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	<title>Self Storage News</title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news.php</link>
	<description>Self Storage News</description>
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	<title><![CDATA[Mini Storage Packing Techniques]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mini_Storage_Packing_Techniques.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Nowadays a lot of people are opting for mini storage to store their valuables. The storing chambers are conveniently sized. These storing chambers are being used by people while relocating or shifting from one place to another. Following some simple tactics while packing and moving the items to the storing chambers will make the entire process flow smoothly. The first thing that people should do is to arrange the items one by one, the heavier ones below the lighter ones. The boxes that are packed and sealed should be labeled on all sides so that one can read it regardless of the face that is visible. </p>
<p>The items to be packed should be wrapped in paper, cloth or any such material before being placed in these boxes, which are later to be placed in the mini storage in the commercial premises. The wrapping should be such that the items do not get a chance to bang against each other and get damaged in the process. Aquariums, birdhouses with live birds in them and cages containing live animals should never be packed in boxes for however short duration it may be. It can turn out to be a ghastly affair as the animals might get suffocated to death. Combustible materials should never be stored in storing chambers as they can prove to be hazardous. It is not a good idea to store toxic materials, paints and chemicals in the storing chambers.</p>
<p>Food items should never be stored in a general mini storage or any general storing chamber, for that matter, because they will perish under anaerobic conditions. They should always be preserved in storing chambers built specifically for storing food. These chambers usually regulate the internal environment of the storing chambers to maintain the quality of food. Care should be exercised while storing vehicle parts. Fuel tanks and engines of vehicles should be rendered empty before storing them. Storing full fuel tanks can be hazardous as they can burst under unfavorable temperatures and pressures. </p>
<p>Before packing, the appliance and equipment doors should be left open for sometime to let fresh air circulate. The refrigerator should be defrosted and the washing machines drained. All electrical equipment should be cleaned properly before being packed and sent to the mini storage chambers. When it comes to storing garments, storing chambers that are like wardrobes should be chosen. One should be able to hang the clothes and retain the shape of the clothes in the chambers. Carelessly stacking clothes will lessen their longevity. The chambers storing the clothes should be protected from pests and rodents as these life forms damage clothes by either gnawing or making holes in them. Cockroaches can be a big menace to clothes.&nbsp; </p>
<p>While packing small articles it is always preferable to use their original boxes in which they will fit perfectly. All the gaps should be filled with linen or paper to keep the boxes in shape. The boxes should not be pressed onto the walls of the mini storage and they should be placed on wooden surfaces. Even though it is recommended to stack boxes to save upon space, the stacks should not be very high. This will disturb the balance of the stack and it will be rather inconvenient and time taking to access items at the top of the stack. </p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64114-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=948" title="Mini Storage Packing Techniques">Mini Storage Packing Techniques</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mini_Storage_Packing_Techniques.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Finding The Right Secret Shopping Company]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Finding_The_Right_Secret_Shopping_Company.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>What makes a good secret shopping company succeed? If you search the internet you will see that there are many different companies out there bragging to be the best shopping companies out there. They have their flashy websites and they try to hook you in with their testimonials on how people have been very successful in doing this type of business. The truth is that there are scams out there that are trying benefit off of your desire and your passion to help out another company by taking your money. </p>
<p>Unfortunately the sad truth is that if you can find a legitimate secret shopping company , you better stick with it, and do not tell anyone. If you spread the word that is just let shopping opportunities that you have available to you. If you look at the average cost for a shop, you are looking at only five to ten dollars. You could luck out and find the company that will pay you twenty to fifty dollars a shop, but those are far and few between.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a good secret shopping company , you should first know what you are looking for out of that company. This information can go for those companies that are interested in using these services as well. </p>
<p><strong>The structure</strong></p>
<p>What does their structure look like? How many people work for the office and how many shoppers are out there in the field for your company to use? As said before there are many companies out there trying to do this kind of service, but are they going to be available when you need them? At the same time, do not be scared to use the small companies that are either just starting out or still growing. The biggest thing to look at here is if there is an issue, what does the reporting structure look like? How fast can you expect a turn around?</p>
<p><strong>The process</strong></p><blockquote dir="ltr" style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<p>With any secret shopping company you research, you must find out their process on how they conduct a shop. The short version is that many companies do the same thing. There might be one or two minor differences in the process, but the overall steps are the same. <br />�&nbsp;The information for the shop is given to the shopper<br />�&nbsp;The shopper visits, calls, or emails the company<br />�&nbsp;The shopper logs their findings and sends a report to the person they report to<br />�&nbsp;The secret shopping company then checks for errors, makes the report presentable, and send the information to the company requesting the shop<br />Other than what you see above, there are little differences in the process that are not tied to one of these bullet points.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>The Follow up</strong></p>
<p>How does the shopping company follow up with their clients? Do they just get a report together, make it look nice, send it off then forget about it? Is there someone in place at the shopping company that follows up with the clients to see if they need future shops, what did they think about the last shop, and what could they do better next time to serve them? That is a crucial part of the business.&nbsp; Repeat business or a good referral program is going to provide some extra income to the shopping company if managed correctly.</p>
<p><strong>Pay</strong></p>
<p>What does the pay structure look like and how long after the shop do you wait for the secret shopping company to give you what you deserve? Also another question to ask yourself and ask the shopping company, is do they have a start up fee and why? One thing that you have to watch out for is those companies that try to get some of their bottom line money from the people that are actually doing the shopping. Be careful on this and do not pay to join if you do not feel comfortable with doing so. In all actually the highest rated secret shopping company asks for a member fee.</p>
<p><strong>Expectations</strong></p>
<p>What do you expect from the shopping company and what do they expect from you? That is very important because you do not want to do one thing for a while and then realize that you are not performing up to the expectations of the company. That can go the other way as well. Is the company living up to what you expected? Do not get caught up in the allure of getting paid to shop. Really do your research and determine if this is right for you.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64114-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1079" title="Finding The Right Secret Shopping Company">Finding The Right Secret Shopping Company</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Finding_The_Right_Secret_Shopping_Company.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Widen Your Real Estate Management Services]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Widen_Your_Real_Estate_Management_Services.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>As a real estate management firm you should be prepared to offer our property owners a full strategy for success. Above the usual accounting, payroll, legal and tenant management services, a well rounded real estate management firm would offer sales training and job management for clientele employees.</p>
<p>This may mean that a real estate management firm suggest third party training services, such as a secret shopping program to its clientele. In fact, secret shopping is a great way to look at sales training because such a program would allow your clients a chance to see what their service really is at the customer level. </p>
<p>After all, a great accountant has less to count if customers are not buying, right? This is why, as a real estate management firm it is in your best interest to recommend reputable sales training or secret shopping services to your clients. This is also in the best interest of the client and they may appreciate a valuable recommendation.</p>
<p>Of course, this means that your real estate management firm can not just go recommending any old sales training material or secret shopping vendor. You will have to research those that seem to fit your client base the best. </p>
<p>For example, if you manage storage properties, then find some of the self storage niche shopping programs and ask to have a few trial or demo calls done. Evaluate the program. When comparing secret shop programs, here are some things to consider.</p><blockquote dir="ltr" style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<p>��Was the program customizable to your needs?<br />��Did you have easy and productive communication with your contact person at the shop office?<br />��Were the secret shops conducted well enough to not give it away?<br />��Were the results of the secret shop delivered in a timely manner?<br />��Were the results accurate?<br />��Does the shop program have updated technology (i.e. Are the shops recorded on cassette tape, CD, or mp3? Are the results accessible to you via online access, mailed to you, or emailed to you?)<br />��How many secret shoppers does the company have? If there is a limited pool of them, then you may see or hear the same shoppers too often. If the shopper company has a large network of shoppers, that is best.<br />��How long has the company been in business? You do not want to recommend a new company to your clientele that may be out of business in a few years. Find a company that has proven they are going to grow their own business.<br />��Ask for a discount for all the clients who sign up for their services through your recommendation. If you can offer your clients discounted third party services and products, they will appreciate your management services even more.</p></blockquote>
<p>Other services you may want to gather as third party services could be insurance to the client, and insurance for the clients customers. Take the self storage industry again, they would like to sell renters insurance to their customers. If your management service had a collection of recommendations, they would be pleased to do business with you.</p>
<p>The goal should be to cover all the need of your client base. Make your management firm more than just an accountant and a lawyer, make your firm a one stop shop for business owners. Become a consultant for them.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64114-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1078" title="Widen Your Real Estate Management Services">Widen Your Real Estate Management Services</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Widen_Your_Real_Estate_Management_Services.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[A New Chapter In Customer Service]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/A_New_Chapter_In_Customer_Service.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Working in the customer satisfaction industry requires you to make use of your people skills, being courteous and friendly no matter the situation, and extending the quality of helpfulness and a desire to meet the needs of your clients and patrons, in addition to the specific responsibilities that your particular job entails. It is a juggling act. On the one hand, you have to insure that your duties and obligations to your employer are fulfilled. On the other hand, the needs of the customer must come first. It requires patience, as well as proper training and a good work ethic, to perform well in all of these areas.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />This is why businesses that provide secret shopping services have become so prevalent in the workplace in recent years. Company owners and managers understand that in order for them to succeed in business, and in turn be able to offer you a job, that the customer should be the one and only focus when they are interacting with employees.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Now, no one likes to be working under pressure. If you know that you are under review, some people take it with a grain of salt, but others can become intimidated by the fact that they are being judged on their performance, and nervousness makes them second guess, doubt and even make mistakes that they ordinarily would not have made. Secret shopping services eliminate the nervousness, primarily because their aim is to slip in undetected, and review the quality of the service that they receive as an ordinary, everyday patron. This is what makes secret shopping services so valuable to the companies that use them.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Using this incognito approach allows the reviewer to accurately rate and measure employee acknowledgment, greeting, helpfulness and intention, without the employee ever being the wiser for it. For all they know they are just doing their job. Of course, companies that pay for secret shopping services to be performed within the rank of their employees love to get positive, generous feedback. There is nothing more satisfying to see that the people that you have chosen to hire are performing up to the standards that they agreed upon on upon being hired to work for them. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />We all have bad days, but in the customer satisfaction industry, even if the employee is having a bad day it is still their job to cater to the needs of other people. If their negative attitude spills over into their dealings with clients and customers, that is not only bad for business, but often it is bad for company morale as well. We have all met people who have a generally bleak outlook on life, for whatever reason. Employees who have problems keeping their negative comments to themselves, or who flat out ignore the needs of the customer,&nbsp; are more likely to drive business away than to add to it.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />By utilizing secret shopping services within the ranks of their employees, many companies have been able to nip this negativity in the bud before it becomes a problem. Perhaps all it takes is a one-on-one discussion with a negatively reviewed employee. It is also possible that a new, more powerful company wide training program can be established, to insure that all of your employees are on the same page, the page titled The customer always comes first. </p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64114-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=575" title="A New Chapter In Customer Service">A New Chapter In Customer Service</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/A_New_Chapter_In_Customer_Service.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Decorating Your Rental Apartment]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Decorating_Your_Rental_Apartment.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>People who live in apartments know how hard it can be to get your own sense of style and ownership while living in a place that is not truly your own. You know that you will not live in this place forever, you know that there are always limitations to what you can do when it comes to decorating, yet you want to do something to make it your place, even if it is something simple. Depending on their size and layout, it can be surprising how many possibilities you can find in the place you rent. And now that we are in the midst of summer, there are many bright and light ideas that you can put into action to completely change the look of the place you call home.</p>
<p>First of all, before you begin any type of decorating or remodeling, speak with the manager of your apartments to find out what exactly can be done or not done to your place. Different apartments have different criteria for the extensiveness of changes that can be made to them. It is necessary to know all the details before you begin with any plans. You will want to have good references and, of course, get that deposit back!</p>
<p>Something that you can do no matter what your apartments restrictions is to change your furniture. You do not have to go out and buy a brand new 2000 dollar living room set. If you rent and do not have tons of money to spare, but are dying to change the look of your furniture, you can buy a good quality wicker furniture set, the indoor outdoor type, for your living room. It is amazing what this can do for the look of a room. It lightens the atmosphere and style to a bright, summery style.</p>
<p>Of course, everyone knows that lighter colors make spaces appear roomier and brighter. For the summertime, if your rent manager allows it, paint your walls your favorite pastel color, and get some inexpensive decorating accessories to offset it. For example, if you go with a light yellow wall, you might get some fresh green pillows to accessorize your couch and chairs, or a friendly orange rug for the kitchen.</p>
<p>Another thing you do not have to check restrictions for is the windows. Exchange your heavy or dark winter curtains with lighter ones, maybe even sheer ones, which allow as much sunlight into your home as possible. This will brighten and enlarge smaller rooms, and give your entire place a summery feel.</p>
<p>Candles are another great, inexpensive option for making your place friendlier and lightening the mood. With the never ending choices now days of candle scents, you should be able to come up with your favorites, or a combination of two or three of your favorites, to make your rooms smell even more summery. The cool cucumbers and the fresh linens can give you an ongoing feeling of summer even when you are indoors, and they make even the shabbiest of apartments seem that much more welcoming.</p>
<p>Lastly, bring in those plants. If you have outdoor ones, bring them in and set them in windows. If you have indoor ones already, make sure they are healthy. Bringing nature inside during the summer heightens your sense of the season, not to mention it brings the pleasant and appreciated addition of making your inside air cleaner and healthier for you, your family, and your guests.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64114-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=555" title="Decorating Your Rental Apartment">Decorating Your Rental Apartment</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Decorating_Your_Rental_Apartment.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Insurance for Self Storage]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Insurance_for_Self_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>It is not enough to place belongings in a storage facility to ensure their safety and security. Safety and security can be considered to be hundred percent effective only when the articles in the enclosures are covered under insurance. Many firms offer a lot of beneficial and attractive policies for insuring the articles in the enclosures provided for storing. Many of these firms do not take responsibility for the items that are lost or damaged. The general insurance that covers the personal property may not be having the provision of covering the items in the company provided enclosures for storing items. The items in the storing units should be covered by special insurance policies chalked out by the company experts providing the storing enclosures.</p>
<p>The storage facility is covered under easily affordable insurance schemes. The firms providing the enclosures for storing items have a number of insurance schemes. One has to choose the scheme that suits one the best. You can consult the insurance experts to decide upon the type of insurance policy that best covers the property stored in the company provided enclosures. These days the insurance schemes are specifically designed to suit individual customer requirements. The renter can choose the options that suit him the best from amongst those given in a general policy. The premiums for the insurance policies are generally small amounts and can be easily paid by the renter. </p>
<p>The premiums for the insurance of the storage facility can be directly paid at the company cash counter. Many people might look upon insurance expenses as an additional overhead but in the long run it can be seen that investing on insurance is beneficial. This is because it will not only give protection to the items in the storing enclosures but it will also help the renter in reaping income tax benefits. At times, the renter does not have to apply separately for insurance. The insurance becomes a part of the renter agreement. </p>
<p>One might think that taking insurance on a storage facility is an optional feature. But the renter should be aware that the insurance gives wide ranging protection to the property stored in the enclosures. Insurance protects the items stored from natural disasters like storms, earthquakes and floods. It also protects against hazards like fire and other accidents. One should not take his situation for granted. Though it is wished that misfortune should not befall anybody, nobody is immune to misfortune. Hence it is always better for human beings to be cautious against such happenings and get their property insured. It is important to plan well in advance than suffer at a later stage.</p>
<p>Most of the firms providing enclosures for storing items give the maximum protection possible, but they do not give hundred per cent guarantee regarding the damage issues. One might still find his property damaged in a storage facility . Insurance coverage can protect the items in the storing enclosure against damage. Insurance protects the items against the damaging effects of smoke, lightening, vandalism, explosion, hailstorm, flood damage, building collapse and damage caused due to riots. Many firms ensure everything other than ornaments, cash money and business properties. If one wants to insure these then he should specifically mention it in his contract. Insurance on electronic items is also provided to a maximum limit possible. </p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64145-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=947" title="Insurance for Self Storage">Insurance for Self Storage</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Insurance_for_Self_Storage.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Importance Of Commercial Property Management]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Importance_Of_Commercial_Property_Management.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Commercial property management is the first thing that will come into your mind the moment you start owning one. Investing in commercial property can be anything from owning a store to owning a large office complex or a shopping mall.&nbsp; Whatever the size may be you need to properly manage the property to gain maximum profit from it. Earning from the property will start with tenants renting your space and the first thing that will matter will be the agreement of lease between you and your tenant.</p>
<p>Commercial property management will start with negotiating the lease deed with the tenant. You may be new to investing in the property market and may not be well versed with the prevailing laws and regulations. So you might need the advice of an expert to make the most out of the deal. Such expertise is provided by the various property managing agencies. They not only take care of negotiating such deals but they also start from advertising your property so that it gets the maximum exposure in the beginning. Once your property gathers enough reputation you might not need it any more but in the beginning it is very essential.</p>
<p>To the commercial property management agencies this step of leasing comes after the stage of acquisition of the property. It is the most important step of any investment. You must invest in a property with a very good potential to turn into a major money spinner. These agencies that look after the lease agreements are also experts in negotiating deals for acquiring the property and can help you in finding the right property, getting it for the right price and clearing all the legal matters that go with such acquisition. This can be said to be the first step in managing commercial properties.</p>
<p>After all the matters of renting out are settled your tenants will start business from your premises. Along with this starts your job of maintaining the property. The maintenance means both physical and financial maintenance of the property. The most important part from your view is the financial part of rent collection and the expenditure related to maintenance. So you need a budget. Either you can prepare the budget or you can hand over the entire maintenance job to an agency that will also look after the financial matters. Commercial property management will need a systematic approach as there a number of taxes and fees to be paid. Calculating them properly and in time is a vital job. Also reminding the defaulting tenants and recovering the dues are important because you are there for generating income and any default actually eats into your profit.</p>
<p>The physical maintenance side of commercial property management is the part that actually builds your reputation. As an owner you are responsible for providing the basic facilities like power, water, security and waste disposal. Since the premises are public places, the security of the visitors is the most important aspect of management and the necessary precautions regarding fire hazards is a must. The facilities for the public are open to inspection by the authorities and any deviation can result in huge fines. So it is the duty of the manager of commercial properties to make regular inspections to avoid any untoward incident that can be harmful to the public and can spell disaster for the owner. </p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64145-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1077" title="Importance Of Commercial Property Management">Importance Of Commercial Property Management</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Importance_Of_Commercial_Property_Management.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Secret Shopping For That Little Bit Of Extra Money]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Secret_Shopping_For_That_Little_Bit_Of_Extra_Money.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Secret shopping opportunities are there for the people who would like to supplement their regular income with something more. These are the opportunities that are also there for those who stay at home, do not have time for any regular job but want to earn something for themselves and their family.</p>
<p>But what are the opportunities? They are simply jobs to evaluate companies and the client service that they are providing. Secret shopping opportunities provide for ways to go out and shop for products and services, not for you, but for a company that is conducting a regular check on its employee behavior in relation to client service. So those of you who want to do some shopping without paying for it and get paid instead can simply jump on to the job of a disguised shopper.</p>
<p>Another of the secret shopping opportunities is the fun of doing a job without the knowledge of those who are going to get affected by it. Think of a game you are playing where no body knows that actually you are a judge who is doing the evaluation in anonymity. Is it not thrilling? What is more, the more you are able to remain unidentified the more jobs will you get and you will be regarded as an expert in the art of shopping in disguise. You will be required to create situations which would put the people you are dealing with in a fix. Your job will be to observe them in the situation and then when time comes report it to the correct people. Remember, though it seems like a game it is a job of tremendous responsibility. Many a job is depending on a clear and fair judgment and so is the reputation of a company.</p>
<p>Secret shopping opportunities are simply flooding the internet. You just need to fish them out. But there are sites that are laying traps to dupe the desperate ones. So do not jump in with your eyes closed. Look out for the warning signs. You must get it clear that the secret service providers need you for their business, not you who want them. They will come looking for you if you have it in you. The easiest signs to identify the ones waiting to dupe you are those who are asking for money and promising you of providing jobs regularly. The reputed agencies do not care about asking for money from you as they remain busy enough with their clients and earns enough from them. If you do a satisfactory job you will never be short of jobs. Remember, there is always a shortage for the perfect hired shopper and if you become such a shopper, the companies will call you to work for them.</p>
<p>If you are willing to work from home and in your own time, never let secret shopping opportunities go by and if you want to earn substantially from this then do not let any such opportunities go by. There are instances where people have made the job their primary source of income. But these people are the rarest of the rare. You might need more than one company to provide you with enough jobs for the whole week or month if you are of the enthusiastic type. So, go and grab the very next opportunity that comes by.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64145-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1076" title="Secret Shopping For That Little Bit Of Extra Money">Secret Shopping For That Little Bit Of Extra Money</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Secret_Shopping_For_That_Little_Bit_Of_Extra_Money.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Should Business Owners Have A Conscience]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Should_Business_Owners_Have_A_Conscience.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Nicholas and Elizabeth had been married 3 years when Lizzy finally located the dry cleaners where her mother dropped off her wedding dress to be preserved. It had been an emotional process, having to call local dry cleaners and explain why her mother could not remember where she left the dress just before she passed away. In fact, Lizzy just let it go for 8 months before she had enough peace within herself to start looking for her lost wedding dress.</p>
<p>It was at the small town cleaners where Lizzy had grown up. She had been looking in St. Louis this whole time and there it was in the most obvious place. </p>
<p>Relieved to have found her dress, she asked the cleaner when she could pick it up. To her dismay, the cleaner told her that it had not yet been processed.</p>
<p>Lizzy was frustrated. The cleaners had the dress for 10 months now and they had not begun to clean it and preserve her wedding gown. This was no kind of acceptable customer service and she made it clear that the dress needed to be finished asap. The cleaner assured her that the dress would be ready in 3 to 4 months.</p>
<p>Another 8 months later, Lizzy phoned the cleaners again, having heard no word on her missing wedding gown. The customer service this time was even worse. The owner of the small operation started off nice enough, saying that the dress was ready to be picked up any time. When Lizzy verified that the dress had already been paid for by her mother 2 years ago, the owner said it had not. This was too much, Lizzy lost it. </p>
<p>How was it ethical to charge her full price for a dress that had not been cleaned for over a year now, was lost to her and the cleaner made no attempt to call her phone, which was listed on the account? This was a gift from her mother - the last gift she gave her. It was unacceptable to expect a customer to pay full price for horrible cleaning service and worse customer service .</p>
<p>The owner backed down and said she would have to look into writing the expense off with her insurance and would call Lizzy back on Monday.</p>
<p>Monday never came for Lizzy, in fact 58 Mondays later, Lizzy called the cleaner again. (She did not live in her small home town anymore and was hours away, otherwise she would have walked in and taken the dress months ago.) </p>
<p>It was not surprise when she found that the store was under new ownership. After the way the previous owners customer service , how could she have stayed in business? Frustrated to have to explain this whole disaster again, Lizzy tried her best to keep her composure. </p>
<p>As she took a deep breath and summed up the last of her story, she was astonished to find that a witch even wickeder than the first was now the owner of the property. With a cold and snappy reply, the owner said Lizzy must pay the full amount if she wants the dress back. </p>
<p>What happened next is the biggest mistake in customer service that any business owner could make. The owner added a haughty Take it up with your lawyer then and hung up the phone on Lizzy!</p>
<p>Lizzy had nothing to do but pay the 125 dollars to get her dress back. But it was not the end of the story. That small town where Lizzy grew up loved a good story to talk about. All the ladies who gathered every morning at the local restaurant buzzed about the latest gossip. Lizzy gave them just that. She wrote an editorial in the small town paper about the unethical, heartless customer service and questionable business practices. Citizens in the area were appalled at the cleaners. Business for them went under and now a sign sits in the window <em>For Sale By Owner</em>.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64145-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=574" title="Should Business Owners Have A Conscience">Should Business Owners Have A Conscience</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Should_Business_Owners_Have_A_Conscience.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Advantages Of Homeowner Association Management]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Advantages_Of_Homeowner_Association_Management.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Homeowner association management involves management of a large number of households. An association of home owners is usually an elected body headed by a board of directors or any other board who actually looks after the job of management on behalf of all the members. But these people are no professional managers of properties. So they are not always competent enough to look after all the details that go into a successful management of an association. </p>
<p>A homeowners association is formed with a specific purpose, which is to take care of the individual homes which form parts of the total community. It is well known that in our world today, living individually as an island is not possible. There are various problems that can be best solved as a team than as an individual. These problems often deal with laws and regulations of the local bodies. When some law or regulation seems to be not in favor of the house owners an individuals protest does not get heard at all. But if the same protest is made by an association, it gets heard and when the same protest is made by a number of associations, then it gets revoked. So there is always strength in numbers.</p>
<p>But numbers bring in number of problems. All the people do not have the same mentality and there are bound to be some problems arising out of such matters. The greatest problem that an association faces is the responsibility to take up maintenance jobs. Everyone tries to find another person to do the job, and he finds another. So it is better to appoint a homeowner association management agency to look after all the jobs related to management of the units within the association.</p>
<p>Usually the homeowner association management companies look after all the jobs related to day to day management of the units from changing the light bulbs to looking after the tax matters of the association. These companies look after matters like appointing people for the minor repairs that are needed almost every day, taking care of the garbage removal, maintenance of common areas including pathways and gardens and collecting the association fees. These agencies also carry out periodic inspections and suggest any major repairs that need to be undertaken. They not only stop at suggesting but also look after the next processes like inviting the tenders, evaluating them and also help in negotiating the best deals with the contractors. Then they supervise the work and give a regular progress report on the work.</p>
<p>Homeowner association management involves lots of paper work and accounting. The agencies also provide secretarial and accounting services to the societies. They produce monthly reports on the financial conditions of the association to the directors and also suggest ways to improve the financial health. They take care of the various taxes and tax deadlines that an association needs to adhere to. Most importantly, these agencies have expert legal personnel on there roll to assist the associations if the need arise. They take care of everything from drafting the petition to making the appearances on behalf of the association. </p>
<p>Finally, it cannot be left untold that most often the homeowner association management companies run a 24 hour helpline to register complaints and requests and promptly take care of them. So by appointing such an agency, an association can sleep comfortably.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64145-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=554" title="Advantages Of Homeowner Association Management">Advantages Of Homeowner Association Management</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Advantages_Of_Homeowner_Association_Management.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Affordable Storage Best Rated Facilities]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Affordable_Storage_Best_Rated_Facilities.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>If you are moving and you are not able move into your new residence straight away, you must be worrying about how to carry out the terrible task of storing and packing all your belongings. What if someone comes and takes away all this stress from you? In fact, affordable self storage can give you a complete solution at the most reasonable price you can ever think of. These specialized storing solutions can provide you with the best suited facilities at the lowest possible costs. </p>
<p>The skilled professionals cater to all your residential and office warehouse requirements with utmost care. What feels more exciting than to store your belongings yourself and that too in a well-planned manner, with their sole assistance. The staffs can help you in utilizing the space in a beneficial way. They also put up a state of the art facility in packing items of every size and variety. You can avail warehouse facilities of various sizes presented by the affordable self storage utilities and suit all your warehouse needs. For instance, to fit in small furniture, like tables, bathroom mattresses, boxes, drawers, you can get a unit similar to a hall closet. On the other hand, for accommodating your hefty possessions like sofa set, patio furniture, dining room set, and large boxes and so on, you will need to utilize the out-sized storing spaces, of the size of an average bedroom. You can even get a unit with the size of an extra long garage, to fit in your vehicle or boat. Now that can be really interesting, isnt it?</p>
<p>These improved affordable self storage options that are provided by the companies can give you a break from the same old lousy type s arrangements for storing purposes with their modernized ones. Moreover, you can have the opportunity to store your items in a secured manner at your own location. The gates of these specialized units are mostly made with controlled access system to safeguard your stuffs in an effectual way. In such types of systems all entries are constantly monitored on computer. In some units, you can also find surveillance camera system. With this, all the activities can be recorded on a computerized alarm digital recorder. </p>
<p>Added to it, you can have the advantage of renting temperature resistant units in order to prevent your precious belongings from getting damaged by bad weather conditions, such as, humidity, excess heat in the summers or extreme cold in winters. The affordable self storage serves at its best to pamper and preserve your stuffs at the lowest cost ever.</p>
<p>Apart from these services, the companies that provide facility of affordable self storage maintain strict codes of law so as to avoid any sort of hazard or unwanted circumstance. The most important among these is the strict prohibition of storing any type of combustible item, such as, paint, gasoline, cleaning fluids. You are also advised not to store any kind of food items for a long period of time, to prevent rodents and pests. The units also help you with several other effective tips to keep your items intact. Moreover, the professionals can serve you in a friendly way and render the best possible storing solution in just minutes, at the best rates. They cater to not only your residential needs but also industrial and commercial warehouse requirements. So without wasting any time, get in touch with the best warehouse unit and get back your peace of mind while executing the task of storing goods.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64153-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=946" title="Affordable Storage Best Rated Facilities">Affordable Storage Best Rated Facilities</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Affordable_Storage_Best_Rated_Facilities.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Budgeting With Property Management Services]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Budgeting_With_Property_Management_Services.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Property management services are very essential for managing real property. An owner cannot look after all the aspects related to the management of his property either for not having sufficient time or due to lack of experience in the job. It has always been seen that any job can be best handled by experts and it is even truer when dealing with complicated requirements of managing a real property and budgeting for it. </p>
<p>A property just cannot be run with haphazard expenditure patterns. There should be a proper planning of the income and expenditure that is related with the maintenance of the property. It is most of the time the rent that forms the only source of income and there are many heads of expenditure. These heads must be identified ahead and the need for keeping aside the money for these expenses can give a somewhat sketch of the profit or loss that the owner would make at the end of the year. The clear picture actually emerges at the end of the year after the actual expenses take place and such expenses may contain some emergency expenses too. A proper budget can only keep one prepared for the exigencies. The expertise of the professionals is a must to plan such things and appointment of property management services seems a necessity. </p>
<p>One of the main jobs of the property management services is budgeting. The costs that are part of any property can be mainly divided into three categories of repairs and maintenance, tenant services and administrative expenses. The agency will need to prepare the estimate and set aside the funds for these broad categories. Remember that all the funds are to be met from the income from the rent and that is fixed for a year and all the activities on the property must be centered on this budget as closely as possible. </p>
<p>The next important thing that should be kept in mind while preparing the budget for the property is the appreciation or depreciation of the value of the property. It is called capital expenditure budgeting and all property management services must do the required calculation in this respect. It is the job of a professional and is best left to them and these agencies have the required manpower to do such a job. It needs no expert to tell that an uncared for property loses tenants and also the value in terms of rent and pricing. So the capital expenditure budgeting prepares for the upkeep of the value of the property which requires periodic repairs and renovations. A long term preparation helps in building up the funds that are required for such major works without burdening the owner in a particular year or eating into his profit for that year. Moreover, such periodic improvements help to increase the value of the property and also help in increasing the rent of the property.</p>
<p>Any property value depends on the salability of the property and advertisement plays a very important role in this game. Gone are the days when words of mouth brought in the tenants. Nowadays the tenants go through the classified advertisements and the offers on the internet to select the properties that they want to rent. The engaged property management services should budget for regular advertisements to make sure that the property is kept in the view of the prospective clients. After all an investor in a property wants to gain the most from it.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64153-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1075" title="Budgeting With Property Management Services">Budgeting With Property Management Services</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Budgeting_With_Property_Management_Services.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[How To Start Your Secret Shopping Career]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_To_Start_Your_Secret_Shopping_Career.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>In this world very few things are similar and there are few people who have the same traits. There are many people who just enjoy life and are content with their work. Again there are some lucky people, those who are born with a silver spoon and can manage their lives with the property and money their father and forefathers have earned. However, there are some people who work extremely hard and are always on the look out for different avenues for earning extra money. Becoming a secret shopper is one of the routes that are suitable for them. Not only can they do this work in their spare time as a part time job, they also benefit from the free goods that they can purchase. Yes, this industry gives people an opportunity to earn a decent sum of money as stipend and also get extra cash to purchase goods, view movies, dine at hotels etc.</p>
<p>There are many luring ads in the media nowadays which encourages people to try becoming a secret shopper . It is not as tough as one thinks it to be. However, if you think that you are going to earn lots of money or become extremely rich by pursuing this career, it is a wrong notion and the faster that you get these dreams out of your imagination, the better. This job is best pursued as a part time work in which you can use your spare time to observe what is going on in the stores and other establishments and at the same time purchasing a few items, courtesy of your employer.</p>
<p>Basically, you will be keeping an eye on the salespersons and see if they are attending to the customers properly or not. If your job is to keep out a watch out on hotels, you might have to observe how much time elapses from the moment you have placed your order till the moment the same arrives. Becoming a secret shopper is not easy but then again it does provide one with lots of opportunities to know different people and studying the habits of different persons.</p>
<p>Becoming a secret shopper is tough in the sense that you will not get as much money as you think. If you have seen the ads of pretty girls and boys dressed up in the latest fashion and carrying huge shopping bags, supposedly containing their free stuff, you must have imagined that this is the life you were looking for. However, the reality is harsh and the pay and perks is not as good as is made out by the ads. Advertising agencies generally tend to make up on the harsh realities, but that is what they are paid for.</p>
<p>Apply your common sense and you will be able to make out for yourself what benefits you should expect while pursuing a career of a paid observer. Before becoming a secret shopper try to find someone whom you know and who is pursuing such a career and ask them about the job. This will ensure that you do not keep too high expectations when you finally you manage to get such a job. There is nothing wrong with this job, but it is the expectations of people, driven by the ads they see, that makes a mountain out of a molehill.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64153-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1074" title="How To Start Your Secret Shopping Career">How To Start Your Secret Shopping Career</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_To_Start_Your_Secret_Shopping_Career.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[A Day In the Life of a Shadow Shopper]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/A_Day_In_the_Life_of_a_Shadow_Shopper.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>There are few persons out there who can resist the temptation of getting goods for free. How would you like to go shopping and get paid for the same? Yes, you heard it right. You will be paid for the goods that you are purchasing and if that is not enough, even the bills for eating in restaurants, watching movies, traveling etc. will be paid by the organization that is recruiting you. Not only do you get these free goods, you also get a fixed stipend too. Is it really possible to have your cake and eat it too? If this question is bothering you, just browse through the net and look out for details of what is being offered for those who want to pursue a career as a shadow shopper . It may sound too good to be true, but there are many people who are earning a decent sum of money and pocketing paid gifts while pursuing this career. You need not work full time in this job and can even do the same in your part time.</p>
<p>You might have heard a lot about this shadow shopper but who are these people? Are they someone special? These shadowy surveyors are normal human beings just like you and me. The only difference that they have is that have a sharp eye that keeps on looking out for abnormalities in shopping malls, movie halls, stores and restaurants. These abnormalities may range from cleanliness, the quality of the food being offered, the type of service being offered etc. The shadow shopper works on behalf of the owner of these organizations and report back their findings to them. If the quality of food being served in a restaurant is not up to the mark, if the salesman of a mall is not paying attention to the clients, these organizations will be shunned by the suffering clients and it is to avoid the loss of business and clientele that the organizations hire these spies.</p>
<p>The shadow shopper is expected to check out all discrepancies that are there in the organization they are keeping an eye on. Is the washroom clean, was the cutlery being provided in the restaurant spick and span, was the salesperson courteous and devoting enough time and attention to the clientele? All these facts are noticed by these spies. Apart from that they also observe if the staff are arriving and leaving the shop as per schedule or not. It is but obvious that the surveyor has to dine out in the restaurant to check the quality of its food. To gauge the friendliness of a salesperson the spies have to purchase goods too. Apart form their monthly stipend these observers are paid money to purchase goods and also to dine out. This is one of the biggest benefits of pursuing such a career.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, the shadow shopper has to note down all his activities and observations of the day in a form provided by his employer. Not only are the bad points noted, the good ones are jotted down too. If the salesperson went out of his way to hunt down the elusive item that the spy was seeking it will be highlighted and positive points will be given against his name. Negative points will be given to those who were rude or did not help.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64153-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=573" title="A Day In the Life of a Shadow Shopper">A Day In the Life of a Shadow Shopper</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/A_Day_In_the_Life_of_a_Shadow_Shopper.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[How To Turn A Foreclosure Into Rental Income]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_To_Turn_A_Foreclosure_Into_Rental_Income.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Purchasing homes for sale that are in foreclosure is a smart way to invest in properties to rent to tenants. Unfortunately for many families who extended their income beyond its reach, their home is taken back by a bank who was all too happy to lend them the money the first time around. By the point of foreclosure, there is little you, as an investor can do to help these families out - short of paying their mortgage for them.</p>
<p>Turning foreclosed homes for sale into a leasable property is, in a way, helping families like these. Think about it, these families lose their home and a little bit of the lifestyle they were use to. These families may try to look for other homes for sale but getting another mortgage loan is difficult with such a recent foreclosure on their credit reports. By offering rentable homes that are ideal for families, you are giving back a little bit of the lifestyle they had before interest rates and gas prices raised. </p>
<p>Of course, there are some things to consider before purchasing homes for sale in foreclosure. First of all, you will need to tour the home and look out for the following pitfalls of foreclosure homes.</p><blockquote dir="ltr" style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<p>1.&nbsp;Look closely for structural damage. If the owners have not been able to pay a mortgage payment, they probably have not been able to keep up with maintenance of the structure.<br />2.&nbsp;The small cosmetics can add up. If the home needs new carpet, paint, cabinetry and fixtures due to neglect, those items can add up quickly. Remember, this is an investment that you want to rent out, so you do not necessarily need to replace items with high-end fixtures, cabinets, etc.<br />3.&nbsp;Check the roof, plumbing, water heater and HVAC unit. These are repairs that a tenant could request within their rights to be fixes. Be proactive and see what kind of shape they are in.<br />4.&nbsp;Take another tour of the home after the residents have moved out. Foreclosure can be a stressful and emotional time for the former owners. Stress could lead them to damage the property out of spite and you do not want to inherit bleached carpet and broken windows at the last minute.</p></blockquote>
<p>Since you are looking at homes for sale that you can turn into rent income for yourself, you should also consider how rentable the property is.</p><blockquote dir="ltr" style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<p>1.&nbsp;Is the home within city limits and near local businesses or schools? A home closer to town will likely rent sooner. Anytime tenants are closer to job sources, retailers and attractions, you will have more demand to rent.<br />2.&nbsp;Is the home friendly to the kind of tenant you want to attract? If you are looking to rent to students, then there should be at least 1 bathroom for every two rooms in the home. If you want to rent to a family, there should probably be a garage and some privacy from other nearby tenants or home owners. <br />3.&nbsp;What is the average monthly rent for comparable properties in the area? And will that support the payment you will take on by purchasing the foreclosed home? </p></blockquote>
<p>If turning a foreclosed home into a rentable property is something you are interested in and can financially support, then you have made a sound investment. Even in a downward economy, there will be renters, perhaps even more renters as homeowners are driven out of their home. Buying the home at the extreme discounts sometimes available in foreclosure is another bonus to your investment.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64153-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=553" title="How To Turn A Foreclosure Into Rental Income">How To Turn A Foreclosure Into Rental Income</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_To_Turn_A_Foreclosure_Into_Rental_Income.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Empathize With Storage Customers]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Empathize_With_Storage_Customers.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>James had a lot of things on his mind these days. Not only does he have to get ready for his bar exam for law school, he also has to deal with one of the things in life that no one likes to deal with, the passing of a loved one.</p>
<p>James is a young guy with limited family and the best family that he had just passed away in the way of his brother. With his mom and dad not being around for over half of his life, he had to be the one to organize the funeral arrangements and make sure that all of the belongings of his brother were out of his small apartment. With the exam being days away and the funeral being even closer, James is under a tremendous amount of stress that he should not have to deal with at this time in his life. No matter if James was ready for it or not, it is here for him to take care of. </p>
<p>One of the small things that James had to deal with was deciding what to do with the belongings of his brother. He thought about putting the belongings into a mini self storage space. At least one thing about the passing of his brother was that James had enough life insurance for the funeral cost and a little extra. So James did not have to worry about money to pay for the mini self storage space. </p>
<p>James took time one day to call around and see which place would be good for him to store at until he could figure out what he should do with all this extra stuff. James was really in no condition to make these phone calls to these different facilities, but he did not want his let his brother down. </p>
<p>James called the first mini self storage place on his list and he did not know what to expect. In his current condition he just wanted some straight up answers in how to get all of this done. When he called the facility and they answered the phone, the associate was rather rude. James asked some questions regarding mini self storage and the associate just said that the space he needs is a 5x10 and the price is 100 bucks. James said ok and continued to ask more questions about storing like where are they located? Is there anything else that he needs in order to store? Are there any specials? The associate rudely responded with, the price that was given is the price he would pay and then hung up the phone on him. That really upset James especially in his current state of mind. James did not want to deal with this anymore, but he knew that he had to do it.</p>
<p>He gathered enough energy and collected himself to make the next phone call. He decided to call a facility that was close to him and convenient so he would not have to go off to far to get things out if he needed to. The associate answered the phone and was very nice and courteous to James and his needs. The associated empathized with James as the associate also had a family member pass recently and told him that they had to remove all their belongings as well. It was not an easy process but it had to do what he had to do. </p>
<p>That associate walked James through the mini self storage process in order to have everything in order for the move and storing. The associate sold the facility to James letting him know how secure the belongings of his brother would be. They went on to discuss all the necessary things needed in order to process the rent agreement. James felt a lot better about storing there. He told the associate that they made the search for mini self storage easier for him and helps him a tremendous amount. James ended up storing there for three years until he finally was able to depart with the belongings of his brother. </p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64155-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=945" title="Empathize With Storage Customers">Empathize With Storage Customers</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Empathize_With_Storage_Customers.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Steps To Self Improvement]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Steps_To_Self_Improvement.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Lisa began to secret shop because she wanted to do something that she enjoyed doing, and get paid for it. Her first secret shop was because she has started a self improvement plan in her life, and one of the things on her list was that she would have a job that she actually liked. She of course kept her other job, to pay most of the bills, but she found that doing a secret shop now and then when she had the spare time gave her a feeling of empowerment and control. She could do a secret shop on her own time schedule, at her own convenience, and get paid for it. Doing a secret shop gave Lisa a feeling of independence, and what was more, she loved getting to go shopping as part of her job.</p>
