Update 6/8/17 – Police have arrested Michael Anthony Davis Jr. in connection with the assault and robbery of a self-storage employee in May. Officers with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Department found Davis on May 31 in a motel room in El Paso County, Colo., according to the source.

Davis appeared in court on Tuesday and waived his right to an extradition hearing. He’s scheduled to be transported to Orange County, Calif., this week to face charges of attempted murder, auto theft and robbery, the source reported. His bail was set at $500,000.

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5/18/17 – Police are seeking a transient who allegedly beat up and robbed an employee last week at a self-storage facility in Placentia, Calif. The May 13 attack at the property in the 500 block of Porter Way occurred at about 8:50 p.m., according to the source.

The robber hit the victim in the head with a metal object several times, rendering him unconscious, said Placentia Police Department Capt. Eric Point. When the victim awoke, he was tied up, with tape over his mouth and a plastic bag over his head, the source reported. The suspect escaped in the victim’s car, which police found on Sunday in Tustin, Calif.

The victim, whose name is being withheld, was able to free himself and call police. He was treated at a hospital for “moderate” head wounds, Point said.

The suspect has been identified by police as Michael Anthony Davis Jr. A warrant has been issued for the 40-year-old man, who frequents Anaheim, Fullerton, Placentia, Santa Ana and Tustin and Santa Ana., Calif. Anyone with information is being asked to call 714.993.8151. Davis is considered dangerous and shouldn’t be approached, police said.

Treasure Island Storage, which operates five self-storage facilities in New Jersey and New York, plans to build a three-story facility on the site of the former Hansel ‘N Gretel deli manufacturing business in Glendale, N.Y. The property at 79-40 Cooper Ave. will comprise approximately 100,000 square feet in 1,200 units, “with parking that would function as a storefront and offices,” according to the source. Construction is expected to begin early next year.

The vacant buildings have already been demolished. Though the project doesn’t require any waivers from the city’s department of buildings nor approval from the Queens, N.Y., Community Board 5 (CB5), Treasure Island CEO James Coakley met with the CB5 executive committee in May and agreed to present to the board’s land-use committee when the project is further along, the source reported.

The facility will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Treasure Island has five more New York development projects in its pipeline, with three in Brooklyn and two in the Bronx, according to the source.

The company currently operates two self-storage facilities in New Jersey, one in Brooklyn and two in Queens.

Self-storage operators are invited to participate in the Local Business Marketing Summit, a free, two-day online event designed to provide digital-marketing strategies on e-mail campaigns, local search, online advertising, reviews and ratings, social media, and websites. Produced by Local Marketing Institute (LMI), a provider of online- and digital-marketing training, the event will offer 18 education sessions during June 27-28.

Inside Self-Storage, a provider of insight and education to self-storage professionals worldwide, is an official media partner of the event.

Scheduled presenters include more than a dozen digital-marketing experts who have been regular contributors to “Forbes” magazine, Google My Business, Moz, Search Engine Land, Social Media Examiner, SMX and “The Wall Street Journal,” according to a press release. They include Myles Anderson, Bernadette Coleman, Joy Hawkins, Marcus Miller, Phil Rozek, Conrad Saam and Dennis Yu.

The summit is designed for businesses that have a physical storefront, such as restaurants, retailers, salons and self-storage operators. It’s also intended to attract professional and trade service providers, including accountants, doctors, electricians and plumbers, as well as marketers and Web developers who provide services to local businesses, the release stated.

Participants can register for free at LocalBusinessMarketingSummit.com.

The event will be hosted by Eric Shanfelt, founder and CEO of LMI. “We have one goal with the summit: to equip local businesses with digital-marketing tactics that will help them attract more customers, build customer loyalty and grow their business,” Shanfelt said. “The summit sessions focus on practical, effective and proven digital-marketing strategies that any business can implement.”

Shanfelt has 25 years of experience in digital marketing and online strategies. Prior to founding LMI, he served as senior vice president of digital strategies for several companies, including HarperCollins Christian Publishing and Penton Media.

Based in Windsor, Colo., LMI provides online, digital-marketing training for businesses, marketers and Web developers. It offers free downloadable resources, in-person and online events, and a members-only VIP program.

For more than 25 years, ISS has provided informational resources for the self-storage industry. Its educational offerings include ISS magazine, the annual ISS World Expo, an extensive website, the ISS Store, and Self-Storage Talk, the industry’s largest online community.

A self-storage tenant was arrested in Pearcy, Ark., on Monday on a felony count of second-degree forgery and a misdemeanor count of second-degree criminal impersonation. Jason Alan Alexander, 35, allegedly used another person’s name and driver’s license when renting a unit in November, according to the source.

The owner of the unidentified self-storage facility told investigators she noted Alexander didn’t resemble the photo on the driver’s license he used when signing his rental agreement. When she confronted him about it, he told her he didn’t look the same because he had lost a lot of weight, the source reported.

When Garland County, Ark., sheriff’s Cpl. Felix Hunter responded to an unrelated call at the storage facility on Dec. 16, he encountered two men on the property, one of whom identified himself as Alexander. When Hunter discussed the two men with the owner, she told him the man who said he was Alexander had used a different name to rent the unit.

