ISS BLOG - Beyond Surveillance: Using My Self-Storage Security Cameras to Run a Better Business

Most self-storage operators have security cameras on their property today. Maybe all of us do. These pieces of equipment convey a sense of protection to our tenants and can be used to determine the source of a crime like a break-in or vandalism. Footage can also capture who hit a building with a vehicle or left a unit door open. But there’s so much more these powerhouse systems can accomplish for our businesses. Here are some of the ways I’m using cameras in my operation.

Eyes and Ears

Most of the self-storage facilities my company operates are managed remotely, but even at the ones with onsite staff, cameras are the eyes and ears revealing all the activities happening at the site. After all, a manned property is only staffed for part of the day. Cameras allow us to know what’s going on when no employee is physically present.

Facility Maintenance

Cameras allow us to evaluate the condition of each self-storage facility in our portfolio. Is there a mattress laying against a building for a few days? Are there weeds growing out of control? Has the gate been tampered with, or is there a breach in the perimeter fencing? Do the shrubs need trimming? Is there a tree limb in danger of falling? Cameras provide these answers, so we can fix budding issues before they become serious, expensive problems.

Vendor Assessment

We also use our self-storage security cameras to track the quality of our outsourced services. In remote situations, we depend on local labor to perform a variety of tasks; but how do we know they spend time on the property and not just drive around it? Simple: Facial recognition in our cameras allows us to follow what these workers do and how long it takes them to do it. We also have a record in case they try to dispute this.

For example, in Northern states, we need to ensure that snow is being removed before the site opens each day. We also want to make sure it gets moved to the right place and never blocks anyone’s unit access. We can use the camera footage to confirm things get done right. If they don’t, we have a word with this company. In short, cameras help us evaluate the services our vendors provide.

Site Access and Office Hours

How do you set the access hours for your self-storage facility? Is it when tenants need it? Modern camera systems can help us evaluate when the business should be open—and closed. I still see many facilities that operate around the clock. If you want to determine if this is necessary for your business, evaluate the feed from your cameras.

Are people accessing the site at night? Are they cleaning their unit, dropping off or picking up items, or sleeping in it? Gates can tell you who enters the facility but can’t describe what people are doing once inside. Cameras can. Maybe you only have one legitimate tenant who needs overnight access. Once you know what’s happening when the office is closed, you can adapt your business to be open when customers really need to be there.

Staff Scheduling

You can use the same process to determine when you need employees in the self-storage management office. When do tenants visit? Since the office is typically outside the access gate, it’s harder to measure this traffic. Simply add a camera to monitor activity. For example, you might have staff in the office Tuesday through Saturday but learn that many sales prospects and tenants stop by on Mondays.

What if you’re looking to have one employee cover two locations? When is it most efficient to have them at either facility? Check the camera system! Again, this data can help you run your business more efficiently.

Enhancing Customer Service

Of course, security cameras always help a self-storage manager detect who’s causing problems on site. Someone trashing the bathrooms? Or maybe you’re getting complaints about people letting their dogs loose in the facility. You check the footage, right?

But cameras can also enhance the customer experience. For example, when I took over a boat- and RV-storage facility about a year ago, the owner told me how he used cameras to help new tenants find their parking spaces. The customer would call him when they pulled up to the facility, and he would remotely access his cameras to guide them to their spot. “Drive forward. See the turn coming up on your left? You’ll need to swing wide right starting now to get around that turn and line up for your space, which will be straight ahead.” Talk about personalized service!

A New Frontier

It won’t be long before security cameras are replaced by full facility-monitoring systems in self-storage. There are already vendors working on software that incorporates camera systems with door, temperature and environmental sensors. A dashboard will allow us to check who entered the gate at 6:01 a.m., what the unit temperature was and who left the building door ajar. This new frontier is exciting for operators like me!

In the 1994 movie “The Santa Clause,” the E.L.F.S. Leader says, “Tinsel. Not just for decoration.” The same can be said about self-storage security cameras. They aren’t just for identifying bad guys. Today, they’re an integral part of any successful self-storage operation, for all the things they can help us accomplish.

Gary Edmonds is the owner of 22 self-storage facilities in Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 2020, he launched The Storage Manager, a third-party management company specializing in remote operation. With nearly 20 years of industry experience, Gary has extensive knowledge related to running unmanned properties. To reach him, email [email protected].

About the Author

Gary Edmonds

Owner, The Storage Manager

See more from Gary Edmonds

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