Imagine this: You miss 5 rental calls per day 1 of those would’ve converted into a paying tenant That unit rents for $150/month Here’s the annual impact: $150 x 12 months = $1,800 in lost revenue per rental $1,800 x 1 missed rental/day = $10,800 lost per year And that’s assuming just one of those missed calls was ready to rent. What if more were? The Impact Grows Quickly Now let’s raise the stakes: You miss 2 calls per day The rental value is $200/month That customer would have stayed 18 months Here’s what you’ve lost: $200 x 18 months = $3,600 per tenant $3,600 x 2 = $7,200 in lost revenue — per day of missed opportunity. Multiply that across weeks or months? The cost is staggering. But It’s Not Just About the Math Missed calls don’t just hurt your revenue. They hurt your reputation . Renters expect a response now, not later. A missed call could send them directly to your competitor. If it happens often, you start getting negative reviews—or worse, no reviews at all. In an industry where many customers rent from the first facility that picks up, every unanswered call is a chance to lose a lifetime value customer. Why Facilities Miss Calls We get it. You're busy. Most storage facilities operate with lean teams, and the manager can’t always answer the phone—especially when they’re: On a golf cart showing a unit Handling an in-person rental Dealing with maintenance On lunch or off-site Even with voicemail and callbacks, that delay is often all it takes for a lead to move on. The Solution: Proactive Call Handling That Converts At All-Purpose Storage, we’ve made call handling a core part of our operational strategy. Why? Because we know that great operations drive great revenue —and call conversion is one of the biggest levers you can pull. Here’s how we do it: Dedicated Call Center Team Our team is trained to: Answer calls 7 days a week Convert leads into leases Provide accurate, location-specific info Support current tenants with empathy and clarity Property-Specific Playbooks Every facility in our portfolio has a custom call script and cheat sheet . Our team knows: The layout of your facility Which units are climate controlled Where your property is located (“next to the Shell station off Route 10”) What specials you’re running The goal: make every caller feel like they’re speaking to someone onsite—who knows their facility like the back of their hand. Call Handling is Revenue Management You can optimize rates, dial in your SEO, and buy ads all day… But if no one picks up the phone when a lead calls, you’ve lost before you started . It’s time to stop leaving money on the table—and start treating missed calls like the revenue leaks they are.
Yes — we manage all of our facilities remotely. And no — that doesn’t mean things fall through the cracks. At All-Purpose Storage, we’ve built our entire third-party management platform around a remote-first operational model—and we believe it’s one of the smartest ways to run a storage business in today’s landscape. Remote operations often raise eyebrows. Some owners assume it means limited oversight or a lack of personal attention. But when built the right way, remote operations actually unlock greater consistency, efficiency, and scalability than traditional on-site staffing models. Here’s exactly how we make it work—and why it works so well. 1. Documented Playbooks & Operational SOPs Every facility in our portfolio runs on a centralized operating system : From move-in procedures to auction prep From delinquency timelines to overlock cadence From customer communication templates to emergency protocols Our team uses clearly documented SOPs that outline every process in detail. These aren't static documents—they're living systems that are updated as we scale and learn. Why this matters: New team members can be trained quickly and confidently Owners can trust that expectations are being met regardless of the facility We eliminate the guesswork that often leads to poor tenant experiences 2. Thoughtful Camera & Tech Setup Security cameras aren't just for safety—they're a daily operations tool . We ensure each facility has high-quality coverage of key areas: Gate entry/exit Office and hallway views Loading areas Dumpster zones Access-controlled buildings or stairwells These aren’t just "set and forget" systems. Our team checks footage to: Verify clean-up was completed Ensure lock checks were done properly Investigate tenant complaints Confirm vendor work completion We also use motion alerts, smart locks, and cloud-based access systems for seamless oversight. 3. Scheduled Property Walks & Physical Oversight Remote does not mean disconnected. We schedule weekly or biweekly facility walks (frequency depends on size, occupancy, and property needs). These walks are performed by either a dedicated maintenance partner or a trained field support team member. Each visit includes: A walkthrough of every vacant unit A lock check of occupied units Visual audit of signage, landscaping, lighting, and cleanliness Submission of a digital report to our operations team with photos and notes This allows us to catch issues before tenants do—and follow up with vendors or staff when expectations aren’t met. 4. Local Vendor Relationships Built on Accountability One of the biggest myths about remote operations is that you’re at the mercy of your vendors. The truth? We vet and build long-term relationships with local partners. That includes: Snow removal crews Pest control companies HVAC and plumbing pros Electricians and general contractors Janitorial and cleaning teams And just like we track team performance, we track vendor performance too. We keep response time records, pricing logs, and photo-verified completion reports. Our expectations are clear, and our follow-up is immediate. 5. A Centralized Call Center Built for Storage We don’t use generic answering services. We’ve built a dedicated call center experience that’s rooted in empathy, efficiency, and conversion. Here’s what makes it work: Agents are trained on storage-specific customer scenarios Every facility has a site-specific cheat sheet with unique details (e.g., "this facility is next to the post office" or "building 300 is humidity-controlled") We use pop-up systems to deliver those cheat sheets live on the screen during the call Why this matters: Renters feel like they’re talking to someone who knows their location Prospects get accurate, confident answers Owners get higher lead-to-lease conversion Our call center doesn’t just answer calls—we drive revenue and enhance tenant satisfaction . 6. Maintenance Scheduling & Task Automation We use centralized task management systems (like Monday.com) to assign, track, and verify every on-site task. Each facility has its own board that includes: Daily, weekly, and monthly checklists Open maintenance tickets Vendor assignments and due dates Photo uploads and progress logs This system keeps: Our field team accountable Our ops team informed And our owners confident that work is getting done—even if they never step foot on-site 7. Transparent, Real-Time Team Communication We’re in constant contact with each other—and our clients. Our internal team communicates through Slack and Microsoft Teams channels organized by function and facility. There’s no lag in decision making, no waiting on "so-and-so to get back from lunch." We also provide clients with real-time visibility into: Onboarding milestones Financial performance Operational audits Custom reporting dashboards Because remote operations only work when communication is strong and consistent. 8. Training, Cross-Training & Culture Finally, remote success comes down to people. We invest heavily in: Structured onboarding for every role Cross-training for flexibility during turnover or PTO Regular one-on-one coaching and growth plans A team culture that values transparency, hustle, and having fun doing it Our team doesn’t just follow systems—they believe in the mission of running excellent facilities, wherever they are. Remote, On Purpose Our approach to self-storage operations isn’t accidental. We’ve intentionally built a model that combines technology, human connection, and clear process to deliver results owners can rely on. Whether you’re managing one facility or scaling to five, remote operations can work beautifully—with the right team behind you.