By March 16, Alexander was more than 45 days delinquent on his rent, and the storage owner considered the unit abandoned, according to the source. Investigators talked to the owner that day about suspected stolen property found inside the unit.

Though Alexander allegedly used an alias at the time of rental, the address he provided was later determined to be his, the source reported.

The felony forgery count against Alexander carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, while the misdemeanor criminal impersonation charge is punishable by up to a year in jail. Alexander remained in custody as of Tuesday in lieu of a $3,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Garland County District Court on June 20.

SROA Capital LLC, a self-storage investment and management firm, has appointed Robert Buffett as chief financial officer (CFO). He’ll be responsible for the banking, financial reporting, insurance and finance functions of the company, which operates the Storage Rentals of America brand.

Buffet has extensive experience in the self-storage industry, including 11 years as CFO for the Stor-All Storage brand based out of Deerfield Beach, Fla., according to a press release. He earned a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting from the University of Florida.

"As we look to expand our property base across the country, Bob's expertise will help us control costs and increase efficiency," said CEO Benjamin Macfarland. “Along with the addition of SROA Capital President and CTO Rob Consalvo earlier this year, we have built a management team with extensive industry expertise, which can help lead us through our rapid growth plan. Bob is committed to a continuous analysis and control of cost centers to drive efficiency and cost-savings."

Based in West Palm Beach, Fla., SROA Capital is a real estate investment company focused on the acquisition and operation of self-storage properties nationwide as well as direct-equity investments with developers. The company operates more than 3 million rentable square feet of storage space at 57 properties containing 22,000 units. It recently changed its name from Elite Stor Capital Partners LLC to better align with the Storage Rentals of America brand name.

Storage Asset Management (SAM), a self-storage property-management and consulting firm, announced its managed facilities recently donated $452 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit that grants wishes to children with cancer. The money was raised through two initiatives at 70-plus of the firm’s properties, according to a press release.

First, the company held a company-wide “Jeans Day” on April 19, raising $90. Employees who donated to the cause could wear jeans to work that day.

Additionally, donations were collected via Facebook check-ins on each store’s social media page between April 15 and May 15. For every “check-in” at the facility, a dollar was donated. The campaign was advertised via the properties and through digital channels. The drive netted $362.

“We are so grateful to our store managers for their work in promoting this initiative. We are proud to make this donation to such a great foundation,” said Alyssa Quill, vice president and managing partner.

Founded in 2010 and based in York, Pa., SAM oversees 78 self-storage facilities in 20 states as well as three UPS Stores in 18 states, primarily along the East Coast.

Today’s self-storage management software makes it easier than ever to run a facility. We now have applications that allow us to document property and lock checks on our tablets and smartphones, manage customer accounts and payments, and legally conduct auctions. Our programs work in tandem with customer communication, security features and other add-ons, such as self-service kiosks, to make life easier for facility operators.

All these solutions work great—once you know how to use them. Sometimes you’re going to need a little help. That’s when good planning and technical support are critical.

Getting Trained

Purchasing a management software for your storage business starts with comparing options and talking to sales representatives at different companies. Once you’ve chosen a package that’s right for you, what’s next?

That depends in part on how the software works. You may need to install applications on your work tablets and computers, or you may just have to log into a website. A representative may come out to set up the software for you, or you may receive instructions.

Whatever the case, before you buy, talk to your vendor about training. It’s fine to read manuals and do online tutorials, but having someone from the company teach a class—onsite or off—for you and your employees is a powerful way to get everyone up to speed. An orientation will teach you how to navigate the software and use its major functions, and where to get help when you’re stuck.

Finding Answers

Most of the time, you shouldn’t need to contact your software provider. When you want to know how to do a specific function, such as sort tenants by payment due dates, first check your self-help resources. These include the software manual, the company’s online FAQs (frequently asked questions) and user forums. There’s a good chance you’ll find the answer you need in one of these places.

Many software companies also offer free online training videos. Set aside time for employees to view these and increase their expertise. Even if the company doesn’t provide its own videos, you may still be able to find some online created by other users of the software. Did you know 60 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube every minute? It’s not all cats and comedy. You can learn a lot of practical stuff.

Getting Updates

Competitive software companies constantly work to improve their applications. They patch security holes, make usability improvements, add new functionality and more. If you’re using a cloud-based solution, most of these improvements will appear on the back end. In other words, the company will update the software on its own servers, and you’ll immediately have access to the upgrades.

However, some updates might be on the front end, meaning on your company’s computers. Check for updates periodically, and set up your system to automatically download and install them whenever possible. If you have an in-house information-technology manager, let him decide the best way to handle this important task.

Software updates can save you time when you’re seeking answers or having trouble with a certain function. Often, the vendor will improve the product and eliminate the issue altogether. You just need to make the update on your end.

Accessing Technical Support

Even with the best training, you’re bound to eventually run into problems that require help from your software provider. The three most common types of technical support are e-mail, live chat and phone.