<p>Lisas second self improvement tip that she was determined to follow was a little bit deeper than her superficial enjoyment, though. She wanted to begin forgiving people who had hurt her, and not only that, but forgetting. She knew from past experience that the forgiveness part was extremely simple when compared to the forgetting, but she also knew that it was a necessary part of her life in order to keep growing and have nothing that would keep her held back to the past and to sadness or bitterness. She did this for herself as well as those she would forgive.</p>
<p>An important, and also fun, thing that Lisa decided to do to help improve her character and life was that she determined to do at least one kind thing for a stranger every day, even if it was only something as simple as opening the door for an elderly lady with a walker. She soon found that these small efforts she made gave her a better and more optimistic outlook on life in general. It was amazing how fast Lisas small acts of kindness grew into bigger ones that happened more and more often! What also amazed Lisa was how her character, and even personality, seemed to change with these actions. She found herself getting less angry in traffic when someone cut her off, and she had much more patience in general with people and situations that used to make her nervous and upset.</p>
<p>Lisa chose a very straightforward and logical next step to her self improvement plan. She began keeping a list of everything she wanted to accomplish within the day, stretched out to weeks and sometimes even months. She kept it in a highly visible place in her home where she could see it multiple times during the day, and made sure that she checked off the things she accomplished as she went along. Seeing things getting marked off her list made her have strong feelings of achievement and satisfaction. Also, seeing these things in writing, right in her face every day, she found that she was more likely to actually get them done than she had been previously.</p>
<p>The last thing on Lisas list was something to benefit her mind. She decided to try her best to read at least one book a month, more if possible. This gave her the down time to relax and forget the worries of the real world for just a little while, and more importantly gave her a chance to take a break from the insistence of television and media for a while.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64155-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1073" title="Steps To Self Improvement">Steps To Self Improvement</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Steps_To_Self_Improvement.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Why Peoper Prefer Property Management Rentals]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Why_Peoper_Prefer_Property_Management_Rentals.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Property management rentals are often preferred when anyone wants to move into a rented house. It is so because usually the managing companies provide all the services that are required for proper maintenance of the property. It is not that the individually managed properties do not serve the tenants well but the weight always lie with the professional managers who have the backing of a regular institution.</p>
<p>Agencies offering management services for properties often work for individual owners who have hired them. Sometimes the agencies are themselves the owners of properties. Whatever may be the type of holding, the property management rentals comes with full service. These services include everything from repairs and replacements to periodic inspections and renovations. The agencies act as the bridge between the owner and the tenants and are responsible for the healthy relationship between the two. It is the most important thing for both the parties as such relationship is beneficial to both. The tenant finds a hassle free, safe and secure place to live in while the owner finds a problem free source of income and appreciation in price due to the goodwill. </p>
<p>The services that are so important include electricity, plumbing, garbage removal, safety and security. These are the responsibilities of the owner and he is supposed to provide them. Though the main power comes from the electric supply company and the water from the water supply agency, taking it to the tenants is the responsibility of the owner and this channel must be taken care of by him. Any breakdown of the systems on the premises is to be taken care of by the managing agency on behalf of the owner. A good agency takes care of such things even before they occur. This anticipation of a disaster is not a laughing matter and those specially equipped with the expertise of professional can only predict such disasters. They go by the saying, Prevention is Better than Cure. Simply this is the cause for which people prefer property management rentals . </p>
<p>Property management rentals are good for the owner also as they are managed by professionals who not only collect the rent on behalf of the owner but provides expert services in the financial matters including budgeting, managing the receipts and expenditure and ultimately taking steps to increase the value of the property. They also provide services like screening the tenants for their credit standings and thereby ensure that the owner does not face any difficulty with the revenues. The regular maintenance services they provide are often backed up by their twenty-four hour helpline. This is an advantage that only regular companies can offer and are bound to be hit with the tenants.</p>
<p>Finally, a very important matter that is often preferred by both the tenants and the owner is the initial lease or rent agreement. The agreement is very important as all the terms and conditions of the rent are documented there and the parties are bound by them. The laws regarding tenancy are very rigid and any flaw on the part of the owner can spell disaster for him. Similarly the tenant also has some duties that he should do to prevent the generation of any ill reputation that might prevent him from finding any decent home in the future. In all the cases the scale tilts in the favor of the property management rentals for the simple reason that they have the expertise of a team rather than an individual.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64155-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1072" title="Why Peoper Prefer Property Management Rentals">Why Peoper Prefer Property Management Rentals</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Why_Peoper_Prefer_Property_Management_Rentals.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Spies Assure Quality Assurance]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Spies_Assure_Quality_Assurance.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>There is a buzz in the market and the salesmen are extremely wary. They know that someone is keeping an eye out on them. Many businesses have started failing because of the lack of quality assurance that they are supposed to provide to their clients. If this was not enough, the rude salespersons that do not bother at all about the clients are another pain. It is the duty of these vendors to see that outdated goods are returned back to the manufacturer and fresh stocks stored in the showroom. But these people are more interested in chatting with their friends or just doing nothing in particular. They are assured with the knowledge that at the end of the month they will get their salary.</p>
<p>These vendors who do not bother about quality assurance need to be careful. The owners of most establishments are employing spies who mingle with the crowd and look after the proceedings in the shop. To all and sundry, they appear just as normal customers. They will look at goods, ask the salespersons to assist them and even purchase a few items. It is impossible to identify them in a crowd. He might be the person just entering the store, or he might be a member of a family who is chatting away happily while shopping. Unknown to others, one of them is keeping a discreet watch on the proceedings of the shop.</p>
<p>They are observing how the clients are being treated by the salespersons. Quality assurance just does not mean about the value of goods in the store. When people come to the store they should also be guaranteed of a pleasant experience while shopping. The ambience of the store should be comforting and that includes the way they are treated by the vendors. What is the value of a store that keeps the best and latest products if the salespersons are rude? What is the use of bringing fresh stock when these are not displayed up front and kept at the back of the shelf, out of reach of the shoppers? It is to keep these things in check that the owners of stores employ invisible agents.</p>
<p>People who visit a store regularly visit it more for its quality assurance than for any other reason. They know that they will get excellent stuff and will be treated properly by the staff. There are some small shops, mostly run by owners, which are more successful than the upcountry malls. This is due to the respect and attention the shoppers get from the salespersons. In this case the salespersons are the owners themselves and which owner would want to spoil their clientele. In fact it has been observed that owners who run their own shops maintain a friendly rapport with their clientele. This type of relationship ensures that the shoppers might even pay a bit more to purchase goods from those shops.</p>
<p>People love to give respect and at the same time they demand respect too. In order to survive in the competitive markets of today, businesses have to ensure that priority is given to quality assurance above all things. Once this is guaranteed, the owners can be rest assured that the flow of clients will never cease and they can put their attention to other things. The shop will take care of itself.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64155-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=572" title="Spies Assure Quality Assurance">Spies Assure Quality Assurance</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Spies_Assure_Quality_Assurance.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Why Choose Rentals?]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Why_Choose_Rentals.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Living in a rental house has its clear cut advantages, not the least of which is the lack of responsibility of ownership of the home. Not everyone relishes the idea of going into debt for the next thirty years or more just to be able to say that they own the place where they live. Truth be told, you do not truly own it until the mortgage is paid in full and there are no more payments. Most people never make it that far, because of refinancing options. Many people have no idea where their lives will take them thirty years down the road and so have no desire to plan that far ahead and lock themselves into a mortgage payment. Why set yourself up for eventually having to sell the house to someone else as your needs and your life situation change?&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />With the cost of living constantly fluctuating in our nation today, not everyone can afford to purchase a home, but they still make decent enough money to move their family into a rental that is close to good schools, and that offers great entertainment options like shopping malls, restaurants and movie theaters, and plenty of parks and nature trails nearby that their family can enjoy. Many people choose to occupy their rental for 4 years or more, becoming just as established as residents of their neighborhood as they would be if they had purchased the home outright. <br />&nbsp; <br />One possibility for an aging couple who no longer needs their large family home and could use the extra money could be that they could hire someone to assist them in turning their home into a rental for a new family to come and enjoy. This would allow them the freedom to downsize into a smaller apartment that would be more manageable for them. You can see how this would be a win win situation for both parties. The young family would have a nice place to live, and the aging couple could spend their retirement relaxed and happy knowing that they had money from their well loved old home coming in every month. It is an option to selling the home that has been in their family for generations.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />For large, costly repairs, such as foundation problems, electrical wiring or plumbing issues, it is typically the responsibility of the owner to repair or replace them when they have bit the dust, and not the tenant. This may not make the owner very happy, but it is part and parcel of the business side of owning a rent property, so they may as well get used to it. Yet another reason that people may opt out of purchasing a home. <br />&nbsp; <br />Tenants are usually pleased that they are not the ones who have to pay for a new gas heater because the old one conked out. True, they may still be responsible for minor repairs such as changing the air conditioning filters, cleaning out rain gutters, and maintaining the yard work and grounds. Perhaps some high energy tenants will make upgrades and improvements at the request of the owner in exchange for part of their monthly rent. But by no means is that along the same lines as having a new roof put on, or stabilizing the foundation. Occupying a rental certainly has its advantages for tenants in the way of major repairs and upkeep of the house, which is why it is such a popular option for so many people. <br />&nbsp; <br />In fact, many families choose this option over buying a house out of sheer convenience, even though they could conceivable purchase a home of their own. For each person who says that if you do not own your home then you are just throwing away your money, there is another person who says that owning a home is inconvenient, expensive and too much trouble, and that a rental is the way to go. You can not have one without the other. </p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64155-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=552" title="Why Choose Rentals?">Why Choose Rentals?</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Why_Choose_Rentals.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Natural Disasters Increse Storage Rentals]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Natural_Disasters_Increse_Storage_Rentals.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The family lived in a high hurricane risk area. They had recently moved into their dream home only to learn there was a hurricane building off the coast headed straight for their area. Instead of stressing about their belongings they investigated the option of using self storage rentals to keep their treasured items.</p>
<p>Another family prepared themselves for the possibility of flood. Living in a small river town, they expected to have an occasional flood destroy their belongings. They too prepared ahead by placing treasured items in a facility located in another area away from the river. </p>
<p>Other disasters, such as tornadoes and earthquakes are harder to predict when they will occur. People living in these areas often prepare a disaster relief kit containing things necessary for survival. Inside the kits are bottled water, flashlights, non perishable food such as candy bars and trail foods, candles, matches and extra blankets and clothing. Persons living in these areas can be prepared for disaster by keeping a few personal items and survival items in units located close to an out of town relative or friend.</p>
<p>Self storage rentals offer customers the peace of mind knowing their belongings are secure and safe in a controlled environment. By storing items in a facility located in another area, there is a better chance your belongings will be safe from the natural disaster. </p>
<p>If you are recovering from a natural disaster, self storage rentals are available to store any belongings that survived the disaster while you repair the damages to your home or business. They are available in most towns and cities. They can be used to store your possessions for as little or as long as you need. Everything from furniture, sporting goods or office supplies to antiques, boats, holiday decorations to automobiles and Recreational Vehicles can be stored safely. Businesses can store paper documents and tax receipts as well as equipment and supplies. You are not allowed to store flammable goods, toxic or hazardous materials or chemicals in a facility. Many companies do not allow storing perishables and do not allow sleeping in them either.</p>
<p>The family living in the mountains has learned to prepare for disaster by putting extra necessities in a container rented through a self storage rentals company. Each fall they have the company deliver the container to their property. They then fill the container with blankets, extra heaters, firewood, flashlights, clothing and other items they will need in case of power outages and being snowed in. When they need the items, they have easy access right in their yard.&nbsp; </p>
<p>The service offers a variety of advantages when planning or recovering from disasters of any kind. </p>
<p>One of the main benefits is you can choose the size you need for the length of time it will be needed. </p>
<p>Security is provided at all facilities. Your items are protected by closed circuit television surveillance and other security measures. The customer is allowed access to their possessions anytime it is convenient to them, not the facility.</p>
<p>Preparing your family for natural disaster takes planning ahead and preparation. If you live in an area prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms or earthquakes, you should have a plan for survival. Protecting your treasured photographs and antique furniture and storing emergency needs in a self storage rentals unit can relieve some of the stress from natures worst. </p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-springfiled-65803-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Springfield</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=943" title="Natural Disasters Increse Storage Rentals">Natural Disasters Increse Storage Rentals</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Natural_Disasters_Increse_Storage_Rentals.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Advantages Of Property Management]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Advantages_Of_Property_Management.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Property management is managing different types of property such as commercial, industrial or residential real property from different angles. It is acting as a bridge between the landowner and the tenant. The works that are included in management of a property is collecting rent on behalf of the landowner, to listen to the complaints of the tenants and ultimately convey it to the owners, and to rectify the defects that the tenants are facing at present. </p>
<p>Sometimes the person who is assigned to the management of the property also acts as a supervisor. The supervision starts from the very building process of a new-built property and continues to its maintenance. The property owner, to shed of his or her work pressure appoints someone to manage the whole process. Actually the purpose of property management is to run the property business smoothly. It is a paid service. The person who is appointed in this work is paid by the property owner. Sometimes the person gets a portion of the collected rent or a fixed amount of money as a salary. Generally a person can manage more than one property at a time but sometimes the management work is restricted by the owner of the property who wants exclusivity.</p>
<p>Property management also takes care of the finance of the landowner. The tax clearances, audit, keeping accounts for different purpose of a property are included in the work of the management of the property. If you are interested in this type of work first understand the present trend of the realty market and their effects on the market. If you are good at understanding the trends of the market then you will be able to assist the land owner properly. Side by side you will have to understand the present stock market because this market and the market of the property are very much interrelated.</p>
<p>Sometimes property management is entrusted to management firms which look after many properties at a time. The firm acts as an agent. Appointing any manager to a property needs a written contract and in case of individuals the contract is made between the owner and the manager while in case of the firms the contract is made with the firm instead of an individual. The agency or the firm appoints one of its employees as the manager to conduct the management work and this person is responsible for maintaining a clear relationship between the owner of the property and the firm.</p>
<p>Property management deals with the day to day aspect of property and plays an important part in maintaining the relationship between the owner and the tenants. Management of any property is not an easy job as it includes everything from caring for the daily maintenance to the accounting to the legal hassles if they arise. The landowners often do not want to handle this complicated paperwork, maintenance and other hassles that are related with the property themselves. A natural choice then is to engage managers. Many management firms looking after properties have in house lawyers who guide them in legal issues such as eviction, zoning laws and other problems for which an owner might need to go to the court. It is also the duty of the management agencies to be aware of the tenant vacancy position, financial health, and physical condition of the property to effectively and satisfactorily serve the owner.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-springfiled-65803-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Springfield</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1070" title="Advantages Of Property Management">Advantages Of Property Management</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Advantages_Of_Property_Management.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Welcome To The Mystery Shop]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Welcome_To_The_Mystery_Shop.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Hello and Welcome! Come on in and make yourself at home! What brings you to the Mystery Shop today? Oh? You say that your retail sales are dropping at the soup and sandwich deli that you own, and your loyal customers have been leaving negative feedback with the managers and even phoning in with their complaints? Well, then, you have come to the right place. We can absolutely help you with that. You see, here at the Mystery Shop , we specialize in the use and application of highly skilled and properly trained observers who will sniff out the discrepancies in your employees customer service skills like a golden retriever on a pheasants scent. Our observers can work from a checklist of your specifications to make sure that we are looking at the things that you are most concerned with, whether it is food quality, time from order to table, friendliness of wait staff, or all of the above. We offer a wide range of flexible options to guarantee your satisfaction with the information that we provide.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />What? You have a feeling that some of your employees are not living up to the mission statement that your company stands for, and you would like to retrain them? That is a great idea. Many businesses notice that over time their employees become complacent and their customer service skills wane. It is often just a matter of re-educating and reminding them of the high standards that you want to portray to your customers. Part of our service here at the Mystery Shop is to provide richly detailed accounts of our experiences in your establishment, perhaps on a regular basis. We all have bad days, and we would not want to prematurely jump to conclusions based on only a single observation. That is why we offer a regular visit to your establishment, to compare and contrast the service that we receive from one visit to the next. This can assist you in re-evaluating the old training methods and making the changes necessary to get your employees fired up and feeling fresh. After all, happy employees beget happy patrons, would you agree?&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Here at the Mystery Shop , we can even assist you in creating new employee rewards programs. How? Well, you see, when one of our associates notices a superstar among your employees, someone who is friendly, courteous, and doing their job to the utmost of their capabilities, we will inform you of that persons excellent performance. With this kind of expert information, you can create an incentive program for your employees, and perhaps reward their positive marks with a bonus check. Employees sure do love bonus checks. And for those who deserve it by displaying superior service, they are well earned. <br />&nbsp; <br />Oh, you are ready to get started? Super! We are sure that you will love our program. Before you know it, your customers will be leaving bigger tips for the wait staff, leaving positive feedback on the comment cards and at the door on their way out, and leaving with big smiles on their faces because of the excellent experience that they had at your establishment. We know that you will be happy with the results you receive from our Mystery Shop associates. We have trained them to be the best in their field. We will get you started right away. Thanks for coming! Have a wonderful day! </p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-springfiled-65803-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Springfield</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1071" title="Welcome To The Mystery Shop">Welcome To The Mystery Shop</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Welcome_To_The_Mystery_Shop.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Mystery Shopping Employment Adventures]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopping_Employment_Adventures.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>She knew she would not become rich in her job with mystery shopping employment . The pay is low for many assignments and by the time she adds her time shopping and making reports she barely makes minimum wage. But she enjoys the challenge of the jobs.&nbsp; </p>
<p>With her shopping job she can dress up and act in a way she normally would not. She can complain or be a wealthy socialite or some other different persona. This job requires her to be someone she may not be and she gets a thrill out of that.</p>
<p>It allows her to try new things she never would have had the nerve to try before. She gets to experience ritzy hotels and five star restaurants as well as try new products she would not have normally purchased. She earns extra cash and various freebie products and services. Her job allows her to refill her cars gas tank a couple of times a week. As a shopper at a gas station she was reimbursed for her gas purchases. She has been able to travel on a cruise ship as a shopper and took her kids to the movies as an assignment. And she was reimbursed for each job.</p>
<p>Her personality makes her a good fit for mystery shopping employment . She is detail oriented and observant. She knows what she should be looking for without drawing attention to herself. Her good recall of observations is an asset when she fills out her evaluation questionnaire. </p>
<p>She has a reputation for being honest. She does not make up answers or second guess any observation she made. Her reputation is at stake if she does not do her job with integrity.</p>
<p>She is reliable. When she agrees to do an assignment, she does it. She has proven she is consistent about doing any job she has been invited to do. She is objective and reports the facts only on her evaluation forms. Only when a client asks for a personal view does she gives a brief description. And she leaves out any personal feelings she may have had about the assignment. </p>
<p>She is essentially working for herself as a contractor in this type of employment. She must be motivated to do the assignments on time. She has good grammar and spelling skills and communication skills that help her fill in reports and relate to sales staff and other customers. </p>
<p>Mystery shopping employment is a service where businesses hire clients to act as a typical customer to evaluate their business performance and the services their customers receive. It is a legitimate marketing research tool many businesses use to evaluate their services. The shoppers carry out all parts of their assignment in a professionally objective way. They report their information on a questionnaire provided by the market research organization. The client uses the results to make improvements to his shop and staff attitude.</p>
<p>She feels she is helping other customers with her mystery shopping employment . She often gives suggestions on tangible ways the company can improve its goods and services to help other customers receive a better experience at the shop. </p>
<p>Mystery shopping employment is not for you if you are wanting to make a lot of money quickly. But if you enjoy trying new things, helping others and acting as different characters, you just might enjoy the assignments as a shopper.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-springfiled-65803-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Springfield</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=571" title="Mystery Shopping Employment Adventures">Mystery Shopping Employment Adventures</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopping_Employment_Adventures.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Owning Commercial Real Estate]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Owning_Commercial_Real_Estate.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Literally the commercial real estate means those estates that are used for commercial purposes, like retail properties, office buildings, shopping centers, hotels, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, residential complexes or empty palaces that have a good commercial potentiality in future. Almost all real properties other than those that are used for residential purposes are considered to be commercial properties.</p>
<p>If you are eager to take lease of a place for commercial purpose do it on ink and paper. Because a written lease has power and no one can evict you from there forcefully until the lease is gets legally terminated by some way or the other. But the dealing of commercial real estate on mere oral understanding and handshake can not be enforced by court when it is necessary. So when you want to buy a property for commercial purpose get detail of it, verify from all available sources and then sign the contract. Statute of Fraud is an old law which explains that the contract involving any kind of property should always be in writing. As these kinds of properties are mainly public places make sure that the property you are buying is safe from the security view and you are not left compensating through your nose in case of any untoward incident that may result in damage to life and property. </p>
<p>It is a wise decision that your commercial real estate should be insured because in case you face troubles you will get back your all money immediately. At the time of buying estate for commercial purposes you should not forget the exact description of the property that includes the land itself, the constructed portion, other equipments and personal properties that are present in the buying property. The exact amount, the mode of payment, whether it is paid in full or in installment should be mentioned. The tax-matter should be cleared between the buyer and the seller. So always take the advice of a legal expert before buying any property. They are used for profit making business. For this reason the price of this type of estate is very high in comparison to other properties. You will have to cross a prolonged path to get the ownership of this type of property as there are various official formalities that need to be settled first before you can call a property your own.</p>
<p>In some places a special license for buying and selling the commercial real estate is needed. Especially an agent should have that license. An agent acts as a bridge between the buyer and the seller. So he must have a good and thorough knowledge of this industry. A proper agent needs to take tests conducted by the competent authorities and pass them, then work for nearly one year to gain experience and finally pass another test to get the license. </p>
<p>There is a constant demand for commercial real estate in the recent economy. To provide modern facilities in metropolitan cities the demand for the commercial places are constantly rising. The population is increasing and with them is increasing the difference in taste. Modern technology has provided various luxury and necessary goods for the people. For the display and for the transactions of those things you need a place. You can not run a business from your home. Because a residential area does not have that type of facilities as it is present in commercial places. Moreover you can not make profit making business from your home. It is illegal.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-springfiled-65803-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Springfield</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=551" title="Owning Commercial Real Estate">Owning Commercial Real Estate</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Owning_Commercial_Real_Estate.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Self Storage Internet Advertising]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Self_Storage_Internet_Advertising.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Self storage companies , just like many other companies, can better market their services and availability through many different facets. In todays world of advertising, it seems as if the sky is the limit, and there is no end to the many creative ways that people have found to advertise services, many such as self storage companies .</p>
<p>Of course, the most obvious and wide spread tactic of advertisement and marketing is the internet. This is an easy, fast and great way to get your services broadcast for everyone to know about. You can direct either local or national lookers to your site through different search engine techniques, and you can try in this way to appeal to a great variety of different customers for self storage companies , or in fact, any company. With the internet, like anywhere that you advertise, you will need to make your ad jump out and grab the attention of the customer. The internet is brutally competitive, and if you do not have something that practically leaps from the screen with originality and a look at me theme, it will not do you&nbsp; much good. And though it is competitive, if you find the right way to bring across your product or service to the customer, it will reward you 100 fold in the end. This is the great thing about the internet. From self storage companies to at home businesses to big name businesses, it does not matter. As long as you are creative, trite and somewhat trendy, the internet is not prejudiced as to the type of scale of your company.</p>
<p>Following the internet theme, there are different things you can do online for self storage companies. For instance, you can go more low scale and just advertise on other websites. Or you can choose to actually make a website of your own that is exclusively for your business and specifically draws people to your type or product or service. Also online, much as you can do offline, you can place classified ads.</p>
<p>This leads into offline marketing. Of course, newspapers are still a very popular forum for advertising services or goods, perhaps most especially if you are a locally owned business or small business owner. Flyers are another good way for local or small businesses to get their name out and about the town, community, or district. And of course, once you begin with these types of advertising techniques, you will get the free and very effective strategy of marketing called word of mouth! The more good things people say about your business, and the more they tell their friends or family about it, the more it expands from there. This brings in more customers than many people would believe.</p>
<p>Business cards are a good and inexpensive way to advertise on a small scale. When someone comes into your place of business and speaks with you, you hand them a card. Also, you can set your cards at other businesses for people who are interested to pick up or pass onto someone else who might be interested. Make sure your business card grabs attention, and have all relevant information on it, such as web address, phone numbers, and of course, your company name.</p>
<p>With every forum and tactic you may use to market for your business, it is always important to remember to remain professional and accurate. Double and triple check your website, business cards, newspaper ad to be certain everything is correctly spelled, etc. No one will trust that you can run a good business if you cannot even spell the business name!</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64111-broadway-street-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=942" title="Self Storage Internet Advertising">Self Storage Internet Advertising</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Self_Storage_Internet_Advertising.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Wild About Secret Shopping]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Wild_About_Secret_Shopping.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>In America, there are millions of ways to make money. Many people feel trapped in their job simply because they are not open to the possibility of something better being available to them. They are not secure in their skills, or confident in their ability to take on something completely different than any thing they have previously done. This happens to a lot of us, as we find ourselves scarred by disappointment. We lose faith that this world is an amazing place, where virtually anything can happen, if we only have eyes to see and hearts to receive.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Not everyone feels so pessimistic, however. There are those adventurous souls, wild in heart and mind, longing for something better, something fun, something different. These people crave variety, and are not settling for the stability of just one job that could be taken away from them at a moments notice. No, not everyone needs that. And so they seek out multiple, interesting ways to earn a living rather than gaze away the hours, waiting till their time comes to clock out and go home.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Secret shoppers are privy to the kind of variety that others vainly wish for. Their line of work takes them to different places each and every day, asking different questions, observing human interaction on the basis of customer service. One day they may be dining at an Italian restaurant, and the next they are checking into a four star hotel, or looking at cell phones. They live on the wild side, in a way, working undercover, trying on the shoes of a new customer with each assignment that they receive.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Secret shoppers have at their disposal keen powers of observation, and they use them well. They are trained to not only spot discrepancies in quality customer/employee interactions, but they also write detailed reports of their findings. These are by no means simple blurbs or basic observations. The businesses who pay to use the services of secret shoppers want factual, coherent and comprehensive information that will assist them in improving their service, and in turn, their profits. You have to have a tough skin, a strong eye for detail and perhaps a bit of wild blood in your veins. Why? <br />&nbsp; <br />Many employees do not take kindly to the service that these quality reporters provide. Because of this, it is important to maintain a sense of anonymity and professionalism whenever they are on assignment. If they are discovered, contrary to what one would expect, they may receive abrasive, disdainful treatment by the employee rather than even better, more conscious service. Why is that? Perhaps these employees feel that their job is threatened or that they have become a target. They do not see it as an opportunity to prove their worth to the company. Rather, their egos get in the way, and they become resentful.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Secret shoppers are a benefit to every company who utilizes their service, even though the employees who are being observed may not always agree. It is those very employees, however, that often fail to meet the individual needs of the customers whom they are meant to serve, causing the businesses to lose valuable clientele. And it is these very employees that businesses who use secret shoppers want to be made aware of.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64111-broadway-street-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1069" title="Wild About Secret Shopping">Wild About Secret Shopping</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Wild_About_Secret_Shopping.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Residential Property Manager]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Residential_Property_Manager.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Did you know that if you are in the residential property management field of work, whether professionally or as a side job, there are many options available to you if you need them? There are services out there that can work for you and make your residential property management get more for the money. You can work with people to do many different things to enhance your residential property management .</p>
<p>First of all, these types of companies can work with you on a good rent budget. If you are new or inexperienced in residential property management , this is something you will need to know about. A company that specializes in this type of thing can work with you and come up with good figures based on various things, including area, type of property, and simply what the market looks like at the time.</p>
<p>You can hire this middle man as a way to relieve your stress and worries for screening possible tenants. All you have to do is have the criteria ready to give to the company, and they will do all the screening for you. This includes, of course, verifying employment and income, pulling credits reports if necessary, and checking references, all things that are an unnecessary and time consuming strain on you as a worker in the residential property management line of work.</p>
<p>Advertising for your company is always helpful, no matter who you are. This is something that companies like these can deal with as well. How else will prospective tenants know that you have properties for rent? The company that you hire can handle the insertion of ads into previously chosen newspapers, etc., and they can have the ads pulled the minute the place is filled. Advertising can obviously go a million different directions, any of which most of these companies would be willing to work with you on if you have ideas. Many times they will print up a list of vacancies and information about each one, and have flyers made to pass out either in their office or elsewhere.</p>
<p>Paperwork. Nobody really likes it, do they? This is an area that can also be taken care of for you, at least in part. Those monthly statements that you hate to go over and print up every month can be printed and gone over by someone else instead. You will simply receive the statement every month to check, and double check if you want, and then sign off on. It will itemize things such as rent collected, maintenance fees accumulated, the obvious management fee that is deducted for the service in the first place, etc. They can be as itemized as you prefer.</p>
<p>If you have a large rent community or many different properties to take care of, you will not find it very enjoyable or time efficient to be answering constant maintenance calls to various places throughout town. Why not have someone else directly take these calls, and even answer them? A professional managing company can many times offer a 24 hour line that is open to all tenants for whatever the problem. And what is better is that your tenants will be happy as well with such easily accessible services, and a timely answer to their calls.</p>
<p>Being a manager of properties is always stressful, but it does not have to be quite so stressful. Consider hiring someone else to do some of the work for you.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64111-broadway-street-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1068" title="Residential Property Manager">Residential Property Manager</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Residential_Property_Manager.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Customer Service Storage Representative]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Customer_Service_Storage_Representative.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>John is a customer service expert and has been in the customer service field for most of his working life. He would call himself a guru when it came to level of service he could provide for the customer. John felt like he let a customer down if he could not assist them the way that they needed to be helped.</p>
<p>John works in a call center that takes calls for multiple different companies in which people need to store their belongings. In his current role in the center, he is in charge of his shift and ensures that the people that work under him are taking care of each of people that call. He wants toe ensure they are providing great customer service . </p>
<p>Sometimes in this role, John has to be a great sales person in order to make ends meet for him. When people call into talk to him about storing, he has to try to find a way for him to get the caller to reserve a space to rent. If he does not he does not make enough to pay his rent. There are times in which customer service is awesome, but he knows that he might need to push harder that normal to get the caller to reserve a space. Being nice to customers is a part of good service, but there are some customers who just want to talk about random things in their life, where John has to answer as many calls as he can to make money. He always has to decide when to cut the caller off in order to get to the next potential reservation.</p>
<p>There was a time recently where John took a call and he had to decide whether or not to provide excellent service or to not care as much and let the caller go. The caller called in to talk to the manager of the facility he was answering for because they were way behind on their rent. The caller had been in an out of the hospital due to his illness and also events beyond his control like, he was mugged, stabbed and he had three deaths in the family all within the last two months. During his recovery time in the hospital, the facility saw that he was late on his rent so they decided to put his belonging up for auction. </p>
<p>The customer was obviously upset because they had some valuables in that space and they did not want it auctioned off. No one at the facility would answer his calls and he was in the hospital and had no one to go down to the facility to talk to the managers. John could tell that the caller was shaking on the phone with anger and also because he was so upset at the situation.</p>
<p>John was trying to think to himself what he should do. So far just to get to this point the caller had been explaining the series of events to john for almost ten minutes now. In this industry ten minutes could have been another two calls that he could have taken to get a reservation. John knew that this was not his situation to take care of but he knew if he just tried to pass this call on to the voicemail of the on site manager, nothing would happen and the customer would not be taken care of. So he decided to provide as much customer service to this caller as he could. </p>
<p>Luckily for this customer and John, this company had a customer service line to handle situations like this especially when the manager on site does not return phone calls. John wrote out a long synopsis of the situation and gave as much detail as he could to assist the caller and their situation. The caller thanked John over and over again and wished that John worked for that company because they have not treated him well over the past six years of renting there. </p>
<p>John got off of the phone with that customer feeling really good. At first he was telling himself he could have taken three other calls in that time to feed money to his bank account, but instead he helped a person in need and just maybe the situation of that customer will be turned around because of the level of customer service John provided. </p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64111-broadway-street-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=570" title="Customer Service Storage Representative">Customer Service Storage Representative</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Customer_Service_Storage_Representative.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Real Estate Investment Property]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Real_Estate_Investment_Property.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>There are many ways to build your fortune in the world today. One of the most common, and often the easiest to begin, even for the common entrepreneur, is purchasing investment property . In fact, you will often hear many rags to riches stories about the unemployed worker down on his luck that became a millionaire by investing in the realty market in one form or another. </p>
<p>There are many different types of methods for investing in this risky yet profitable venue. Realty is a great line of attack for anyone who is willing to take the time to learn the risks, options, and possible rewards for this type of investment process. Some of the more common ways of obtaining investment property are following.</p>
<p>The first way is called the Pre-construction investment. This is a highly speculative and very risky sort of investment that booms or busts with the times. The risks involved in this type of investment should not cover up the fact that many millionaires have been fashioned through this type of investing. And many more will be created in the future. Pre-construction investing is a type of investment where the investor purchases options on the property before any ground is broken for building. This type is more popular in high demand areas that experience housing shortages. These shortages often cause prices to rise quickly and the units are quickly sold before they are completed or any actual money changes hands.</p>
<p>The second type of purchasing investment property is through rental property. Property normally gains value over time. One problem investors have is the ability to hold onto and afford to maintain multiple properties over an indefinite period of time while waiting for house values to rise. One way to overcome this is by renting the properties to tenants while the property values are increasing. The tenant covers the cost of the note on the property making the venture less risky. There will still be the risks of dealing with tenants, such as property damage, failure to pay the rent, and possible legal problems of poor tenants.</p>
<p>Another option is the lease options. There are few people who never experience financial rough spots. Often these people are denied traditional home loans because of their poor management of debts in the past. For this reason they may be willing to pay for the opportunity of rebuilding their credit while working towards home ownership. For these people, a lease option presents a workable and often valued solution. Those investors who are willing to take the risks often find the rewards are well worth those risks.</p>
<p>We have all heard the stories of the investors who make millions by flipping houses. This type of purchasing of investment property has grown tremendously in the last few years due to the popularity of home improvement and house flipping shows on television in the last several years. More and more people have decided to pursue this sort of investment hoping to create big profits in a short period of time and with a small investment. The problem, of course, is that it looks much easier on television than actually doing it. Add to that the fact many people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to costs and their abilities. There are plenty of risks involved with this type of investment too. Successful flippers however see potential for great profit in a relatively short amount of time.</p>
<p>The final type of investment property is the buy and hold. As mentioned above, realty normally gains value over time. Even buildings in total disrepair are worth something just for the land they sit on. Purchasing several houses or large lots of land and holding on to them for as long as necessary before selling can often lead to financial gains. The longer these properties are held the better, providing a greater opportunity for the value property to increase.</p>
<p><br />These are only some of the investment property opportunities that exist for those who are interested in investing in realty. Other options include commercial and development properties. Needless to say realty investing offers many opportunities to the confident investor.</p>
<p><a href="http://missouri-kansas-city-64111-broadway-street-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Kansas City</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=550" title="Real Estate Investment Property">Real Estate Investment Property</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Real_Estate_Investment_Property.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Business Self Storage]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Business_Self_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>When it came to making sound business decisions, Elizabeth knew what she was doing. She always knew what to expect and when to expect it. She takes the time to do the research needed to make her plans become a successful adventure. Elizabeth can not remember one time in which a decision that she made caused her company a big a financial loss. Elizabeth is always the one put in the position to make the right choices for her company. Some people think that she thrives on the pressure.</p>
<p>With her company moving in the right direction and growing more than ever imagined, Elizabeth is in need of a place to store a lot of her incoming inventory. Elizabeth will need over one thousand square feet of space. This is the part in which the business skills of Elizabeth are front and center. She will be the one that is going to make the decision on which facility is going to house her prized inventory and her financial future.&nbsp; </p>
<p>So Elizabeth set out to find as many facilities that were in her area and call them all. She is a very fair person so she felt that she would call and ask each facility the same questions and see how they reacted. She would ask where they were exactly located, what is the price of one thousand square feet of space and what kind of specials are running at their facility. </p>
<p>Elizabeth picked found only four facilities in her area that she could call. She picked up the phone and called the first facility. They answered the phone with a pleasant greeting. Elizabeth asked them where they are located and the associate on the phone told them where they were located. Elizabeth told them they needed about one thousand square feet of space and what were their self storage rates ? Without hesitation, the associate told them that they do not have one thousand square foot spaces. Elizabeth kind of chuckled to herself realizing that no one would have that big of a space, but they would have the self storage rates on a couple of spaces that would equal what Elizabeth needed.</p>
<p>She called the second facility and they gave them the self storage rates on a couple of different spaces that would equal the price she needed. Elizabeth then asked the associate about a special or deal they could discuss in order to make a good business deal. The associate had quoted her five 10 x 20 spaces. The spaces were going for 200 dollars a space. The associate said that there is not a special available for the caller on those specials. Elizabeth told them she maybe will call them back. </p>
<p>Not wanting to pay one thousand dollars on storing spaces, she called the last facility on her list to find the best self storage rates . Being discussed from the previous conversation with the self storing facility, she did not really have high hopes for this facility. The associate answered the phone and started talking to Elizabeth. The associate listened to the customer and then started to ask more questions to determine their storing needs. Elizabeth liked the personalized service and best thing of yet, they gave her a good deal on the space she was requiring. Elizabeth now uses this company and has recommended this company to all her corporate friends. It was more than just finding the best self storage rates for the caller. It was treating Elizabeth like a person instead of a bank account. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-jersey-secaucus-07094-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Secaucus</a> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=941" title="Business Self Storage">Business Self Storage</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Business_Self_Storage.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Basic Facts on Rental Homes]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Basic_Facts_on_Rental_Homes.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>If you are in search for homes go through websites on real estate management services . There are many companies who are ready at your service. They like to provide you homes on rent basis and according to your choice and need. Again if you have some vacant home to provide then log in to the websites who are dealing with home rent business. So home owners and home seekers are both benefited from these websites.</p>
<p>If you are in need of a home then you can search through the internet network and you might get more then one company who are offering homes for all kinds of necessities and budget. When you find real estate management services of your liking you can go through the details of the property that they recommend. You will get the elaborate free description of the home, its locality, the type of home � whether it is single storey or multistoried or condo type, duplex, townhouse etc. You can even get pictures of the house itself and often there are details like pictures of the bedroom, living space, kitchen, and bathroom and also there are many angles of the pictures so that you can be satisfied at the first look. Few things that should guide you while searching a home are climate of the region, employment and public education performance along with the nearest medical facility etc. </p>
<p>These are contributing factors when someone wants to move somewhere and is in search of real estate management services . Searching for homes on internet is very easy. First you will have to place your choice of locality you want to go and then which types of houses you want to take. After that, click search. Now the page is ready. Give view option. Each page will display near about ten interior or exterior pictures of the home. But these may vary from one site to another. So the process is very much scientific. As you can look at the home from different angles it becomes easy to choose the house according to your need. </p>
<p>These sites also list the utility services of the region and all the related matters that a person moving into some place might want to know. For example, by checking the school information parents can easily understand the quality of school situated in the locality. They can find and study the statistics given by each school. Other elemental facilities such as hospitals, shopping complexes, police and fire station, all can be located by the help of the maps. These types of maps give very minute details of the area which pin point all the services. You can print out your application, that you made to the provider of real estate management services directly from the page where you have seen the advertisement. You yourself can directly contact the landowner, either over telephone or by email.&nbsp; You can question your landowner about the home if you have any queries. When you have decided on a home for the purpose of rent you will have to go through a number of formalities before you can move into the new home. </p>
