Hope Ranch Sponsor Spotlight Interview with Trudi Carey, Founder

How did you get into the self-storage business?

Our primary business is building residential homes for sale. One day a broker showed us a residential piece of land in Buellton for housing. It turned out the City of Buellton would not allow residential on the site due to access issues, so we researched what would work and it turned out to be self-storage. We knew nothing about self-storage but studied up and built our first center in Buellton. We then went on to build Patterson/101 Self-Storage followed by Patterson Plus Self-Storage. I am very grateful that I took the broker’s call that day and took the time to drive to Buellton. Without that, we may not have added the self-storage business to our other businesses!

The Carey Group Team - Property Managers for Patterson Self-Storage(s) — *The Carey Group Team – Property Managers for Patterson Self-Storage(s)*

What are the top 5 things clients look for in self-storage?

That their belongings will be secure.
That the location is convenient to their home or place of work.
That the property is clean.
That the size and type of space that they need is available.
That the rental rate is fair for the benefits that they will be receiving.

A high ceiling 10’ x10’, cedar lined space - perfect for that walk-in closet client, also holds 2-3 rooms of furniture. — *A high ceiling 10’ x10’, cedar lined space – perfect for that walk-in closet client, also holds 2-3 rooms of furniture.*

What is different about your storage center compared to other storage properties in town?

We are unique in several ways. We have over 35 different sizes, so often we can save a client money by getting them into an in-between size. Most centers have about 6 to 8 sizes. Also, since our architecture is barn-like, we have extra high sloped roofs (9’to 15’ ceilings compared to most self-storages with 7’ to 9’ ceilings). So you can stand long items (i.e., ladder, paddleboard, or a piece of furniture) on the end saving floor space so you can fit more items into a smaller space. We also have extra-wide doors, making it easier to get larger items into a space which can also save a space size.

Then, there is cleanliness and an exceptionally convenient location. Many self-storage properties don’t have full-time site technicians cleaning and maintaining the grounds daily as we do. As for convenience, our storage center is located right at the Patterson Avenue off-ramp at Hwy 101 and is close to many residential neighborhoods. It’s very easy to quickly drive in and grab something from your space!

Temperature Controlled Spaces with carpeted halls - clean, clean, clean! — *Temperature Controlled Spaces with carpeted halls – clean, clean, clean!*

Lastly, one of the biggest differences is that we are family-owned and managed. We are active in the community and love to run into our clients around town. We are very proud of the winter coat drive we do locally with Ablitt’s Cleaners.

Are there different types of storage?

Absolutely. We offer a large amount of traditional drive-up storage where you drive your car up to your space, similar to a garage. We also offer temperature-controlled spaces which are preferred for storing temperature-sensitive items. Temperature-controlled storage maintains a consistent temperature, so your items are not subject to the big swings in temperature that we have in Santa Barbara with our cold nights and hot days. We also have temperate spaces, which are interior spaces that stay cooler since they have both a concrete floor below them and a concrete ceiling above them. These spaces are popular for bulk wine storage.

Security is a key factor in choosing a self-storage, isn’t it?

Critical. Fencing, good lighting, electronic pass-coded entry gates, an abundance of video cameras, and a full staff that inspects the property daily are the best deterrents. Additionally, the type of locks required is very important. We also have a night manager who lives on site.

What type of clients use your self-storage centers?

It varies, but our largest source of business is homeowners who are moving for a variety of reasons – a bigger house, smaller house, selling a deceased parents’ home, divorcing, marrying, making room for a home office, starting a new job/lost a job, or are remodeling. Also, most homes sell faster when staged, so many people will store some of their things while their house is on the market.

Business storage is popular too. These users include party vendors, medical suppliers, magazine distributors, and many small business owners who have limited storage onsite.

One of our unique sizes_ 10’ wide by 5’ deep, with an extra large door - perfect for beds on end, 1-2 rooms of furniture or a wall of record storage boxes. — *One of our unique sizes_ 10’ wide by 5’ deep, with an extra large door – perfect for beds on end, 1-2 rooms of furniture or a wall of record storage boxes.*

It seems you love the self-storage business.

I’m glad it shows! It’s a problem-solving business and it feels great to share our expertise and help our clients with their individual needs and circumstances. It’s very similar to the decision-making process involved in designing a custom home for a client’s needs and we try to keep our properties as crisp and clean as a model home.