With e-mail support, you e-mail the company a question and wait for a response. Most software vendors will attempt to get back to you within one to two business days.

Some companies offer live-chat support during business hours. To access this resource, you’ll need to navigate to the chat page and provide the information requested. This might include your question, the name and location of your facility, your software version, and the other details. You then click on a button to initiate the conversation and wait for a technical-support representative.

E-mail and chat support are often free or somewhat inexpensive. Most companies will also offer free phone support for a limited time, typically one to three months following the purchase of the software. If you need it during that time, use it!

After the warranty period expires, consider your options. Software companies offer a variety of support packages that will cover a certain number of calls over a period of a year or two. They may also charge you per issue. Therefore, it’s important to ensure your employees stay educated on how to use the program. When possible, they should seek for answers in the manual or FAQs, or via e-mail or text chat.

When you call, use the support number the company provides on its website or in the manual. I once needed to call Microsoft for an issue and accidentally called a company claiming to be Microsoft that wanted to install software on my computer. Don’t let that happen to you!

The vendor may be able to resolve your problem quickly or it may take time. Sometimes, the issue will escalate to a specific representative. The problem may be one the company has never seen, and it may need to do testing on its end. You may even need to allow the vendor remote access to your computer systems. Be patient and work with the company. Having worked in technical support, I can tell you representatives work hard and want to resolve your problem.

Once you have a good facility-management software in place, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. Using clipboards for lock checks, rifling through filing cabinets and mismanaging auctions will become a thing of the past. There’ll be a learning curve, but your facility will run smoother and be more profitable before you know it.

Jon Fesmire is a copywriter at Storagefront.com where he writes articles for the company’s blog, “The Renter’s Bent.” In 2011, he earned a Master of Fine Arts from Academy of Art University. For more information, visit www.storagefront.com.

CBRE Group Inc., a commercial real estate services and investment firm, has released its “Self Storage Operating Expense Report” for the first quarter of 2017 through its Valuation & Advisory Services Division. The four-page report includes expense data on a national and regional basis across nine categories. The content is based on 2016 information from 681 facilities comprising nearly 48 million square feet, according to the report.

The data includes fixed expenses for insurance and real estate taxes, as well as variable expenses for administration, advertising, onsite and offsite management, miscellaneous, repairs and maintenance, and utilities. The report also expresses expenses in terms of total expenses per square foot, effective gross income per square foot and as a percentage of total operating expenses.

On a national level, self-storage expenses averaged $5.25 per rentable square foot, with an average expense ratio of 35.2 percent across the sample. Real estate taxes account for 28.3 percent of all operating expenses, while costs tied to management represent 38.2 percent. The sample showed an effective gross income of $14.91 per square foot.

“Expense ratios are forecast to decline over the next year due to higher ancillary income (mostly from tenant insurance), continued emphasis on revenue management, and more controls on operating costs as markets tighten,” the report states.

Expense data is provided for eight sub-regions: Mideast, Northeast, East-North Central, West-North Central, Mountain, Pacific, Southeast and Southwest.

A PDF version of the report is available as a free download from the CBRE website.

The CBRE Valuation & Advisory Services Group provides appraisals, feasibility and market studies, underwriting due diligence, and other consulting services. It has a staff of more than 1,700 appraisers, architects, engineers and environmental scientists in more than 300 metropolitan areas around the world.

CBRE Group, a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, employs approximately 70,000 employees, excluding affiliates, and serves real estate investors, occupiers and owners through more than 400 offices worldwide. CBRE offers strategic advice and execution for appraisal and valuation; corporate services; development services; investment management; mortgage banking; property, facilities and project management; property sales and leasing; and research and consulting.

Access Self Storage, which operates more than 50 facilities in the United Kingdom, is supporting Brides Do Good, a charity founded by Chantal Khoueiry to assist the United Nations’ goal of eradicating child marriage worldwide by 2030. The storage operator is providing the organization with two months of free storage at its Battersea, London, facility for the storage of goods for sale.

Through Brides Do Good, women sell their designer wedding gowns, donating part of the proceeds to the cause. One third of the funds is dispersed to Plan International and Too Young to Wed, charities focused on protecting potential child brides.

“Brides Do Good is delighted to partner with Access Self Storage, which has joined our movement to help end child marriage by kindly providing a home for our beautiful dresses waiting to find their bride-to-be,” Khoueiry said.

The charity is also supported by Livia Giuggioli, wife of actor Colin Firth and founder of Eco-Age, a sustainable-fashion consultancy. “If you decide to sell your gown after the wedding, try to make sure it is going to a good home,” she said. “Brides Do Good sends a third of each sale to charities to help protect the millions of girls who are at risk of early marriage.”

Brides Do Good stocks hundreds of gowns from notable designers including Galia Lahav, Lela Rose, Marchesa, Vera Wang and Valentino. The gowns are available for viewing on the organization’s website. Those looking to donate or sell their gown will also find more information.

Founded more than 20 years ago, Access Self Storage facilities offer virtual office services, parking, document management and mailboxes in addition to self-storage. The company’s properties are concentrated in Greater London.