<p>The homes that are recommended by real estate management services usually come furnished with basic fittings in the bathroom and the kitchens are usually furnished with cooking ranges, cooking counters, etc. The owners are responsible for the repairs and renovations while the tenants are responsible for keeping the property in a condition that they walked into. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-jersey-secaucus-07094-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Secaucus</a><a href="http://new-jersey-west-new-york-07093-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1067" title="Basic Facts on Rental Homes">Basic Facts on Rental Homes</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Basic_Facts_on_Rental_Homes.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Undercover Mystery Shopping]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Undercover_Mystery_Shopping.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>People may assume that mystery shoppers have it easy. Eating free meals, bowling for free, purchasing items from department stores for free, and then getting paid for it. And while some of the assumptions may be true, the part about the job being easy is not always the case for everyone. There are several reasons why some might find the job a bit challenging.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Not everyone has the ability or the personality to go undercover so to speak. There is a certain amount of secrecy and anonymity that shoppers need to uphold. If their cover is blown during an assignment, then not only do they not get paid, but they have wasted their time. Mystery shoppers have to know how to act natural in situations that they would not ordinarily be involved in.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />For example, imagine that you are asked to go into a fast food restaurant and ask the cashier about the caloric information of french fries. Not many people ask about the caloric intake of anything in any restaurant, and especially a fast food place. Yet, if this is part of your assignment, you will be expected to complete the task and to report what happened. If you are nervous or if you seem uncomfortable at all in your query, then it is possible that you might be discovered.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />One of the best ways to be successful in this line of work seems to be to incorporate some of these quirky habits and behaviors into your regular routine, even when you are not on assignment. Be social, ask curious questions, be friendly, write things down, like lists at the grocery store. Make it a point to ask one odd question to each retail cashier that you come across, and make a game out of it. Sure, the girl at the counter might think you are a little weird if you ask her what her favorite color is, but the more comfortable you are asking unusual things of people that you do not know, the easier your assignments will be.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Mystery shoppers are asked to do many different things during an assignment. Some are as easy as simply getting an itemized receipt. Others may be more detailed, such as ordering food and then returning it. There are well thought out reasons behind each of the assignments guidelines. Being calm and being yourself is the best way to go. If you walk into a restaurant pretending to be someone else, than chances are your social awkwardness will come through loud and clear. Worse yet, you will be so preoccupied with not being found out that you will fail to meet the assignment guidelines.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Mystery shoppers abound in every state now, and in larger cities, the competition is getting tougher. Companies want to hire mystery shoppers who have experience and who have never been reported as being discovered by the businesses they are assigned to. For this reason it is always in your best interest to be comfortable in your own skin, not just to do the best job that you can, but also because people who are genuinely happy with themselves and with what they are doing have no reason to emit that unconscious fear of being discovered.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />It all boils down to a mental attitude of comfort and ease. If you have fears of being discovered, then you are unconsciously emitting that vibe, and you will likely give off clues as to your true identity. If you are comfortable, and you feel at ease in any situation that you are assigned to, then your job duties will be performed successfully. Mystery shoppers have an interesting role to fulfill, and a relaxed and calm attitude is the most effective way to get there.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-jersey-secaucus-07094-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Secaucus</a><a href="http://new-jersey-west-new-york-07093-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1066" title="Undercover Mystery Shopping">Undercover Mystery Shopping</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Undercover_Mystery_Shopping.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[How Quality Assurance Affects Consumers]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_Quality_Assurance_Affects_Consumers.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>How do consumers know that what they are buying is safe to use or to consume? When we buy toys for our children, we expect those items to be safe for our young ones to play with. We put our trust in the toy manufacturers to entertain our kids , and not injure them. When we eat food at the local Mexican restaurant, we expect the food to make us feel better, not make us sick with food poisoning for the next four days. When we do business with any company, we expect to receive good customer service and products or services that show a level of integrity that makes us want to come back again. So how do we know that the things that we, as consumers, purchase, whether it is an item or a service, are going to be safe for our families, and safe for us? The answer can be found in quality assurance .&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Companies are hard pressed by our society to deliver the goods. We are an impatient bunch here in the United States. We want what we want, and as soon as possible, built to our specifications, exactly. In their haste to fulfill our every consumerist desire, companies would get lost in the hustle and deadlines of getting the products out to the store shelves, and safety could be compromised as a result.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Quality assurance is the means by which each company oversees the production of the products or services, and puts them to the test. The testing measures the level of consumer safety, firstly, as no business wants to be responsible for accident or injury as a result of poor production practices. Secondly, quality assurance measures effectiveness and customer satisfaction.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />In businesses where there is no concrete product, such as a telephone service of some kind, quality assurance is the yardstick that measures the effectiveness of the interaction between customer and representative, the overall effectiveness of employee training programs and the ease with which all of this comes about. Face it, we all want quality products. Shoddy workmanship, poor employee working conditions and a lackadaisical attitude thrown about by company owners are just some of the reasons why the safety and effectiveness of a product or service might be compromised.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />It takes effort and dedication to enforce high safety standards within the framework of a company or an industry, but it is a necessary part of our consumerist society. Without it, unsatisfied, sick and even fatally injured customers would be the norm, and many more injuries and illnesses would be present than we currently bear witness to. Of course, sometimes things slip through the cracks, as the recent salmonella outbreaks have shown us, but imagine if there were no safety standards at all? We are lucky in this country. We are lucky that there is a higher standard of quality assurance in the workplace and in the industry practices that are such important parts of our families lives.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Putting our faith and trust in a company is all too easy to do, until something goes wrong. But here in America, the consumer capital of the world, we do trust, sometimes blindly. Perhaps we should be more proactive in our own right, and not be so apt to consume without taking into consideration the risk involved for ourselves. It is, after all a two way street.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br />Most businesses do their best to insure safe practices and work environments. And we trust that to be so. But it is ultimately our responsibility when it comes to what we choose to purchase and consume. Buying cheaply made, bottom of the barrel products and services for our families could be a precursor to illness or injury. Perhaps a little quality assurance of our own is the key. Buying from local, reputable business owners whose business practices you can see and measure, rather than goods imported from half a world away, is a great first step.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-jersey-secaucus-07094-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Secaucus</a><a href="http://new-jersey-west-new-york-07093-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=569" title="How Quality Assurance Affects Consumers">How Quality Assurance Affects Consumers</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_Quality_Assurance_Affects_Consumers.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[The Benefits Of Single Family House Rentals]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Benefits_Of_Single_Family_House_Rentals.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>His family kept telling him he should purchase a home of his own. He was a successful entrepreneur who enjoyed entertaining friends and family. He believed there are many benefits to looking into single family house rentals in his area instead of purchasing. By not purchasing he is responsible for very little maintenance and many amenities are included in a home he rents. And he is able to save money to put toward a home purchase in the future. </p>
<p>Rent on single family home rentals are often less expensive than a monthly mortgage on a home. Often the home is smaller than a home someone would purchase. By renting they can begin saving for the down payment on the home of their dreams. </p>
<p>Most house leases provide some type of maintenance on the property. The renter might be responsible for small repairs such as changing light bulbs and fixing clogged drains and maintaining the lawn while the owner is responsible for any major repairs such as broken windows, leaky roof or non running heating units. </p>
<p>Another benefit he sees with renting single family house rentals are the included amenities. Purchasing a home with a pool is often considered a luxury and not available in many homes. He can rent a home with a pool for a lot less. Cable television is often included in many homes that he can rent as well, sometimes included in the rent. If he purchased a home, cable would be an extra expense.</p>
<p>The property owner sets the price of the rent based on several factors. The first is the area the home is located and its comparable houses listed. Another thing the owner will add to the rent he charges is the included amenities. If cable, water and electricity are a part of the rent, the renter will pay a larger fee. The owner charges them a set amount for the utilities each month and the renter has the freedom of paying only one bill for living expenses.&nbsp; </p>
<p>He feels the benefits of renting a house outweigh renting an apartment as well. With single family house leasing, there is more outdoor space. Since he enjoys entertaining friends and family, having a yard and deck provides additional room. With a home, he has more control over his parking options since most homes he would consider renting have private drives. And a house lets him have a lot more privacy. He will not have to worry about neighbors on the other side of a connecting wall. A house can have several bedrooms, multiple bathrooms and a front porch as well.</p>
<p>The cost of single family house rentals can be offset by taking in a roommate. Rent for a house can cost between 800 dollars and 1800 dollars a month. Add to that the cost of utilities not included in the rent as well as phone and food costs. By taking in a roommate, the fees can be divided evenly so each renter saves more. </p>
<p>Another benefit of renting the entrepreneur sees deals with the taxes of homeownership. When purchasing a home, the owner is responsible for property tax or house taxes. You will not need to carry insurance on the property itself, although it is a good idea to have a renters policy to cover your belongings. </p>
<p>Renting single family house rentals is more advantageous now during the uncertain market and low job security. Money saved by not buying can be invested into other fixed investments.&nbsp; </p>
<p><a href="http://new-jersey-secaucus-07094-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Secaucus</a><a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/NewJersey.asp" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=549" title="The Benefits Of Single Family House Rentals">The Benefits Of Single Family House Rentals</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Benefits_Of_Single_Family_House_Rentals.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Embrace Change]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Embrace_Change.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Change happens. We find ourselves plugging along, working, living and basically taking for granted every event and person that we find ourselves surrounded by. Then, suddenly, and seemingly without warning, change happens. Someone you know is involved in a serious accident, spurning questions within you of what is truly meaningful in your life. Or perhaps you lose your job of 27 years, the job that you had planned on retiring from, assuming that it would always be there, and that leaving would be your choice. All of a sudden, you understand that there really is no such thing as job security, as you peruse the want ads and pray for something that will pay your bills.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Many times when these wake up calls hit, our first inclination is to feel afraid. We worry that we have made poor choices, or we worry about our kids futures. We worry that everything we have worked so hard to obtain will be taken from us, leaving us relying on the goodness of strangers to help get us back on our feet again. </p>
<p>Sometimes, after a job loss or other emotionally taxing event, we decide that it must be time to shake things up in our lives, to embrace the change and do something different. We move into a new house, or even across the country, taking the chance of a life time, which brings up a whole new level of fear, but also of grand excitement.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />When we have outgrown our old lifestyles, whether by choice or necessity, it is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the many types of cheap self storage that is available to meet our needs. Let�s say that you have lost your job, are uncertain of the future of your current living situation, and feel the need to downsize your belongings and move into a smaller, more affordable place. Finding a cheap self storage room to put some of your furniture, or perhaps all of your furniture, is as easy as logging on to the Internet. But just because it is cheap self storage does not mean to imply that it is not valuable.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />On the contrary, the ability to safely and securely pack up all of your things, simplify, and blaze a new trail of your own making is perhaps one of the best gifts that you can give yourself, and cheap self storage turns out to be one of your best investments. </p>
<p>There is nothing like starting over. It brings old patterns and behaviors to the surface to be re-examined. In this way, you can really sift through the life that you have settled for, and get back to creating for yourself, from scratch, the new life that you desire.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Many people do not feel that they have within them the personal power to overcome such upheaval, but the fact is, we all have within us the power to not only overcome obstacles, but to evaluate and learn from them. Through tough times, through good times, and through the entire passage of time, we can choose to see our lives as meaningful, and create them accordingly.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Whether you are looking to completely start over, or you are just looking to cleanse your immediate environment of a lifetimes worth of disregarded memories and baggage, renting a cheap self storage space can save you money, give you space and freedom to create new opportunities. And that is priceless. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-jersey-west-new-york-07093-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=940" title="Embrace Change">Embrace Change</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Embrace_Change.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Variety In Mystery Shopping]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Variety_In_Mystery_Shopping.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Mystery shopping is not just for bored housewives anymore. Thousands of men and women all across the country have discovered this exciting and rewarding way to make money and enjoy the benefits of dining out at local restaurants, visiting retail establishments such as clothing stores, malls and electronics stores, and patronizing entertainment hot spots like casinos and movie theaters. Practically any business in the customer service industry is bound to be professionally evaluated at some point.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />While you may not get rich doing it, there is certainly money to be made in this ever growing field. It takes personal organization, time management skills, a strong eye for details and self discipline. With these skills, combined with a pleasant personality and a desire to achieve your goals, you may be surprised at just how well this line of work suits you. <br />&nbsp; <br />Mystery shopping has been around for a while. Originally, it was used as a means to catch shoplifters. Later on, someone had the bright idea to monitor the service that their employees were providing to customers, which opened the door for a whole new generation of skilled, highly trained individuals to bust out in a new field that benefits all involved.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />Businesses love it because it allows them to monitor the performance of their employees, and because it gives them feedback from a customers perspective, without having to receive nasty letters and complaints to acquire it. It helps them to fix problems before they become problematic. Mystery shopping helps businesses ensure the integrity of their organization, and it assists them in creating and maintaining employee training programs that will help their employees understand what valuable service means, as well as what is expected of them in the workplace.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />The individuals that choose mystery shopping as a means to financial gain love it, too. They love it because they have the flexibility to accept or decline assignments depending on their time constraints and schedules. They love it because they routinely get to experience different atmospheres and locations, dining out, working out at gyms, visiting hotels, casinos, movie theaters, as well as hundreds of other businesses, all in the name of work. If someone want variety in their lives, this is a job that delivers.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />In addition, the individuals become a part of a collective of professionals who take pride in their job. They understand the importance of the information that they are providing these businesses. They take their jobs seriously, even though they have fun doing it. People who work in this industry understand that it is their responsibility to anonymously report on the integrity of an establishment, they quality of service they received, as well as the quality of the product that they purchased. It does not matter how wonderful your waitress may be. if the food stinks, the managers want to know about it.&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; <br />The bottom line is, businesses want their customers to be happy. Happy customers mean that their doors will open tomorrow. Mystery shopping is one of the most important tools in a retail establishments tool kit. With it, they can be proactive in their approach to customer service and employee training. It is also a fun, rewarding and professionally recognized way to earn a living, as more and more people are finding out, much to the delight of their bank account. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-jersey-west-new-york-07093-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Hollis</a>&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1065" title="Variety In Mystery Shopping">Variety In Mystery Shopping</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Variety_In_Mystery_Shopping.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[A World Of Property Management]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/A_World_Of_Property_Management.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The world of rental property management can be confusing, both for the manager, and the renters. There are many legal issues that are hard to grasp if you are new to them, and sometimes even if you are not new to them. Rental property management contracts, agreements and legal documents are full of fine print and details that can baffle even the most savvy of renters. But generally, there are some rules and advice that you can follow if you are anything from a long time renter to a new or prospective one.</p>
<p>First of all, if the rental property management firm that manages your apartments or the place you rent has a requirement for a lease, you will want to know as much about it as possible. Of course, it is hard to manage your life around finding a new place at exactly the end of your lease, so you obviously will want to know the details to breaking a lease if necessary. If you want to move early, or have found another place to live, most leases are pretty strict in not allowing this. But if you are moving because of problems within the apartment of place that you rent, that could be another story, depending on your lease. </p>
<p>You might want a legal attorney or someone who knows the legal jargon to help you translate your lease or contract before signing. That way you will know what you can expect to have happen if you decide to leave early, or if the apartment or rental property management is unsatisfactory. The most common solution that people find to leaving their apartment early is to sublease. This allows you to move somewhere else on your own schedule, while not having anything extra to pay for the remaining months or your lease.</p>
<p>When leaving your apartment for good, you will want to get the security deposit back. Unfortunately, many rental property management accountants, or whoever happens to be in charge of that responsibility, do not take this very seriously. They either conveniently forget to give it to you, or try to take part of it for the expenses of cleaning up the apartment for the next renters. In most cases, this is not acceptable. You need to keep at your apartment manager until you receive your full refund. If you do not get any or even part of it back, you need to speak with your manager and get the details about what exactly it was used for, and if this is something discussed and covered in your leasing contract. If it is not, demand that you receive it in full. After all, it was your money to begin with!</p>
<p>One thing that many people do not take into consideration when renting is that they can be evicted at almost any time. No matter how clockwork your payments are, and no matter how clean you keep the place, there is a long list of reasons that your apartment or rent manager could kick you out. It is important to know about all of these beforehand, and know the state that your manager and rent company are in before you begin doing business with them.</p>
<p>There are many, many more legalities involved with renting. Do not let yourself get overwhelmed with them, though. It may be difficult to wade through them at first, but it is worth it if you end up being one step ahead.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-jersey-west-new-york-07093-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1064" title="A World Of Property Management">A World Of Property Management</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/A_World_Of_Property_Management.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Mystery Shopper Invades Bank]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopper_Invades_Bank.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>She was a young mother working as a mystery shopper at her local bank. She was hired by a financial service firm to evaluate the service received by customers. She entered the bank posing as a normal customer armed with a list of questions the company provided. She observes the friendliness of the staff and how fast she is waited on. </p>
<p>Many banking institutions are able to differentiate themselves from their competitors with the advent of ATMs and Internet banking. Customer satisfaction is higher and productivity increases. The financial institutions success depends partially on how good the employees performance is. They hire a mystery shopper from a research firm that specializes in evaluating the performance of banks. </p>
<p>The bank shoppers use a different technique such as face to face, through the internet and video assessments as well as over the telephone and through the postal system. When doing a face to face shop, the mystery shopper evaluates the sales and service level of the employee while a telephone shop allows the shopper to judge courteous communications from the staff. </p>
<p>The shopper must evaluate the quality of service received and find areas that need improvement. They assess the managerial roles and how the employees interact with the customer. They evaluate the effectiveness of the teller staff, analyzing how well the staff listens to the customer, how friendly they are and how much time the customers must wait for a teller. Another area the shopper evaluates is the personnels knowledge of the banks services and products. </p>
<p>After evaluating the service and performance of the employees, she submits a report to the branch manager, normally through the research company that hired her. The report measures any changes in performance over time. The reports include a comparison of branches within a region and provide recommendations to further train and modify behaviors. </p>
<p>She was able to find the job by doing a search on the internet and visiting the MSPA website that lists companies hiring shoppers. The searchable database let her locate companies and local assignments. She also visited shoppers forums to learn of the legitimate firms to apply to. She filled out an online application that asked for demographic information. These personal questions were used to match her to an appropriate assignment. She knew she wanted to evaluate service businesses so those are the ones she applied for. She applied with several mystery shopper sites. </p>
<p>She never paid a fee to apply to any company. Any legitimate company does not charge a fee to apply. </p>
<p>Before beginning any assignment she inquired about out of pocket expenses and if any special training was needed. She checked instructions that the company provided carefully prior to any job. She followed them to get the information exactly as the company wanted. Once she finished a job, she immediately filled out the report with precise answers, proofreading for grammatical and spelling errors. She gave opinions only when asked for and reported the real facts that she observe</p>
<p>Sometimes she visited the banks during rush hour to get a good idea of how the staff really performs when they have many customers to deal with. Other times she visited during a slow time when she knew staff would have time to be polite. She always left her mood and personality at home when she did a shop. </p>
<p>She has found great satisfaction visiting banks as a mystery shopper . She is providing a valuable service to not only the bank but its customers as well. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-jersey-west-new-york-07093-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=568" title="Mystery Shopper Invades Bank">Mystery Shopper Invades Bank</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopper_Invades_Bank.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Retirement Home Benefits]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Retirement_Home_Benefits.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The retired couple wanted to downsize from their large family home into a more comfortable space close to the golf course they frequented. They needed a place that would allow them to remain active among other older adults. They were also willing to pay a homeowners association management fee to help with the upkeep and security of their residence. </p>
<p>They researched many options including assisted living facilities, apartments and active adult communities. They asked many questions and listed the pros and cons of each option. They knew that as they aged they might require special needs and hoped to find a home or community that offer options as their needs changed.</p>
<p>The active adult community is the first option they looked at. In this community, active, healthy seniors live in an environment that has a impression of a community. The couple would purchase their own home and pay a homeowner association management fee to help cover the cost of maintenance. The community often has conveniences for its residences such as a clubhouse, a pool and golfing greens.</p>
<p>They wanted to find a community that offered several services.</p>
<p>One service that was a necessity were health care services. Even though they were both in good health now, as they aged they may need to have assisted living and need a simple transition from independent living.</p>
<p>Another service that is offered should be a good quality 24 hour 7 day a week security team. The entire community should be patrolled regularly with a security guard located at a locked entrance gate and other points of entrance. The homeowners association management team is responsible for employing the security staff.</p>
<p>The homeowners association management team acts as another set of eyes at the community. They do more than just patrol the area. They help set the rules and standards on any changes that can be done to the outside of each residents home. The couple wanted a community that had taste, not neighbors who painted their homes outrageous colors. There are also restrictions on where cars can be parked and for how long a non running car can be parked at a residence. The team is responsible for taking care of maintenance in a condo community. </p>
<p>The couple talked to current residents already living at the active adult community. The residents told them everything they needed to know about the quality of living there, the staff and security and answered any questions they had. As they interacted with the residents they found out the types of people living at the community that gave them a good idea of whether they would enjoy living there. They discovered the community had parks with swimming pools and other amenities to allow them to remain active. </p>
<p>They asked questions that related to their personal lifestyle before committing to the community. They learned the regulations on parking discrepancies and what guidelines to follow on outdoor landscaping and holiday decorations. </p>
<p>The elderly couple decided to purchase a home in the active adult community. They took an active roll in the community, enjoying the many amenities available. They learned when meetings were held and began attending homeowners association management meetings and took active rolls in those meetings. They are pleased with their new smaller home and the active adults who live in the community. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-jersey-west-new-york-07093-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at� <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .� </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=548" title="Retirement Home Benefits">Retirement Home Benefits</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Retirement_Home_Benefits.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Comparison Of Mobile Self vs Conventional Storage]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Comparison_Of_Mobile_Self_vs_Conventional_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Doing the right thing for your storing needs is very important. Sometimes when life smacks you in the face, you do not have enough time to do the research and call around looking for the best solution for you. If you know anything at all about storing, you will see that there are many options available for you and your situation. The easy thing is finding those solutions with the hard part being that you have to choose the best solution for you. </p>
<p>When you open your wallet, are you pleased with what you see? Most people would say yes because they have a variety of cards that will get them whatever they need. If you look again, how much cash do you have in there? If you are one of the blessed ones in this economy, you can say yes. When people assess how much money they have available to spend, people look at how much credit they have for the most part. The problem with that is that is that credit is a form of payment that you have to pay back. So, when it comes to finding a place to store, do you really have the money that you need to put something into a storing space?</p>
<p>When it comes to finding the right storing solution, most people have a couple of different options to store. They can either take their belongings their selves to the facility or they can use mobile mini storage . What are the differences between conventional storing instead of mobile mini storage ?</p>
<p>Conventional Storing</p>
<p>When you are in need of a storing facility, you find one and then you have to make plans to bring your belongings to the facility. So if you have a car load or a semi truck load, you are the one that needs to bring the items you wish to store. Sometimes when you are in a pickle and you do not have someone to help you move, this type of storing can be extremely difficult for you. If you need to view your items or get out something you forgot to get out, you can conveniently go to the property, when you have access and see your belongings. </p>
<p>Most times people call around and find the lowest price possible so they can save some money. When they look in their wallet for some extra money, they do not find any, therefore needing a cheap method of storing. No one wants to be in a bad situation needing a place to store and especially getting their items to the facility. So, in most cases conventional storing is cheaper, but it is a big pain.</p>
<p>Mobile Mini Storage</p>
<p>With mobile mini storage , the company that you decide to store with, they bring a storing space to you. They will range anywhere from a 5x8 space to a 10x15 space in most areas. So how does it mobile mini storage work? The company brings the space that you choose to your home then the company leaves you with the space for you to load at your convenience. That is a great thing for most people. Most times you will have to find someone to help you and go through all sorts of stress sometimes to get your items in your space. With mobile mini storage , all you have to do is when you do find someone to help you, you just load the space when you can. Then simply call the company you are storing with, they will come pick it up. Then the company will take the space to a climate controlled top security facility in which it will rest until you are ready to have it back again. Usually visitation of your space is not as convenient as conventional storing. So you if you need to drive by and grab something out of your space, you have to call ahead and let the company know you want to see your space so they can get it down for you. Usually you have to call about one to two days ahead to view your belongings. </p>
<p>The small downfall to this convenient storing solution is that there are costs associated with the delivery and pick up of the space. The price of pick and delivery are totally up to the company, but recently costs to do so have risen due to the gas prices. So with mobile mini storage , you have the convenience of having your space at house to load, but if the prices of gas continue to rise, it will cost more to get your belongings out of storing.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11211-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at� <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .� </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=939" title="Comparison Of Mobile Self vs Conventional Storage">Comparison Of Mobile Self vs Conventional Storage</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Comparison_Of_Mobile_Self_vs_Conventional_Storage.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[The Unspoken Values of a Secret Shopper Program]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Unspoken_Values_of_a_Secret_Shopper_Program.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>There are many organizations that are employing people with the sole purpose of spying on their businesses. They are taught how to do so using specialized secret shopper programs . Nobody can guarantee that every person who works for an organization does so truly and effectively. There are some people who try to do their personal jobs in their working hours. This is not a problem if the person concerned is free at that time. If they are not attending to any clients and if there is no pending work, there is no harm if they jot down their grocery list or even write a personal letter. No organization should have any problems with this. However, if they are going about their personal job while ignoring work in hand, it is a big issue.</p>
<p>To tackle employees like these, business houses employ people to keep a watch out on them. Once these people are interviewed and are found to be suitable, they are made to undergo various secret shopper programs . These courses are held in different locations like restaurants, retail stores and banks. These courses are useful diagnostic instruments for manufacturers of retails products since it provides them an opportunity to evaluate their products.</p>
<p>Once a new product is launched the people employed by the manufacturers mingle with the crowd at shopping malls and see how the products are faring. They make a mental note of the comments of the consumers and pass on the same to their employees. These secret shopper programs allow the manufacturer to take evasive action and fix problems before it is too late.</p>
<p>Apart from this, the participants attending the secret shopper programs are taught many other things. They have to learn about value, service, cleanliness etc. The trainees are taught about the problems that might arise in malls, stores and other business utilities and how to detect them. Not all of these educational seminars are the same. Each business house has their own standards and it is these standards that set the tone of the training. A small shop might not require too much surveillance whereas a big mall may have several areas that need to be covered in the course of day. Apart for this there are the budgetary constraints of the organizations too, which determine the course they will go for.</p>
<p>A properly trained special agent has many tasks to undertake. They have to keep an eye on the employees of the store and see if they are following the norms of the same. Are they arriving and leaving the store punctually or are they taking permission from the manager of the store before going out? The participants trained by the secret shopper programs also keep an eye out on how the clients of the shops are treated by the salespersons. There are many such employees who are out rightly rude and just do not bother about the customer. If the shopper wants to see different brands of a product, these salespersons do not show much of an interest. In most cases the end result is that the particular shopper will never visit the store again. A proper training helps these observers not only to note down the flaws, but also to find out ways of resolving the same. Though the owner generally takes decisions pertaining to fixing these problems, at times they might even ask these spies about their opinion and a well versed surveyor should be ready with the answers.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11211-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1062" title="The Unspoken Values of a Secret Shopper Program">The Unspoken Values of a Secret Shopper Program</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Unspoken_Values_of_a_Secret_Shopper_Program.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Real Estate and Construction Management]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Real_Estate_and_Construction_Management.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The investors of the resort development property need to make some major changes to the existing condo structures. They have hired their architects to draw out the new plan and are in the process of hiring a management team to oversee the renovations. </p>
<p>They have decided to use an online real estate and construction management software program to help them through the entire renovation process. </p>
<p>The software helps contractors, owners and architects make faster decisions while reducing costs and automating documents. The software offers other benefits as well. The information is current and available on the web without any contact with the responsible individual. The systems use real time views to reduce delays in information. </p>
<p>The information is entered by the source, often in the field and then answered by the architect or engineer when needed. All information is available immediately to anyone needing it, allowing for quick resolutions to any issues.</p>
<p>Everything is documented online. All questions and answers are written and automatically dated. Immediate access to the information and search capabilities allows online real estate and construction management software to reduce time needed to research earlier documents or comments.<br />The construction team gets information faster allowing them to complete projects quicker. They do not have to continually change contracts and spreadsheets. They can submit and input information directly into the software, eliminating the need to reformat materials.<br />Online real estate and construction management software systems eliminate the need for sending faxes and emails to anyone who needs to use the information. The online system lets people browse the web faster and download any information needed. They can read the information when they need it and it only has to be entered one time into the system.</p>
<p>Another area the resort investors are researching is the management team. They are wanting to hire a professional team to help them in the design, building and budgeting of the renovations. They have found the field of real estate and construction management encompasses a large variety of careers. The field covers everything from the appraisers to brokers to managers and developers. They are interested in the management side of the field. They are using referrals as the best way to find good contractors, interior designers and managers.</p>
<p>The most important part of any renovations project is having the right contractor. Research all applicants and get referrals and contact any past project owners they did work for. The investors want a qualified, experienced contractor to do good work at a fair price. It is important to make sure that the contractor that is hired does not sub contract work to uninsured or non bonded contractors.</p>
<p>Some of the skills and knowledge they are looking for in their construction management team includes the ability to research information and compile reports. The reports are input into an online software program. They should have good management and business skills with an ability to communicate well with others. They must be able to work in teams and show leadership and create ideas when necessary. They will have a good eye for detail, be organized, with an analytical mind and mathematical skills. They will have an understanding of the components of any financial budgets and can arrange and negotiate proposals to make advantageous decisions.</p>
<p>The resort development investors are investigating a number of real estate and construction management services to help them save time, reduce cost and create quality condos for the area.</p>
<p><a href="http://http//new-york-brooklyn-11211-self-storage.storage-mart.net" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1063" title="Real Estate and Construction Management">Real Estate and Construction Management</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Real_Estate_and_Construction_Management.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Be  Your Own Boss Mystery Shopping]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Be__Your_Own_Boss_Mystery_Shopping.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>She was like most people who entertained the idea of having extra income and free time, actually designing her own future. And she did what most people did -- set a goal to find some type of job or career where she could work for herself and give her the free time to enjoy her hobbies. She did not give up after applying for many opportunities and not receiving any leads. One opportunity she has been researching is the mystery shopping field.</p>
<p>Many people who think about working for themselves do not achieve it. It is because they do not give the opportunities enough research and time to begin to work. Of course, this is to be expected, because how often do we attempt to do something different and succeed on our first try? Many people often want the instant pay off without having to put in the work. Think about how long and hard you had to learn to ride a bike as a kid. Working for yourself is the same way. You have to keep working at it until you figure out the right technique. </p>
<p>She had this mindset. She was committed to trying her hand at mystery shopping . She began researching online the many sites dedicated to this career. She learned that is a service provided to businesses to help them evaluate their customers experience in their stores. </p>
<p>Mystery shopping involves a shopper visiting a store to act as a normal customer. With further research she finds each job will be different and might require her to look for certain things and ask specific questions. Before doing the assignment, she receives instructions on what the company wants them to look for during the shop. They take note of specific details the business has asked them for such as the cleanliness of the shop, how quick they received help from sales staff or how friendly the waitress was. </p>
<p>They then fill out a form, often with narrative answers about their experience. Questions on the evaluation form might include such questions as were you greeted in a friendly manner when you entered the store? How long was your wait to be served? Did the associate help you find a particular product? </p>
<p>&nbsp;She decides this might be the type of job she can do. She finds out through her research that she should never pay a fee to apply for any job and to be cautious of emails promising quick money through this type of job. There are many forums on the internet she can visit to find real shopper jobs.</p>
<p>She found that many different industries employ mystery shopping techniques. Restaurants, banks, hotels, cruise ships, movie theaters, apartment complexes, stores, salons, home builders, gas stations, auto dealers, health clubs and amusement parks are just a few. She applied for assignments to get her hair cut, her eyes examined and to fill up her gas tank. In return for her evaluations, she is reimbursed in products and cash for her time. <br />&nbsp;<br />Realistically she can make a good part time income from mystery shopping . Compensation ranges from 5 dollars to 20 dollars a shop with the more difficult assignments such as video shops, might pay 75 dollars or more. Pay varies depending on many factors including the type of business, difficulty of the assignment and how much detail required by the shopper </p>
<p>She enjoys her job. She can pick the assignments that interest her, on the days and times she wants. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11211-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=567" title="Be  Your Own Boss Mystery Shopping">Be  Your Own Boss Mystery Shopping</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Be__Your_Own_Boss_Mystery_Shopping.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Love, Property Manager Style]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Love%2C_Property_Manager_Style.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Rebekah worked asone of five commercial property managers for dozens of duplexes and complexes that were available for renting. She had been at this company for seven years now, and in that time had advanced her position considerably. Rebekah was happy, for the most part, but her job kept her very busy most days, and by the time she got home in the evenings, she was so mentally fatigued that socializing with friends was the last thing on her mind. Her evenings consisted of eating take out Thai food and watching sitcoms on television, with her cat Henry sleepily curled up beside her. She felt she was ready for a relationship, but she had no idea when or where she would find it. </p>
<p>Rebekahs work load was vast, as most commercial property managers responsibilities are, as she had well over a dozen locations to manage on her own. Her duties as one of the commercial property managers in the organization required that she know, understand and comply with all kinds of legislation relevant to her occupation, such as the Americans with Disabilities act and fair housing laws. It Rebekahs responsibility to keep current with the Federal Fair Housing Amendment Act, as well as make sure that no tenants were ever denied housing on the basis of discriminatory practices and that all Federal, State and local laws, regulations and building codes were complied with.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Rebekahs job as one of the five commercial property managers in the group encompassed much more than that, though, and it was these other responsibilities that led Rebekah, unknowingly, into the next phase of her life. Sitting at her desk going over the payroll and insurance premiums for one of the complexes that she oversaw, she was so immersed in the paperwork in front of her that she startled when the phone rang. </p>
<p>Barbara, an on site manager at a complex on the East side of town, was calling to inform Rebekah that she was resigning her position, and that in her place would be a new on site manager at the complex, and all further correspondence would go through him. Rebekah thanked Barbara for letting her know about the change, wished Barbara well in her next job before she said her goodbyes, and went on about her day.</p>
<p>Commercial property managers have the responsibility of overseeing the financial aspects of the properties, including, but not limited to payroll, insurance, taxes and mortgages. They also have to make certain that the tenants pay their rent on time, and that the bills are paid out on time. Rebekah needed to talk with the new manager on site at Barbaras old complex, to ask some questions in regards to a financial statement she was unsure of. She called and spoke with Brennan on the phone, who had replaced Barbara, and agreed to come to his office to discuss the matter.&nbsp; </p>
<p>As Brennan stood up to greet Rebekah for the first time, their eyes sparked. Brennans chiseled features and natural good looks caught Rebekah off guard, and though she knew she was blushing, she continued on as professionally as she could with the questions at hand. They wrapped up their meeting in ten minutes or so. Driving home, Rebekah could not stop thinking of Brennan, and of how it was obvious that there was chemistry between them. At work the next day, Rebekah received a phone call from Brennan, asking if she would come by his office to sign off on some paperwork. Rebekah jumped at the chance to see him again. </p>
<p>That little dance between them signified the beginning of a life long journey together. Rebekah gave Brennans complex to another one of the commercial property managers in the office, so there would not be any connection between their jobs, but no matter, because they were soon spending every evening together, eating take out and watching movies, with Henry curled up in between them, and loving every minute of it. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11211-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=547" title="Love, Property Manager Style">Love, Property Manager Style</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Love%2C_Property_Manager_Style.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[How To Find Affordable Self Storage]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_To_Find_Affordable_Self_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Are you in the market for affordable self storage ? You can find exactly what you are looking for, without having to waste the gas to drive all over town, and the best part is that it will not cost you a dime. In fact, you can search from where you are sitting right now, in your pajamas, even!</p>
<p>The Internet is ripe with search engines, and with over fifty thousand affordable self storage establishments in the United States, and counting, no doubt you can find exactly the space you need at precisely the amount that you can afford to pay, and it will take all of about ten minutes out of your busy life. </p>
<p>Go to any search bar on your favorite web browser and type in the words affordable self storage along with your zip code and prepare to be blasted with results. Once you have the list in front of you, it is easy to compare and contrast to find the company that best meet your needs. Compare monthly rates at the click of a mouse. In this way you can be sure to find the best bang for your buck. </p>
<p>You can also choose to take a look at the various security features offered by the companies in your area. Why go with less security when you can get the same size unit at a facility that boasts key-less entry gates and surveillance cameras for just pennies more? Your belongings are important to you, otherwise why would you be holding on to them? Be on the safe side and opt for facilities that offer updated security systems. You will be glad you did. </p>
<p>You can also access online maps to pinpoint the exact location of the facilities nearest you. The price of fuel keeps going up, with no reprieve in sight. Why drive any farther than you have to get to your things? There are affordable self storage properties in every city and in every town in the U.S. You may not even notice them on your daily commute to and from work or the grocery store, but they do exist, tucked away in various corners of your neighborhood, just waiting to provide you with their exceptional customer service.&nbsp; </p>
<p>You say you need a climate controlled unit to insure that your delicate personal items, such as photographs or art pieces, will not be damaged by extreme temperature conditions? Not a problem. One quick search online can bring dozens of temperature controlled possibilities to the screen in front of you. Not only do climate controlled units keep the temperature from going below 55 degrees or above approximately 80 degrees, but they also prevent mold and mildew from accumulating in the unit, since the humidity is kept to a minimum. No matter what you are keeping within the walls of the unit itself, you will want to take that into consideration as you search. </p>
<p>Finding affordable self storage should not be a difficult endeavor. If you have access to the Internet, and a few minutes to browse and compare, then coming up with a couple of strong candidates whose facilities you can go and check out for yourself should not take that long. While the Internet is a great resource to use in the beginning of your search, it is always a good idea to visit your top two locations in person, just to make sure that the facility lives up to your expectations. In this way, you can be sure to get the quality service that you seek at a price that will make your bank account say aahhh. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=938" title="How To Find Affordable Self Storage">How To Find Affordable Self Storage</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_To_Find_Affordable_Self_Storage.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Know Mystery Shopping Better]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Know_Mystery_Shopping_Better.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>A closer look mystery shopping is an ideal way to know more about the kind of job that is required by a shopper who is hired by different companies. People usually know about the job, but remain unsure about the entire process involved in such a shopping. If you analyze the task of a shopper, you will know that it does not require much to become such a shopper in disguise. You also come to know about the different myths that are associated with the profession, which is most of the time false.</p>
<p>This kind of shopping existed since many years, but in the recent times the popularity of such a business has increased. In case you are interested and desire to take this up as a full time profession, it is best you do some kind of research before you take the plunge. It is always good to know more and gather much information about the trade, before you decide to be a part of it. Once you have a closer look mystery shopping , you will first of all come to know about these different companies that provide the services and pay the shoppers in disguise. It is important that you know much more about the companies with whom you desire to work.</p>
<p>Researchers on a closer look mystery shopping have always warned individuals to gather information about different companies and agencies, before you start working with them. Today, you shall come across several advertisements in newspapers, where companies offer their services. Reports reveal that many people are duped by these companies, and often end up paying a lot of money to these agencies. Genuine companies will never charge you any amount. The usual process is of filling up the desired form and submitting it to the different agencies. The companies usually call back and contact you when there is an opportunity for you or in your preferred location. Therefore, it becomes very important for individuals to be aware of some companies that can dupe then. Some of these are </p>
<p>1.&nbsp;Companies that shall guarantee you a job as a hired shopper.<br />2.&nbsp;Companies that usually ask for some kind of fees for availing the opportunities.<br />3.&nbsp;Companies that sell directories that consist of names of such providers.<br />4.&nbsp;Companies that sell their certification, revealing that they are certified.</p>
<p>If you keep some of these factors in mind, you shall never be cheated by the companies. The best place to know more about these opportunities is the internet. Here you shall come across several companies that provide these services. Many people take this as a full time job, but a closer look mystery shopping , reveals that it is actually a part time employment. The companies may not provide you work always, but usually the assignments keep flowing at regular intervals of time. This is ideal for housewives and students who desire to make an addition to their family income.</p>
<p>Steady researches are always on to know more about the profession. To have an edge over their competitors corporate houses, involved in client service are using this as an important marketing tool to develop their business. A closer look mystery shopping reveals that this is the most important tool to know more about customer view points. Due to this fact, the importance of the service is increasing and so are the opportunities for those who want to make a career in this field.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of StorageMart ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1061" title="Know Mystery Shopping Better">Know Mystery Shopping Better</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Know_Mystery_Shopping_Better.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Real Estate Software for Property Management Firms]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Real_Estate_Software_for_Property_Management_Firms.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Any manager of as real property will require means to streamline his activities and what is better than having a software support him in his work. There comes the real estate software . It can be any type of software related to the business of different estates. The software manages everything that is the concern of a manager, right from tracking service calls to completion of the job. It also helps in management of the financial activities of the managers.</p>
<p>Some of the basic jobs that almost all the real estate software does are accounting, provides alerts, does the billing and invoicing, prepares budget including the budget forecasting, maintenance management, etc. some of the software also provide tenant management in the form of vacancy tracking, tenant tracking, tenant database management, tax management, rent tracking, expense tracking, etc.</p>
<p>One of the main fields of concern in management of different properties is the accounting part. There are various types of expenses incurred on a property and the rent collected is also a part of the income of the owner of the property. So there are intricacies involved when the tax is being calculated. The software in such cases does the tax accounting part according to the prevalent taxation laws. Also the income and expenditure of the property need to be properly monitored. The software provide options for maintenance of general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable and also the budgeting system of a property. These also provide options for generating bills and work orders according to the need of the manager.</p>
<p>Some real estate software is designed for management of commercial properties like shopping malls, office complexes, industrial complexes, etc. These are used to track multiple lease information, tracking of various rental and tax calendars, recoveries as well as management of vacancies. Most interestingly such software is designed to deliver over the internet and intranet. It is an advantage for managing properties that are spread over large areas. </p>
<p>There is even bigger software for a larger picture. It has been often said that managing a property should start right from the planning stage. So there should be software that helps in making the task easier form the design stage. Some real estate software is available in modules that can be integrated at the various stages of development of the property. Say when the property is in the construction stage you can go in for the primary module of the software and after the construction and other development works are complete then you can switch over to the software that helps in managing the property. If you want to keep a watch on the performance of your property and want to get the maximum out of it you can integrate another module which optimizes the performance. Usually such software is used by the agencies that provide management services for the properties. </p>
