We receive calls and emails every day from prospective storage renters trying to get a better understanding of just how big our storage units are. The very name of our company, Big Box Storage, obviously declares them to be big. But how big is big? Our standard response is to provide San Diego storage renters with a better understanding by giving them the exact exterior dimensions of the “Big Box” storage unit as each unit is identical in size. Those dimensions measure 8′ long by 5′ wide by 7′ tall. While the measurements certainly help, many customers still have a difficult time trying to visualize an 8’x5’x7 storage unit. To assist further, we provide responses such as “each Big Box will typically hold up to a room and half of furniture.” However, even that response leaves some callers a bit puzzled. After all, the size of an average “room and a half” might vary greatly between storage renters in San Diego or elsewhere.

So, to help end the suspense associated with trying to determine how big is big, our staff has come up with an idea that will no only help to more soundly answer the question, but will also serve to benefit San Diego charities.

Beginning next month, Big Box Storage will begin its first quarterly “How Big is Big?” charity event. Each quarter, the company will select a particular item for donation to a San Diego charity. The item might be a household product, a non-perishable food (e.g. canned goods), or some other consumer product that a charity might find useful Рthe options are endless. Once the particular item is selected, the staff of Big Box Storage will then load as many of the item as possible into a Big Box. One early frontrunner idea for the March event is rolls of paper towels. How many rolls will fit into a Big Box storage unit. Hundreds? Thousands? Whatever the final tally ends up being, the amount will undoubtedly help some storage renters to better visualize just “how big is big” when looking to rent a storage unit from Big Box Storage of San Diego.

The best part of the idea is that once the Big Box has been filled, it will then be delivered to the chosen San Diego charity and unloaded. The entire contents will be donated to that particular charity. So whatever product is selected for loading, unloading, and donating, storage renters in San Diego will soon have a much better appreciation of just how big is big.

Living in San Diego, CA certainly has its advantages. America’s Finest City offers a wonderful climate (some say the best in the world), ideal proximity to the beaches, the desert, and the mountains. San Diego attractions include the Sea World, dozens of golf courses, Balboa Park, over 60 miles of coastline, and also the world famous San Diego Zoo. However, there is one notable drawback for life in San Diego – the cost of living.

Generally speaking, this higher cost of living impacts almost all consumer costs, including the rental of storage space in San Diego. There are ways to minimize the cost of storage space though. With the use of portable storage, such as that offered by Big Box Storage, San Diego residents are unquestionably able to obtain significant savings on storage space.

Higher land costs often force San Diego self-storage companies to set higher rates on their storage space rentals. However, as a portable storage company (or rather a storage delivery and pickup company), Big Box Storage, is able to avoid having to position its facilities right along expensive, highly visible, main thoroughfares. Although the Big Box Storage facilities are quite convenient and accessible, they lack the unnecessary high-visibility as generally sought by traditional self-storage companies. Significant reductions in overall land costs directly translate to reductions in monthly storage space rental rates for Big Box Storage customers. Consider that Big Box Storage. as of the date of this post,provides a monthly rental rate starting at only $59(based on a 12 month min.) for the rental of a 40 s.f. storage space (the size of a standard Big Box is 8′ x 5′). Compare this rate with those offered by other storage companies throughout San Diego for the same size unit. Here’s a listing of some of those rates, as of January 21, 2012, including the zip code location within San Diego of the other company, as noted on the their websites:

Company A Ð zip code 92108 – $99per month
Company B Ð zip code 92120 – $74 per month
Company C Ð zip code 92131 – $89 per month
Company D Ð zip code 91977 – $84 per month
Company E Ð zip code 92128 – $79 per month
Company F Ð zip code 92026 – $74 per month
Company G Ð zip code 92121 – $72 per month

On average, storage space is 27% less expensive with Big Box Storage as compared to the above storage companies. Although the individual names of the competitor storage companies have been removed (for their benefit), a simple Google search for storage in San Diego will provide direct links to the companies for verification.

There are also otherSan Diego storage space savings when using portable storage. San Diego residents in need of storage space can avoid the cost (and time) associated with having to rent a truck to transport their items to the storage facility. Portable storage companies, such as Big Box Storage, deliver the storage space (aka the “Big Box”) to the customer’s address as opposed to having the customer transport their items to the storage space facility. Once the Big Box is packed, it is then picked up by the company and taken back to the company’s local storage space facility. As truck rental costs can easily surpass $100 (rental, fuel, mileage charge, insurance, etc.) for just a few hours of use, it seems only logical to opt for portable storage as offered by Big Box Storage when looking for storage space in San Diego.

Looking to rent storage space in San Diego? Contact Big Box Storage at 800-391-4890 and start saving today.

Storage containers? We prefer to call them Big Boxes Ð hence the name of our company, Big Box Storage, Inc. The company provides portable storage throughout San Diego county in which one of more storage containers are delivered right to the home (or business) address of the storage renter. The renter will then load the container at their pace and, once finished, they will have the option of continuing to store the container at their address or at one of the Big Box Storage facilities in San Diego.

