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Plan A Successful Storage Business With Steel Buildings

Plan A Successful Storage Business With Steel Buildings

Pre-engineered steel buildings are the best way to get your storage business up and running, quickly.

As long as we live in a consumer-based society, mini storage buildings will always be in high demand and the Okanagan is no different. Condos and other construction projects are constantly on the rise as the Kelowna lifestyle attracts people and families from all over. As Kelowna’s population rises, so will the need for more storage buildings.

No matter which city you travel to, you’re bound to find at least one mini storage company in operation, usually more. The reason is simple: once they’re built, these rental units require little maintenance or supervision and the return on the upfront investment becomes significant over time.

However, there’s more that goes into planning mini storage buildings than just slapping together a row of little metal boxes and waiting for the renters to appear. Careful consideration needs to go into each step of the steel building planning process.

 

Location, Location, Location

As with many businesses, location is perhaps the single most important factor when planning a storage building, and there are a number of factors that determine a superior location.

Firstly, you’ll need to address any local zoning bylaws and other building restrictions, as this will dictate where you can set up shop within a given municipality. Once that is taken care of, you’ll need to choose a location that provides maximum convenience for your clients. Building site features that have a positive effect on this type of business include:

  • Major intersections
  • Easy access
  • High traffic volumes
  • High density of homes in a growing area
  • No competitors nearby
  • Next to high activity retail or restaurant

Of course, not all of these will be attainable in certain areas, especially in smaller towns, but they’re worth noting.

 

Size Matters

It’s possible to build 40,000 square feet of rentable space on as little as two acres. However, before you fill your property with as many storage units as possible, it’s important to do your research to get a rough idea of what the demand might be like. There’s no sense in erecting 100 units, only to fill a quarter of them. 

A better approach might be to build in phases, starting with enough units to get the business going, and then adding more as the company grows. That way you can get a feel for your market and incorporate a mix of unit sizes that reflects your local demographic. No matter your requirement, your professionally constructed building can range anywhere from 1,000 - 200,000 square feet.

Here is a great example of a storage building project where we have worked with the owners over many years as they grew their business to provide storage needs in demand.

 

What Matters To You And Your Customers?

Of course, everyone in the market for a steel building wants a sturdy, long-lasting and low maintenance structure, but that’s just the start.

Here’s where you get into the details that might seem little but, over time, build customer satisfaction, loyalty and sales. Some of the features we can customize and incorporate in the design of your storage buildings include:

  • Adequate interior and exterior lighting so customers feel safe and can find their items easily.
  • Exterior colours to incorporate your branding and make your storage units both recognizable and visually appealing. You’d be surprised how many colours you can choose from when it comes to metal buildings, read more here.
  • Heat detectors if you want to offer heated units to withstand British Columbia’s chilly winters and increase revenue.

 

Work With A Reputable Builder

Mini storage buildings are a long-term investment, so it’s worth choosing a quality contractor who has plenty of experience working with pre-engineered steel buildings. This building style has proven itself to be well suited for mini storage for a number of reasons:

  • Cost-effective
  • Easy to assemble
  • Low maintenance
  • Highly customizable
  • Extremely durable

When considering companies, look for an Okanagan based one like Metal Structure Concepts that offer value-added services such as in-house design, estimating and building management. This provides the convenience of an all-in-one project management package.

 

Are you looking for a company that offers a comprehensive services package for mini storage buildings? Contact us today to discuss your plans for your mini storage project.