<p>If you are an individual owner and want to keep a tab on the property for yourself you can opt for simple real estate software designed for small users. They also integrate various factors like taxes, rent, tenant management, etc. It can be said that there is software for all users, big or small, having big property or small, commercial or residential, and so on. In the present situation of automation, using software for maintaining different properties seems more prudent than still continuing with the books and registers. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of StorageMart ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1060" title="Real Estate Software for Property Management Firms">Real Estate Software for Property Management Firms</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Real_Estate_Software_for_Property_Management_Firms.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Students Act In Secret Shopping]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Students_Act_In_Secret_Shopping.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The student needed extra money to decorate her apartment. She looks at several options, everything from a part time waitress job to working at the local mall. But with her odd schedule of classes she needs something that can be done in her free time and on her own schedule. She decides she would like to be a secret shopper . She applies to several companies she found online, being careful to avoid sights that asked for a fee to apply. These are often scams.</p>
<p>There are many benefits to a shopper job. The job is enjoyable. Most shoppers enjoy shopping. The shopper who is paid to visit stores evaluates services and products like food, drinks, spas and sales staff. They purchase specific products to be evaluated and are often reimbursed for the purchase and their time. Shoppers provide a valuable service to the business by providing a real view of how the customer is treated at their store. </p>
<p>Another benefit is the shopper is attracted to acting. Since the students major is in drama, being a secret shopper was a good fit for her. The shopper gets to perform in front of the hidden cameras pretending to purchase items or complain to the staff about a grievance.</p>
<p>Shoppers can do the assignment at a convenient time for them. The student can take assignments that are convenient for her schedule. The shopper can be any age or gender, retired, students or a homemaker as well as employed persons looking to make extra cash. You can register for several companies in many industries or a few that specialize in a certain niche such as cruises or restaurants. </p>
<p>The pay can be good for the amount of time spent shopping. The amount of pay depends on the difficulty and type of assignment. For example, a simple task of evaluating a bank might pay eight dollars while a more difficult assignment may pay twenty five dollars or more. Taking on assignments back to back in a day can yield up to a hundred dollars. A professional shopper can earn hundreds a month with hard work and many assignments. </p>
<p>Another benefit is the tasks are often simple to complete. It can be as simple as assessing the bank teller at the drive through. The shoppers often carry a timer or stopwatch to evaluate the time it takes staff to wait on them. They evaluate the service received by sales staff, the friendliness of their waitress or how clean a business is. The client normally provides a specific set of questions and observations they would like evaluated for the secret shopper before they begin their shop. </p>
<p>The future looks good for the shopper. As more and more companies turn to these shoppers to help them provide better service, research their market and products, the industry is expected to grow. Some companies are even beginning to hire shoppers to evaluate shopping on their website. </p>
<p>The student has signed up for several companies to begin her assignments. She has been able to purchase some decorative items for her apartment and been reimbursed for them She enjoys being a secret shopper since it fits her schedule, allows her to purchase products and put her skills to use. She even thinks it has helped her improve her acting skills for her drama classes.&nbsp; </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by Syndicated News on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=566" title="Students Act In Secret Shopping">Students Act In Secret Shopping</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Students_Act_In_Secret_Shopping.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Property Maintenance - One Foot On The Ladder]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Property_Maintenance_-_One_Foot_On_The_Ladder.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>It was 8am on a dull, gray Monday morning, and Kenneth was reporting to his first day of work at his new job as an apartments maintenance assistant. He spent most of the morning shadowing a man by the name of Bill, who had been working full time at this particular complex of 160 units for 16 years. Bill would be retiring soon, and Kenneth knew this was his opportunity to learn the skills necessary and eventually advance to Bills position as the lead apartments maintenance person. At least that was his intention. Of course there were other members of the apartments maintenance crew that he would have to compete with, but he had always been an optimist. Bill was a witty man, full of laughter, and always ready with a joke. He told Kenneth straight up that it was not easy work. There was always something to be done, and the days were full. </p>
<p>Kenneth had always been a hard worker, and good with his hands. He had spent his childhood working with his Dad, who owned a machine repair shop, and Kenneth grew up tinkering with, taking apart and eventually successfully rebuilding everything from lawnmowers and weed eaters to air conditioning units. He was a handy guy, and he knew that he could hold his own here at the complex. What he had not realized, however, was the breadth and scope of the work that he would be doing with Bill. </p>
<p>During the early morning hours, Bill and Kenneth worked together to make ready an empty unit that was in line to be occupied at the end of the week. After checking all of the light fixtures, and repairing one that had some loose wiring, they went through and checked all of the appliances. Bill was surprised and pleased when Kenneth took apart a non functioning garbage disposal and fixed the problem. Kid, you are gonna do just fine, he said with a chuckle. Once that was completed, they went around checking all of the windows to make sure the latches were secure, the screens were intact and the fit was tight. They checked the plumbing and patched some nail holes. Bill told Kenneth that tomorrow, they would paint the unit and lay the new carpet, which would be an all day affair.&nbsp; By the end of the week, the unit would be sparkling new again. </p>
<p>Kenneth was tired, but he felt good. He had no idea that an apartments maintenance crew had so many responsibilities. And as he soon learned, there were more to come. After a lunch that seemed way too short, they were back at it. They ran a couple of tickets, one for a sliding glass door that had broken off its track, and another for an air conditioning unit that had stopped working. They laid tile in a bathroom in another empty unit that Kenneth had been working on, and walked the grounds at the end of the day looking for repairs to make. Kenneth had been given the run down of all of the duties of the apartments maintenance crew, and he was astonished at just how much there was to do.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Walking out to his truck at the end of his first long, hard day, he felt a sense of accomplishment at all of the things that he had done that day. He knew that his Dad would have been proud of him. His muscles ached, his legs were tired and he was ready for supper. He would hit it again first thing tomorrow morning. No more staying up until 2am playing video games, he mused. He was sound asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but it was a satisfying feeling. He knew that he would not be the assistant apartments maintenance person for long. He had one foot on the ladder and he was on his way up.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=546" title="Property Maintenance - One Foot On The Ladder">Property Maintenance - One Foot On The Ladder</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Property_Maintenance_-_One_Foot_On_The_Ladder.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[The Benefits Of Self Storage Rental]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Benefits_Of_Self_Storage_Rental.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The business needed some place to store its archive paper records from the past 10 years. They did not have the space in their current location for the boxes of papers filled with tax returns, past client records and business accounting forms. They began checking into other options. One option that seemed to fit their needs was the self storage rental business. They began adding up the benefits of using one of these facilities.</p>
<p>Self storage rental is in its simplest form renting a secure, clean, dry room in a facility or warehouse allowing you access to your belongings whenever you need. The customer uses their own lock to the unit they rent while the facility management takes care of safety and security issues.</p>
<p>They company found that many different types of people, from businesses to private individuals, use the self storage rental service. It can be used for anything from storing excess belongings while renovating a home or office to storing excess stock for a business. Many new and small companies use the rental units for storing equipment such as for construction and electricians. People use rentals for storing their possessions when moving to a new location or selling their home.&nbsp; Anyone can store almost anything for any length of time in one of these secure environments. </p>
<p>It is important to compare services and prices when doing your research on available facilities. A good facility will provide the customer with the options of both short term and long term leases in varying price ranges. Some will offer discounts for long term needs. Research the services and access requirements, choosing one that meets your needs. Most facilities can be researched and compared through the internet. Visit company web sites to see services offered and get quotes.</p>
<p>If your business is looking for short term needs to store archives during a move or renovation, research a facility that offers mobile or container options. You request a container to be delivered to a specific address. After delivery the business can take their time loading and packing their belongings in the container, locking it for individual access. Then the customer calls the company to pick up the unit to be taken to its secure facility. Using mobile units is convenient for the client who does not have time to drive to and from a facility to store or access their goods.</p>
<p>When deciding on self storage rental unit the business should look for a professionally run facility that allows free access to their stored items at any time. The client will normally be given a code to enter the facility gates and use their own padlock and key to secure their unit. Businesses using the facility should have peace of mind that their valuable archives are stored safely with good security. The facility should be clean and dry as well as protected by various security measures such as closed circuit television surveillance systems and 24 hour guards. </p>
<p>By researching and comparing prices and services, the business found a self storage rental service located within a few blocks of their current location. They found a professionally run facility they offered them advice on storing their goods, gave them a referral discount and provided good security. The company signed a long term lease for a unit in the size that met their needs. By finding a facility located close by, they realized they did not need a container to store their possessions. Feeling confident in the security offered by the management was a factor in their choice.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-atlatic-ave-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/press_releases.html" target="_blank">Self Storage Press Release</a> . <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> announces a new partnership . Please visit <a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/home.html" target="_blank">Self Storage Owners</a> to view the full <a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/press_releases.html" target="_blank">Press Release</a> .</p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=937" title="The Benefits Of Self Storage Rental">The Benefits Of Self Storage Rental</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Benefits_Of_Self_Storage_Rental.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Know About Property Management Companies]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Know_About_Property_Management_Companies.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Property management companies are companies that constitute of all the owners of the residential units or houses in a particular development area. In fact, such an organization comes into existence whenever there is a question of developing common areas and facilities shared by a group of residents. These companies are the bodies responsible for all the developmental works as well as maintenance of the complex and are legally bound to do so when managing a complex where the residents share a common building but are separated by individual residential units. </p>
<p>If you go to live in such a complex then you will be one of the members of the company and will be equally responsible for the upkeep of the complex including the common areas as are the existing members. There is a guiding document which is generally called Memorandum and Articles of Association and it is one of the papers that must accompany the other important documents you receive when you move into a new residential unit. Though property management companies are not regulated they still need to function under certain directives. </p>
<p>So the first thing when you move into your unit is to get acquainted with the members of the board and also to get it clear as whom to approach in case of any problems. Also get it cleared as to what are your rights and duties as a member of the complex as well as a member of the company. Remember that this body will be responsible for managerial jobs and also decide on the financial provisions that are needed for the maintenance and will be met from the service charges paid by the members. This body is also authorized to decide on how to do the maintenance job, whether to appoint individuals and oversee the work themselves or to appoint an agency to take care of all the activities. Property management companies also to decide on the matters like repairs and renovations. </p>
<p>To look after the daily jobs and also the periodic jobs property management companies generally appoint management agents as the members are usually engaged in other professions and are often not the experts in various matters related to properties. These agents are entrusted with jobs like looking after simple day-to-day problems related to common spaces and facilities. They are required to take note of the various fees and taxes that are required to be paid from time to time by the residents and also arrange for the payment of the same. They also draw up the various bills and also collect them. But remember that ultimately the responsibility of maintenance lies with the companies and not the agents.</p>
<p>There are some duties and responsibilities of the managers of the property management companies and as one of them you will also be required to follow them. The very first responsibility is of paying the service charges in time. Remember that this is the source of money that goes into the upkeep of the complex and any shortfalls there would affect you also. As you are a part of the company itself you will be needed to attend the annual general meeting of the company and any other meeting that requires your presence as many important decisions regarding maintenance of the complex and the related services at these meetings. You can also get elected to the various positions and be directly managing the affairs of the company.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-atlatic-ave-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/press_releases.html" target="_blank">Self Storage Press Release</a> . <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> announces a new partnership . Please visit <a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/home.html" target="_blank">Self Storage Owners</a> to view the full <a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/press_releases.html" target="_blank">Press Release</a> .</p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1059" title="Know About Property Management Companies">Know About Property Management Companies</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Know_About_Property_Management_Companies.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Searching For Secret Shopping Companies]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Searching_For_Secret_Shopping_Companies.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Hardly a day passes by without people hearing about new offers for people experienced in undertaking invisible surveying jobs. These jobs pay a decent sum of money and the best part is that you can work as and when you want. There are no fixed time routines like that in an office. Apart from that the free gifts that these spies receive while working makes the job tempting. Before you want to earn money and earn free gifts at the same time, you will have to find out about the organizations that provide such work. The problem is where to start from and where you can find out more about these secret shopping companies . If this is easily understood then there is no looking back for the hired shopper.</p>
<p>This industry is booming like never before and more and more people are joining the same to earn their own share of money and gifts. You too are interested and want to join it? Just spend some time on the net and use the search engine to find out more about these secret shopping companies . You will be amazed at the number of hits that you will get. As mentioned earlier, this industry is booming and more and more companies are joining the same. They take orders from the organizations and send people who are registered with them to carry out these surveys. Just click on one of the links that you have found while searching the net and you will be presented with a form that you have to fill up and survey.</p>
<p>Generally the form asks you to input your name, age, street and email address, gender, race, languages known etc. You might also be prompted to input a password of your preference. Note down the password in a secure place. Some forms might ask for additional information like how did you find their online site. This is useful since quite a number of these sites offer cash for referrals. If you are already registered with an organization and you refer your friend to join the same, you will be rewarded with cash the moment your friend joins and inputs your referral number in the requisite field. These secret shopping companies are on the lookout for new recruits and there is no guarantee that a search will bring website on the top of the results. Once you have submitted the form, you will receive an email with a website. You have to click that website to activate your membership.</p>
<p>These secret shopping companies send out daily emails to their members alerting them about new jobs that are available. Certain organizations require that you log into their online site using your email and password and check out the latest jobs. Keep in mind that this email list is being sent to many people and each particular job will be given to the first person who applies for the same. Hence, if you have found an interesting job, reply back to the company immediately, before it is taken by someone else. There are many secret shopping companies and it is recommended that you register yourself with a few of them. This helps you to have more offers per day and increases the chance of getting the exact job that you were looking out for.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-atlatic-ave-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/press_releases.html" target="_blank">Self Storage Press Release</a> . <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> announces a new partnership . Please visit <a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/home.html" target="_blank">Self Storage Owners</a> to view the full <a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/press_releases.html" target="_blank">Press Release</a> .<br /></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1058" title="Searching For Secret Shopping Companies">Searching For Secret Shopping Companies</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Searching_For_Secret_Shopping_Companies.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Secret Shopping - Ideal Job For Social Butterflies]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Secret_Shopping_-_Ideal_Job_For_Social_Butterflies.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Kendra, a 36 year old housewife and mother of two teen-aged boys, sat alone at the computer late one June evening. With her husband and sons in bed for the night, Kendra had fixed herself a big, mellow cup of chamomile tea and was busying herself with emails, catching up on her crafting forum messages and basically just browsing the Internet looking for nothing in particular. As she skimmed through posts about the knitting and scrap booking projects made by online forum friends, she caught a glimpse of a paid advertisement that piqued her interest. It was one of those secret shopping advertisements, and it claimed, as they all seemed to do, that she could make money and have the opportunity to visit local restaurants and retail shops in the process. </p>
<p>In all of her years of online surfing, she had stumbled across many such advertisements, and they all ended up running down the same road, asking for fifty dollars in order to become a member of a site that promised the goods. If she knew anything, she knew an online scam when she read one. <em>What the heck, just check it out</em>, she thought as she clicked the link, even though she was not expecting this one to be any different. Surprisingly, this one was different. There was no membership fee, and no money to pay. In fact, Kendra was pleasantly surprised when she was asked to submit an application to the company, including references.&nbsp; </p>
<p>In her teen years, Kendra was the quintessential mall rat. She loved to browse the racks of clothing, hang out in the music store and eat lunch at the food courts of all the neighborhood malls. <em>Secret shopping would be so perfect</em>, she thought to herself. With her boys in school and her husband at work all day, Kendra was bored and lonely most of the time. She was itching to find something, anything to do that could bring her some extra spending money and get her out of the house. She was a self proclaimed people person who rarely got to be with people. It was driving her crazy. She understood the basic premise of secret shopping , as she had stumbled across it before but had always assumed that it was not legit. </p>
<p>Kendras excitement began to grow as she followed another link to a nationwide association specifically geared towards the career of secret shopping . <em>Wow! People really do this for a living!</em> By this time, Kendra was almost giddy, imagining herself dining at a local deli, mentally reviewing things that she would want to look for, and wrapping her head around how she would remember all of the details until she could get out to the car and write her report. Browsing some of the frequently asked questions and forum threads on the site, she was finding more and more tips and bits of advice from some of the more seasoned people on the board. One person suggested that a small hand held recorder could be used to quickly record her impressions of what had transpired, until she could get home to do her full report. She knew that she could learn so much just from reading up on the forums. She had no doubt that she could do this job. </p>
<p>By the time her application was accepted and her first secret shopping assignment had been given, Kendra felt as if her life had taken on a fun, exciting and profitable new direction. Within a few months, she was a pro. She had spending money, she went out almost every day of the week to a new location, and she was happier than she had been in a long time. Kendra had found her niche in secret shopping .&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;<br /><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-atlatic-ave-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/press_releases.html" target="_blank">Self Storage Press Release</a> . <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> announces a new partnership . Please visit <a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/home.html" target="_blank">Self Storage Owners</a> to view the full <a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/press_releases.html" target="_blank">Press Release</a> .<br /></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=565" title="Secret Shopping - Ideal Job For Social Butterflies">Secret Shopping - Ideal Job For Social Butterflies</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Secret_Shopping_-_Ideal_Job_For_Social_Butterflies.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Property Management - Overcoming Tragedy]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Property_Management_-_Overcoming_Tragedy.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Jordan is a very busy condo manager in the western part of the USA. His complex is right off of the California cost which is very serine and peaceful. This is the biggest reason that most people want to live at his complex. He is a very lucky man. He is a manager of one of the most profitable, sought after places to live. Even though the mortgage is higher than any of the other condos in the area, no one living there seems to be concerned about that. </p>
<p>Jordan did not always have this kind of fortune and his complex was not always successful. He had to build his complex basically back up from the ashes and start over from scratch after they had a major catastrophe.</p>
<p>About two years ago, Jordan was hired on as the condo manager of a failing complex that had about a seventy percent vacancy. This for any property is the end if that trend continues. The complex was not very appealing nor did it have any amenities that would invite anyone to live there. Jordan had previously been a marketing guru and a sales giant for a major corporation in the state, but now he is retired but wanted to stay in the game somehow. He thought that being a condo manager would be not as fast pace, stressful or demanding on his life as his previous job. He was as incorrect as he could have thought. </p>
<p>Usually being a condo manager is just a position that people take to make sure that the current tenants are taken care of and help maintain the condition of the building and the surroundings. The reason people move into condo is for the prestige of living there instead of an apartment. It is just like when people decide to buy a luxury car instead of a economic car. Both brands run well, maybe they are even from the same manufacturer, but there is more status associated with the luxury car. With some condos you do not have to do anything in terms of maintenance except with things inside the four walls of your place. Jordan as the condo manager would take care of the rest for them.</p>
<p>Jordan took on the challenge of getting this complex to where it needed to be. He needed to get with the property owner to find a way to be competitive in this market. They got together and thought of a great marketing plan, they made some major changes to the surrounding land adding some great amenities, and they renovated some of the condos making them more appealing for the price. With this plan, within six months, Jordan only had three out of sixty condos filled with tenants. He was sitting on cloud nine. </p>
<p>There was one tenant in question that he allowed mortgage a condo at his complex. He was skeptical of this tenant due to his previous record of being careless and reckless. Jordan had told that tenant more than once to keep the noise down, limit how many people could be in the condo, due to fire code, and not smoking inside the condo walls. </p>
<p>Everything was going great in the life of this condo manager until that dreadful night. Jordan was awakened by the loud alarms sounding off around the complex. There were fire trucks and a heard of people around the building. His complex was on fire. He was able to escape the burning building to find the fire chief to inform them of how many people lived inside the building. Almost all were able to escape, all but one. The tenant previously discussed was not able to escape burning flames of the complex. A tragedy in the making that Jordan did not see coming even in his wildest dreams. In fact, Jordan thought that he was still dreaming. Later on after the investigation is finished, it was determined that the fire was started in the late tenants place due to too many electronical devices plugged into one outlet. The circuit overloaded and started the fire. </p>
<p>Jordan was devastated and his hard work had gone up in flames. He did not know what to do and just wanted to find a hole and crawl into it. He knew he would have to deal with all the insurance claims and the angry disappointed tenants that he had. Jordan being the determined condo manager he is, he rolled up his sleeves, went to the property owner and told them that he thought they should rebuild it better than it ever was. </p>
<p>�Jordan was right and due to his relationship with his past tenants they waited around until the complex was finished. The complex was once again filled and all was well. The tragedy of past years was over and he was able to move on and put it behind him. This went down as one of the fastest recoveries of a business in the great state of California. Jordan went down as the best condo manager in history. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-atlatic-ave-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/press_releases.html" target="_blank">Self Storage Press Release</a> . <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> announces a new partnership . Please visit <a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/home.html" target="_blank">Self Storage Owners</a> to view the full <a href="http://www.selfstorageowner.com/documents/press_releases.html" target="_blank">Press Release</a> .</p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=545" title="Property Management - Overcoming Tragedy">Property Management - Overcoming Tragedy</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Property_Management_-_Overcoming_Tragedy.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Quality Private Mini Storage]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Quality_Private_Mini_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Many of the companies providing storing units offer private mini storage of different types to store the valuables. One might think of storing their goods like jewelry, antiques, furniture, utensils, clothes, books and other precious items in homemade storing containers like boxes. It might prove to be inexpensive in comparison to storing in company provided storing units. But one must remember that the quality of storing provided by the homemade units is much inferior to those provided by companies. </p>
<p>The company provided storing units usually range from 9 sq. ft. to 1170 sq. ft. One can choose the storing units according to the size of their belongings. Jewelry, decorative pieces, electronic goods and the like do not require very big storing units. They can choose the private mini storage of the minimum size. But other items like furniture require big storing units. Some of the items to be stored might require environment control features like the maintenance of constant temperature and humidity. One cannot provide environment control facilities in the home environment and hence it is necessary for them to hire the company provided amenities. Household items like wine, metallic and wooden furniture and electronic goods need to be stored in climate controlled chambers to preserve their quality.</p>
<p>The storing units provided by the companies are generally made of brick, mortar or steel. These materials increase their durability. A private mini storage is made environment proof also. It is ensured that the corner of the storing units are made leak proof and the walls are free of cracks. The floors are made of concrete and are sealed to keep the unit free of pests. When it comes to security the company provided storing units have a lot of sophisticated features in comparison to the homemade units. They might be having gates that are electronically operated by the caretaker or renter of the unit. The gates might also be locking mechanisms which need to be deciphered by the caretaker of the unit or the one who has rented it. </p>
<p>A private mini storage can be designed to ensure cleaning efficiency. The flooring of the storehouse can be sloped to the corners to ensure easy water flow out of the unit while cleaning it. The doors of the unit might be sealed with rubber gaskets to make it environment and pest proof. The units might be provided with a mechanism of being lighted up individually. This ensures that the electricity is being used economically. Moreover the renter can specify the timings for which he wants the lighting for his unit. </p>
<p>Many companies provide storing units that one can place in a location of their choice or in the premises of the company. If the chosen location is the company premises, then the premises leading to the private mini storage are designed to allow maximum convenience while transporting the goods to the storing units. The premises have elevators that are sufficiently big enough to accommodate some of the largest furniture. The flooring of the elevators is also made of steel and skid proof material. The hallways are all well lit so that one needs not fear banging or hitting something in areas that are less or not illuminated at all. Dollies and moving cart facilities are provided to transport the items to be stored in the storing units.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-hollis-11423-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=936" title="Quality Private Mini Storage">Quality Private Mini Storage</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Quality_Private_Mini_Storage.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Joining Mystery Shopper Companies]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Joining_Mystery_Shopper_Companies.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>You have heard your friends talking about it and now you want to plunge into this opportunity which pays you for marketing. Thanks to the numerous advertisements in various medias, there are just a few people who have not heard about these free purchasing opportunities and the mystery shopper companies that provide you with those jobs. After all, it makes no sense in refusing a job where you are paid for eating out, shopping, watching movies and even staying in hotels. Hence, it is not surprising to see the number of people who visit such organizations and enroll themselves for such a job.</p>
<p>Your first task is to find one of these mystery shopper companies . This is quite easy and a simple search on the internet will provide you with a number of addresses and phone numbers of such organizations. Quite a number of these companies have joined together and formed an association and you might as well search for that organization too. The advantage of visiting the web page of the association is that you are likely to find countless organizations listed alphabetically by name or by location. You will also find details of the contact persons along with their phone number in the website of the association. Therefore you need not browse through dozens of different sites.</p>
<p>Once you have selected one of these mystery shopper companies , the next task is to fill up their online application form. You might be required to give information like your age along with your marital status and income etc. You might be asked about your race and languages known too. Though these queries might sound a bit personal, they are vital for the organization and will assist them to associate you with an appropriate assignment. There might be an assignment which requires the agent to visit shops in a predominantly Spanish speaking locality. In such an assignment, it is understood that the person undertaking the task of spying has a good knowledge of the Spanish language.</p>
<p>While you are applying online, it makes sense to send your application to several mystery shopper companies . It is not necessary that your application will be accepted by the first organization you have applied to, and also, there are chances that a different organization might pay you a bit more for the same task. While filling up the online application form, you might have to provide your email identity and input a password of your choice. Once you have been short-listed by these organizations, you will receive an email along with link and it is required that you click the link and then enter your password on the page you are redirected to.</p>
<p>On that site you will find a questionnaire which will be used by the mystery shopper companies to assess your skills. Just complete the same honestly (do not use search engines for the answers, as you will be cheating yourself), and be patient for their reply. If you have the skills, and they are not too much, you can be rest assured that in a day or two, you shall receive a confirmation email that you have been selected for the task. Now go ahead and enjoy that latest blockbuster for free. If you are fortunate enough you might as well get a chance to visit the restaurant for dinner after the show.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-hollis-11423-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1057" title="Joining Mystery Shopper Companies">Joining Mystery Shopper Companies</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Joining_Mystery_Shopper_Companies.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Rental Management From Beginning To End]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Rental_Management_From_Beginning_To_End.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Rental property management is no easy job. First thing that you should note that the property you are putting on rent can be either your investment or your inheritance and rarely would anyone make it his only source of living. So the owners hardly ever devote their entire time to the property. He goes wrong there. A property is not a piece of rock that can withstand all the elements of nature and time. A rock also erodes. So can your property if not properly looked after. Any half hearted effort can half the value of the property. What you need is a good team of professionals to look after your property in such conditions. </p>
<p>Rental property management starts from the very moment you think of investing in a property or you inherit one which you want to put out to rent. If you are hoping to invest in property then the most important thing is to find the right property to acquire. You can be assisted by many agencies that undertake such jobs. All you have to do is to find out a reputed one so that you are not let down at the first instance. These agencies will know your choice and ability and present a number of properties that you can choose from. They can even arrange for the loans for these properties and in many cases they even help you in finding the first tenant. If you think that this will be your primary source of income then you will have to think about expansion and in such occasions the first property can become your mortgage for the second one and so on. A chain of events can make you a successful developer of properties.</p>
<p>After you have acquired a property comes the maintenance part of the business. Any property must be maintained well. For this the service of rental property management there are a number of agencies to choose from. However, if you happen to be a big property holder and have a large number of tenants or a company where there is a huge employee base, then you can even appoint individual manager who would look after your property. Only thing is that you will also have to provide for the supporting team for this manager. A much convenient alternative to it, if do not have the resources, is to appoint the management agencies. They employ a manager for your premises who looks after the job of rental property management . He also acts as the bridge between the tenant and the owner. </p>
<p>A person looking after rental property management is not only responsible for looking after the daily maintenance of the property but also various other matters as well. He is supposed to look after the rent collection and issue letters of reminder to the tenants and also recover the dues. He is to submit a report to the owner on every thing that is going on the property including the financial matters. The inspection of the property for any damages and repairing it also forms a part of the job of such managers. If a management firm is engaged for the job then there is an additional advantage of legal service that is provided by the legal experts who form a part of the firm. The agencies also help you to successfully sell off the property when time comes by finding you the best offer.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-hollis-11423-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a>&nbsp;, director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1056" title="Rental Management From Beginning To End">Rental Management From Beginning To End</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Rental_Management_From_Beginning_To_End.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[The Tough Part Of Mystery Shopping Employment]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Tough_Part_Of_Mystery_Shopping_Employment.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Given the fact that the job of a secret spy is the latest rage, it is not surprising that more and more people are trying to get themselves employed in this type of work. While quite a few know the route to take in order to land up with such a job, there are some who get lost. Securing a mystery shopping employment is not so tough. There are no obscurities involved with the same. You know very well the name of the job and also know that you want to get enrolled in the same. Just fire up your browser, browse to the search engine and search for that term. If you have queried the search engine with the proper search terms, you will get many results. This is the initial step and the easiest one. There is no reason to be worried, since the other steps require a bit of common sense.</p>
<p>Once you have typed mystery shopping employment in the search engine and have clicked on the search button, you will be presented with pages of results. It is advisable to go through one result at a time. Click on the first search result and check out the page that appears. Quite a few sites will provide a form that you are required to fill up before you can get yourself enrolled. Do not act in haste and read the Rules and Regulations first. In many sites this is also classified as Terms and Conditions. In advertising parlance they are known as Fine Print and one should read and understand them properly before proceeding further. If you find yourself in any problems in the future, your only hope lies in these Terms and Conditions. Do not let this bother you but do read it and understand it.</p>
<p>Once you have understood the regulations, tick the box next to the phrase I Have Read the Terms and Conditions and agree to abide by them and proceed to fill up the form. Most mystery shopping employment sites have forms that will ask you for your name, address, email number, city, state, zip number, contact phone number, age, gender, community, languages known etc. Some of them might also ask if you are willing to work part time or full time. A few might even ask you to type a password. No, you are not supposed to know the password, but you are being requested to create a password that will be required later on to log into your profile page in the web page. Type in a unique password and note down the same somewhere where you can access it easily.</p>
<p>Once you have completed the form on the mystery shopping employment website, you will receive an acknowledgement email. Click on the link contained in the same to verify to the website that you are the owner of that email identity to which the mail was sent. This is all. Keep on checking your email daily and you will receive new mystery shopping employment offers daily. Select the one you like and enjoy your new job. If you are still wondering what the tough part was, you have not gone through the terms and conditions properly. Reading the same in full takes time and is a tough job, which most people ignore. You should not.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-hollis-11423-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a>&nbsp;, <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=564" title="The Tough Part Of Mystery Shopping Employment">The Tough Part Of Mystery Shopping Employment</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Tough_Part_Of_Mystery_Shopping_Employment.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Rental Property That Pays Rich Dividend]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Rental_Property_That_Pays_Rich_Dividend.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Rental property is a property that is acquired for investment purpose and such investments are gaining tremendous popularity these days. You may be one of the persons toying with the idea of investing some money in real property. You are not the only one. People are looking for properties that they can find cheap and have the potential to appreciate in the near future so that they can reap a rich harvest. Most of these properties are acquired for a long term and before selling it of when a good price is offered, they are let out which pays for the mortgage. So these properties normally pay for themselves and you might be lucky enough to find that you have paid virtually nothing out of your pocket.</p>
<p>The commonest type of rental property is the residential property. But the categorization of the property differs on the number of tenants who occupy the property. Usually a property housing not more than four families is treated as a residential property while it is treated as a commercial property if the number of families is five and above. These categories are usually used to decide on the taxes that accompany any property, residential or commercial. Not only that, the rules of management of these properties vary with this categorization and all procedures from responsibilities and liabilities to the eviction rules are different for the different categories.</p>
<p>Once you have decided to own a rental property you will be needing tenants on the property to generate much important revenue. But beware of the rogues and the bad tenants who can not only be a headache but also can drive you with litigations and other types of harassments that you might not have ever imagined in the worst of times. The first thing that you should do is to check the tenant history, where he lived before and the cause of leaving the place, the credit history and if you are still in doubt check out the criminal antecedents of a tenant. There are agencies that can help you in this matter. </p>
<p>After you have screened your possible tenant you need to enter into an agreement. This is another area that demands utmost caution. Take legal help to draw up the agreement. Make everything as clear as possible in every possible detail. Be very sure to chalk out the duties and responsibilities of both the tenant and the owner of the rental property . There should be clear indications about the way to handle complaints of the tenant, notices that need to be given and on what occasions, time period for payment of rents and so on. </p>
<p>The rental property is there for you to earn money and not to remain as an edifice of your investment. Remember that an ugly property will never attract good money. You need regular maintenance for keeping up the value of your property and regular repairs and renovations at certain intervals are a must for this purpose. A very important object that must be kept in mind nowadays is the use of hazardous materials or rather the restrictions of use of them. Try to avoid materials that have proved to be harmful to human beings. Also ensure that your premises are secure. These measures go a long way in appreciation of the value of the property.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-hollis-11423-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Hollis</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.tronjordheim.com/" target="_blank">Tron Jordheim</a> , director of operation at&nbsp; <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">PhoneSmart</a> ( a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> ) will be interviewed by <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SyndicatedNews/2008/07/24/Tron-Jordheim-1" target="_blank">Syndicated News</a> on 7/23/2008 6:00 PM. The topics of discussion will include <a href="http://www.storageconcierge.com/" target="_blank">Self Storage</a> , <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/" target="_blank">Secret Shopping</a> , <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/" target="_blank">property management</a> , <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Advertising</a> and <a href="http://www.phone-smart.info/" target="_blank">Self Storage Marketing</a> .&nbsp; </p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=544" title="Rental Property That Pays Rich Dividend">Rental Property That Pays Rich Dividend</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Rental_Property_That_Pays_Rich_Dividend.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[FAQ About Self Storage Buildings]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/FAQ_About_Self_Storage_Buildings.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Her family was coming to stay for an extended visit. She needed to clear the clutter from her overstuffed basement to create a comfortable living space for them to stay in. She starts getting organized by going through the years worth of sporting goods, old clothes and craft supplies, furniture and seasonal decorations. She quickly realizes she is going to need a place to store the items she wants to keep. A good solution for her is the self storage buildings located nearby.</p>
<p>She needs to find the right unit for her needs within her budget. There are many questions she should ask before renting a unit.&nbsp; </p>
<p>What size does she need? Most self storage buildings offer units in a variety of sizes. She will estimate how much room she needs for everything. A good way to do this is to make a rough sketch of the items in an organized and accessible arrangement. Many smaller items, like clothing or craft supplies can be stored in larger containers that can be easily stacked. Pack the building to the ceiling instead of opting for a larger unit and having to pay for unused space. </p>
<p>Each facility will be able to give her an estimate on the square footage of their building units with height measurements as well. This is important because, for example, if you have a tall armoire you need to store, you do not want to have to dissemble it or store it on its side. </p>
<p>How long is the lease term? She should find out if she will need to rent units in self storage buildings for a minimum or maximum amount of time. Most units will require a one month rental, based on a month to month agreement. Prior notice is needed to decide to terminate the lease. There is no maximum amount of time she can use a unit.</p>
<p>She needed to find a unit that would be accessible anytime in case she needed some of the items placed in the unit. She asked the management of the self storage buildings about available access and if it is free of charge? Ask the facility manager how and when the units can be accessed and if there are any restrictions and charges.</p>
<p>What is the monthly cost for the unit? Self storage buildings rent units by the month and rates depend on the size and location of the unit. Temperature controlled units are often higher, up to 50 percent more than typical unit. Payments can be made many different ways. Will fees be pro rated for partial months? If she needs to rent a unit during the middle of the month or terminate the lease before a month ends find out if the rent will be adjusted accordingly. </p>
<p>Also, she will find out if a deposit will be required upfront. The facility may charge a deposit as well as a first and last months rent. Other facilities charge extra for security services, locks or a set up fee to add tenants to their computer system.</p>
<p>What type of security is implemented? Many facilities have twenty four hour security or closed circuit video cameras. She needed to store her valuable antique furniture and needed a good security system to protect her valuables. </p>
<p>She had antiques and paper documents that would be placed in the units. She asked if the facility had climate controlled units. Valuable documents that can warp and mold need a place that is free of humidity, with a set temperature. For an extra cost allows her to rent a unit where the humidity and temperature is controlled. </p>
<p>Another concern is insurance. Ask if insurance is provided. She needs to have her valuables covered from fire, damages and theft. Many facilities do not provide insurance for items so tenants will need to obtain a policy on your own. </p>
<p>These are just a few of the many questions she asked when searching for self storage buildings for a unit to store her belongings. Most buildings are safe, secure and offer controlled options to help her clear out the clutter and enjoy her familys extended visit. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-austin-78728-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Austin</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=935" title="FAQ About Self Storage Buildings">FAQ About Self Storage Buildings</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/FAQ_About_Self_Storage_Buildings.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[How To Search For A Secret Shopping Job]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_To_Search_For_A_Secret_Shopping_Job.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>A secret shopping job cannot be taught to any individual but before you embark on such a career, knowledge about the same would be helpful. Those who choose this career will have to undertake various tasks and they include assessing different client services, checking out on the product pricing, its quality and availability. Apart from this you might also have to adjudge the cleanliness of the store and at times even look after the website operations of the store or consumer services through the phone. Once you have evaluated the business as per the guidelines provided to you by the organization hiring you, you have to report back your findings to them. But how and where does one find this type of work?</p>
<p>If you are searching for a secret shopping job your primary tasks consists of connecting to the net and starting a search for relevant phrases. Most jobs of these types are available on the web and just by spending a bit of time, you should be able to get quite a number of results. It is recommended that you devote some time to search for organizations that have openings for such work. If you come across any organization for such agencies it serves your purpose better since you will have details of many organizations under one site itself. You should remember one point. Legitimate organizations do not charge application fees and most of them do accept applications online.</p>
<p>Apart from spending on the internet, you can also spend some time checking out libraries and bookstores for books that might offer you tip regarding finding organizations that offer a secret shopping job . Once you have enlisted yourself with such an organization you will receive new assignments via email or by checking out their online job board. These mails and online job boards will tell you about the different type of assignments available and what is expected from the person who is willing to undertake the same. The details will also include the working hours and the location where one is expected to work. Remember, all these assignments are on a first come first served basis, and if you feel any job is suitable for you, apply immediately. The message boards are friendlier and they will have information if that particular assignment is still available or has already been taken up by someone else.</p>
<p>If you see advertisements in the help wanted division of the newspaper or if you receive unsolicited emails offering you a secret shopping job , be wary of them. Most of the company floating such ads or sending out emails are generally bogus and most of them will charge a fee for enlisting you in such a service, something which you could have done all by yourself by browsing the net and without paying a dime.</p>
<p>Some of these bogus organizations might also offer you a directory of organizations, again for a certain fee. Why pay for such information when the same is readily available on the net for free? While you might feel interested in the certificates that these frauds offer, you should know that most organizations that want the services of surveyors do not demand a certificate. Instead of taking the easy route out as offered by these frauds, just spend some time browsing the net and sooner or later you will find a secret shopping job that you are looking for.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-austin-78728-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Austin</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1055" title="How To Search For A Secret Shopping Job">How To Search For A Secret Shopping Job</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_To_Search_For_A_Secret_Shopping_Job.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Risk Management In Real Estate Investments]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Risk_Management_In_Real_Estate_Investments.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Did you know that 1 of 4 homes are burglarized? That is a pretty scary number to a lot of us and that drives fear in some of us. There some of us that are not bothered by this number because we know we are safe from that kind of crime. Many people have some type of burglary deterrent system in place. There is nothing more important than protecting your assets, especially when those assets are your family.</p>
<p>There are many places in the city in which you live that have a higher risk of being robbed or broken into. Most people try not to live in those areas but they also know those areas are also cheaper for them to rent. Sometimes you have to find that balance between cost and safety. </p>
<p>Most companies dealing with real estate have to address the same problem. Do they think that they can be profitable establishing a business in a high crime area or do they believe that they will accumulate a loss? Real estate property management establishments think and rethink locations all the time because location is extremely important to the success of a business. If you can not find it or the business is not visible to you, you will usually not go there. </p>
<p>So what some real estate property management establishments have decided to do is install some sort of security and surveillance system. This way they can monitor and record what goes on when the property is not open for business. The surveillance system deters people from trying to break into the business.</p>
<p>For these real estate property management teams, it is not enough in this market to just start a business or find great property. It is about find that right property and then using that property to its highest potential. Sometimes the best thing to do in certain areas is to make sure that the building is secure.</p>
<p>Now, just being in a bad neighborhood is not the only reason your property could run into some low returns. You could be the brave real estate property management team that builds a place for college students. Many companies find and utilize the land in order to have more areas for the college kids to use. The risk is how will the property look in a year or five years? Will it appreciate as much if it was a single stand alone office building? That is really up to the market and how well you maintain your investment. </p>
<p>For this reason most of these companies hire someone to oversee their different properties. They are in charge of maintenance and how the over all business runs while the company oversees how that business is performing. For that college town dormitory, surveillance would be beneficial so you can see which tenant does not need to have a roof over their head.</p>
<p>Surveillance is an important feature or benefit for most places to have these days because they do not want to deal with trying to find out who is vandalizing their property or doing some illegal acts on the premises.&nbsp; Real estate property management teams are smart investors and great business people. If the stakes are too high and they do not think the area or type of business going in that area will be profitable for them, they will not make that investment. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-austin-78728-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Austin</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1054" title="Risk Management In Real Estate Investments">Risk Management In Real Estate Investments</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Risk_Management_In_Real_Estate_Investments.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Paid Surveys - Your Opinion Matters]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Paid_Surveys_-_Your_Opinion_Matters.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The Internet is a vast ocean of information, a mind numbing sea of opportunity, and a voyeurs paradise. Having grown accustomed to such pleasures as online auctions, search engines that locate hundreds if not thousands of results within a millisecond, and the convenience and ease of email, we would be hard pressed to go a day without logging on. </p>