Renting a storage container instead of opting for traditional self-storage allows the storage renter to skip all of the inconveniences associated with having to rent a truck, loading the truck and then unload the truck. Instead they have the ease of never having to leave their San Diego address as they can load the container right there.

Each Big Box storage container can typically hold up to a room and a half of contents. The dimensions (exterior) of each container are 8′ x 5′ x 7′ (length by width by height). For customers needing additional space, the company can readily deliver additional containers if needed.

To schedule the delivery of one or more storage containers to your San Diego address, please contact Big Box Storage at 800-391-4890. Representatives are available daily between 7:30am and 6:30pm (Pacific).

Here’s a copy of our latest press release. We’ve been fortunate to be able to partner with a local radio statio and a children’s hopsital to help put smiles on the faces of quite a few kids:

Big Box Storage of San Diego to Store Over 100,000 Toys for Rady Children’s Hospital
Big Box Storage, Inc., a San Diego portable storage company, is pleased to announce that it has donated all of the storage space needed to store over 100,000 children toys as to be collected via the upcoming “AJ’s Kids Crane” event in San Diego.

For the tenth year in a row, AJ Machado, morning show host for San Diego radio station 94.1, will be lifted up on a scissor lift crane where he will “reside” until more than 105,000 new and unwrapped toys are collected for patients of Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. The crane is lifted 40-feet above ground and holds an 8′ x 10′ platform, which then serves as AJ’s home until the annual toy collecting goal is achieved. The goal was reached in 8 days during the 2010 event.

“Despite our difficult economy, San Diegans have always shown their generosity and we’re confident that this year will be no exception,” said Machado, host of Star 94.1’s new “AJ in the Morning” show. “Something as simple as a toy can make the fear and pain of a child’s illness or injury easier to bare.”

Collected toys will be placed and stored within “Big Box” storage units during the event. At the conclusion, the storage units will then be transported back to the Big Box Storage facility in San Diego for secure, indoor storing. Throughout the coming year, Big Boxes containing the toys will be delivered to Rady Children’s Hospital as needed.

“While Big Box Storage in San Diego is always eager to assist with community events, AJ’s Kids Crane is even more special for us as it will obviously bring smiles to the faces of thousands of kids facing serious challenges at Rady Children’s Hospital,” said Rita Hurley, representative for Big Box Storage, Inc.

“AJ’s Kids Crane” will take place in the parking lot of IKEA located at 2149 Fenton Parkway, San Diego, CA 92108. It will begin on the morning of Friday, November 4th, 2011 and will continue until AJ reaches his goal. For more information on the event, please visit star941fm.com/pages/ajcrane.

Started in 2002, San Diego storage company Big Box Storage offers residents of cities throughout San Diego County with a storage service like no other. Their unique portable storage concept allows customers to fulfill their storage needs without ever having to leave their home or business. For further information regarding Big Box Storage, please contact the company directly at 1-800-391-4890 or online at https://www.bigbox.com.

In considering a topic for thisstorage blog, I questioned whether the topic of “storage auctions” might be too negative. An overview of the process that ultimately leads with the sale of a storage renter’s stored goods via auction? I thought maybe it would be better to distance ourselves from the issue. However, the reality is that storage auctions are a standard part of the self-storage business. Additionally, they’re also becoming increasingly well known thanks to the various TV shows that have popped up over the last year trying to portray an entertaining side to them. While the shows themselves can indeed be quite entertaining, the reality is that most storage companies (Big Box Storage of San Diego certainly included) do everything they can to avoid selling a customer’s goods.

The standard storage delinquency process of most storage companies around the country (varies according to state) is one in which the renter is sent multiple notices, informing them of their delinquency and the potential consequences. In San Diego (and throughout California), most self-storage companies start the process with a late letter that is sent out 5 to 15days after the rent due date. Basically, this is just a courtesy letter reminding the customer of the payment obligation. It also is typically accompanied by a nominal late fee. In the event payment isn’t received within the couple of weeks that follow, the company will then mail out a preliminary lien letter (commonly referred to as a pre-lien letter in the industry). This letter takes a somewhat stronger approach and warns the renter that if payment isn’t received by a particular date, a lien will be placed on the stored goods in accordance with the particular state laws and rental agreement. Should payment still not be forthcoming, a lien letter is sent to the renter in the weeks that follows. The primary reason for the lien letter is to inform the renter that the stored goods will be sold at auction if payment isn’t received by a particular date. Of course, most storage companies will also ensure that the letters are interspersed with telephone call attempts to the storage renter.

Should a San Diego self storage company opt to proceed with an auction sale as expeditiously as legally possible, the total duration of the delinquency process (from the initial delinquency date to the sale) is between 2 to 3 months. However, most storage companies are a bit more flexible with the time line.

Just as with every storage company across the country, Big Box Storage has a percentage of its customer base (albeit a small one) that is late in paying its monthly rent. However, the company truly views an auction sale as a last resort. Customers willing to communicate with the company and make even good faith payments can often avoid such a fate. The bottom line is that if you’re a customer of Big Box Storage in San Diego currently behind on your monthly rental rate, call us at 1-800-391-4890. You’ll find us to be quite flexible and accommodating when it comes to trying to avoid auction sales.