluebird Platform offer a fantastic system for rentals and reservations but also have the best digital marketing services in the self storage industry, business intelligence tools for data analysis and reporting, and more.

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Frequently Asked Self Storage Property Management Questions

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