<p>Because there is such a dizzying array of offers, sales pitches abound that entice you to log on and get paid for your time. Some such websites boldly proclaim that you, yes YOU, can earn as much as a thousand dollars a day sitting in the privacy of your own home, just for giving your opinion. Well, it stands to reason that if we could all get rich just by giving our opinion of things, then we would all be driving brand new automobiles and residing in sprawling mansions. </p>
<p>That being said, while we may not get rich doing it, there is a way to at least make a little pocket change, and possibly earn free gifts and rewards by offering your opinion. This opportunity is called a paid survey . There are hundreds of companies on the Internet that will allow you to take a paid survey and many times more than one, and give your valuable consumers opinion on everything from political issues to reviews on the effectiveness of a specific web sites sales pages. </p>
<p>Some of these companies offer cash for each paid survey that you complete. It may only be a few dollars, but for ten to fifteen minutes of their time, many people feel that is a fair compensation. Over the course of six months, a person could conceivably rack up a good size chunk of change just by spending a few hours online giving honest feedback to companies that really appreciate it. </p>
<p>Another reward that is often given for taking a paid survey is gift cards or free merchandise. Whether it is a free meal, some make-up for the lady of the house, or coupons for free food, everyone loves to get free stuff. Some companies give a certain number of points for each paid survey taken. Once you have accumulated enough points, you can then go into the websites virtual shopping area and trade in your points for prizes and even cash. Still other companies enter your name into a sweepstakes or prize drawing for a chance to win big, rather than compensate you with a few dollars. </p>
<p>While each company does things a little differently, one thing is certain. Your opinion matters a great deal to them. So much so, that they are more than willing to compensate you for telling it like it is. They want to know what entices you to buy, what makes you want to click on specific links, and what you think of whatever it is that they are selling or endorsing. </p>
<p>While you may not make enough money to quit your day job, become a professional opinion reporter, and drive around town in your sporty new roadster, you may end up sitting at your favorite expensive restaurant even though it is a not so special occasion, or going to the mall to get your hair done on someone elses dime. That might just be reason enough to log on to the Internet today and seek out some of these companies. Once you do, you might have a whole different opinion of just how much the Internet can make you some extra cash.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-austin-78728-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Austin</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=563" title="Paid Surveys - Your Opinion Matters">Paid Surveys - Your Opinion Matters</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Paid_Surveys_-_Your_Opinion_Matters.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Overcome Financial Strain of Homeschool]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Overcome_Financial_Strain_of_Homeschool.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Homeschooling is hard work and life circumstances often put a parents decision to homeschool to the test. First of all, Mom was not always Mom. She once was a single girl who probably had an idea of what she wanted to be when she grew up. Now, whether it was an astronaut or to be a mother homeschooling her brood, it makes the actual task no easier. </p>
<p>When the time comes to be a full time mom, she has to decide whether or not she will go back to work. By the time homeschooling has come around, she is probably use to a routine with her home duties. She has probably been planning the transition into homeschool for some time and has developed lessons and dates with other homeschooling moms and even play groups with their children. </p>
<p>However, some families choose to homeschool and perhaps Mom and Dad have both had a career up until that point. Whether it is for religious reasons, poor public school performance, or expensive private school tuition, going from a Careerperson to Homeschool Teacher is a big jump. </p>
<p>There will be a strain on the Homeschool Teacher, be it Mom or Dad, because they will miss the business world and the interaction with coworkers. However, teaching your children is a busy and full time job, so a motivated homeschool teacher will rise to the challenge and push himself or herself. </p>
<p>Another strain will be financially. Even the most well-thought-out plan will have a few unexpected� costs. Perhaps you did not realize how much Billy would love playing the keyboard so now he wants a piano. Even smaller things like the cost of a book, a trip to the Science Center, etc will begin to add up. After all, your tax dollars for public school will still be deducted, regardless of where your children are being educated.</p>
<p>If your household use to be a two-income family, and is now a one-income family, there are some sacrifices you will have to be prepared to make. Perhaps it means eating out a few less times per month. You could overcome some food cost by planting a small garden, and what a learning experience for the children!</p>
<p>Sometimes, families who homeschool their children have to find more creative measures to make ends meet. For example, a family with a walk out basement might decide to close access to the upper level and renovate the area, making it a small apartment. This could become a nice place for someone to live who is looking for rental homes . Of course, one should always be choosey when inviting a tenant into their home.</p>
<p>Another option is to become a tenant and look for rental homes in your area. While a family with children will most likely not comfortably fit into an apartment on the third floor of a complex, rental homes are a great answer to get around paying a mortgage and still have your own space.</p>
<p>There are other savings to looking for rental homes as well. The maintenance of owning a house can be tedious, let alone cost a small fortune for major repairs. Rental homes would require the property owner to maintain the structure and upkeep. And if you are very handy, perhaps the owner would credit your rent for any work you do. If your kids are old enough, they could even learn some handiwork and help out.</p>
<p>The trick to balancing homeschooling and finances is to be creative and turn everything into a learning experience for your children. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-austin-78728-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Austin</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=543" title="Overcome Financial Strain of Homeschool">Overcome Financial Strain of Homeschool</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Overcome_Financial_Strain_of_Homeschool.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Americas Relationship With Self Storage Units]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Americas_Relationship_With_Self_Storage_Units.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Self storage unit spaces are filled up across America because some of us gather more stuff than we need. However, a majority of self storage unit rooms&nbsp;are packed full all because of human relationships.</p>
<p>For one thing, we have a peace and relaxation when we are around our own things. Could one just sell or get rid of all their possessions and buy new when they need it? Sure, but there is a sense of home that comes with the collection of Grandmas quilt on the wall, Moms china cabinet in the dining room and your own couch that make you glad to be home. </p>
<p>The relationships and memories we attach to our tangible things makes renting a self storage unit the only possibility for keeping your items stores in a safe environment. </p>
<p>Our relationships with each other also play into the circumstances surrounding a self storage unit renter. Whether congratulations are in order or condolences, rental units are an answer to prayer for families in transition. </p>
<p>For example, a man and woman who have been living in their own apartments for a few years have each accumulated a small household of goods. When the two lovebirds are joined in marriage, it is safe to say they will live together. However, it is not only the two that are joined as one. Their items, their dinnerware, their futon and couches, their dinning room table, his pool table and her scrapbooking and even more oddities all need a place to live in this new relationship. A rental unit is the perfect compromise to start off a union in peace and harmony.</p>
<p>Another example of our relationship with self storage unit rentals&nbsp;is in the midst of a huge transition. Growing families expecting a new baby will find that the game room must quickly turn into a nursery. Keeping the pool table, bar and leather chairs is a must. Stuffing them in the back of the garage will only lead to collecting a larger pile of clutter and before long, the items you wanted to keep safe are ruined by dust, oil spills, and damaged by what is piled on top of it. The convenience of renting a unit will make the family happy.</p>
<p>Sadly, there are more relationships that tie us to renting a store room. The passing of a loved one leaves a hole in our heart and fills our home with inherited furniture, books, even piles of paperwork. Sorting through your mother or fathers home is not usually the first step of the grieving process. Moving things to a rental room is a relieving way to bide some time and come to an agreement with your sister over who gets the cedar chest. </p>
<p>Yes, our personal relationships join us to our local store room. Even beyond our relationships with one another, there are outlying circumstances that thrust us into looking for a place to rent.</p>
<p>Mother Nature is one force to be reckoned with. She may see fit to flood, tear down, set ablaze or freeze your home, in which case the only thing left to do is salvage what you can. But where will you put it? Keeping the precious things left after disaster is ideal for renting a unit. </p>
<p>Our relationships with the items we put emotional value to, the items that have a real value, our relationships with our friends and family and the tender balance with Mother Nature often face transition and uproot us. Renting a unit is what helps smooth each transition into a manageable circumstance. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-helotis-78023-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in Helotes</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=934" title="Americas Relationship With Self Storage Units">Americas Relationship With Self Storage Units</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Americas_Relationship_With_Self_Storage_Units.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[The Life Of A Secret Shopper]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Life_Of_A_Secret_Shopper.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Be careful about how you deal with the clients because someone is keeping an eye out on you. Since you are employed by the organization in the capacity of a salesperson, it is your bounden duty to help the clientele of the organization. Your responsibility is to guide the clients and see to it that they do not face any problems while they are hunting for goods in the establishment you are looking after. If you are not helping the purchasers, one day or the other you will be detected by the free secret shoppers and your misdeeds will be reported to the head of the organization.</p>
<p>Free secret shoppers are employed by businesses to keep an eye out on their establishments. These shrouded surveyors visit establishments as diverse as auto dealers to movie halls in the guise of customers. They are assigned by the organizations to visit certain pre determined shops and other establishments to research on the happenings taking place over there. Apart from cleanliness, they also keep an eye out for the meticulousness of the salesperson. Are they providing proper client service, are they arriving and leaving the premises on schedule etc.</p>
<p>However good an organization might be, they cannot survive if they do not provide proper service to their customers. Though the salespersons appointed by these organizations are provided with thorough training, there are some who just do not bother to pay attention to the clients. The end result is that the organization loses a valuable customer. In the long run these happenings might even spoil the reputation of the organization. Free secret shoppers are employed by businesses to keep out an eye on such immoral salespersons and to report them back to the organization. </p>
<p>There are occasions when the shop owner likes to reward honest salespersons who go out of their way to accommodate a client. Such vendors need to be identified before they can be rewarded. It is not necessary that all the salespersons of a store work beyond the normal scope of their duties, hence someone is required to identify the one who should be rewarded. Free secret shoppers do not always keep a watch out bad vendors only. They also check out for the good ones. When they prepare their submission report, they give negative or positive points for each salesperson of the organization. This helps the organization to assess each and every salesperson in their payroll.</p>
<p>The life of free secret shoppers is a tough one. Quite a few of them have to observe a shop before it has opened till after its closing hours. This is required, in order to know that the sales personnel are arriving and leaving on their scheduled time or not. Apart from that these spies have to visit the shop and purchase a few things with the money allotted to them for that purpose. This helps them to assess the salespersons and see if they are friendly towards the clients or not. All these activities have to be done in such a manner that there is no doubt in the minds of the salespersons that they are being observed. An experienced observer should be able to spot out the troublemaker in an establishment in a jiffy. While the stipend received by these spies is not too much, the free purchases make up for the same to an extent.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-helotis-78023-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in Helotes</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1053" title="The Life Of A Secret Shopper">The Life Of A Secret Shopper</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Life_Of_A_Secret_Shopper.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Property Management - A Week In A Managers Shoes]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Property_Management_-_A_Week_In_A_Managers_Shoes.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>What does the every day life look like for a person that is in property management ? Depending on what kind of property you are managing. Whether it is in the storing business or something involving property ownership, they have a lot on their plate. Our story today starts with Jim and his average day and what he has to do for the week in order to keep his facility up and running.</p>
<p>It is the beginning of the week and Mondays are always fun for Jim in the storage industry. Monday is not only an early day for him, it is the day in which he has to look at the rest of his week. In property management he knows that he has to make sure that every thing is ready to go to maintain a profitable facility. </p>
<p>Monday for Jim starts at eight in the morning. Jim being a night owl already has to overcome that obstacle. In property management , Jim knows that he needs to be on top of his game even early in the morning. Before the first customer even walks through the door, he has to double check the work he did last night when closing down the store. He has to make sure that he walks the property to ensure that there was not a break in from last night, no doors of the units were left open and ensure that the office is clean and ready for the first customer. Sometimes Jim has another associate working with him, but that is not the case today. He is flying solo.</p>
<p>The great thing about being in property management for Jim is that he gets the unique opportunity to have to sell storage and storing supplies, he also makes sure that the daily and weekly routines are done correctly. For instance today, Jim has to make sure that roof on one of his storage building gets fixed the right way because a customer complained about some leakage in their unit. The roof repair guy comes right on schedule and Jim greets him and starts to walk him out the office to the building that needs to be fixed, a customer walks in needing some storage. Jim has to have the customer wait a moment to show them the space, because he knows he is paying the repair guy by the hour. The caller is patient and waits.</p>
<p>Jim comes back and assists the customer with storage and the caller is pleased with the level of service and rents a space with Jim. While Jim is walking the caller through the rental contract, the phone rings and the caller had a huge problem with their space. Jim has to try to control that customer and not have them deter the current renter from wanting to rent with him. Jim does a great job making sure that he customer in front of him leaves happy and focuses his attention to the person on the phone. Luckily for Jim, the caller just had a slight misunderstanding on how the rental process works and is now taken care of. </p>
<p>Jim has a break in the action as customers either call or come down to visit him at his facility. Jim, being in property management , knows that he has to be quick on his feet, be able to handle customer issues and be a good multitasker. Jim takes a look at the rest of the week and to his surprised and happiness, he only has a couple of appointments that he needs to focus his attention on. He has to deal with a visit from the regional office, the carpet cleaners, and a company coming to repave certain parts of the pavement that are cracked. Other than that, he has to ensure that the callers and in store customers are taken care of. For most people in property management that is a light schedule. Now he will still have to deal with the everyday things like walking the property, checking to make sure the alarms work on the spaces, ensuring the clients are paid on time and other things, but his weekly concerns this week are looking good for him. He takes a huge sigh of relief. </p>
<p>In property management , you can never be sure what will happen in your week. That is why being the manager of a property is a hard profession to have and many people do not want to venture into that. Having almost complete and total control of the profit and loss of your property is a very important and stressful responsibility. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-helotis-78023-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in Helotes</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1052" title="Property Management - A Week In A Managers Shoes">Property Management - A Week In A Managers Shoes</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Property_Management_-_A_Week_In_A_Managers_Shoes.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Quality Assurance Is Final Judge]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Quality_Assurance_Is_Final_Judge.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Have you checked out the carton of milk in the supermarket? Read the print on it and there are bound to be some lines of text that specify about the class of the packed product. You are not only informed about the manufacturing and expiry date along with the batch number, but there is mention of the grade of the product which compares with a certain set national and international standards. When you are spending your hard earned money to purchase a product you need to be assured that you are getting exactly what you had paid for and what is specified on the label and nothing less. Quality assurance goes a long way to guarantee the customer that they are getting their moneys worth.</p>
<p>Most of the leading manufacturers use specialized quality assurance software. These programs have analytics and tracking along with reporting features. Data is fed into these programs which contain the parameters of the product being inspected and it is the job of the software to see that the products adhere to strict performance parameters. While most of these programs are tweaked by the software specialists to adhere to a particular product, there is some software which can be fine tuned by the end user so that it can check different products manufactured by them. Since the same company may have different products and they might have different criteria to determine their class, it makes sense to go in for flexible software.</p>
<p>Distance education is another sphere where quality assurance plays a big part. The general criterion is that the educational institutes should dedicate a minimum number of hours each semester for their courses. Apart from that there are other guidelines which specify that the students learning via these online courses should have ready access to online as and when they require.</p>
<p>Decent online education programs should have complete details about the courses they provide along with the fees they are charging for the same. They should also state whether they are accredited or not. Education plays a major part in determining the future of a person and an improper education might make or break their career. Hence these guarantees play a major part when one is opting for an online education course. Quality assurance is getting much importance in this sector and strict measures are being adopted to meet the standards.</p>
<p>You have just seen an advertisement about the latest mini MP3 player and have been bowled over by its capabilities. If the model can do a somersault while wearing the same and enjoy the music at the same time, there is no doubt that it will not let you down while you are jogging. Apart from that, the ad also states about the number of playing hours that you can expect from a fully charged battery. You must have also come across ads of mobile phones dropping from a height of 10 feet and yet functioning properly. Do not be taken in by these ads for they do not always portray the truth. Look for the quality assurance details in the packet that accompanies these products because that is your sole guide about the excellence of the product. To keep it short and sweet never judge a product just by viewing its advertisements. Ads have to be flashy to promote a product. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-helotis-78023-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in Helotes</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=562" title="Quality Assurance Is Final Judge">Quality Assurance Is Final Judge</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Quality_Assurance_Is_Final_Judge.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[The Elementary of Real Estate]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Elementary_of_Real_Estate.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>In legal terminology real estate is something that indicates a piece of land with a permanent construction affixed upon it. It is an immovable property. You can find its reference as old as nearly three hundred years. You will discover it as a business, way back in 1666. It is a real property and not a personal property. Thus it is different from the personal property such as clothing, furniture, money etc. You will find that it is used in common law whereas civil law jurisdiction is using the term immovable property for the same thing. The term itself originates from a Portuguese connection. The Portuguese word real comes from Latin word rex-Regis whose meaning is king.</p>
<p>In the present world real estate business has become a great challenge. It is a booming industry. You need a quite good amount of money while buying such a property and maintaining it also needs a good sum. Each land is unique in nature and you will not be able to evaluate the land unless you are an expert. Otherwise you will have to call in a land specialist to evaluate the price of a special land. Most of the time the layman engages expert managers to look after their estates. If you want to be in professional property business you have jobs cut out for yourself. To be a good manager you will have to give evaluation service, assist buyers and sellers in time of transaction, manage property, manage the capital of the property and to relocate people in different country.</p>
<p>In many societies irrespective of their economic condition a large amount of money is deposited in the form of real estate such as land and building. In the most advanced economies a huge amount of money comes from mortgage loans with which development of land and building or the business itself is done. According to this system if you are a real property holder you can easily get a good amount of money by mortgaging your estate. Money lenders will also not disagree in money lending because if you fail to return the money the money lenders will easily get back the money by selling your property. The valuation of a real property increases the fastest among all types of property. Now you know the source of interest of the loan distributors.</p>
<p>The real estate business was flourishing so much that a society was formed in USA in the middle of the eighties. It was the association of businessmen dealing in such estates, who along with the academicians and professionals engaged in the field of real property wanted to give a thoughtful look at the whole process. Experienced leaders of the society are invited to offer their valuable view for the development of infrastructure of which real property is a part. This is absolutely important because it has direct implications on the society and develops as per the need of the society. This society also publishes few journals that contain valuable research works related to real property business.</p>
<p>There is something unique about real estate business in USA. It allows a foreigner to buy and sell estates in the&nbsp;United States unlike other countries in North, South and Central&nbsp;American continents. So this kind of business can also stretch beyond the shores of the continent and the potential of it as a good business increases manifold.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-helotis-78023-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in Helotes</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=542" title="The Elementary of Real Estate">The Elementary of Real Estate</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Elementary_of_Real_Estate.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[The Bells and Whistles of Self Storage]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Bells_and_Whistles_of_Self_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Over 11 million households in America use some sort of self storage facility . The reasons for storing needs range from moving, to renovating, to wanting to have extra space for their business. This industry is a 22 billion dollar a year industry and it is growing every year. With so many different facilities in your area why is one any better than the other? Have you ever just taken the time to call around and see what each facility says about themselves? That would be an interesting thing to do and then see if these places really are as different as they say.</p>
<p>If you know anything about this industry, you know that the various self storage facility locations have similar features. You will also notice that some facilities do not offer some of the extensive features that others do. We will go over what these different features mean to you and you can then see which ones you actually care about.</p>
<p><strong>24 hour access</strong></p>
<p>With a self storage facility having 24 hour access, this means that you have the ability to enter and exit the self storage facility at any time of the day. Not all facilities have this option because they believe that most customers do not need access for 24 hours a day. They are right. We all know sometimes you forget something and you absolutely need it, then you can go by the facility and pick it up.</p>
<p><strong>Access Controlled Gate</strong></p>
<p>Before you are allowed into the facility, there is a gate that only allows access to those people who had filled out the necessary paperwork to have a rental space. When that paperwork is complete, then the tenant will be given a pin code that will open the gate, giving them access to the facility. This is one of the most common security features because the gate will not open if you have not paid on your space, it is after access hours or if you do not have a rental space at the facility. </p>
<p><strong>Door Alarms</strong></p>
<p>This is a great security feature that prevents people from getting into your space. Even if for some reason a person jumps over the access controlled gate, an alarm will sound if they are trying to get into your space. The door alarm is deactivated when you punch in your code at the access controlled gate. </p>
<p><strong>Camera Surveillance</strong></p>
<p>Most facilities have cameras posted all over their facility that monitor the facility. Now one thing you will want to ask the manager or associate when you call is if the cameras are being recorded or just monitored. Sometimes places just have cameras on the property that are active and run but need to have someone watching them to make a difference. Unfortunately when the facility is closed and someone breaks into your space, there will not be anyone that can see it happen. That is why you need a place that has the cameras recording at all times. </p>
<p><strong>Well Lit Facility</strong></p>
<p>Sometimes you will want to visit the facility at night and you want to feel safe. Most times you will feel comfortable at night anywhere you go if it is well lit where you are. </p>
<p><strong>An extensive line of moving and storing supplies</strong></p>
<p>Many facilities brag about being a one stop shop for their storing needs. The great thing about that is that you can go to one place to tackle anything you could need to make your storing situation work. They will have anything from mattress covers, to locks, to bubble wrap. Before you start packing your belongings up to put into a storing space, call around to see if the self storage facility you want to store at has some supplies on sale.</p>
<p>As you are looking for that self storage facility in your area, find out which features or feature you care about and ensure that they have it there for you.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78212-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=933" title="The Bells and Whistles of Self Storage">The Bells and Whistles of Self Storage</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Bells_and_Whistles_of_Self_Storage.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[How Mystery Shoppers Can Help Your Business Grow]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_Mystery_Shoppers_Can_Help_Your_Business_Grow.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Free mystery shoppers play a large part in the smooth running of many establishments like shops, malls, movie halls, hotels and other commercial establishments. You have walked into the shop about 30 minutes back and are amazed at the way things are running over here. For quite a long period of time a lady has been arguing with the salesperson. She wants the person behind the counter to show her a few more bottles of perfume. Most shoppers want to see a few varieties of a product, especially if they are available in various makes like perfumes. </p>
<p>The salesperson is not paying any attention to her and is more intent chatting away on his cell phone. This is not a reassuring sight and there is not an iota of doubt that the shop is on the verge of loosing a customer. If the owner of this organization had spent some money to employ free mystery shoppers , this situation could have been avoided and the problem nipped in the bud.</p>
<p>These free mystery shoppers are engaged by the owners of establishments to visit their establishments in the guise of customers. There are many industries that employ these observers, ranging from fast food outlets to auto dealers. These observers mingle with the other clientele of the organization and to others they look just like another client. While they do shop and purchase goods too, their main task is to keep an eye on the staff and see if they are working as they are supposed to. With the number of commercial establishments growing every year, few organizations can bear the loss of a valuable client. To make sure that their patrons are getting the attention and services due to them, these business houses employ these spies to keep an eye out on their commercial premises.</p>
<p>While free mystery shoppers do purchase goods from the establishments in their beat, the amount spent by them for purchasing the goods are reimbursed by the organizations that hire them. This is one of the advantages of being a silent observer. Not only do they get a weekly stipend, they also get cash to spend for purchasing a limited amount of goods. At times they can just purchase a particular good as specified by the organization that has hired their services. If an organization has released a product and wants to see how it is being promoted, then they might ask the agent to ask for and purchase that particular product and see whether the salesman is actively pushing the same. Though nobody can prove it, there are some organizations who might offer the salesperson a special incentive if they promote their brand to clients who have visited the supermarket to purchase another brand. This affects the credibility and sales target of the latter brand.</p>
<p>It is with the aim of resolving problems like this one that free mystery shoppers are employed by departmental stores. These spies might visit a salesperson and ask for a particular brand of a product that has just been launched and has been widely publicized in the media. If the salesperson shows that particular product to the client, there is no problem. However, if the salesperson tries to impress the spy with another brand of the same product, the spy will pass on the details to their employers who can then take necessary action against the erring salesperson.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78212-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1051" title="How Mystery Shoppers Can Help Your Business Grow">How Mystery Shoppers Can Help Your Business Grow</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_Mystery_Shoppers_Can_Help_Your_Business_Grow.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[8 Steps To Create Your Real Estate Business Plan]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/8_Steps_To_Create_Your_Real_Estate_Business_Plan.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Why is it important to have a real estate management business plan? </p>
<p>Plans are the tools that make it easy to evaluate success. Success is the goal of all our businesses. None of us set out to fail in our businesses. Unfortunately many businesses do not have a good plan and then when they fail they can not evaluate where they went wrong. </p>
<p>Your plan should <strong>start off with a summary</strong> what it is you are trying to accomplish. Within your summary be sure to include the information on the property and what services and benefits that property would offer.</p>
<p>Be sure to also describe who you will be serving with that product or service.</p>
<p>You will also need to be sure to include the best estimate for expenses and income in your summary.</p>
<p>The <strong>second part</strong> of a real estate management business plan should include the <strong>detailed description of the property</strong> including how the property fits into the current market. Be sure to include all competitors into your plan, compare and contrast how you are going to set your property apart from your competition. This section should not only include a detailed description of the property and how it is similar and different from other properties that will be in direct competition with your property this section also needs to include the timeline for the property. </p>
<p>The <strong>third section</strong> of your plan needs to be the <strong>market analysis</strong>. The most important part of the market analysis is to get a complete picture of the current and projected market for your property. This is one of the most important parts of your plan. In my opinion this is the most important part of your plan. You need to know your market. </p>
<p>The <strong>next section</strong> of your real estate management business plan is <strong>about your management.</strong>� Who are going to be the key players of your property? If you already have staff what skill sets do they bring to your team? If you do not have staff then be sure to list all staff that you will be needing including the accountant or CFO all the way to the maintenance people and the cleaning crews that will be required to keep your properties running well and well maintained. Be sure to include in your list the job descriptions and attributes that you are going to expect from each member of your team. </p>
<p>We are now ready for the <strong>5th part</strong> of your real estate management business . This section is all <strong>about implementation</strong> how are you going to implement your plan. How do you expect to get started what resources do you need be successful. Don�t forget to also include what areas have the most risk and the most likely possibility for failure so that you can show in your plan how you will overcome those obstacles.</p>
<p>That brings us nicely to <strong>part 6</strong> of your plan. What are the <strong>Risks </strong>for your self and for any investor that you may bring in to your real estate management business plan with you? In your risk analysis be sure to include Internal risks, external risks, Insurance provisions and a contingency plan for each risk. </p>
<p><strong>Part 7</strong> is the <strong>financial projections</strong>. This is where you get into the nitty-gritty of each and every dime and penny and million that you expect to pay and that you expect to earn. This is the section that must be the most detailed. Include the first year financial projections by quarter. Also give the 5 year projection. The financial history of a similar property and be sure to include an financial exit strategy. </p>
<p>The <strong>last section</strong> of your real estate management business plan is the<strong> appendixes</strong>. This section includes sighting all of your research. Where did you get your information and the numbers that you have used in the other parts of your plan. This section will be beneficial when you update your long-term strategies and it is also extremely important when talking with investors. </p>
<p>Good luck on your endeavors.<br />�<br /><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78212-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1050" title="8 Steps To Create Your Real Estate Business Plan">8 Steps To Create Your Real Estate Business Plan</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/8_Steps_To_Create_Your_Real_Estate_Business_Plan.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[A Day in the Life of a Secret Shopper]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/A_Day_in_the_Life_of_a_Secret_Shopper.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Visualize going to the mall on a crisp and colorful autumn day. The red and orange leaves fall softly, like pretty rain, out the window nearby while you sit, leisurely lounging in the bookstore, sipping a spicy cup of chai tea as you peruse your latest magazine purchase. Then, it is on to a large department store chain to purchase some new super soft and stripey socks for those chilly winter nights ahead, or a golden velvet dress with matching handbag for your six year old niece. </p>
<p>Yes, the mall is a place filled with possibilities, and a day like this brings many women a sense of relaxation and of being happy in the moment. What could be better than that? Well, how about getting paid to do it? Whoa, there. Now, before you get too excited, let us take a step back for a moment. What we are talking about here is the opportunity to become a paid shopper . </p>
<p>Being a paid shopper may sound like the most perfect and amazing job on the planet for a woman who loves to spend her day, and we do mean all day, at the local mall, but to be fair, it is still work, though it can be leisurely and even fun to do.&nbsp; </p>
<p>The business aspect of a paid shopper job requires that the person be responsible. She has to schedule her assignments well, in order to make sure that they do not overlap. She also has to know when she has reached her limit. Realistically, she may only be able to fit four or five assignments into a two week period of time, in between her other obligations. </p>
<p>Visiting the establishment is only part of the job. Once she has visited and observed, as per her agreement, she will then be asked to compile a detailed and informative report on her findings. These companies pay a lot of money to get good, honest and helpful feedback. They are expecting it. Committing to doing more assignments than she has time for will lower her effectiveness and her reports will suffer for it. Time management skills are important. In addition, being an attentive, keen observer is a skill that will be of immeasurable value to her.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>Sorry, ladies, but the mall is not the only place that you will be assigned to go. A paid shopper might be asked to go eat lunch at a deli downtown, or to go to a casino one evening and report on the level of customer service that she received. Other establishments that may be given as assignments include movie theaters, hotels, fitness clubs, retail stores of all kinds and even banks and other such institutions. If the business offers some kind of customer service, or interaction between customers and employees, then chances are that it would make a fine assignment for anyone who chose to do this job. </p>
<p>The opportunity to assist these companies by giving them true customer feedback leaves one feeling like they have really made a difference, and they have. The reports help build the strength of the establishments that they serve. Paid shopper jobs are interesting, fun and always different. Since one never knows what kind of assignment they will be getting or where they will be going, there is always a freshness about it that keeps the job exciting.&nbsp; It truly is a great way to make money. It makes every day feel like the best day ever!</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78212-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=561" title="A Day in the Life of a Secret Shopper">A Day in the Life of a Secret Shopper</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/A_Day_in_the_Life_of_a_Secret_Shopper.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Houses For Rent - A Place To Hang Your Hat]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Houses_For_Rent_-_A_Place_To_Hang_Your_Hat.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Moving is not always fun. Moving is stressful. And when you include the costs of the moving trucks, the beer for your big strong friends who help you load and unload the trucks, the cardboard boxes, the packing peanuts, the deposits and the aspirin for all of the headaches involved, moving is expensive. For this reason, most people do not like to change their address very often. </p>
<p>People who do not own their own home are usually faced with the challenge of seeking out houses for rent . This is a great option for young families, or people whose income or credit is not in tip top shape and so purchasing a house is not possible. It seems to be a good deal all around. The person who owns the property is responsible for making big repairs such as furnace and air conditioning issues or a leaky roof, and the tenant is responsible for paying on time and providing minor maintenance, such as cleaning the sprouting plants out of the rain gutter and doing the yard work. </p>
<p>Finding houses for rent is is easy, too. Your local newspaper should have listings in the classified section. A great way to find a potential living space is to drive around the neighborhoods that you would be interested in living in. Wherever you see yourself in life, chances are that is where you will end up. So shoot for neighborhoods that offer all of the things that interest you the most, whether that means good schools, great trees, charming architecture, large lots or easy access to shops, stores and public transportation.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Once you have found a few houses for rent , it is time to do your homework. Call and find out more about them. Are there enough bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodate you? Is it a year lease or a six month lease? If you have pets, is there a policy that states that you may keep them there? Is the rent within your budget? Once you have found out the specifics, you will be able to narrow down your search and end up with just a small handful of possibilities that meet your needs. </p>
<p>Tour these houses for rent as soon as you can. As you walk through each one, imagine your furniture there, imagine your kids playing in the yard. Imagine digging in the flowerbed or barbecuing out back on the deck with your friends. Get a feel for each environment. Which one feels like home to you? Keep your eyes out for things like water damage marks in the basement, which could signify a potential flooding if it rained too much. Check and make sure that the appliances all work properly, and be on the lookout for other areas that might pose a potential problem. Take a camera along and shoot some pictures of each place, so that you can remember the specifics of each dwelling later. </p>
<p>When you have seen each of the locations on your list of houses for rent , if you still have not found one that suits you, then you start the whole process over. Eventually, all the pieces of the puzzle will fall seamlessly into place. This is an area where you do not want to settle for less. After all, you are putting a year of your life, at least, into this home, not to mention thousands of dollars. You want a place to hang your hat that you will be proud to furnish, show off and call your own, for as long as you choose to live there. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78212-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=541" title="Houses For Rent - A Place To Hang Your Hat">Houses For Rent - A Place To Hang Your Hat</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Houses_For_Rent_-_A_Place_To_Hang_Your_Hat.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[What Requires Climate Controlled Self Storage?]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/What_Requires_Climate_Controlled_Self_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The art collector needed to store their collection of over 300 valuable art pieces temporarily while they were in the process of remodeling their home. They are adding an art gallery to their home to give the collection a pride of place in the home They look for the best options to protect the art collection while it is being stored. They begin by researching the different facilities in their area. One of the most important features is to find a unit that offers climate controlled self storage . </p>
<p>Climate controlled self storage offers many benefits to the client. One benefit is the temperature control of the units. They are controlled to keep temperatures above freezing and below 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The client does not have to remember to turn on an air conditioner or heater for their unit. Most facilities have commercial size heating and cooling systems to cover an entire building. The customer does not have to worry the unit will malfunction and go unnoticed. </p>
<p>Artwork is a major investment for many and it is essential to take proper care of it. Collectors take special care to make sure no piece of art is degraded in any way, shape, or form. After researching the different facilities the collectors narrow their choices down to a few that offer climate controlled self storage . </p>
<p>These units are humidity controlled to prevent mold and moisture problems from occurring. Controlling the humidity levels is as important as controlling the temperature. Relative humidity should be kept lower than 50 percent to prevent moisture from developing. </p>
<p>When you research a facility look over the area for any pests that may be able to get to your artwork. Pests will ruin your work faster than anything else ever could. Bugs of any kind need to be kept away from your art because they can eat away at it, or secrete harmful substances on it. It is a good idea to store your art in a pest proof box. Paper artwork should be stored wrapped in acid free paper away from other items. </p>
<p>The collectors will probably need to pay more for temperature controlled units than for a standard facility. The benefits outweigh the extra expenses. Most of these units are located within finished buildings that keep out rodents and damaging dust.</p>
<p>Storing artwork and valuable antiques in a climate controlled self storage area can help preserve them. Even if you are storing the items for short period of time, opting for a controlled unit will lessen damage from heat and humidity. If the art is stored for longer periods, extreme heat or cold can damage the frames and the artwork itself and high humidity levels will allow moisture to build up and cause mildew and mold to form. </p>
<p>Collectors should carry insurance to cover the cost of replacing the artwork. Even in a climate controlled self storage area, damages from natural disasters and vandalism can occur. If damage does occur to the artwork, the owner should take it to a professional to get it repaired. Make sure the professional you commission has a good reputation.</p>
<p>These facilities offer security against the possibility of damages from heat and humidity. The collectors choose a facility that offers an excellent security system, temperature and humidity controlled through a commercial system and located in a new building close to their home. Now they have peace of mind knowing their valuable collection is safe while they remodel their home. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78232-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=932" title="What Requires Climate Controlled Self Storage?">What Requires Climate Controlled Self Storage?</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/What_Requires_Climate_Controlled_Self_Storage.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Are You A Perfect Fit For Secret Shopping Jobs?]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Are_You_A_Perfect_Fit_For_Secret_Shopping_Jobs.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Obtaining a job in the traveling business is a fun an exciting way to build a career for an outgoing, thrill seeking, adventurous person. Think about it. Waking up frequently in a new environment, exploring different textures and flavors of foods, and seeing innovative designs, monuments and exhibits seems like a great career to have. There are many different career paths one could take in order to obtain one a career in the travel field based on experience, education and skills. Everyone has their niche, something that they personally excel in. For example, if a person was extremely charismatic, outgoing and had experience in retail or sales, then a traveling sales position may be a good fit for their needs. If another person went to school for a number of years to become a pilot and liked to have varying hours of sleep, then a pilot may be their ideal career. Finally, if one like to have fun while performing their duties, could evaluate ones customer service skills and enjoyed trying new things, secret shopping may be their ideal job. </p>
<p>Working in the secret shopping industry although rewarding may not be for everyone. As a shopper it is essential that one knows how to be a pretty good actor. While pretending one is a customer, it is easy to give away that one may be a shopper if not careful. In the secret shopping industry a person must be accepting to new ideas, foods, and cultures. All of the assignments are not going to be what one is familiar with. Learning about new cultures and gaining knowledge and insight can help a person grow in their quest to become a better person. People strive daily to become the ideal citizen and learn more about the world is an ideal place to begin.Sshopping can open a persons mind to new activities and hobbies. For instance, frequently the secret shopping industry shops businesses like movie theatres and five star restaurants. Going to the movies while shopping is fun, yet depending on the genre of the movie itself, it can be a learning experience. While, shopping a five star, expensive, French restaurant one may learn some of the French culture and traditions. </p>
<p>It may also be psychological when it is analyzed. The shopper is always on their toes, watching, analyzing, evaluating and remembering the associate. This is to better the business of the employer. By ensuring their associates are practicing excellent customer service skills they are providing a better business for the customer. Finding out the customers needs and wants by utilizing the shopping industry will increase the revenue of the company while saving the company money by weeding out those that do not belong in the customer service field. </p>
<p>In conclusion, secret shopping is a field in which one could expand their horizons by learning about various cultures and ideas, while traveling and making some much needed money. A person that is interested in making sure businesses provide the best customer service to their customer while making money may want to pursue a career in this industry. However, a person that is not open-minded and has the ability to adjust to different settings may not want to apply for a position in this customer service based industry.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78232-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1049" title="Are You A Perfect Fit For Secret Shopping Jobs?">Are You A Perfect Fit For Secret Shopping Jobs?</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Are_You_A_Perfect_Fit_For_Secret_Shopping_Jobs.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Be Your Own Boss - Hire A Management Company]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Be_Your_Own_Boss_-_Hire_A_Management_Company.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Being your own boss, sticking it to the man and living life on your own terms. Ah, yes, now you remember. You remember what motivated you to spend your savings on that fixer upper store front downtown all of those years ago. You remember how proud you felt as you renovated it, found tenants for it and changed the look and feel of your small town Main Street by providing a clean and friendly space for new businesses to come in and thrive.&nbsp; You felt so good that you quit your day job and went through the entire process again and again, buying, renovating and renting to new businesses. So, here it is ten years later, and you now have a veritable empire of storefronts and warehouses, most of them constantly rented out, and as you found out sooner rather than later, in constant need of some kind of attention.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Yes, the more structures you own, the more complex the web of your business becomes. Between renovations, general maintenance and repair calls, dealing with all of the tenants and trying to keep all of the paperwork up to date, the checks cut out to workers and your mind from exploding, sometimes you feel like you would rather have a 9 to 5 job again. Now your wife wants to take a trip to Florida, and they have amazing golf courses there. She is still bugging you about taking that once in a lifetime trip to Europe, and she is beginning to get impatient about it. You know how hard you have worked all of these years, and you, too are ready for a break. But where in the world will you find someone willing to step up and maintain your business for you while you are away, as there is so much to do? Well, you do not have to look too far. There is a solution waiting to be found, in commercial property management companies .</p>
<p>Commercial property management companies offer their services whether you live uptown or across the country. If you no longer have the time, inclination or ability to oversee the day to day requirements of your business empire, then commercial property management companies may be your answer. They fulfill many functions and operations within the scope of your business. Not only do they assist you in marketing, to keep the tenants coming, they also have the ability to screen for the very best tenants, per your specifications. Commercial property management companies also schedule and coordinate routine maintenance programs and handle any emergency issues that occur, all on your behalf. So, if you are golfing in Miami and a water main breaks back home, you can be secure in the knowledge that the mess is being cleaned up. You really do not have to be there all of the time to delegate responsibilities. It may be hard to accept at first, but your business can run without you being there all of the time.</p>
<p>What about the responsibilities of filing all of the required federal, state and local paperwork, collecting rent, both on time and past due accounts, and tracking all of your businesses income and spending accounts? Imagine how much more simple your life would be if you had someone to take care of all of these things for you? Commercial property management companies are highly specialized and capable of running your business, allowing you to rest, travel, golf and take your beloved wife any where that she wants to go. You have worked hard to build your business, now take some well deserved time off and go enjoy the fruits of your labors. You no longer have an excuse. Thanks to commercial property management companies , your wife will get that trip to Europe, just like you promised 25 years ago. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78232-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1048" title="Be Your Own Boss - Hire A Management Company">Be Your Own Boss - Hire A Management Company</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Be_Your_Own_Boss_-_Hire_A_Management_Company.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Stay At Home Mom Works In Internet Jobs]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Stay_At_Home_Mom_Works_In_Internet_Jobs.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The mom of two young children with special needs needed to stay home for her children but still earn an income to contribute to the household finances. She began her search online for ways to make money. She found there are many types of jobs available. Work at home jobs is particularly advantageous to the stay at home mom who needs to be home for her children. There are thousands jobs available online, which help them to get a suitable job and thereby earn a little extra every month.</p>
<p>The stay at home mom does not have to sacrifice her time caring for her children in order make money. She can select from any of the work at home jobs available. The options range from customer satisfaction, online surveys, data entry processing, virtual assistants, and online tutor to getting paid to shop and operating your own business online. Most online jobs require you to have some basic computer experience.</p>
<p>One job many moms select is the data entry processing jobs. These jobs do not require much effort and time. You fill out the forms provided by the company at your own pace. A stay at home mom can do the work when she finds free time.</p>
<p>Another option is to become a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants jobs do require some experience and qualifications. These jobs are suitable for moms who have previously work in administration or clerical work. Virtual assistants earn an income similar to an administrative assistant in real world. However, with this type of job the mom will need to provide regular hours to her clients. This is a good job for moms with older children. </p>
<p>The stay at home mom can be an online tutor. This job allows you to provide help to students of many age groups. This is a good fit for a former teacher. Another option is to do freelance ghostwriting. If you have good English writing and grammar skills, you can write articles, books and reports or web content for clients who pay you for the service. You will have deadlines and pressure to complete the writing on time. </p>
<p>Another option is to do online or local paid shopping jobs for clients. Many businesses need real people to act as customers to research their sales and customer satisfaction staff for improvements. They need to know how well the customer is treated, the service they received and if their stores and facilities are clean and customer friendly. These businesses hire shoppers to anonymously shop at their stores. The business reimburses any purchases made after the shopper writes a full report on their findings. </p>
<p>Transcription jobs are also suitable for moms. She will transcribe documents and edit records. Transcription jobs require some special knowledge. You can take a short course and training.</p>
<p>The mom of the two special needs kids researched several opportunities for jobs. She is interested in enjoying a fun work at home job while not sacrificing her family time. She has found a good job that allows her to work at her own pace while being there for her children. </p>
<p>There were an abundant amount of home based jobs available on the internet.&nbsp; The stay at home mom who does her research can select the most suitable job that allows them to add to their familys finances. She should not pay any fees for the jobs she applies for. Many of those are scams and will not provide work after they take your money. </p>
