Portable Storage a Boon to Commercial Real Estate Market

KANSAS CITY, MO. (September 22, 2007) – With commercial real estate prices expected to fall as much as 15 percent over the next year – the largest dip since the 2001 recession – it's time to hold on to property and keep it rented.

Portable storage is helping the cause. Portable storage containers add external square footage to your commercial real estate property. That means you don't need to build additional facilities before you absolutely need them. Portable storage containers come in various sizes and colors. These units can be strategically positioned in the back of a commercial facility. That puts the containers out the customers' site but still conveniently in reach of tenants who need extra storage space for overstock, tools or other items.

"We frequently hear stories about commercial landlords who have extended their facility's use by adding portable storage containers to the mix," said John Finnessy, CMP, Executive Director the National Portable Storage Association, or NPSA, a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. "You can even charge an incremental fee to the tenant in many cases. It's a win-win."

Jesse Jenkins, owner of Jedlicka's Saddlery, Inc. in Santa Barbara, can testify to that fact. Jenkins owns a commercial building from which he sells his saddles, and he rents part of the building to a carpet flooring business. But Jenkins was threatened with losing his tenant when the carpet business grew out of the space. "My tenant didn't have enough storage…we provided that with a portable storage container," Jenkins explains. "Now he's renting additional space from us."

Jenkins chose a light green portable storage container that blends in nicely with his tan building. For Jenkins, it was important not only to serve his tenant's needs, but also to serve those needs in a way that would preserve the attractive external appearance of his property. "It's been a win-win for myself, the community, and my tenant," Jenkins explains. "My tenant is able to continue making sales and it kept me from having to look for a new tenant."

Almost any kind of commercial property owner could leverage portable storage containers to give tenants a little extra room, according to NPSA Operations Manager Joel Rathbone. Retailers can tap into the convenience of portable storage, for example, as could accountants who need to store records. "Why send your tenant to a self-storage facility when you can provide them the value-added service yourself?" Rathbone asks. "It's more convenient for the tenant to have on-site storage and it could mean the difference between keeping your space full or letting it sit empty a few months longer."

For more information, visit www.npsa-us.org.

The National Portable Storage Association
The National Portable Storage Association is dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. We at the NPSA are here to serve those in the portable storage industry who rent, sell or lease containers, trailers and mobile offices. The NPSA assists members with industry, regulatory and workforce issues; plus, offers members networking, marketing and legislative support at national, state and local levels.

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Self Storage Promotions
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