<p>With the internet, the stay at home mom can find employment while continuing to care for her children. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78232-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=560" title="Stay At Home Mom Works In Internet Jobs">Stay At Home Mom Works In Internet Jobs</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Stay_At_Home_Mom_Works_In_Internet_Jobs.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Answer the Housing Crisis! Rezone  Reuse Repurpose]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Answer_the_Housing_Crisis%21_Rezone__Reuse_Repurpose.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Right now with the country in a recession and the housing market being in terrible a position. Unfortunately, realestate management may not seem like the best field to be in to the blind eye, however it does have some perks. Not everyone is looking to own or buy a home these days, but it does seem as if people are renting a lot more. Foreclosures, increasing interest rates and the decreasing dollar are all reasons for the increase in rentable properties and realestate management should take advantage of this in order to better assist the middle and lower class citizens along with the ecosystem. </p>
<p>There are millions of empty shipping containers throughout the United States that are piled on the banks of rivers and oceans. These shipping containers are currently inhabited by homeless people and animals, but can be used for a great purpose. While just taking up space and piled 3 shipping containers or more high, not only are they blocking a view of the waters, but creating more waste for the world. In other countries shipping containers have been used for a great purpose, to create housing. At first this may seem impossible, but the homes that have already been created are immaculate. The shipping containers can be constructed to where they are a base for the home. There is limited construction that needs to be done to the shipping containers so it is very cost efficient. Many companies that dispose of the shipping containers often give them away or sell them for little to nothing. Realestate management can take advantage of this by purchasing the shipping containers and constructing neighborhoods throughout the United States. After buying and constructing these magnificent homes they can either be rented out or leased to individuals in the community. Realestate management could manage these homes efficiently while increasing revenue for the realty market and keep the cost down for home renters or leasers. </p>
<p>Another great idea for individuals working in the cities is to revamp old businesses, warehouses and apartment complexes. By purchasing these cheap, old remnants realestate management could definitely make money for the realty market while helping to beautify cities. If one would drive through large cities like Kansas City and St. Louis there are many buildings and warehouses that have been abandoned by the city but have excellent structure. They are sitting statues, making the city ugly, often giving off lead and other toxins to the communities. Why not purchase these properties and make them useful? They can be transformed into lofts, apartments and houses and be either rented or leased out. </p>
<p>There are many ways that the realty market can be brought up out of the recession. Although people are not buying as much as they were previously, many are renting or leasing because of foreclosures and interest rates. By purchasing both old buildings and reconstructing them or using shipping containers as houses, money can be made while helping to beautify the country. People have gotten greedy, have overpopulated much of the land and used majority of the natural resources and fossil fuels. </p>
<p>It is imperative that humans get away from wasting and learn to reuse and recycle so the next generation will be able to breathe fresh air, take a walk in the park and drink clean spring water. So, instead of building out onto uninhabited land, it would be smart to use what we have thrown away and forgotten about while still making money for the economy.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78232-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=540" title="Answer the Housing Crisis! Rezone  Reuse Repurpose">Answer the Housing Crisis! Rezone  Reuse Repurpose</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Answer_the_Housing_Crisis%21_Rezone__Reuse_Repurpose.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Starting Your Self Storage Business]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Starting_Your_Self_Storage_Business.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>So you want to start your own self storage business ? And you are wondering how hard it can really be? It can be hard or easy, but most likely it will be somewhere in between. Starting a self storage business is much like starting any other self owned company. There are certain aspects that can be applied to any company that is being started by an individual, on a fairly small scale.</p>
<p>First of all, you will want to know if there are any types of business grants you can get from the government or other sources. If so, this could help greatly in the overhead you will have to have up front to start the self storage business to begin with. If, however, you do not have access to anything like this, or you do not qualify, you will have the dilemma of having to come up with your own capital to start your self storage business venture. Of course, many people get either sponsors or investors to help them at the beginning, paying them back with some little interested when their company is up and running and doing well. This is also an option for you, but only you know if it is the path you would need to take for your self storage business plan.</p>
<p>Coming up with a good name for your company is one of the fun parts of starting your own business. It can be personal, or more generic, obviously not offensive to anyone or to the region you are in. Many people name their personal businesses after themselves or a family member. Whatever name you come up with, try to make it as catchy as you can while remaining professional sounding as well.</p>
<p>Location is always of utmost importance. Think about the type of company you will be starting, and then ask yourself if there is a certain audience or type of customer it will attract more than others. For instance, the simple example of gas stations being placed strategically close to highways or main roads, where visibility is the highest. With location in mind for your company, you will perhaps not need to spend quite as much as others might have to spend on advertising, as your company will advertise itself.</p>
<p>Hire an attorney. Any company needs a legal authority, even if it is just for advice. Unless you are a well seasoned and highly experienced businessman or businesswoman, you will need to have someone to explain the loopholes and ins and outs of running your own company, which can be very tricky at times. Also when you own your own company, there are always legal documents, etc. Having an attorney who works for you will make it much easier when it comes to understanding what the fine print of these types of documents means.</p>
<p>Business cards are a handy and fairly inexpensive way to advertise and promote your company, whether you are just starting or have been around for years. Make sure you come up with a catchy logo to go with your companys name, and make the cards easily available to all customers to encourage their circulation.</p>
<p>Last but not least, charge competitive prices. If you charge too low, people will consider that your services are inferior. If you charge too high, people will write you off immediately. Do your homework on what other similar companys charge for the same services you are providing. If you wish to establish your name at the get go and you can afford it, undercut these other business at first, and then raise your prices gradually later. These tips work well whether you are starting a self storage business or any other type of company.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78245-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Car Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=931" title="Starting Your Self Storage Business">Starting Your Self Storage Business</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Starting_Your_Self_Storage_Business.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Do Your Homework to Choose Self Storage]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Do_Your_Homework_to_Choose_Self_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>It pays to do your homework when checking out self storage facilities in which to store your valuable items. Though the industry itself is reputable and highly regarded for the service that it provides consumers, there is a bad, bruised banana in every bunch, so to speak. Self storage facilities are intended for use by people from all walks of life and for many different purposes. Whether you are moving to a smaller location or you need space to store a vehicle, there is plenty of indoor space available for a fee. But before you settle on the first company that you see, do your due diligence to make certain that company is going to meet your needs and live up to your standards of quality.</p>
<p>Upon entering the lobby or office of one of these establishments, you should be warmly greeted in a friendly tone. It is said that customer service is king. If that is true, than you are no less than royalty in the eyes of the owners and managers of self storage facilities and you should be highly regarded. After all, with over 52 thousand self storage facilities in the United States alone, you could very easily take your esteemed business elsewhere, now, could you not?&nbsp; </p>
<p>Ask questions about rate plans and unit sizes. Is the person at the desk being forthright and informative? Or do you feel like they would rather be watching the baseball game on the television in the back room? Are they smiling? Do you feel like a valued customer whose business is appreciated? These social cues are important for most people. When we feel honored and valued, we are more likely to want to do business with that organization for the sheer fact that they have great taste!</p>
<p>It is wise to tour several of the units, and even several different sized units, of the company locations that you are considering. Check for consistency in the cleanliness of the units. They should all be swept and free of dust, mold, cobwebs, spiders and insects of all kinds. If you see rodent droppings at any time, then go store somewhere else. Also, if you happen to see store bought rat traps or insect traps sitting in the corners of the units or in the hallways, do not assume that the company is being proactive in their pest control. On the contrary, assume that there is a problem that they are trying weakly to rid themselves of. Do not take chances when it comes to your belongings.&nbsp; </p>
<p>If security measures are important to you, then ask about the methods that the company employs to insure the safety of your items. Some companies have gated keyless entryways, while others have security cameras and closed circuit television. Still other companies offer in-unit security alarms. There are many options available for you when it comes to security. Take your time and choose well.</p>
<p>When the service, atmosphere, security and price all sound right to you, then and only then should you sign on the dotted line once all of your questions have been thoroughly answered. Read the fine print, get a copy of your lease agreement, and store it in a safe place. When it comes to choosing self storage facilities , choose well and honor your choice. Chances are that with just a bit of legwork and some focused observation, you will be rewarded with a clean, secure and trustworthy solution. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78245-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=930" title="Do Your Homework to Choose Self Storage">Do Your Homework to Choose Self Storage</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Do_Your_Homework_to_Choose_Self_Storage.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Secret Shops Revealed]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Secret_Shops_Revealed.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Customer service finds its way into almost every aspect of our daily lives, and sometimes we do not even realize it. In our work environments, customer service is reflected in the way that we communicate with our customers and clients. Ticket takers at the movie theater offer customer service with a smile and pleasant words, if they are truly doing their job well. Hotel clerks, bank tellers and pizza delivery drivers all offer their own level of customer service and satisfaction each day that they clock in. </p>
<p>In our personal lives, we are the recipients of customer service when we are checking out at the grocery store and the cashier thanks us for coming in, or when we pay the landscaping company for taking care of our yard and they hand us a coupon for ten dollars off of next months bill. Even though we are surrounded by it, we sometimes overlook customer service. Perhaps we simply take it for granted. The only time we tend to really become aware of it is when we have either been treated poorly, or when we have been treated exceptionally well. Otherwise, we go about our lives and do not really gauge the level of customer service that we are receiving or that we are giving to others. </p>
<p>One way to measure the quality of the customer service that your customers and clients are receiving is by having secret shops routinely conducted within your companies ranks. Randomly scheduled and largely unnoticed, secret shops are effective measuring sticks by which you can rate the overall performance of one or all employees, as well as the level of service that your customers are receiving and the quality of goods that are being provided. </p>
<p>Bear in mind that secret shops can cover a wide range of territory, from the cleanliness of the establishment to the amount of time that they had to wait for service. The professionals who carry out these secret shops have been trained to be keen observers. The reports that they provide after their visit are thorough and well written, and over the course of time this information can be used in order to create new facets of employee training. You may also choose to use the information contained within the reports to set up a bonus or incentive program for staff members whose secret shops consistently reveal high marks or praise. </p>
<p>What makes these visits so effective is that no one actually knows when they are happening or which employees or departments will be targeted. The observers look and act just like every other customer, and they slip in undetected to conduct their review. Whether they are standing in a check out line at a convenience store, eating lunch at a Thai restaurant or questioning a customer service representative of a national electronics chain about their computer software programs, these watchful reporters will give honest and specific feedback on what kind of treatment they experienced. This feedback translates to higher quality service, improved employee training programs, happier customers and a better overall workplace for its employees. With a tool such as this in your business building toolbox, you can build your business strong and sturdy from the inside out. Confident, well trained employees who value your customers as much as you do will reflect your high standards and make your business a better place to work. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78245-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Boat Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1046" title="Secret Shops Revealed">Secret Shops Revealed</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Secret_Shops_Revealed.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Management Properties for Residential Rentals]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Management_Properties_for_Residential_Rentals.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Property management properties are those properties that are owned individually or collectively and at the same time can be empty or occupied by others. It does not require special mention that all properties whether occupied or vacant, private or rented needs maintenance. When it is the case of a private home it is maintained by the owner. But when there are tenants on the property or are supposed to be occupied by tenants for residential, commercial or industrial use, the need arises to convert such a property to a management property. </p>
<p>If you are thinking of converting some of your property to&nbsp; property management properties then you will have to decide for what purpose you will be renting out the property. When the tenants are renting it for commercial or industrial purpose then they need room to make changes according to their requirements. There is a lot of flexibility attached to such properties. But when it comes to residential tenants, they try to make maximum use of the space allotted to them and also make the most of all the amenities that are available on the property. So it is a point that needs to be kept in mind that all these facilities do get available to the tenants as well as all the terms and conditions agreed upon do get maintained. Management of such property thus gets more and more complex. </p>
<p>The concept of property management properties is getting popular everyday. If you do not have a property but want to own then you will have to invest about ten to twenty percent of the selling price of the property. The rest will be a loan. There is good news for the first time home owners. Sometimes the lenders provide conditional hundred percent financing for the first home. However, those with a mind for expansion can use one property to acquire capital for another and use the rents for those properties to pay up the mortgages and go on expanding.</p>
<p>Now, after acquiring property management properties for residential purpose the time comes for renting it out. There are several laws and regulations that have been framed by the federal, state or local agencies. One needs the services of a legal expert well conversant on all the forms of law to draft agreements with tenants and leases. A professional in the form of a manager of properties needs to be called in to conduct the deal where one of his primary jobs will be to explain all the terms and conditions to the tenant so that no legal disputes crop up in the future. The most common forms of rental are made under month-to-month agreements which are renewable each month until notified for termination by either parties or are given on lease ranging from six-month to twelve-month terms.</p>
<p>It is not always that you wish to buy a property. You might also like to sell some property management properties . Whether a property can be sold or not, depends directly on factors like the location of the place, its growth potential, prevalent interest rates and very importantly on the demographics and zoning laws. It is often advisable to leave the sales matters in cases of properties to the professionals. Proper marketing and negotiation can yield the maximum value of a property and it is no job for an ordinary person or a layman. When buying, also take help of the professionals. They will bargain the most competitive price for you.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78245-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Furniture Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1047" title="Management Properties for Residential Rentals">Management Properties for Residential Rentals</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Management_Properties_for_Residential_Rentals.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Mystery Shopping Jobs]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopping_Jobs.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Our story begins in a little town in the upper left corner of the Midwest in a small town where only thirty people, their families and the person who puts out those population signs on the side of the highway knows exists. This small town possesses all the things that anyone could want or desire. There is a gas station and there is a, ok, there is only a gas station. If you want to have a decent meal with your family or want a home cooked meal, you will have to travel about forty five minutes south to the next large city to get the ingredients. So when you want that number 2, large with an orange soda extra value meal, you will have to pay some money for gas and it will be cold by the time you get home. Bummer.</p>
<p>In this small town, everyone knows that they have to leave in order to make something of yourself. Not everyone in this town of thirty can work at the single gas station in town. Most people live in this town because the cost of living is cheap and the commute is not as bad as most people think, but it is no place to make a living.</p>
<p>Curtis Newby was in a situation in which he had to make a decision that could shape his life. He is trying to pick up some extra money while he is going through college so he could make ends meet. He decided to look in the local newspaper to see what was out there in which he could work part time to make ends meet. </p>
<p>He found an ad in the paper that sparked his interest, but he did not know anything about the profession. He was very interested but he did not know how to proceed. The ad is stated below.</p>
<p>Mystery shopping agency. Do you want to make some good money? Do you like to shop? Do you like to critique others to help them improve? If this is you then companies need you. Mail in your resume to the address below and place boldly, Mystery shopping agency attention Jim on the front of the envelope. </p>
<p>So Curtis being the resourceful person he is, he reverse searched the address and gained the phone number of the agency. He called and talked to Jim, from the ad, to better understand what the mystery shopping agency does. To the delight of Curtis, Jim was very explanative and helped him understand what the mystery shopping agency does.</p>
<p>Jim explained that they have many clients who request their services to go out and evaluate their business and customer interaction. He went on to say how they pretend that they want to use the services or products the company their shopping has and then listen, evaluate, and send your findings to the company to make some changes in how they do business. The key is that the person is being shopped, can not know that you are not a real customer. You will have to quick on your feet to react to what they say.</p>
<p>At first Curtis did not think he could do it because he was not that good with making up stories or thinking quickly on his feet. He remembered what Jim said in terms of pay out per shop he completed, and that enticed Curtis more than anything. So Curtis decided to send in his resume and give it a try.</p>
<p>It was one of the best decisions that Curtis could have made for himself. With having three years left of college to go through, Curtis made enough money with the mystery shopping agency to where he could pay for his gas, his apartment and some gifts for his family for Christmas. He has not been able to buy Christmas gifts for his family before. Curtis graduated with a business degree and the mystery shopping agency was so impressed by his level of professionalism, business sense, and passion, they offered him a job right out of college as a major contributor to the mystery shopping agency . </p>
<p>Curtis could not be more pleased with how things turned out. He thought to himself, that he would not be where he is today, if he did not decide to respond to an ad in the paper. He would still be in his small town, going to that single gas station for a snack, wondering what he was going to do with his life.&nbsp; </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78245-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Self Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=559" title="Mystery Shopping Jobs">Mystery Shopping Jobs</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopping_Jobs.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[The Renters Guide To Apartment Maintenance]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Renters_Guide_To_Apartment_Maintenance.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The students were excited about moving into their first apartment. They packed their few belongings, enlisted some friends to help them move, and settled into their new rooms. After a few weeks, the carpet became dirty and they began to notice problems with the apartments refrigerator making odd noises. Not sure if they were responsible for the repairs they called their landlord to inquire about it. The students did not become familiar with the lease terms. Apartment maintenance can be confusing to the new renter. </p>
<p>Renters often take for granted that all maintenance is the responsibility of the landlord and owner and the maintenance staff. This is not the case. In many instances the leasing company and maintenance crew are responsible for taking care of the common areas and making major repairs on the apartment. The renters do have some responsibilities. These responsibilities are spelled out in the lease agreement. They should learn what repairs they are liable for.</p>
<p><strong>Renter Responsibilities</strong></p>
<p>The renters are responsible for the apartment maintenance and the interior and deck areas. The maintenance is generally to keep the areas clean, but not necessarily the painting or repairs to the appliances or exterior or interior of the apartment. </p>
<p>Renters are responsible for taking care of the small repairs in their apartment. This can include changing light bulbs, keeping carpets clean and plunging a clogged toilet. If a light bulb needs changing in a high location and the renter is uncomfortable doing it, they should contact the apartment maintenance staff.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Renters should ask for assistance from maintenance staff when there are repairs that fall under the control of the owner or manager. Such repairs might include items such as fixing appliances and making modifications to the residence such as installing lighting fixtures. Even if the renter is able to perform some or all of these actions, the lease agreement will state when these items are the responsibility of the manager. A renter who tries to fix these items can be held liable for damages that might occur during these attempts.</p>
<p>The student renters began the task of cleaning their carpet and changing light bulbs that had burned out. They contacted their manager about the refrigerator that was the responsibility of the apartment maintenance staff.&nbsp; </p>
<p>The renters are responsible for showing common courtesy to other renters by not damaging or marring common areas. Vandalism, littering and failing to pick up after their dogs can all be grounds for fines and other penalties according to the lease terms. </p>
<p><strong>Leasing Agent Responsibilities</strong></p>
<p>The leasing agent and apartment maintenance staff is responsible for major items. This can include repairs to the outside of the building, fixing appliances that are not working and taking care of plumbing problems such as leaky pipes. The maintenance crew is responsible for stepping in if the renter is having problems with municipal utilities. The maintenance crew and utility company deal with problems such as no hot water or heating problems together. </p>
<p>The maintenance staff is responsible for taking care of the common areas. They keep the grassy areas mowed and do landscaping to keep the area attractive. </p>
<p><strong>When the Leasing Agent is Not Taking Responsibility</strong></p>
<p>When a leasing agent fails to perform maintenance tasks and address the concerns of the renters, the living environment can become harmful. Hot water is necessary for keeping dishes clean to prevent diseases. If the agent is not doing their duty, hot water might not be available. In cold weather, the inability to heat the rooms due to utilities not working properly or poorly sealed windows is hazardous to the renter. </p>
<p>The renters should direct complaints about any apartment maintenance issues that are not being addressed to the owners or their department of housing authority. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78245-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">RV Storage in San Antonio</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=539" title="The Renters Guide To Apartment Maintenance">The Renters Guide To Apartment Maintenance</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Renters_Guide_To_Apartment_Maintenance.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Residential Management Agencies]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Residential_Management_Agencies.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Residential property management is the management of single family dwelling units or managing small residential properties. There are a number of agencies which are involved in providing management solutions to such small units. It has been seen that there are many such properties that are not used by the owners for their own residence. Instead they have agents and managers who look after the managing requirements of such premises.</p>
<p>There are a number of individual managers of small properties who work independently. This number is no small one and they together as a group manage assets worth billions of dollars. It includes managing general accounts, tax accounts, insurance, etc. There are also agencies that can do this job for you if you are an owner of a property for the purpose of rent. These residential property management companies look after almost anything from inviting the first tenants to paying the taxes and fees. There are number of agencies to choose from, but be sure to check their credentials before appointing any. Make sure that they know their trade well and you would not face any problems in the future while dealing with the tenants or the local authorities.</p>
<p>These agencies start from evaluating the rent that you can demand for your property by taking factors like mortgage payments, maintenance and management costs and also the optimum marketable price into consideration. This is followed by the advertising for your property either in the classified section of the newspapers or the internet or both to optimize your chances of attracting a possible tenant. It includes handling the responses and short listing the prospective tenants before finally advising you on the best tenant. To ensure that you do not face any hassle in the future regarding a bad tenant the residential property management agencies usually do a check on the credit report of the person and also a criminal report if it is considered for your safety. They also verify with the previous owners to seek information on their reputation as a tenant. There is no doubt that you pay for all these, but imagine the peace of mind that you buy. </p>
<p>When a tenant moves in you provide him with some basic fitting and amenities which the agency would explain to the tenants. It is done to ensure that when they leave the house you are not left stripped of these fittings. These agencies also conduct monthly checks of the house so that you are ensured of a careful tenant and your property is not damaged in any way. Then comes the question of maintenance services. Usually, when you appoint a residential property management agency, you are ensured of a 24 hour tenant complaint registering service working for you. These agencies register the complaint of the tenant and quickly work to rectify the problem. This not only saves you a severe headache but also improves your reputation as a good owner. </p>
<p>Finally as an owner you have the right to know about the health of your property and how is it faring. These residential property management companies provide you with monthly statements or reports where you are given a detailed picture of your property value, the expenses incurred on your property for the month, the rent collected and finally the charges of the company. It is a good option as you find every bit of information on your property at a glance.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78245-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio RV Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1045" title="Residential Management Agencies">Residential Management Agencies</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Residential_Management_Agencies.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Customer Service - There Is No Room For A Bad Day]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Customer_Service_-_There_Is_No_Room_For_A_Bad_Day.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>We all have bad days. Some mornings just getting out of bed can be a hassle. You stub your little toe on the corner of the make up vanity on your way to the alarm clock, and it all goes downhill from there. A burnt bagel and a hot coffee stain on your blouse later, you are just about ready to let some body have it. The next person you see is likely to get an earful. Working in a retail establishment or in some form of customer service, however, requires that you leave your bad day at the door, no matter how miserable it may have been up until this point. Cover that coffee stain up with a well placed chiffon scarf or ID badge and plaster a smile on your face. You never know, you company or business may be up for some mystery shopper reviews and your performance may well be evaluated. Make it count. </p>
<p>Mystery shopper reviews are periodically conducted by independent outside companies that your employer has opted to work with for the purpose of evaluating the standards and customer services practices of their organization. The people who conduct the mystery shopper reviews look and act just like any ordinary customer. You never know who they are or when they will be coming in. Thus, you had better be on your best customer service behavior with everyone who enters your work place. If you are taking your bad day out on the patrons of your establishment, the trickle down effect can be disastrous for business, and employers will not tolerate such a drain on their pocketbooks or in the minds and hearts of their loyal customers.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Most employers value their employees. They do not want to come across as the big brother type who is always looking over your shoulder. Mystery shopper reviews can be used for incentives, too, in that any employee who gets positive reports by the independent agents can be eligible to receive cash bonuses, or perhaps a day off with pay. Mystery shopper reviews do not have to be seen as a way of keeping tabs on who is bad or good in within the ranks of an organization. </p>
<p>Used properly, they are an incredible tool that can be the catalyst for intensifying training efforts and hiring practices. It allows companies to actively asset and achieve higher standards and make those standards known to all potential employees and customers alike. People enjoy working for companies that value quality and high standards. Even if your morning starts out with you bumping your head on the corner of the cabinet door, by focusing your efforts on the quality of service that you are providing your customers, you are attracting and exhibiting good business. Smile and the world smiles with you, even though you may still feel that tenderness on your scalp. </p>
<p>Taking pride in your work, and having fun with what you do, whether it is selling high end wooden furniture or key chains and tiny trinkets in an airport gift shop, will make your days go by faster, allow you to maximize your customers enjoyment and it has the added benefit of helping you forget about the terrible morning that you had. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78245-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Car Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1044" title="Customer Service - There Is No Room For A Bad Day">Customer Service - There Is No Room For A Bad Day</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Customer_Service_-_There_Is_No_Room_For_A_Bad_Day.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[The Importance Of Quality Assurance]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Importance_Of_Quality_Assurance.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>If you own or manage a company, chances are that you need to be in contact with a quality assurance service . Why? Because whether you manufacture flashlights or sell insurance policies over the phone, your company has standards. Some companies require that their products and services meet only minimum requirements in order to pass safety and service inspections. Not very reputable, but hey, it happens. Other companies want to produce the best, serve and accommodate more fully the needs of those who patronize them. When working with a quality assurance service , a company can uphold the standards that they see fit, whether it is defined as minimum or maximum.</p>
<p>Let us take a look at an example of the benefits of a quality assurance service within the health care industry. We all know that improvements can be made in every industry, and as much as we value our hospitals, Doctors and RNs, the health care industry does have its difficulties.&nbsp; The primary function of a reputable quality assurance service in this setting would be to monitor, assess, evaluate and improve the quality of service that the industry was providing to the patients that it treats. This is a huge task, as it takes time to not only determine where the problems are, but also to obtain patient and provider feedback, create and implement new employee training processes and to sufficiently raise the standards to reflect these new changes.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p>
<p>Here is another example. How would a quality assurance service assist with the production of a disposable camera manufacturer? One scenario might be in the area of product development. There is a minimum standard that needs to be met in regards to safety as well as to performance of the product. What if one particular line of disposable cameras receives continuous complains and consumer returns because of breakage of one particular piece? The camera line is then put under tough scrutiny. Is the part defective before it goes into the camera? Or is it a combination of more than one thing? Exactly how much pressure must be applied before the piece breaks off? These are the types of questions that will be asked. The product can, in this way, be subjected to rigorous testing and evaluation. Efforts can be taken to improve the product before any more cameras get out onto the store shelves. </p>
<p>There are many reasons, and many industries, where such measurements and improvements can be helpful. When it comes to manufactured products, consumer safety comes first. The same holds true for health care. When it comes to other industries, such as sales and customer service, the focus is more on improving the overall customer experience, rather than insuring the physical safety of the customers. People skills can be evaluated as well as anything else. It takes skill and planning to come up with the necessary tools to improve and strengthen the core structure of a company. Whenever goods or services are produced or provided there is a standard to be upheld that can always be made more effective. It is always in the best interests of the company, and more importantly, the consumers that keep the company in business, that the standard of excellence be the ultimate goal, no matter what kind of goods or services you provide. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78245-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Boat Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=558" title="The Importance Of Quality Assurance">The Importance Of Quality Assurance</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Importance_Of_Quality_Assurance.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Moving Out Of Mom and Dads House]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Moving_Out_Of_Mom_and_Dads_House.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Hey! That is great news! You are finally moving out of your Mom and Dads house and going out into the world to live on your own. They must be very proud of you. No doubt they are also excited because now they can convert your old room into a home theater, complete with drop down movie screen and popcorn maker! I heard your Dad on the phone this morning ordering the recliners. Oh, they forgot to tell you about that? Well, they probably did not want to disturb you. They knew that you have been busy contacting residential management and looking for a new place to live. </p>
<p>So, are you looking to sign a 6 month or a 12 month lease? Oh, right, your Dad said 12 months was better for you because that way you can really get a feel for life on your own. Well, that does make sense. The next time you talk to the residential management of a complex or location that you are interested in, they can tell you what the lease terms are. </p>
<p>Hold on now. Did you just say that you were going to get a huge pit bull to train as a guard dog? Before you go and fall in love with a sweet, big pawed pit bull puppy, you might want to talk to the residential management of your new place. While it is true that pit bulls can be very loyal and loving, and at 160 pounds, they can also be great guard dogs, many places have strict limitations as to what kinds of pets that you can keep. They may have a size and weight limit on dogs. But try not to be too upset about it. Those little yippy dogs are good for letting you know when someone is anywhere near the door. They may not scare away an intruder, but they sure will make a lot of noise.� </p>
<p>So, have you decided on a decor yet? It is always very exciting to move into a new place and really add your personality to it. What? Did you just say that you are going to paint a mural of the Costa Rican rain forest on your living room wall? Hmm. While a rain forest theme does sound, er, lovely, you might want to give you residential management a call before you rush off to the art supply store for paint. Even though Mom and Dad relented when you wanted to paint your room yellow with pink polka dots, most places frown upon painting the walls anything but a neutral color, like beige, white or perhaps even taupe or light green. You could always paint cardboard cut outs of trees and monkeys and scatter them throughout your house, though. That might be cool. </p>
<p>Why so festive? The decorations are for your huge housewarming party? That sounds fun. Your boyfriends punk rock band is going to play out on your patio? Wow. That is going to be pretty loud. Many places have a noise limit. Yes, a noise limit. That means that after a certain time of night, say 10 PM, you can not make excessive noise. Talk to your residential management before you move and find out what their rules are. </p>
<p>Oh, now, try not to get too bummed out about all of these seeming limitations. It really is fun to live on your own, but there is a lot of responsibility involved. Hey, wait. What is wrong? Mom and Dad have less restrictions than residential management do? Where are you going? Back home to tell them that you are not going to move after all? Geez, good luck with that. I hope you can get comfortable sleeping in a leather recliner every night. They were delivered today, along with the movie screen and popcorn machine. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78245-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Furniture Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=538" title="Moving Out Of Mom and Dads House">Moving Out Of Mom and Dads House</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Moving_Out_Of_Mom_and_Dads_House.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[What About Call Centers and Self Storage?]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/What_About_Call_Centers_and_Self_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>In this competitive market many people are looking for a way to get ahead of the game. In the storing world, many companies believe that they have a great understanding of business and how to improve the game of storing your own belongings. </p>
<p>There are many companies today that are motivated to take business from their competition and build their own profits. Some people think that more advertising is the key where other people use an external service that evaluates their services. Many companies out there have figured out that if you do not rent spaces, you go out of business. That epiphany was a mystery for some time.</p>
<p>The companies that have figured out how to get customers into the store and or get customers to reserve a space when the manager is not present are the ones that are outsmarting the competition. Most companies utilize a call center type environment that is able to take phone calls for the stores that are not able to get to the phone. Those call centers are able to rent the self storage units to the callers the same way they could get them if they went down to the facility. How great is that to know for a manager that if they cannot get to the phone, the customer can still be served!</p>
<p>The companies that are taking advantage of the call center business are doing great with having their self storage units rented. Sometimes the call center representatives do so well that the owners of the storing facilities only want the call center to answer the calls while the manager on the facility takes care of in store visits. </p>
<p>The call center is supposed to be nice to the caller, be thorough so the caller does not have any questions and get the caller into the store. If they can get the caller into the store, the manager at the location is able to complete and find the right self storage units for them. It should be an easy and smooth process in which the caller does not feel that the manager on site is any other than the person they talked to on the phone. A successful call center will not appear as such.</p>
<p>So, in a perfect world, the call center would be able to be perfect and rent out self storage units for the facility on every single call. However, not every caller is looking to store, some just want to pay a bill or rent a truck. A good call center will handle the issues they have jurisdiction over and guide the customer to the manager if necessary.<br />�<br />We all know that we have to be smart in the business world. We have to make intelligent decisions in order to stay above the profit line. For a lot of companies using the call center services to rent self storage units , they are very cautious to want to continue. It is not a cheap service to have a company that is not associated with you answer the calls for you. On the other hand, call center reservation may be what is keeping your business out of the red. </p>
<p>They are a business as well that wants to succeed. At the same time though, they are a service that you are paying for. When you feel that they are not selling self storage units for you the way you want, you have the right to ask questions. </p>
<p>Call centers turn your missed calls into possible rentals for you company. Some people think it is a great thing to have. Some people think it is a waste of their money to have someone answering the phones for them. If your spaces stay empty for a long period of time, it might be a waste of time to have your doors open. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78232-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Car Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=929" title="What About Call Centers and Self Storage?">What About Call Centers and Self Storage?</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/What_About_Call_Centers_and_Self_Storage.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Landlord Services For The Tenant]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Landlord_Services_For_The_Tenant.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>When letting out a property for the purpose of rent the landlord services have to be provided by the owner of the property to the tenant. These include providing certain basic amenities along with some special amenities that are demanded by the tenant. The owner should comply with certain rules and regulations along with the client when he enters into a legal agreement with his tenant on renting out his property. He should provide basic amenities like clean and hygienic premises to his tenants. He should also take care of any faulty electrical circuitry that can be dangerous to the people moving about in that place. </p>
<p>The tenants should be provided with a safe and secure place for dwelling. Landlord services include providing room air-conditioning in certain cases, heating, ventilation and landscaping. Usually the real estate management of the property does not include the offering of any of these services in the clauses of their contract. If the tenant specifically asks for any services then the owner provides them with the desired service. This is done to the advantage of the owner who does not want to take the initiative in offering services as this will lead to his spending some money on these. The real estate management team generally prefers the tenants to insure themselves for their personal property when they are in occupation of the property of the owner. </p>
<p>Landlord Services include providing a number of real estate management maintenance services. These include taking care of the structural components of the building along with its common areas. If there is any service that the owner cannot provide or wants to stop he can remove the clause that states the provision of such services from the lease document. Moreover, if the tenant tends to utilize the resources provided by the real estate management team for a longer duration than that specified, the owner can ask the tenant to pay extra charges for that resource. For example, many tenants tend to use more electricity than the allotted quota in which case they might be asked by the owner to pay extra charges.</p>
<p>The landlord services offered by the owner can be minimized by not making many of the services offered mandatory. The rights of the tenants to have access over certain services can also be controlled. The tenant expects the owner to offer a number of services under the mandatory section of the lease agreement, without him having to pay anything extra from his pocket for any service. The tenant expects to have complete control over the portion of the property offered to him. The tenant also expects to be enlightened on any of the service related issues and the exact amount of money he is spending for each and every service rendered to him. </p>
<p>The landlord services offered invoke expectations in the tenant to see the owner following the legal clauses set in the agreement to the letter. The tenants expect the real estate management team to get all the modifications and the repair works done to the property and pay for the expenditure incurred. The tenant expects the owner to take the responsibility of insuring all the modifications and enhancements made to the property. The tenant may also ask the owner to constantly make improvements to damaged portions of the property occupied by him. The owner is also expected to provide first class services with regard to maintenance of elevators, air conditioners, humidifiers etc. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78232-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Boat Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1042" title="Landlord Services For The Tenant">Landlord Services For The Tenant</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Landlord_Services_For_The_Tenant.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Mystery Shopping Forums - A United Front]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopping_Forums_-_A_United_Front.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Being in business for yourself is a worthwhile endeavor, especially if you have young children in the home to care for. The freedom that working as an independent contractor of some sort brings is very liberating. It frees you from the nine to five hours and allows you to set your own schedule. This is priceless for many individuals who choose to work part time from home to pick up some much needed cash. To that end, the Internet is a great place to find others of like interest and like community to give you not only a support system but to also build your own social network. While working from home has its many benefits, social stimulation is not always one of them.</p>
<p>There are more than one mystery shopper forum designed especially for those in this line of work to be able to communicate, ask questions and share stories of their assignments and experiences. A mystery shopper forum is a place where individuals of different back grounds, age groups and nationalities can come together and bond over their shared experiences, good and bad, to talk about and enthuse over this amazing new independent industry. </p>
<p>A mystery shopper forum is set up so that you can start new threads, or topics, if you do not see what you are looking for. Or you can post to old topics, reply to other members that have responded to you, or respond to someone else who had an inquiry or comment. Generally there is a frequently asked questions thread, where you can go if you have specific questions regarding procedure, assignments or reports. </p>
<p>A General Discussion thread is also a common thread on a mystery shopper forum . These discussion topics range from the mundane to the intense. Someone may be interested in going over the details of the spectacular lunch assignment that they had the previous afternoon, while another person may be expressing their discontent that gas prices have gone up another dime overnight. General discussion can be about anything.&nbsp; </p>
<p>A mystery shopper forum may also have new, upcoming events, or even new assignments or job information. If the guidelines or the industry rules or standards change, you can bet that you will be well informed if you are a member of one of these online communities. If you want to hear other people tell their stories about how they got into the business, or if you would like to tell your own story, the opportunity is there. If you have advice or tips that you feel could help others through a difficult time, they would greatly benefit from your experience. </p>
<p>It is even possible to increase your own productivity as well as assisting others to increase theirs, just by being a member of such an online community. By creating your own profile and posting regularly, you can get a true sense of the integrity and quality of people the other members are, and you can feel where they are coming from, because you have been there yourself. </p>
<p>You truly can make friends of the cyber variety. You LOL together, tell each other about the difficulties or exciting opportunities that you have had, and in short, find a community that understands just what you do all day. Working from home does not mean that you have to be isolated and lonely. You can find a community rich with ideals and personality at the click of your mouse.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78232-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio RV Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1043" title="Mystery Shopping Forums - A United Front">Mystery Shopping Forums - A United Front</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopping_Forums_-_A_United_Front.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Will A Tight Economy Break Self Storage Owners?]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Will_A_Tight_Economy_Break_Self_Storage_Owners.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Self storage owners are playing a game of chess with the economy. One thing is for certain, people have less money to spend. It may be that gas prices have eaten up all of a familys discretionary funds, or it may be that families are uneasy about the market and just not comfortable to commit to another monthly rent. <br />�<br />Still, people move and relocate, and unfortunately, lose their homes in a financial crunch. That means that houses of furniture will be packed into trucks, moved across town or across the country, downsized to a smaller home or apartment or even at risk of being abandoned. </p>
<p>Theres no doubt about it, a reasonably priced storage unit in a nice location will be a refuge for a frustrated mover. But the question remains. What will a downward economy mean for the self storage rental industry?</p>
<p>It means that it is even harder to make a reservation for a storage unit and earn the dollar of your customer. Consumers are not only a little pressed for luxury expenses, they are smarter too!</p>
<p>A self storage customer from fifteen years ago, when faced with the immediate need of storage, might have just walked in the door of the local facility. A self storage customer from ten years ago had a few places to choose from, so they picked up the phone and called around. Todays self storage customer will search the internet and look for a bargain, make a short list and call two or three stores. However, they will not be impressed by sub-par service or managers answering the phone a mile a minute so they can hang up.</p>
<p>Today, the value of a self storage customer is golden to an owner. Each prospect means the difference between profit and loss. So how do you make sure you are treating each prospect with excellent customer satisfaction and a foolproof sales strategy?</p>
<p>Mystery shopping services allow you, the self storage owner, the unique opportunity to hear and see and evaluate exactly how your managers care for your customers and prospective customers. </p>
<p>Yes, the last thing you want to hear about in an uncertain economy is spending more money. However, you will have to fight that same battle with your self storage customers in order to earn their rental agreement. If your managers are hesitant, unconfident, or do not know how to fight that battle on the front line, then how will your revenues and occupancy rate increase. For that matter, how will you even keep it maintained?</p>
<p>Mystery shopping services are designed to train your managers and encourage them to utilize sales techniques that will win over the hard earned dollar of your next tenant. Mystery shopping services also monitor and coach your staff about the customer satisfaction issues that may arise.</p>
<p>For example, if your mystery shopping services find that your manager often lets the answering machine pick up the phone, then you would have good insight into why no new tenants are signing up.</p>
<p>On a side note, if you are relying on the answering machine to sell your storage units, you should consider a call center based on all these same principles - you will not gain or maintain without the proper systems and team in place.</p>
<p>Mystery shopping services will help you develop and coach your staff into a highly effective sales team. Together, you, your staff and your mystery shopping services will ensure that self storage remains, and that your business is still standing, while other competitors who were not so wise as you lose renters and run the risk of going under.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78232-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=557" title="Will A Tight Economy Break Self Storage Owners?">Will A Tight Economy Break Self Storage Owners?</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Will_A_Tight_Economy_Break_Self_Storage_Owners.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Property Managers Wear A Thick Skin And Many Hats]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Property_Managers_Wear_A_Thick_Skin_And_Many_Hats.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>It takes one tough cookie to be a rental property manager . If you think that used car salesmen and accident lawyers get a bad rap, you are in for quite a surprise. When it comes right down to it, the responsibilities of a rental property manager seem to run the gamut from just being really busy to downright uncomfortable. Suppose that you are the rental property manager for a complex of, say one hundred and fifty living spaces, or units. What is it that you would be doing all day long? </p>
<p>Well, for starters, you would most likely have an on site office from which you would be doing most of your paperwork, answering phone calls, setting appointments for showings and lease signings, etc. Part of your responsibility would be overseeing employees such as grounds keepers, secretaries and maintenance persons. If the complex is due for insect fumigation, you are responsible for making sure that it happens. </p>
<p>Part of your job would be to conduct routine inspections of the grounds, the facilities and the parking lot, to monitor what is going on around the property. This would not take up too much time, mind you, and you could actually make notes as you are showing potential clients around the complex, since you would probably be really proficient at multi tasking, but it would be your job to notice small details that may need to be addressed, such as a broken or loose stair rail or a chunk of the parking lot that had been broken. You would make note of these small repairs and add them to your list of things to have fixed.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Another responsibility that you would undoubtedly have working as a rental property manager would be the task of answering the questions, concerns and complaints that may come in from the residents of the complex. If the tenant in unit 142 has a broken garbage disposal, you delegate the repair to the maintenance crew, for example. If the air conditioner in unit 110 is not working, you call the heating and air conditioning repair specialist right away. When complaints about loitering, littering or the loud barking of dogs in unit 46 come trickling in from tenants, that call goes to you. After all, what can the secretary do about it, other than take a message for you? </p>
<p>On top of this huge pile of responsibility and obligation, you would also be quite busy showing vacant units to potential residents, collecting rent from current residents, explaining and enforcing lease agreements, addressing and dealing with tenant violations and other such issues. Not only that, but you would also be responsible for the nasty and highly unpleasant task of collections on past due rent as well as the kicker, which is literally kicking out a tenant for non payment of rent or some other lease agreement violation. </p>
<p>As said, it takes one tough cookie to be a rental property manager . Props to the people who can take pride and show responsibility, dedication and fairness in the face of the challenges that they often have to face. It takes patience, excellent people skills, the ability to prioritize and complete tasks in a timely manner, and above all respect for the people that live in the complex that you oversee. Those qualities are not found in everyone, but everyone can benefit from knowing someone who has them. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78232-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Furniture Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=537" title="Property Managers Wear A Thick Skin And Many Hats">Property Managers Wear A Thick Skin And Many Hats</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Property_Managers_Wear_A_Thick_Skin_And_Many_Hats.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Organizing Your Items Before You Relocate]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Organizing_Your_Items_Before_You_Relocate.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>You finally got that coveted promotion. The problem is, it is located in a new facility in another area of the state. Now you must relocate your family to a new home in the near future. And you already know moving can be a nerve racking and expensive undertaking. Planning ahead and organizing your belongings can save you time and money. When you know you are going to move is the time to <strong>begin thinking about your self storage needs</strong> as well. </p>
<p>Several months before your move, go through all your belongings and <strong>get rid of things</strong> you do not use or no longer want. If you have excess clothing, kitchen utensils you never use, small appliances and other household goods you can <strong>donate</strong> them or <strong>sell them</strong> at a yard sale. Keeping all your unwanted items in self storage until just before your yard sale or prior to moving date will keep them out of the way while you continue sorting and organizing. The less you have to deal with on moving day will make things go smoother. </p>
<p><strong>Get an estimate</strong> from the facility. Self storage charges can vary among the different facilities and for different types. One option is <strong>mobile units</strong>. These can be delivered to your residence where you can load the units as you need. Then they are transported back to the facility until you need the stuff.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Another option is having a <strong>moving company</strong> pack your things and move them into self storage closer to your new residence. </p>
<p><strong>Plan ahead</strong> though. The moving industry has a busy season and the demand for moving equipment, vans and personnel can be scarce during peak times. Try to plan your move during the winter or fall before the end of the month or year and holidays. </p>
<p>Prepare your belongings before storing them. There are a few tips that can help safeguard your clothes and other stuff before they are packed away.&nbsp; </p>
<p><strong>Store clothes that are clean</strong>. Pests are less likely to invite themselves into your container if your clothing is clean. </p>
<p><strong>Do not over pack</strong> your containers. Leave room for clothes to breathe. </p>
<p><strong>Dry clothes</strong> and belongings <strong>prevent mold and mildew</strong> from growing inside and on your container. </p>
<p><strong>Add moth balls</strong> as a pest repellant to any fabric stored. Put them in old socks so they do not touch fabric. </p>
<p><strong>Seal all your boxes</strong> to prevent accidental damage from spills. <strong>Wrap your wood furniture</strong> with old blankets to protect against scratches. </p>
<p>If you will be storing any refrigerators or freezers prior to your move, be sure they are dry and stored with the doors ajar. Any stoves and cooking equipment should also be clean before they are stored.</p>
<p><strong>Label your containers</strong> with what the box contains, and which room it belongs in. Do not overload the box.</p>
<p>Your belongings are valuable to you, whether you are moving them or storing them for future donations. Consider getting extra <strong>insurance coverage</strong> on your belongings while they are being stored and moved.</p>
<p>The family has begun organizing and sorting their belongings. They decide to rent self storage at their current location while they decide what to keep and what should be sold or donated. They will sell the items and make donations when moving time gets closer. Renting the unit allows them to take their time in organizing what they really need and want to move. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78212-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=928" title="Organizing Your Items Before You Relocate">Organizing Your Items Before You Relocate</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Organizing_Your_Items_Before_You_Relocate.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Classic Car Storage and Restoration]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Classic_Car_Storage_and_Restoration.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Ned was retired and wanted to take his classic car out of automobile storage and begin restoring it as he had always wanted to. He had had it in automobile storage for years now, and did not want it in there any longer. Now that he finally had the time and finances available to him to begin working on it, he could not wait to begin. He went to the automobile storage company where it was being kept and took it home. He knew that at his house he would not have the protection that professional automobile storage had had for his car, but he was willing to temporarily boot his other car from the garage and make his garage into a work place for his classic car.</p>
<p>He had never restored a classic car before, and knew he would not be able to go into much detail doing it. But he wanted to research and be knowledgeable about everything he could before starting on it, as he wanted to do as much of it himself as he could.</p>
<p>Ned found that there were many resources available to help him know what to do when restoring a classic car. Of course, many of them were for professionals or written by professionals, but many were also geared toward someone just like him. They were directed at someone like him who knew very little about classic car restoration, but was enthusiastic about it all the same.</p>
<p>Ned began by inspecting his own classic car as thoroughly as he knew how. He made an extended list of the things he believed needed to be done with it and repaired or replaced. Due to finances, he knew that he would not be able to rush off and find replacements for every last part of the car that needed repairing. So, he made a second list as well, one that listed what he thought he could afford for each part. This gave him something to go by once he would be ready to actually shop around for the various parts he would need for the classic car. Ned tried to sort through what needed repaired and make a decent estimate of which items or parts could be salvaged and repaired, as opposed to being thrown out and actually replaced. He knew that once he spoke with someone more professional this would have to be revised, but it was a good start.</p>
<p>There were some things that Ned knew up front that he wanted for his car. For instance, he knew that he wanted a new and quality paint job for it, and he knew what color he would want it painted as well. Ned realized that many or most of the mechanical parts of the car would have to be replaced completely. Unlike body work, Ned did not trust these types of things to have held up over so many years, and figured automatically into his budget the replacement of most of these items.</p>
<p>There were some other things, such as the leather seats that Ned realized with relief could be cleaned thoroughly instead of replaced. They had been in good condition thanks in part to the good quality automobile storage Ned had used, and he was thankful this was not something else to add to his expenses.</p>
<p>Although Ned had to take his car to professionals for several things, he ended up doing much of the restoration himself, and enjoyed it thoroughly.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-helotis-78023-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Helotes Car Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=927" title="Classic Car Storage and Restoration">Classic Car Storage and Restoration</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Classic_Car_Storage_and_Restoration.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[How Entrepeneurs and Inventors Begin]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_Entrepeneurs_and_Inventors_Begin.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Some of us are born with a motivated, entrepreneurial spirit. We may be walking down the aisles of big box retailer and see the simplest thing for sale and think to ourselves how easy it would be to make that ourselves. For some, more skilled, we may even see furniture or clothing, art, crafts, maybe even a house and think how much� money we would save it we just made it ourselves. </p>
<p>We have all seen an infomercial or advertisement for something obviously simple, yet necessary or desirable to increase our quality of living. In those moments we think, <em>Why didnt I think of that</em>!</p>
<p>The race to invention is sometimes just that, a race to beat the other guy with the same idea. </p>
<p>However, do not let yourself be discouraged if all the inventions and million-dollar-ideas you come up with are already taken. Who is to say you cannot make a living from those very things anyhow? Many innovations come from improving what someone else has already invented. </p>
<p>So we are right back where we started, walking down the home decoration aisle and thinking we could make that just as easily and save a buck - telling ourselves we could do is better, cheaper.</p>
<p>A note of caution though, there are undoubtedly industries and goods that we dreamers look at and know we are about to bite off more than we can chew. Usually, that does not stop us and we keep on chewing until we are in over our heads. </p>
<p>To be sure, there are professions and industries where the work is best left to the professionals. (Of course, a serious dreamer is now convincing himself that he is a professional - a jack of all trades.) Nothing is stopping you from learning and becoming proficient in any field, but there is certainly something to gain from taking advice and learning from someone more experienced that yourself. </p>
<p>Take home renovation, for example. A first-time homeowner does not even realize that the quick-set screwdriver kit from his rental days is far less than adequate when there is something to repair. However, he probably will not go out and buy a drill, a ladder, a circular saw, a level, a flashlight, a sander, etc just because he might need them. He will collect all those things, one by one as he needs them. Soon enough, he has become somewhat skilled at minor repair work. When it is time to remodel the kitchen, hopefully he has learned enough to know he might need to seek a professional hand.</p>
<p>Business owners are not exempt from thinking they can do everything on their own, for cheaper, either. For someone who has grown a business from the ground up, they may feel uneasy about delegating the operations of their business when it begins to grow. After all, the have nurtured it into existence. However, there comes a time when it is a joy to see that the business has grown so much that more staff or new systems are needed. And it is a relief when those staff and systems are set in place. </p>
<p>Once such area where most small business owners try to be a do-it-yourselfer is the mystery shopping business . The business owner thinks how easy it would be to call the facility himself, acting as his very own mystery shopping business . Then, he asks his wife, brother, cousin, nephew, friend to walk into the store as a customer and conduct their own mystery shopping business survey. </p>
<p>Soon enough, he will realize that his resources have ended, not to mention the time this takes out of his busy schedule. Inevitably, he will call an expert mystery shopping business and allow the professionals to do their job. </p>
<p>Does this mean he has stepped back from impacting the customer service at his store and allow the mystery shopping business to do all the work? No, in fact, a wise business owner will team up with a mystery shopping business and oversee the program. </p>
<p>So you see, whether your passion is crafting your own decoration, improving the value of your home, or running a small business, the advice of a professional home builder, mystery shopping business , or whomever the expert may be is a welcomed thing. Soon enough, you will have learned enough to consider yourself an expert too.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78212-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Boat Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1041" title="How Entrepeneurs and Inventors Begin">How Entrepeneurs and Inventors Begin</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_Entrepeneurs_and_Inventors_Begin.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Apartment Property Management For Rental Investors]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Apartment_Property_Management_For_Rental_Investors.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Apartment property management is managing a property that is owned by a group of residents, a type of community residence management. Everybody wants their place of residence to be well managed. When they rent a living place this job is done by managers appointed by the owner of the property. But when the residents themselves are the owners, the job is given to managers they themselves employ. The managers of properties having resale values have to look after that the value increases while the managers managing homes, condominiums and community housing schemes are relieved of such duties.</p>
<p>It is often seen that the owners of the buildings have little time to look after the regular day-to-day affairs. In fact, managing their homes often becomes a headache and if you are one of the residents of a building without having a professional manager, it does not need any elaboration. You would often find that the residents not only lack the time but also the expertise to handle a property, maybe a residential building. In such cases it is prudent to appoint a manager for the purposes of apartment property management .</p>
<p>Tax payment, rent collection, keeping track of the mortgages, etc. are often the tasks of a manager of a property. But in case of buildings the owners themselves pay the taxes and mortgage premiums and they do not pay rents. So what does a manager of such buildings do? Taxes and other financial matters are not the only matters that need to be looked after. There are the matters of collecting association dues, mundane day-to-day affairs like janitorial problems, security, garbage removal, etc. The manager of a residential building also looks after the contracts regarding the various housekeeping jobs of society. Since the managers are professionals they know the various things to look out for when entering into a contract. They act as the advisors to the owners and weigh the pros and cons of the various bids before advising on the right contractor. Apartment property management does not end there but it starts. The managers are responsible for looking after whether the contractors are doing their jobs properly besides keeping a watch on the supplies and equipment that are needed for the common areas. </p>
<p>Apartment property management has some other benefits too. A manager who is involved with different buildings is well conversant in the laws and regulations related to properties and specially those related to community housing schemes including building owners associations. It is obvious that every owner of a home will be conversant with the laws and will need the professional advice on these matters. Thus a manager is to act as a legal advisor to these people. They also have to do some financial services like drawing up the financial reports and preparing budgets. They supply this to the owner but to the board of voluntary directors that such associations usually have to oversee the maintenance of the common facilities of an association.</p>
<p>As an owner in any building you must be a member of the association of the different building owners. If you have a professional manager then you must be getting benefited and well aware of the advantages. But if you do not have a manager, you must be thinking of getting one. You can hire one directly or you can enter into an agreement with a management firm which also looks after apartment property management . </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78212-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Car Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1040" title="Apartment Property Management For Rental Investors">Apartment Property Management For Rental Investors</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Apartment_Property_Management_For_Rental_Investors.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Jobs For The Stay At Home Mom]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Jobs_For_The_Stay_At_Home_Mom.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>There are certain situations in life which makes life tough for many people, making them frustrated and dejected too. Take for example the stay at home mom . She may be habituated to working in the office but due to circumstances beyond her control she is usually forced to reside with the confines of her residence. People who are habituated to office life will know very well how boring and exasperating this type of life can become. They have spent years attending office and mingling with the other staff. Apart from that there is the pay packet that they bring back at the end of each month. Not only does this pinch the pocket, it also brings about a sense of desperation too.</p>
<p>However, now the stay at home mom need not be dejected. There is some good news for them which will help them to lead an active life from the confines of their house and earn a good sum of money as well. Thanks to the ever expanding reaches of the internet, there are more avenues and routes for those who wish to earn from home. A cursory glance will reveal thousands of opportunities and quite a few of them will be suitable for you. Home based working opportunities are growing up with every passing day and it is up to you to harness the facilities provided by the world wide web. All that you require for doing such work is an always connected internet connection and the willingness to work.</p>
<p>Some of these works might demand that you have to stay awake at odd hours of the day. If you are doing work for an Australian client, chances are that they might be online well past your normal sleeping hours. These are trivial issues and can be overcome with a little resolution from your end. There are many online opportunities for the stay at home mom and you should select one that is most suitable for you. If you are an experienced teacher, there and many organizations that conduct online schools, or virtual schools as they are commonly known. You can fill up their online enrollment form and then give a simple exam to prove your ability and that is all. If you are skilled enough, you will be absorbed by that organization and can start working for them.</p>
<p>The modern generation stay at home mom has many advantages over their previous generation. The internet has brought a huge revolution and it is up to you to tap the same and use it to your potential. If you are an experienced typist there are innumerable data entry jobs available online and they offer a decent price too. </p>
<p>There are quite a number of online bidding sites which advertise different types of jobs. It is no big deal for a stay at home mom to do some of these jobs. Just visit those sites and enroll in a few of them. While you are filling up their online form you are presented with a selection list where you can specify your areas of specialization. As soon as there are new jobs that meet your criteria, you will be sent an email with links to these jobs. You can now bid on these jobs and on winning one, complete it and start minting money.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78212-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio Furniture Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=556" title="Jobs For The Stay At Home Mom">Jobs For The Stay At Home Mom</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Jobs_For_The_Stay_At_Home_Mom.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Facility Maintenance Operations]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Facility_Maintenance_Operations.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>A large commercial building or physical plant is called a facility and facilities maintenance essentially involves the same tasks as managing different kinds of properties. But the term is used only in the context of commercial buildings and it involves complex activities. Maintaining a facility involves performance of hard services and soft services. The hard services include ensuring the proper functioning of the components of the building like any electrical circuitry, the air conditioner etc. Soft services include keeping the premises of the building clean and also ensuring that the staff employed in carrying out the maintenance task is carrying out their tasks properly. There are many firms undertaking the maintenance responsibilities of facilities.</p>
<p>Facilities Maintenance involves a lot of operations that can be classified into a number of categories. They provide engineering services and set right any electro mechanical defects in equipments. They ensure that the water supplied to the facility is used judiciously and the waste products produced are disposed of in a hygienic and eco friendly manner. They see to it that the building premises are not infested with pests and disease producing organisms. These companies also recruit appropriate manpower to perform the maintenance tasks efficiently. </p>
<p>The services offered by the management companies can be taken in single capacity or as an integrated whole of a number of services. The companies offer facilities maintenance services in modules namely, soft service module, hard service module, hospitality services module and the staffing solutions module. The soft services module includes housekeeping, maintenance of external premises including lawns and gardens, providing security services and manpower, keeping the premises hygienic by controlling pests and disease producing germs, taking care that any of the valuable property and maintenance resources are used judiciously and any wastage is disposed of efficiently. The soft services also include providing vendor management and mail room services.</p>
<p>The hard services include setting any mechanical and electrical equipment right. Providing specialized services and ensuring efficient management of water and plumbing services. Hard services of facilities maintenance also include managing the judicious usage of electrical energy by the building personnel and ensuring that the entire electrical circuitry of the building is safe. The staffing solutions provided by many companies include generating support services and providing support and solutions in the administration of the property office. It also includes dealing with the enquiries of the users of the property and providing assistance to them wherever and whenever required. Staffing solutions also includes providing efficient warehouse and dispatch management services. Last of all hospitality services offered by the facilities include maintaining the guest houses and providing impeccable catering services to the guests.�� </p>
<p>These days there are sophisticated computer software to aid facilities maintenance. Nowadays there is specialized software available, that provide reliable aid in monitoring and supervising the different devices. There are control and regulatory systems that sense, actuate and control the different components of a building by interconnecting them in an electronic network. The manager can store vital maintenance information in a computer database. The software can be used to make sophisticated calculations regarding the maintenance costs etc. Computer graphics can be used to form a layout of the complicated structure of the building and also its electromechanical layout so that in the case of emergency the facility manager does not have difficulty in locating the place where the fault occurred. The software can also be used to predict any probable damages to any part of the building.� </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-san-antonio-78212-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">San Antonio RV Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=536" title="Facility Maintenance Operations">Facility Maintenance Operations</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Facility_Maintenance_Operations.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Legitimate Secret Shopper Jobs]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Legitimate_Secret_Shopper_Jobs.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>A legitimate secret shopper is a person who has been registered with a legitimate shopping agency, which provides some of the facilities. The legality of the shopper thus depends on the agency with which he or she gets registered. So finding a genuine agency that one wants to join as a shopper to shop secretly, is the most important task to overcome.</p>
<p>When large businesses want to evaluate their customer handling and the daily interactions with them, they usually turn towards the agencies because the evaluation of the service is best made when the inspection is carried out without the knowledge of the staff. The specialized shopping agencies then instruct the shopper who shops secretly with them to get into the act and after shopping without disclosing their motives to the staff, they file their reports. The companies engaging the agencies pay for the service. You cannot imagine a large company engaging any agency with dubious identity when their business is at stake. So it is always the legitimate secret shopper who is registered with one the agencies, which gets the jobs.</p>
<p>These agencies that carry on the service of a legitimate secret shopper have a regular business as any other agency. They have on their list a huge number of shoppers who would shop secretly spread all over the country and these are the people who eventually go out to do the fieldwork. The really good companies not only analyze the reports of these shoppers but also provide solutions for any problems that these reports throw light on. If they do not find any problem at all, they even provide adequate expertise to improve upon a present state of business. These agencies are really good friends of the businesses which are largely dependant on customer relations.</p>
<p>To get registered as a legitimate secret shopper , you can visit the websites of the companies that engages shoppers willing to shop secretly. The legitimate companies are always booked for services. They also have to be careful that the same shopper does not go on every assignment in a certain area. They can get marked and then the purpose of this special shopping method gets defeated. So they usually need a large base of shoppers who shops secretly and the most important thing that you should keep in mind is that they do not promise you the world in return of the job. But they have a steady payment structure. Most importantly they never run out of business. So you also get regular assignments.</p>
<p>The companies you find in the websites who promise you great returns and regular jobs but want money instead are genuinely hoaxes. Do not get misdirected by all those certifications because most of the time they are fake. So, you need to be aware always. The companies that provide the service of legitimate secret shopper take care that they do not fall victim to the designs of the fraudulent people. So they regularly update their clients and shoppers about the potential threats that are doing the rounds and providers clues to identify such problems. </p>
<p>When you get registered as a legitimate secret shopper , your agency will give you some basic training. This is usually done online. This is the basic knowledge and dos and donts that you would need for almost all the assignments. When an assignment is given to you then you get another set of instructions that are assignment specific. All you need to do is to do your job according to those instructions and report back as per the format. Though the experienced shoppers are preferred by the agencies, you can also start as a fresher.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-helotis-78023-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Helotes Boat Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1039" title="Legitimate Secret Shopper Jobs">Legitimate Secret Shopper Jobs</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Legitimate_Secret_Shopper_Jobs.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Personal Property Management and Storage]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Personal_Property_Management_and_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Many times a dwelling place might not have a garage in its premises. But if one has a car then providing a proper shelter for it becomes problematic. The service of car storage comes as a rescue in such a situation. They not only provide shelter but also undertake the responsibility of the property management and its maintenance. The companies offering the facility to store the car usually have a list of services that they provide as a part of the property management and maintaining of the car. One can choose the services that he wants to avail for his vehicle. <br />&nbsp;<br />Some of these units used for storing the vehicle are of very good quality and are loaded with sophisticated equipment for efficient property management and to maintain the vehicles well. The four-wheelers are kept under round-the-clock vigilance. The units are dehumidified. Some of them have the latest alarm systems fitted so that one can be alerted if there is a burglary attempt. The companies that provide car storage also provide insurance facilities to those clients who want to insure their cars.&nbsp; </p>
<p>The car maintenance and property management programs are customized to the individual requirements of the car. The maintenance staff is generally very committed and it takes the complete responsibility of keeping the vehicle in topmost condition. The maintenance services that are offered generally involve the following tasks. The first thing is they will wash the car regularly, clean all its components and keep the vehicle in a good condition. The next thing that the car storage staff will do is to inspect the car to assess its working condition. This will include checking the engine, carburetor, fuel tank, tyres, brakes, clutches and the other vital components for consistency and any anomaly that can be a potential source of any hazard. All the doors and windows will be checked to see that they lock properly. The fuel and the anti-freeze levels are inspected. </p>
<p>Apart from the general services the owner of a car can opt for other services as desired. He might want his car to be painted a new color or have a new audio system or air conditioner fitted to his car. Car storage and not car maintenance being the primary service provided by the companies offering shelter to the car, the maintenance services may not be compulsorily and regularly provided. One might have to specify the number of times he would like the maintenance staff to attend to his car on a monthly basis. The owner of the car need not worry that all the time a car is kept in the unit providing storing facilities, it will remain static for a long period of time. The maintenance staff will test drive it now and then to ensure that it remains in working condition. </p>
<p>The company that provides the service of car storage should be checked for authenticity. It is better to opt for some well established companies even though they might charge a wee bit more than the others. One should be on the lookout for registered companies and it is better to go for those companies that can show some formal credentials (like certificates) that stand as an evidence to the quality of services provided. Storing the car in dedicated units has an advantage of storing the vehicle in individual garages when it comes to security and tampering issues. One can locate a car property management and storing service providing company in the locality by doing a bit of research on the internet. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-helotis-78023-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Helotes Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1038" title="Personal Property Management and Storage">Personal Property Management and Storage</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Personal_Property_Management_and_Storage.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[The Value of Proper Customer Service]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Value_of_Proper_Customer_Service.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>You just cannot miss them and they are a different breed apart. There is hardly any country, city or shopping mall that does not have them. These people are often indifferent to the shoppers and are more engrossed in their own tasks rather than helping their customers that they are supposed to do. While the old gentleman is trying hard to read the fine print on the label of a particular product the person who has been recruited by the store management for assisting the shoppers is more interested in chatting with his friend. This is not a special store or a scene out of a movie. Bad customer service is a bane which is spoiling the reputation of many reputed malls and shopping centers. Even stand alone stores have a decent quota of them.</p>
<p>While there is no doubt that the salesperson is the first to be blamed in such a scenario, the management too is equally guilty. Yes the word guilty is being used because it is a crime not to attend to the customer who is the king and without whose patronage the store would not be there at all. Halfhearted customer service is the major cause of clients shifting their loyalty from one store to another, and why not? They are wasting their precious time and their hard earned money to purchase a product from a particular shop. They are entitled to the attention of the salespersons that are retained by the store owners for a fixed monthly pay package for attending to their clients. If the salespeople do not shed their careless attitude, not only will the store suffer, they too stand a chance of being chucked. They should remember that once blacklisted, it will be very tough for them to find a job of similar nature.</p>
<p>It is the onus of the store management to impart proper training to their personnel so that they can deliver proper customer service to their clients. If the goods are the body of a shop, the client is the soul and they should be treated like a king. Many salespersons carry over the quarrels from their home to the store. This is not ideal. If you are not feeling up to it, just inform the management and take a leave. Like the single proverbial apple spoiled the entire basket of apples, a hot tempered salesperson can spoil the atmosphere of the entire store.</p>
<p>There are, however, some salespersons who know what high-quality customer service is all about. They know that a satisfied shopper will not only come back to the store, chances are that they might even mention their good qualities to the owner. This can very well bring about a promotion for the salesperson concerned. It is a win-win situation for all. The store benefits from the knowledge that the client will be a repeat visitor, the salesperson will take home a fatter pay package.<br />�<br />Thankfully, with more and more institutes coming up, that specialize in training salespersons about client handling and customer service , the day is not far away when one can see each and every client leaving the store with a smiling face. The old gentleman, who has yet to gauge the right product that he requires, and is still fumbling around the store, will be attended to in a way that a citizen of his age deserves.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-helotis-78023-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Helotes RV Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=555" title="The Value of Proper Customer Service">The Value of Proper Customer Service</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Value_of_Proper_Customer_Service.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Money Saving Tips For Your Vacation]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Money_Saving_Tips_For_Your_Vacation.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Summer is a good time for vacations, and it is usually the time that many people decide to take their time off from work and go on one. A main concern when you are on vacation are rentals for a car. If you are flying somewhere or going on a trip that is long enough to make wear and tear on your own vehicle a concern, this is the option that many people choose. There are many things to watch for, however, when renting a car, if you want to spend the least amount of money possible for the best deals.</p>
<p>Of course, as with many things, weekend rates are usually much cheaper than weekday rates. If at all possible, it is best to try to go with these rates when you are vacationing or using car rentals . Of course it is hard to try to work your entire vacation around this, but if it is in your power, you should definitely opt for weekend. Many times the weekend rates can be as low as half, or even less, of what the week day rates would be. And if you are going to be using your car for a week or more, many companies have even better deals if you go with a weekly plan.</p>
<p>Everyone says to always get insurance when you are driving car rentals . This is true, but only in part. Make sure you know what your personal car insurance covers when it comes to rentals for cars. It could possibly cover something like liability, damage to another person or vehicle in a rented car. This is something that many companies will try to offer you, but you definitely do not want to duplicate coverage and pay double for something you already have through your personal insurance. </p>
<p>Try to book a car early. This seems like a given, but it is easy to put it off and just take for granted that there will be a car available when you need it. Remember that other people will vacation at the same time as you, and other people will be booking ahead. It is best to beat the rush and not procrastinate, especially for something like a vacation where the last thing you want is to be stranded somewhere instead of enjoying yourself.</p>
<p>Many companies offer free upgrades to larger vehicles. This is something you only want to take advantage of if you have a genuine need for a bigger vehicle. If you are only getting it because it is bigger and it is free, think again. It may cost the same as a smaller vehicle at the get go, but you will definitely be paying more in gas most of the time for a larger car, and with gas prices skyrocketing all around the country, this is exactly what you do not need to add more to your vacation expenses.</p>
<p>The last thing you should think of when looking to rent a car is fairly obvious. It is simply to compare, compare, compare! Mostly the internet is the best option for this. It can offer you a multitude of sites for car rentals with competing prices, which is basically a guarantee that you will find something low enough for you to afford. No matter what else you choose to do, this is something you should not forgo.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-helotis-78023-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Helotes Furniture Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=535" title="Money Saving Tips For Your Vacation">Money Saving Tips For Your Vacation</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Money_Saving_Tips_For_Your_Vacation.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Steps To Stress Relief]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Steps_To_Stress_Relief.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Bella had heard somewhere that the majority of healthcare issues had the <strong>root problem of stress</strong>. She knew from personal experience that this was likely to be true, and for a while now she had wanted to do something about it. She decided to take matters into her own hands and start finding ways that she could destress herself and therefore make her life easier.</p>
<p>Of course she knew there were easy ways to unwind, and she wanted to find these out. But she also knew of one big way that would help her. Her father had left his boat to her when she died, and she had been keeping it in boat storage for a couple of years. She thought now would be the perfect time to get it out of boat storage and take it out on the water. Bella loved being on the water, and she thought it was a waste that the object of her possible unwinding could be sitting in boat storage somewhere instead of out being used. So this is exactly what she did. She went to the boat storage company where it was being kept and took it out on the water. Being alone for such an extended time was <strong>therapeutic</strong>. Bella found she could think about anything for any amount of time she wanted. She did not have to feel rushed. And she did not return it to boat storage until the end of the day when she was satisfied that it had done her the utmost good.</p>
<p>Of course, Bella realized that not everyone had the luxury of being a boat owner. There were other ways, of course, to destress. On days when it was too rainy or the weather was clement, Bella found other things she could do to calm herself down from the hubbub of everyday life. She dedicated a room in her house to being simply for <strong>quiet time</strong>, like a library. <strong>No television </strong>or<strong> radio </strong>or<strong> phone</strong> was allowed in this room. <strong>Only books</strong>, <strong>magazines</strong>, and a <strong>CD player</strong> for <strong>quiet and relaxing music</strong>. Bella knew that she could personally get a lot of good out of something this simple, and that other people might only have to think a little bit to come up with something just as relaxing for themselves.</p>
<p>Sometimes, though, Bella felt like something else when she needed to unwind. Sometimes sitting quietly did not seem to do the trick. For these times, she came up with other solutions. Once, she planned a <strong>movie night</strong> with her girlfriends. This gave her <strong>companionship and entertainment</strong>, a great way to forget the stresses of work and anything else, and laugh and converse with others. </p>
<p>Several other times Bella would call up a friend and they would go <strong>play tennis</strong>, or go to the gym and get out their stress in <strong>physical exertion</strong>. Bella found that there was nothing as relaxing as being physically tired at the end of the day, and being able to sink gratefully into her bed at night. Physical tiredness forced her body into sleep, making her mind stop whirring and thinking of finances and other issues at night, a problem Bella sometimes had.</p>
<p>With these and many, many other tips, Bella found that there were unlimited ways to destress yourself in everyday life. Her only problem now was choosing which ones to use, and when.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-austin-78728-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Austin Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=926" title="Steps To Stress Relief">Steps To Stress Relief</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Steps_To_Stress_Relief.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Mystery Shop Providers Tied To Business Practices]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shop_Providers_Tied_To_Business_Practices.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Mystery shoppers providers are the agencies that provide shoppers to shop without getting identified for specific purposes. The purposes can vary from finding out whether the shop employees are behaving well with the customers and whether the store is adequately stored with the articles that the customers are looking for. They are also required to mention about the cleanliness and the service that a customer is getting. This includes even spying on the stores of a rival company to find out why they are getting popular. These shoppers are known by various names and we can even call them undercover shoppers for the nature of their work.</p>
<p>The mystery shoppers providers are getting more and more popular day by day. The companies that are involved in businesses where customer satisfaction is the prime objective are relying more and more on these agencies for evaluation of their shop-floor situation. They are using the findings of these agencies to rectify the flaws in their business attitudes and also taking correctional measures from relaying the stores to training their employees. The employees also benefit as the companies usually reward and even punish them depending on the reports of these findings. So any good performance on part of the employees does not go unnoticed by the shoppers provided by the agencies. On the whole the businesses are getting immensely benefited by the system.</p>
<p>Companies are going on to such an extent that they are requesting the mystery shoppers providers for experienced shoppers to nail rouge franchises. The observations of these shoppers are being accepted as legal evidence by the courts. It simply proves the reliability that the whole process has achieved. Even the financial journals are carrying studies on the method. In spite of criticisms from the statisticians the whole process of shopping in disguise has proved in reality to be one of the best methods of evaluating the real condition of the businesses at the customer end. The system is being treated as snapshots of daily happenings at the stores.</p>
<p>If you want to start a part time career in shopping in disguise then the mystery shoppers providers are the right people to approach. They register the willing persons and then make them pass through a simple test to determine their aptitude for the job. Once you get selected they hand down assignments that you need to complete within a usual period of twenty-four hours. This is not the only time-frame but can vary according to the nature of the assignment. The thing that might interest you is the flexibility of the system. </p>
<p>There are daily assignments given on the website of the mystery shoppers providers . All you need to do is to log on with your identification at your website, find the assignment that suits you best, choose it and then go on to do shopping for which you will be paid later. While doing the shopping you are to keep your eyes and ears open. You will need to observe in details the objects that you have been told to specially watch out for. Then when you return home, just fill up the questionnaire you have been given by your agency and mail it back. The whole process is done over the internet and after successful completion you will be paid through the system that you opted for. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-austin-78728-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Austin Furniture Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1036" title="Mystery Shop Providers Tied To Business Practices">Mystery Shop Providers Tied To Business Practices</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shop_Providers_Tied_To_Business_Practices.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Real Estate Property Managemnet - Managerial Types]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Real_Estate_Property_Managemnet_-_Managerial_Types.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Real estate property management is a complicated task and quite difficult for a single person to handle it. It should be handled by a number of skilled professionals with expertise in their specific areas. The portfolios that are generally assumed to manage properties are as follows. They are the onsite managers, the leasing agent, the tenant representative, the manager of different properties and the portfolio manager. However it has to be borne in mind that in practical work scenario the professionals who are involved in managing the different properties may not stick to the defined job descriptions. There will be a lot of situations where one will overlap the other. </p>
<p>The first professional on the real estate property management team is the onsite manager also called the resident manager. He is the person who looks into the everyday issues of managing different aspects of a property. The onsite management position is usually considered to be at the beginning of the career ladder of jobs that deal with managing of various properties. The onsite manager is usually given accommodation in the premises of the property, whether commercial or residential, that he is managing. This is done to ensure better work efficiency and saving time.&nbsp; He is entrusted with the routine activities of the job that involves management of realty. This includes daily interaction with the house owners and the tenants, collecting the fees from the tenants and performing the routine maintenance jobs.&nbsp; </p>
<p>The real estate property management team includes the leasing agent who is responsible for getting new tenants for a premises and finalizing the tenancy deal. It involves working in a sales profile and does not require one to visit any property premises every day and taking care of the maintenance activities going on there. A leasing manager might be given the responsibility of a single property if it is large and a number of properties if they are small. A junior level leasing manager can be placed under the supervision of an onsite manger while a senior level manager might be placed under the direct supervision of the portfolio manager. The leasing activity can also be taken care of by the onsite manager or the property supervisor without appointing a dedicated leasing agent.&nbsp; </p>
<p>Real estate property management professional under consideration is also the tenant representative. The tenant representative works essentially on the same jobs that a leasing agent does but he takes care of the property related issues from the point of view of the tenant rather than the side of the owner. Tenants occupying commercial premises usually hire them. They assist and advise a prospective tenant in finding a property of their choice and help out in negotiating and finalizing the deal. </p>
<p>The next property professional to be considered is the manager of the property. The manager of the property is also called the realty manager. He takes care of a number of properties. Real estate property management under the supervision of the manager of the property involves visiting each property and looking after how well the management and other property related work is going on in each property. He supervises the onsite manager. He also works as a consultant in formulating management policies and budget plans for properties. He sees to it that the overall expenditure is within the limits of the budget plans. The manager of the property reports to the portfolio manager who is usually considered the highest professional in the team. He is also called an asset manager and he takes care of a large number of properties. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-austin-78728-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Austin RV Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1037" title="Real Estate Property Managemnet - Managerial Types">Real Estate Property Managemnet - Managerial Types</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Real_Estate_Property_Managemnet_-_Managerial_Types.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Be A Family Man and Have A Career Secret Shopping]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Be_A_Family_Man_and_Have_A_Career_Secret_Shopping.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Working in fast food and retail are two of the hardest jobs to have for the money. If you are not at the top of food chain, most people believe that they are not making enough money for the work they do. One of the hardest things about those two professions is the work schedule. If you are a full time associate, that means that you have to mostly have complete open availability in order to be considered for that position. That means that you have to work almost any time they want you to. Some people think it is easier to just be part time. In most cases, as a part time associate, you will be worked more in the time slots that you do not wish to work like the late nights and the weekends. When is there time for yourself or even your family? </p>
<p>Of course there are other professions in which you do not have time to have a life such as those who travel all the time, those in the medical field or most people in upper management. The thing about those people in the fields listed in the sentence above is usually compensated well for what they do. Most retail and fast food environments are not paid as well for what they do. Most times the people in the fields above or not so nice to the retail and fast food workers. It could be due to the lack of respect or just a lower feeling of accomplishment. </p>
<p>One profession that some people are getting into that is less stressful in a lot of different ways is those involved in secret shopping services . Most people having a job in secret shopping services are well respected also. These are the people that big and small companies hire in order to make improvements. </p>
<p>Being in secret shopping services is usually low stress, but that all usually depends on the clients that you serve. Typically most people work the nine to five time slots and have the weekends off. That is like most state jobs. You get paid to visit a local restaurant or retail environment and inquire about purchasing their services or products. Sometimes those shops are done on the phone and you do not have the stress of making that face to face appearance. Not all people involved in secret shopping services can completely give their selves to their acting job if they have to make their shop in person. Making a shop on the phone, after you hear what you need to hear, you can simply hang up the phone. There are many companies that just want the shoppers to listen and report the quality they receive from associates within their company. </p>
<p>The secret shopping services businesses are well respected because what they report back to the company can carry a lot of weight to the owner. There is no way for the owners or managers to hear what their employees say that is why having a company that provides secret shopping services is crucial to your business. There have been many examples of how these different shopping companies have recorded the employees of the companies shopped for and they were not pretty. There have been such examples some employees thinking they are being shopped and give the performance of a lifetime, to the employees knowing that they were being shopped somehow, and they beg the shopper not to turn their report into their manager. Now of course, the shopper never reveals themselves as a shopper, but sometimes the employees think they have got it figured out. </p>
<p>When it comes down to it, people involved in secret shopping services are important and well respect in a lot of different avenues. They usually have a good time doing their job and they see and spend time with their families often. So let us put it to the test. Who is the one that is on top? The one that makes hundreds of thousands of dollars and never sees the light of day, and are totally stressed out, or is the person that is less stressed, spends tons of time with their family and does not hurt for money? Things that make you go hmmm. </p>
<p><a href="http://texas-austin-78728-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Austin Boat Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=554" title="Be A Family Man and Have A Career Secret Shopping">Be A Family Man and Have A Career Secret Shopping</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Be_A_Family_Man_and_Have_A_Career_Secret_Shopping.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Selling Your House In A Buyers Market]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Selling_Your_House_In_A_Buyers_Market.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>With economy the way it is today, and houses on the real estate market becoming more and more difficult to sell, there are plenty of things to consider when putting your house up for sale and deciding what improvements are worth it, and which ones are not.</p>
<p>Some say that the real key to selling your house fastest is the pricing, and this is probably close to the truth in most cases. Of course, obviously if you price your house low enough, you will undoubtedly find someone who will buy it, and usually fairly soon. With real estate these days, you have to be careful not to get too greedy. Try to stay realistic and focused on the true value of your house and what you may reasonably get for it. Work closely with a real estate agent to decide what you should initially price your house at. Of course, ideally you will want to price your house so that you at least come out on top when you sell, and make enough money to make up for any expense you put into it when fixing it up for the market. This is why you have to be careful from the get go when you are fixing your house up to begin with. Consider first, not last, what you will get for your house if you make certain improvements, and then go from there. If it looks like you may come out badly, you might have no other choice but to chop down your improvement list and revise it into a more modest one.</p>
<p>Many people make the mistake of wanting to price their home for what they believe it is worth, without taking anything else into consideration. Of course one of the major rules of real estate is location. This is not just a fun phrase that agents use, but is a harsh reality. You may have a house that is every penny worth 150,000 dollars, but if it is in a questionable neighborhood or close to a problematic or doubtful neighborhood, you may have to resign yourself to the fact that you will never get more than 99,000 out of it, no matter what grand improvements you had in mind for it.</p>
<p>It helps to do your homework as well. Research other houses within your neighborhood or community that are comparable to your house. If you really want to get in depth, you might even get a little dirty and request showings of these houses, undercover of course. When you have compiled a list of comparable houses and properties within your town or community, undercut the competition. If the houses are an average of 200,000 dollars, price yours at 195,000. Just this simple rule of psychology can do wonders for the number of people who will request to see your house over one almost identical that is priced just slightly higher.</p>
<p>Lastly, consider getting a home warranty. Many people selling their home balk at this, thinking it is a waste expense. After all, who wants to spend their money on a house they have sold and moved out of already? In fact, on strangers? But there are a surprising amount of legitimate, thorough and cheap home warranty programs in real estate today if you look for them. This will attract people to your house like bees to honey, because they will know that going to this measure means you have confidence in the ability of your home to please them even after you have vacated it for good.</p>
<p><a href="http://texas-austin-78728-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Austin Car Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=534" title="Selling Your House In A Buyers Market">Selling Your House In A Buyers Market</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Selling_Your_House_In_A_Buyers_Market.html</guid>
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<item>
	<title><![CDATA[Keep Your Furniture Free From Scratches and Dents]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Keep_Your_Furniture_Free_From_Scratches_and_Dents.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Where do you put your car when you are not using it? Seems like a dumb question to ask. But many people have different answers to this question. Some people use a car port, their driveway or even the garage. Not everyone has the same answer to all the questions that are out there. Just like when families are trying to do different things with their house and they cannot come to the same conclusion. </p>
<p>Fortunately, when it comes to finding somewhere to store, the option is easy. You just pick the one that best fits your individual needs. Oh wait, which one is that one? </p>
<p>Well when it comes to furniture storage , there are many different reasons and ways to use the space. Every facility might have different policies and procedures for using furniture storage . You might see people using furniture storage to clean out the big pieces out of their house, to move from one location to another or to eventually sell. These are only a couple of reason.</p>
<p>In this current market, sometimes the little things you do get you a big reward in dealing with selling your home. The rule of thumb is that you have to ensure that you create as much open space as you can in order to show how much room the next owners can have. So what many people do is move the large pieces of furniture out of the house and put it into a storing place. They are well kept there and then when the house is sold they can go in to their unit and pick up their belongings.</p>
<p>When moving from location to location, sometimes you have to look for furniture storage in order to make the transition easier. Some people keep the nicer of the pieces in a storing place in until they finally settle down. By moving furniture over and over again, you can risk damaging them especially when dropping them. Plus no one wants to keep pick up and putting down these large pieces in one area then moving them again. Most people can not see how people want to be professional movers having to move the belongings of other people. Most people do not want to move their own stuff.</p>
<p>Some people use a storing room because they are trying to sell some furniture. They do not want every day living to hinder the way their furniture looks or feels for the new owners. This is more common than people think. Many people store things in order to keep them safe until they can sell them. </p>
<p>Now make sure that when are storing your furniture that you know what kind of environment it will be in. If you are in the middle of an up and down temperature area, you might want to look at a space in which the climate can be controlled. Most spaces like that are available in your area if you look hard enough. If you believe that you can store your furniture in a place like your garage and it will be fine, then you will most likely save on your monthly bill. Just make sure that if you are going to use furniture storage that you have done your research and you know the risks and rewards of using this service. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-hollis-11423-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Hollis Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=925" title="Keep Your Furniture Free From Scratches and Dents">Keep Your Furniture Free From Scratches and Dents</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Keep_Your_Furniture_Free_From_Scratches_and_Dents.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Managing Real Estate With Property Management]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Managing_Real_Estate_With_Property_Management.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Commercial property management consists of managing the buildings used for business purposes. This includes taking care of the activities of office complexes, shopping centers, hotels, restaurants and other places of commercial activity. These special kinds of investors buy a commercial property to start of with their business activities right away or they lease it out for long or short periods of time according to the requirement. The leasing is usually done through a realty broker. Commercial property should not be confused with industrial property. It assumes a place between the residential and industrial properties. </p>
<p>Properties are generally zoned to ensure better jurisdiction. When the business investor wants to build a new commercial structure at a specific place, the first thing that the jurisdiction of that zone will consider is, if the property really falls within a commercial area. If one is not aware of these rules one can take the expert advice of commercial property management teams to give an idea of the residential, commercial and industrial property zones. Otherwise they can refer to city maps that are specifically available for these purposes. </p>
<p>Commercial property should be built in a dedicated zone for commercial activity as this will help in keeping the residential areas peaceful. A commercial building in an industrial area can be quite painful for the people who work in the commercial building because of the noise and air pollution in the industrial areas. However, sometimes it happens that a commercial building like a restaurant or a grocery store is built in a purely residential area to provide amenities to the residents. In this case a given property is being used in a mixed manner. It is up to the commercial property management team to see to it that commercialization of a residential area does not rob the area of its essence, peace and tranquility. </p>
<p>At the place where a commercial site is built it should be taken care of that the traffic that is directed to that site does not create any hassles to the smooth transportation in that area. The traffic visiting the commercial site should be efficiently provided with parking spaces, diverted in and diverted out from the vicinity of the commercial building. </p>
<p>The investor will be granted permission without any hassles if the property that he is interested in building a commercial site falls in the commercial property zone. In case the concerned area extends to a residential or industrial area then the interested investor should take a special permission called a variance to go beyond the prescribed boundaries of the commercial property area. The commercial property management team sometimes treats commercial property the way it would treat residential property. </p>
<p>Commercial property is advertised for in the same way one would advertise for residential property. The commercial property management team can plant signs at the property sites showing the intended size of the commercial structure. They can also arrange for selling out or renting out portions of the property if the owner wishes so. The team can also take steps to improve a property site by marking the uneven areas, cleaning the entire site and removing all unwanted growth of plants. Many times a shrewd realtor buys a commercial property just to use it as a resource to increase his income at the right time. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-hollis-11423-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Hollis Car Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1034" title="Managing Real Estate With Property Management">Managing Real Estate With Property Management</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Managing_Real_Estate_With_Property_Management.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Finding Income In A Recession]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Finding_Income_In_A_Recession.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>While the entire world is reeling due to financial crunches and business houses are looking towards means to reduce their expenses, there is one industry that is forging ahead by leaps and bounds. Over the past few years organizations that employ people to keep an eye on their businesses have become very popular with the masses. Many people are being lured into this industry which provides them with additional income along with the free stuff that is a part and parcel of the job. No doubt, there is tremendous competition for getting such a job opportunity, since it provides an avenue to earn extra money. While some people join this industry for a few weeks and then leave, there are some who are serious and take it up as a whole time job. For this a registration process is required and on completing the same one becomes a legitimate secret shopper .</p>
<p>If someone applies directly with the organization that deals with such jobs, they can get enrolled without paying application fees that are required to qualify as a legitimate secret shopper . Those who are interested in pursuing such a career should have good socializing capabilities along with excellent communication skills. There is no restriction on the type of person who can pursue such a career. Regardless of age and gender, anybody can join this industry. If you are a self employed person or businessman, if you are retired or a homemaker, it makes no difference. Socializing and communication skills are what the employers look for when they are recruiting people for this industry. Past experience is no big deal and you do not have to provide any special educational degrees in order to secure employment in this industry.</p>
<p>The application fees that are required to become a legitimate secret shopper can be bypassed if one gets themselves enrolled through organizations that offer legal surveyors to business houses. These organizations have a simple form on their website which requires a few minutes to fill up. Interested persons can visit these websites and fill up the form and get themselves employed. However one should be careful while filling up the form, since an incomplete form will lead to rejection. Apart from name, address and email id, the employer might also ask the applicant about their marital status, race and age along with some other personal details. Some of them also ask the applicant about the number of languages they are conversant with.</p>
<p>Once this process of registration is done with the legitimate secret shopper , he will be informed by his employer about the countless surveying jobs that are available. This information is sent via email. These organizations even help the applicants by training them for the job. If you think that there are some jobs that interests you, reply back via email immediately. It is important to know that these jobs are given to the applicants on first come first served basis. Hence the first person who applies for a particular job will bag the same.</p>
<p>Apart from the job which gives them the chance to interact with different kinds of people, the legitimate secret shopper also has the opportunity to purchase goods for free. Do not be surprised if you are provided cash to watch the latest movie and then enjoy dinner. Enjoy the treat but do not forget to mention the hospitality or lack of the same when you sit down to make the report.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-hollis-11423-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Hollis Boat Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1035" title="Finding Income In A Recession">Finding Income In A Recession</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Finding_Income_In_A_Recession.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[How The Mystery Shopper Helps Your Business]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_The_Mystery_Shopper_Helps_Your_Business.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>There is an area of darkness which is felt by most establishments. They just do not know how their employers are working and how dedicated they are to the establishment. These establishments can range from department stores, amusement parks, restaurants, jewelry store, toy store and even the grocery store. These organizations depend upon the mystery shopper to help them with the task of keeping an eye on their staff. It is not feasible for these organizations to keep one more person on their payroll as a full time employee. Even if they did so, it would not be long before the other workers discover that the new person is a secret agent. An errant staff would never do anything wrong in their presence.</p>
<p>A mystery shopper is a person hired by an organization to keep an eye on their employees. Apart from this there are various other tasks that are allotted to these spies. Business houses especially departmental stores like to know which products are moving fast and which are not. It is imperative that the popular goods are displayed prominently instead of being stashed in the rear of the display rack. There are quite a number of employees who just do not bother to put such merchandise up front and these results in the loss of sales. A client is not expected to hunt around for popular items and it is up to the employees of the store to display the same prominently.</p>
<p>When a new product is launched, it is important for the manufacturer to know how the market is responding to the same. No doubt, online surveys can be conducted but for that to be successful, the end users need to know about the survey. This is a lengthy process and the time wasted on the same is not worth it. It works out cheaper for the manufacturers to employ a mystery shopper and send them to different outlets where the product has been launched. These spies mingle with the crowd and gauge their reaction about the product. Different people may have different views about the product, both positive and negative.</p>
<p>It is the job of the mystery shopper to interact with the shoppers and find out their views about the newly launched product in a manner that does not create suspicion. They will walk up to one shopper and initiate a chat with them regarding the product. A well trained spy should act just like another shopper and will not create any doubt in the mind of the person they are talking with. This helps the other person to open up to him and give their frank opinion. There are times when a person might air negative opinion about a product because they might be biased against the company that is manufacturing the same.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, the mystery shopper makes a note of whatever they have observed through the course of the day. The information is filled up into special forms provided by their employer. After a week or as specified by the employer, these surveyors submit all the data to their employers. Contrary to popular belief, this job is not easy, but it pays decent money. Apart from that, special incentives are given to the spies who help the organizations to rectify their flaws.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-hollis-11423-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Hollis Furniture Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=553" title="How The Mystery Shopper Helps Your Business">How The Mystery Shopper Helps Your Business</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/How_The_Mystery_Shopper_Helps_Your_Business.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Ease the Pain of Divorce - Rent Near Your Family]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Ease_the_Pain_of_Divorce_-_Rent_Near_Your_Family.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>When Rich and Debi decided to get a divorce, they of course considered what the cost would be to their children, both short term and long term. They knew that divorce can cause serious problems and issues that extend far into adulthood, and though they wanted to proceed with the divorce, they also knew they wanted to reduce these ill effects on their two children, Anna and Libby, as much as possible.</p>
<p>The first step they took to make it easier on their children was to sit down, as a family together, and talk about the situation. In many cases, parents do not even realize the importance of such a simple gesture. If the children of a divorce see the parents trying in unison, in a calm way, to explain what is happening, it makes the children have an initial feeling of at least a tiny bit of security, even if in many other ways they are falling apart. If, on the other hand, one of the parents takes the children aside behind the others back, this is a very underhanded way to begin a process that is already difficult enough, and children such as Anna and Libby, who are very observant, do not miss much, and will know that the situation is very unstable. In turn they will feel unstable and much more vulnerable as well.</p>
<p>Rich began looking for homes for rent in the area. He knew that when he began the process of finding homes for rent that he might be interested in, he only wanted to look at those homes for rent that were in the general vicinity of where Debi would be living with the children. Rich knew that being near his daughters would make a big impact on how they felt. If his options of homes for rent to choose from had been somewhere far removed from his children, who would be staying the majority of the time with Debi, he realized this could cause a feeling of abandonment to open up in his daughters. After his search of homes for rent in the area, he found one that was small and comfortable, and met the needs he had for when his daughters came to visit him.</p>
<p>Another step, perhaps one of the most important, in helping their children cope with the divorce, was that Rich and Debi wanted them to open up as much as possible. Bottled up feelings are no good in any situation, especially one such as this. Both parents urged their daughters to speak what was on their mind, even if they thought it would be hurtful. Because in the end, it would help everyone to know where everyone else stood. And more importantly, it would relieve a burden from the childrens chests that they could potentially carry far into adulthood, thus causing problems with future relationships.</p>
<p>Debi knew that telling her girls it would all be all right, and everything was fine, was not being fair to them. She was as honest as she could be about the situation, without saying things that would frighten Anna and Libby, or cause them any unnecessary feeling of instability. Also, she decided to take the girls to a counselor who worked with families going through divorce, to have an objective professional who might have more tips or strategies to helping her children cope with the situation.</p>
<p>All in all, divorce is a horrible situation, for parents, and especially for any children involved. But like any horrible situation, it is possible to find ways to make it a little better.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-hollis-11423-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Hollis RV Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=533" title="Ease the Pain of Divorce - Rent Near Your Family">Ease the Pain of Divorce - Rent Near Your Family</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Ease_the_Pain_of_Divorce_-_Rent_Near_Your_Family.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[A Road Trip To Heal Your Marriage]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/A_Road_Trip_To_Heal_Your_Marriage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Many people discover some way into their married life, perhaps after their children are grown up, that they really do not have much of a marriage at all. This is what happened to Leon and Jane when they had been married 22 years. They were still young, only in their mid 40s, and still active in many areas. The problem was that they were active in separate areas, and their interests have gone separate ways through the years without either of them noticing it.</p>
<p>They knew they had to do something now that one of their children was married and the other was in college. They were at the house together alone most of the time now, when they were not at work, and they needed something that they both took great interest in. Something that would throw them together in a common way and, in a way, restart their marriage.</p>
<p>Leon had the idea to buy a recreational vehicle, and begin going on trips together. At first, Jane was a little apprehensive. She knew that something like this was a huge expense, and she was concerned about where they would put it. Leon looked up rv storage online and found many rv storage sites that could possibly meet their needs if they decided to buy one. Jane was very surprised and happy with the rv storage options that they came across, and she decided that if there was rv storage like this available, it might make it worth it to buy one after all.</p>
<p>So, they did end up getting a recreational vehicle that year, and taking many trips in it. They soon found that it worked wonders for their marriage. First of all, they spent much more time together than they had previously done. The long trips they took made for hours of time that they could talk about anything and everything, in a way getting to know each other again. The complications they came across when they first bought the vehicle were hectic and troublesome, but working on them together made them form a common bond, and gave them something to talk and laugh about later on, after it was over.</p>
<p>When they were out on their trips, they began forming common interests once again, as they had done when they were dating and first married so many years ago. Jane found that she had a lot of the same interests that Leon did. She had almost forgotten that she liked to fish, and when Leon brought out the fishing poles on their first trip, they had a great time fishing together and spending quality time together, along, without children or anyone else around. Leon, in turn, found that he liked many of the things Jane had always taken an interest in. Jane had always loved hiking and walking long distances. She found the scenery lovely and the exercise very energizing and almost therapeutic. Leon took walks with her on the trails at the parks they would go to in their vehicle, and found that he loved hiking as well. </p>
<p>This and many other things gave them the much needed chance to really do that thing they had always needed, which was simply spending time together and reforming interests in each others interests. And with the worry of rv storage eliminated, they both found they could enjoy the trips and each other with no reservations, putting their marriage back on track.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=924" title="A Road Trip To Heal Your Marriage">A Road Trip To Heal Your Marriage</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/A_Road_Trip_To_Heal_Your_Marriage.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Mystery Shopper Reviews For Newcomers]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopper_Reviews_For_Newcomers.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Mystery shopper reviews are good for finding out about the job and all those things that the companies would never tell. Such reviews can be based on the experiences of the hired shoppers, experience of the clients as well as news matters involving the shopping industry. If you are planning to become a shopper in disguise or already have begun taking assignments, these reviews would be of much help.</p>
<p>Mystery shopper reviews by the hired shoppers are a good source of actual on the spot report as they write the reviews from their own experience. As a novice, you can gain a lot from these reviews. They often describe the whole process in detail and even mark the spots where they made mental notes of the happenings and what were the matters they made notes of. Sometimes the reports are exaggerated and the whole process seems a dream walk, though in reality it may be not be so. But these are there in all reviews. How many reviews are fair these days? Moreover, you will also find some descriptions of the job where a shopper goes on shopping for three or four stores at one go. It is not that it is impossible but better not try it out in your initial days. You must keep in mind that you must make a fair judgment and too much information may clutter your mind and may influence your report.</p>
<p>Sometimes the mystery shopper reviews are provided by independent agencies. Look out for them. These are the sites that give you the truth in some respect. Most often these sites have not much to do with the shopping business in particular but they actually review sites and services related to various jobs. Some truth that emerges from these sites is that in most of the cases the shopping sites that swarm the net are of very poor standard. They are either frauds or if they are at all doing business, they score very poorly in the fields of service towards the customers, site maintenance and do not provide any money back guarantee in case of dissatisfaction. But do not get disheartened. These sites also give you the reviews of the legitimate sites. They even rate them for your convenience and the ratings are done over various counts. You can also view detailed reports on these chosen sites for a deeper judgment.</p>
<p>When going through mystery shopper reviews , look out for the details that they provide. You can get answers to a number of your queries. While reviewing, they often mention the payment structures of various companies and you can get an idea of the range of payment that you can expect while doing the job of a shopper in disguise. You will also get to know that various large retail chains appoint disguised shoppers to review their outlets and identify the companies that generally bag the contracts. You can then try to get associated with these companies.</p>
<p>Mystery shopper reviews also help you to look out for the signs that help you identify a good shopping agency that hires shoppers. They often review point to point and check out if the sites are covering all of these points. Then they go on detailing how well these points are covered by the sites. So look out for these reviews because all these add up to a clear picture that you will surely want to get before registering with any service, that provides the services of hired shoppers.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Boat Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1033" title="Mystery Shopper Reviews For Newcomers">Mystery Shopper Reviews For Newcomers</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopper_Reviews_For_Newcomers.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Community Residential Management Services]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Community_Residential_Management_Services.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Before going in details on condominium property management one first needs to understand what condominium actually means. Condominium actually comes from two Latin words meaning individuality and commonality. It carries the whole essence of the nature of living where one person lives in an individual self owned unit but is a part of a larger community sharing some common facilities like lifts, car parking spaces, gardens, corridors, roofs, etc. The concept of condominium living is no modern development. The concept dates back to the days of Roman Empire when the citizens lived in individual dwellings but shared the common facilities for greater safety and security.</p>
<p>Any condominium needs to be properly managed for achieving the goals for which a person opts for condominium living. Mismanagement would never give the sense of safety or security one dreams of. If you are one of those people who lives in a condominium you are bound to find some thing or the other in which you know practically nothing and this ignorance would feel heavier on you if you happen to be a member of the board of directors of a condominium. You will have to be aware of the rules as well as keep updated with the changing legislations. You will also be responsible for the financial health of the condominium and its physical health will be your immediate headache. You are sure not to be the expert in handling all these things together.</p>
<p>Condominium property management is the answer. Managing a condominium is becoming a highly skilled job with the increase in the number of rules, regulations, facilities, services, etc. Since a body of residents is not qualified enough to look after each and every matter of legal and financial importance or for that matter everyday requirements from the changing of light bulbs to replacing a faulty valve, they need a person or an agency to take over. A manager is engaged specially for the person, either as an individual or as an agency.</p>
<p>The greatest advantages of condominium property management can be felt in the administrative and financial sides of condominium life. On the administrative side, periodic assessments of the property are provided by the managers for the information and action of the directors. They maintain the calendar of events of the association, draw up agenda and minutes of association meetings, provide secretarial services and also provide status reports of all the ongoing works of the society.</p>
<p>They also arrange for and secure competitive bids for any major contract work of the society. This kind of management function also covers matters related to insurance and also preparing papers and attending court proceedings if the need arises. A very important but time consuming matter that condominium property management takes care of is the financial matters of a condominium. Maintaining the accounts of a society is a very laborious job and needs utmost care. It is not always possible for the members of the board of directors as this is almost a round the clock job. This kind of management takes care of it beautifully.</p>
<p>Since the managers are a trained lot it is not very difficult for them to skillfully maintain the accounts. When employing a manager you are not only ensured monthly and a yearly report on the financial health of your condominium but also suggestions to improve it. Finally, condominium property management means emergency response at hand twenty-four hours a day all the year round for all the amenities that brought you to the condominium way of life.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Car Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1032" title="Community Residential Management Services">Community Residential Management Services</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Community_Residential_Management_Services.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Building An Effective Secret Shopping Program]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Building_An_Effective_Secret_Shopping_Program.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The owner of the restaurant noticed his feedbacks from some of his customers were dissatisfied with the quality of service they received from some of the waitresses. They found the survey cards went from the extreme on the scale. Either the customer was very satisfied with their service or they expressed a need for better service. So the owner decides to hire a company to help his services. They should determine the best secret shopping company to hire to get the results they need.</p>
<p>How can a secret shopping company help you improve quality service? Many companies are hiring these companies to do research from the actual customer point of view. These companies send shoppers on an assigned shop to pose as a customer. The shopper performs various tasks as required by the owner. They ask predetermined questions, evaluate the friendliness and responsiveness of the service or waitress, and the cleanliness of the business. They detect where improvements can be made with staff performance and work ethics. </p>
<p>Research of each secret shopping company you interview before hiring them. Each company is different. Compare fees, assignments and the companys reputation. A legitimate organization will employ top quality researchers to work for their clients. They take researching seriously and provide these services to all businesses with the customers best interest in mind. Be aware of scam companies </p>
<p>Ask questions of the secret shopping company before hiring them. How long have they been in business? How many clients do they currently have? What are the other types of industries they serve? Read the feedback from other businesses that have used their services.</p>
<p>The restaurant owner hired a company to do some evaluating for them. The company had a good reputation with many well known clients. The shoppers they sent on the assignments were prompt in their evaluations. But how does the business owner know the shopping program will help improve service? </p>
<p>Make sure your program is actually helping you to improve your business by asking yourself a few questions. </p>
<p>Is your return on investment clear? Can you see how the money you invested in the program is directly affecting your sales and profits? Data and analysis should be top quality and the reports and feedback should answer all your questions immediately. What good is the data if you cannot understand how to implement the changes?</p>
<p>Is the program teaching more about your business than what you currently know or can easily find out? An expertly designed, professional program will offer quality, beneficial suggestions and numerous possible solutions through out the entire analysis program.</p>
<p>Is the provider sending in page after page of unexplained data, increasing your paperwork? A good shopping company will not bombard you with stacks of meaningless data. Each report will be detailed to help the owner set up a strategic plan for making positive changes in their business. </p>
<p>Are the scores adding up? Do all forms of your assessment plans come up with the same data? Is your shopping program in line with what the customer surveys are showing? If surveys show satisfaction with service while your evaluators assessment differ, you might need to reevaluate your program providers.</p>
<p>There are many more questions you should ask if you believe your secret shopping company is costing you more than it is helping you. After all you hired these companies to help you improve your customer satisfaction by provided real customer feedback. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Furniture Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=552" title="Building An Effective Secret Shopping Program">Building An Effective Secret Shopping Program</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Building_An_Effective_Secret_Shopping_Program.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Maintenance For Quality Living]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Maintenance_For_Quality_Living.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Building maintenance is very important for providing a quality environment in a home or housing complex. Regular maintenance and repair is an imperative requirement for any structural, mechanical, utility and electrical infrastructure. The general health and performance of a building depends on its quality of maintenance. When a building grows old, with use or misuse and exposure to the environmental factors the infrastructure gets affected. There is a depreciation of the building quality with regular wear and tear. So it is wise decision to monitor your building from time to time by an expert professional and get his opinion. </p>
<p>Structural audit is the first round of technical survey required for building maintenance . It assesses the general health of a building as a civil engineering structure. It is the commencement of the first step for repair. You can compare this to the periodic health checkup eventually suggested for older people. It is generally estimated that if the building is 15 to 30 years old, a structural audit must be carried out once in 5 years. The buildings which are even older than 30 years the audit should be carried out once in 3 years. But if you suppose that the condition of your building is not very good you can call for the service of a registered civil engineer even earlier. </p>
<p>There are professionals who can be engaged to carry out the survey for building maintenance on a regular basis. It is better to get rid of a problem in an early stage rather than an advanced stage. This will help to prevent further damage or any kind of unpleasant or an unprecedented incident. Also early detection of a problem will involve less costly repair. This structural safeguarding includes specific services with professionals of different streams. Different sections for repairing involves carpentry, cabinet, electric, plumbing, structural maintenance and repair, steam, environmental systems maintenance, electronic controls, paint, lock, estimating and work control.</p>
<p>The consultant first carries out as a visual survey of the building thoroughly starting from its faces, stilts, staircase, terrace, flats, shops and ancillary structures such as pump room, compound wall, etc. Repair history of the building and specific observations are also noted. Critical observations, probable causes of distress, remarks on structural health and recommendations are then given for proper building maintenance . Also one must consult an expert to find out if their house is safe from termites and other rodents. You will not even know and termites can totally destroy your house. Also remember that before you buy a house, show it to an expert to find out about the structural infrastructure, so that you can be aware about the kind of maintenance you may require in future.</p>
<p>Always ask for additional proof of sound structure before you purchase a flat. If you look at a house or any building you may not understand if there is any internal damage involved n it. You may have to spend a lot on repair if you are not aware of it. So hiring a building maintenance expert when you go to see a house can in a way help you find out how strong the building is or how much repair it can cost. You can find out how much the house is really worth. You can also bargain the price of the house in case you know that the house needs repairs.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn RV Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=532" title="Maintenance For Quality Living">Maintenance For Quality Living</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Maintenance_For_Quality_Living.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Commercial and Private Wine Storage]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Commercial_and_Private_Wine_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Sometimes it is great for you and your significant other to go out and enjoy a lovely night together. You can take the opportunity to drop off the kids at the babysitter and get all dressed up for your night out. Where do you go to but to a restaurant you have not been to before or a place in which you have not been to in a while? This night out together is what you have been waiting for a long time now. </p>
<p>You get to the restaurant where you plan to have your wonderful night and you find your seat. You have the opportunity to look over the menu and your mouth waters over the different entrees and deserts that could soon be in front of you. Finally, the server comes to your table and asks you if you would like to have a drink along with your dinner. Naturally, most people decline, but might decided to partake of some later. </p>
<p>Have you ever wondered how most restaurants like the example above have some place to store their alcoholic beverages? Some restaurants have wine storage in an area of their place or in the basement. They have a special place for it so that they are able to serve it to the public. But where do they get their back up supply?</p>
<p>When you are trying to create the perfect wine storage area, you have to understand the way some people or businesses have their alcoholic beverages stored now. Some people use storing facilities that have an area, which is dark, and have a constant temperature. Wine is a natural, perishable food product. Left exposed to heat, light, vibration or fluctuations in temperature and humidity, all types of wine, including red, white, and sparkling can spoil. When properly stored, wines not only maintain their quality but many actually improve in aroma, flavor, and complexity as they get older.</p>
<p>A great wine storage area should be kept at a temperature between 7 and 18 degrees Celsius which is 45 and 65 degrees Faherenhiet. Temperatures kept around 13 degrees Celsius or 55 degrees Fahernhiet, much like some natural cave environments, are ideal for both short term and long term aging for all type of this alcholic beverage. Understand that it generally matures differently and more slowly at the lower temperatures than it does at the hight temperatures. Between 10 to 14 degrees Celsius, or 50 to 57 degrees Farenheit, this alcoholic beverage will age normally.</p>
<p>Many people take their storing of this somewhat expensive beverage very seriously. Some use rental facilities that have their high dollar belongings under high servelance. Depending on how large your collection is, you woiuld have one facilitiy house your precious bottles stored underground. Only you know how important and how much you want to pay for wine storage .</p>
<p>From restaurants to private owners, wine storage is important to many people. It has to be stored in the most ideal locations in order to mature, add flavor and aroma. Some say the older this bevarage is, the better the taste. Also, the larger and older you collection, the higher your social status. Some make fortunes off of their collection. Some people, as most americans, just have a humble collect that they partake of daily. There are many options for you depending on who large you want your collection to be. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Car Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=923" title="Commercial and Private Wine Storage">Commercial and Private Wine Storage</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Commercial_and_Private_Wine_Storage.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[The Truth About A Secret Shopper Job]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Truth_About_A_Secret_Shopper_Job.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Thanks to inflation and the ever rising prices of crude oil, there are few industries that have been able to avoid regression, but there are a number of industrial segments which have been growing in spite of several odds. Of the few industries that have been able to fight with inflation and have been able to forge ahead are the organizations that employ people to keep a lookout on shops, malls and other businesses. If you are interested to be associated with one of those rare industries that are booming when others are finding it hard to meet ends, then you should seek out for a secret shopper job .</p>
<p>There are a few things which you should be aware of before you take on a secret shopper job . There are many people who think that this particular type of employment can make them rich overnight, and they should not be blamed. There are lots of ads in the newspapers and the internet which promises riches overnight to those who are willing to work in the role of a paid spy. If you are joining such an organization, you should be aware that this type of work generally offers, on an average, 30 dollars per assignment. Of course, you do get a few things for free, but it is nothing worth boasting about.</p>
<p>Advertising agencies paid by these organizations come up with classy ads just to snare new people into this type of work. You have seen the dresses worn by the models and the huge bags they are carrying, supposedly full of goods that they have got for free while going about their secret shopper job . Be cautious, for these images rarely portray the truth. Just consider a few facts. If this industry was booming as much as is claimed, then the chances are bright that one of your friends or relatives, or their friends, are employed by this industry. If they are, just ask them and you shall find out the truth. There are a number of people who are taken in by the advertisements and start day dreaming. They think that this job is all about fun and freedom, whilst the reality is totally different.</p>
<p>If you are interested in a pursuing a secret shopper job as a part time career, then it may be perfect. You should keep in mind that you should have experience about client service, writing skills and have the ability to communicate. Apart from this you need to be patient and punctual too. Many people think this job is of the type that they can enjoy and have fun while going about it. You can be rest assured that while there is an aura of fun about it, it is not at all what you see portrayed in the ads. </p>
<p>A secret shopper job is as serious as any other job. There is no doubt that this industry is booming, despite the inflation and other factors, but if you look at it from the other end of the spectrum you will see that it is not at all as cheerful as it makes itself out to be. At the end of the day you will return home totally exhausted and there are remote chances that you will have the smile on your face as is portrayed by the models in the ads.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Boat Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1031" title="The Truth About A Secret Shopper Job">The Truth About A Secret Shopper Job</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/The_Truth_About_A_Secret_Shopper_Job.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Bargain Real Estate Investments]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Bargain_Real_Estate_Investments.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Real Estate Investment is nowadays considered as a major case of capital budgeting. It can generate the future stream of income by using state-of-the-art investment analysis. Realty is an immovable property like land and everything which is permanently attached to it, like buildings. The investment in such assets also comes along with the risks associated with it. Investment in property can be an attractive business opportunity. It can generate good amount of income. It can also be used as collateral to secure a loan for a business venture. It can even offset otherwise taxable income through cash savings on tax-deductible interest rate losses. </p>
<p>Real estate investment is also connected by means of appreciation with the value of property and thereby has the potential for capital gains. Nowadays there are several sites that provide you information on these markets and the profitability trends. These days investment in properties has attracted a lot of people. This is because prospects of acquiring assets are increasing day after day. Some people have multiple pieces of land, one of which he uses as his residence and others are given to tenants which generates the income. The realty markets share the same kind of hype as seen in a stock market. </p>
<p>In Real estate investment a prime property is defined by its location and marketability. Like a building situated in the heart of the city is easily accessible by all and has all basic facilities nearby like transport and restaurants. Such properties are always priced at a very high rate. So if you plan to invest in a prime property, you must own sufficient resources to purchase and also maintain it. The prices of prime properties in commercial areas are always on the rise. This is because of the increasing economic activities and business transactions all over the globe. Today, any kind of investment in these properties is considered to be the best financial option for any individual.</p>
<p>In Real estate investment non prime properties are those which are not located in principal areas but are promising in terms of business opportunities. You must also pay equal importance to non prime properties. A non prime property may suddenly become a prime property later due to many factors, like sudden demand, or some other resources available in the place. Properties in residential areas also have an upward trend with regards to increase in price. Always keep in mind that unless you are confident regarding a prime property in a commercial locality to fetch you the income, it is not advisable to invest.</p>
<p>Real estate investment in purchasing a resale or short sale is the best option today, keeping in mind the recent market. This offers quick ownership and there is no waiting for your home to be built. The availability of resale or short-sale properties changes daily. Good resale properties will not generally be on the market long. So look out for a good bargain is there is a possibility. But a true bargain in a prime location is very difficult to find. Also remember that there is also lot of risks in the realty market, and if you are investing in the market you should be aware of the risks involved. You need to be extremely cautious because there are always such sellers who will try to please the estate agents and buyers by claiming unrealistic promises and inflating the prices. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11217-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn RV Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=531" title="Bargain Real Estate Investments">Bargain Real Estate Investments</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Bargain_Real_Estate_Investments.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[What You Need For Car Storage]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/What_You_Need_For_Car_Storage.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Dude, where is my car? The only person that would know the answer to that question would be you. Some of you have heard this phrase in a movie or have heard it as part of a joke from your friends. However, some people really have this problem. Where can they put their car if they go somewhere in which they can not leave their car at home. </p>
<p>Car storage is an option for people who have to store their car somewhere other than their house. There are different reasons some people will need to use car storage . One reason is for those people who go overseas and they do not have a place for their car. Another reason people use a facility to house their car is because they have a job that requires them to use a company vehicle. They then store their car in a facility until they can swap it out and store their company vehicle. Another reason people use car storage is when they move to an area that only has room for one car instead of three like their home once had. They will have to place their other cars in a garage or find a way to sell them.</p>
<p>No matter what the reason people use a storing facility to place their cars, there are some rules that most facilities have you follow. </p><blockquote dir="ltr" style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<p>�&nbsp;The car has to be functional<br />�&nbsp;The car can not be falling apart cosmetically, because most storing is done outside for people to view. They do not want their facility to appear as a junk yard.<br />�&nbsp;The car has to be as low on gas as possible in order for you to drive in and out. Most facilities do not want the risk of a car with a full tank of gas exploding.<br />�&nbsp;There is to be absolutely no work done on the car while in the storing place. <br />�&nbsp;You can not change the cars oil or paint the car. This could leave to staining the ground or the space. The facility wants to keep everything nice and clean.</p></blockquote>
<p>Above are the rules that most places have. Some facilities will not allow you to have a car that is stored inside of a building. The only place they allow you to park is outside in a parking spot. Some people do not like that option because you are susceptible to Mother Nature. </p>
<p>Some facilities allow you to park inside of a space, but that option is usually more expensive. Also, the space has to be a drive up unit and not an interior space, as in down a hallway. Logically it is not possible to drive a car down the hallway of a building but still we have to mention it because people think they can drive their motorcycle inside. </p>
<p>The smallest space that you could use for a car is a 10x20 space. Now if you have a very compact car you might be able to place it inside a 10x15 space but it is not recommended. Be smart. If you have to put your car inside of a space, go for one that is big enough to not damage the car when pulling out or going in. </p>
<p>To find car storage in your area, just look online and search for it. Not all places in your area will allow car storage . If your vehicle is that important, you will want someone who specializes in that service and use them. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11211-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.selfstorageblog.com/detail.asp?ID=922" title="What You Need For Car Storage">What You Need For Car Storage</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/What_You_Need_For_Car_Storage.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Property Management Services To The Owner]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Property_Management_Services_To_The_Owner.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Many companies that provide different services related to property provide the services of residential property management . These services are of two categories. One is directed towards the owner and the other is directed towards the tenant and the buyer of the property. Usually both the categories of services are provided by the same company. The owner of a property should be careful enough to choose a company that provides genuine and quality services. They should not go for any unprofessional service renders who might dupe them after some time. Some of the companies are completely dedicated to client services. They have personnel appointed to answer customer calls round the clock. Choosing the right service provider can assure the owner great returns for his investment.</p>
<p>The companies that provide residential property management can provide the owner with a lot of services. One of the first and foremost services is that they determine the budget for the property and also set a reasonable and marketable price for the property. They determine the costs incurred for managing and maintaining a property and also decide upon the mortgage payment. The property professionals are also adept at designing and wording media classifieds for the property so that it manages to attract the attention of prospective tenants or buyers. They also inform prospective tenants and buyers about vacant property even in their offices. </p>
<p>If any of these parties are interested in getting first hand information about a given property the residential property management team arranges for a tour. Once there is a response to the advertised property, the managers handle the verification of the credentials of the prospective tenants or buyers. They conduct a personal interview and also collect information about the tenant or buyers from other authentic sources. They ask the tenants to furnish their credit history. They also verify the type of employment the tenant is under at present and details about the income that he draws. </p>
<p>If the tenant has stayed somewhere else prior to the current property, the manager takes first hand information about the payment discipline and the conduct of the client during his stay at the previous property. The residential property management team on the whole ensures that the owner gets a genuine tenant or a buyer of the property. </p>
<p>Many of these companies perform maintenance duties with perfection. They undertake repair work and are always there to help out the residents of the property during emergency even if it happens to be during odd hours. This in itself is a big assurance to the owner and tenant. The first thing that the managers do before the tenant moves into a property is to undertake a thorough inspection of the property. The initial condition in which the property and its different components are is noted. The residential property management team inspects the condition of the property once more when the tenant decides to move out of the property after occupying it for some time. </p>
<p>If there is any discrepancy in the status of the property the manager takes prompt action. The inspections are also carried out on a monthly basis to oversee that the tenant takes good care of the property. Every month many managing companies issue a statement regarding the monthly rent collected, the costs incurred for maintaining and managing the property and the profit made by the owner. This documentation proves to be a vital source of information for your property related calculations. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11211-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Car Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.totalqualityassuranceservices.com/detail.asp?ID=1028" title="Property Management Services To The Owner">Property Management Services To The Owner</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Property_Management_Services_To_The_Owner.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Mystery Shopper Programs Are No Mystery]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopper_Programs_Are_No_Mystery.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Mystery shopper programs, what are they? People are always keen to know this and how they can benefit from it. Yes, you must be wondering what this is all about. People are getting excited over the use of undercover shoppers, like the undercover agents in mystery tales. There is really nothing mysterious at all in it. </p>
<p>It is very simple to understand that every employee will put up their best show in front of the boss and his representative as it will affect their job security. But what happens when he is not there to see, or what if even his appointed person betrays. The sufferer will be the company. The mystery shopper programs are the answers to all the problems. This is a special job where the agency sends shoppers who shop for the company without the knowledge of the staff. The shopper can be anyone, a mother, a retired person and even a student. The person is just another shopper to the staff in a store, a refilling station, a cinema, a restaurant, a coffee shop and anywhere where there is customer dealing. They do not know their identity because they do not need to. </p>
<p>The trick lies there. The staff should not know about the intention of this type of shopper at all. They are planted by the agencies to look and observe the behavior of the staff and how well they maintain the store and the customer relation. They are the tools of trade for the mystery shopper programs that the companies are paying for. The whole program stands on the anonymity of the shoppers who do the job on the ground. The programs have proved themselves a good way to keep a tab on the franchises, employees and all the related matters that cannot be controlled from the board room. It is flourishing into a full fledged trade and the companies are now swearing by them. They are changing the fortunes of many companies as they are providing a snap-shot of the goings-on on the floor all the time. The shoppers are like closed circuit cameras that can think and make the observations with the brain.</p>
<p>A question always crops up about the reliability of the mystery shopper programs. You must know that nothing is infallible. So no claim can be made that you will always be rewarded. There are indeed many spurious agencies lurking around to make a kill. It is also sure that you can be swept away by all the offers flashing around you. But there are the genuine ones. Otherwise the large multinational superstore chains would not have been appointing these agencies for evaluation of their shop floor employees. The companies are even using these shoppers to spy upon rival stores and outlets to evaluate themselves against those. The whole program is being developed into a fine art of evaluation without the paraphernalia of a major survey.</p>
<p>Finally, the obvious question is where to look for the genuine mystery shopper programs? The internet is the obvious answer. If you are willing to employ an undercover shopper or if you are willing to get employed as an undercover shopper then your search must end with such a program. While they provide results and suggestions for the companies, they also provide training for the shoppers to perform the job. They are very reliable if you can filter off the trash.</p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11211-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Furniture Storage&nbsp;</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=550" title="Mystery Shopper Programs Are No Mystery">Mystery Shopper Programs Are No Mystery</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Mystery_Shopper_Programs_Are_No_Mystery.html</guid>
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	<title><![CDATA[Dogs Welcome In Apartment Rentals]]></title>
	<link>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Dogs_Welcome_In_Apartment_Rentals.html</link>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Many owners cringe at the thought of leasing space to dog owners. Renters having a dog or two often face many challenges when looking for apartment rentals . One challenge is finding space they find acceptable that will accept their pets. Many places for rent do not allow dogs or any type of pets. And the ones that do allow animals have many restrictions on the size or breed of the animal. </p>
<p><strong>Finding an Acceptable Space</strong></p>
<p>Renting with a dog takes research. The first step is to find acceptable living quarters. When scouring the apartment rentals in the ads, the first question you should ask is whether pets are allowed to live on the property. This will save you and the owner a good deal of time. You will not waste time learning more about the property and undergoing a credit check if they do not accept pets</p>
<p>Once you find a place that accepts pets you need to confirm what type of dog or pets are allowed. Some places limit the size of the dog and prohibit certain breeds of dogs and other pets. Confirm these facts at the beginning of your search, especially if you own a large breed or one commonly banned from leasing units.</p>
<p>Another consideration is the area surrounding the apartment rentals . The perfect location is located within walking distance to large grassy areas for exercising the dog. A large park is ideal. </p>
<p><strong>Carefully read contracts</strong></p>
<p>Anyone leasing space with a dog needs to read their contract carefully before signing anything. Look at the restrictions an owner might impose on the renter. Some restrictions might include requiring an additional security deposit for each animal, the renter might be required to clean the carpets in a specific way after they vacate the unit. The owner may hold the renter responsible if the dog engages in nuisance barking. This can be a problem in apartment rentals where the units are located close together and share common walls. Nuisance barking can be a cause for eviction. So read the contract carefully. </p>
<p><strong>Care for Your Property</strong></p>
<p>Renters with pets need to make additional efforts to maintain their unit. They will need to clean more thoroughly, especially carpets and window coverings. If the pet has an accident in the unit, the owner should respond quickly to minimize permanent staining and odors. Every effort should be made to clean the spot completely. Try to keep the pet from chewing on wall moulding and draperies. Have the damaged moulding or drapery repaired or replaced as soon as you notice the damage.</p>
<p>The carpet should be vacuumed regularly. This keeps the air cleaner and minimizes the cleaning you will need to do when you vacate the property. Owners of pets with long hair or are heavy shedders may need to vacuum often. Vacuuming often prevents hair from becoming too deeply embedded into the carpet making it difficult to remove. <br />Pick up after your pets while they are walking in common areas. Most cities have leash laws and laws pertaining to cleaning up after your pet. It is a courtesy to your neighbors even if it is not a law. </p>
<p>Renters owning pets who are looking for apartment rentals often have to do a bit more research before finding a satisfactory place for themselves and their pets. They should read the contract carefully before signing and keep the unit clean and well maintained. </p>
<p><a href="http://new-york-brooklyn-11211-self-storage.storage-mart.net/" target="_blank">Brooklyn RV Storage</a></p><br/><br/>The original article is located at: <a href="http://www.propertymanagementblog.com/detail.asp?ID=530" title="Dogs Welcome In Apartment Rentals">Dogs Welcome In Apartment Rentals</a>]]></description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:00:00 CDT</pubDate>
	<guid>http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news/Dogs_Welcome_In_Apartment_Rentals.html</guid>
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