so about a year ago, the hubby & I bought a piece of commercial property for next to nothing with plans to flip it.
then commercial real estate tanked & we didn't know what to do with it. after much thought & planning, we decided to open a mini storage facility.

we started getting the property ready back in January, started building in June, & will be opening on August 1st. never before had I realized how hard it is to start a business. of course, we could've hired someone to do all the building for us but we wanted to do it ourselves to save money. after months of blood, sweat, & yes a few tears, i'm amazed at what we've accomplished.

dan & I are both exhausted, nursing all kinds of cuts & bruises, sunburnt, & feel like we're losing our minds BUT this week is the final push to get it done. went down & set up the office/store area today & it actually LOOKS like an office!!! we've had a lot of people stopping to ask when we're opening so here's hoping we get full soon.

all I can say is if you know a small business owner, thank them & give them your business. if they worked even a tenth as hard as we have, they will do you right.

send good vibes please...we'll take all the help we can get!

I know a web developer that could help make you a website for one million dollars!

Good luck! I hope it works out for you!

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I am very happy for you. I wish you nothing but the best tenants.

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Real cool Julie. I've spent many an hour building my business, and sacrificed a lot of family time doing so. It really does make you feel like you've accomplished something.

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thanks guys! it's now raining here which we did NOT need.
we were planning to pour a few pads of concrete today - nothing major, it sets us back a bit, but come hell or high water, we're opening aug. 1st!!

ne of my old girlfriends from high school went into the storage unit business years ago.
Her ever expanding endeavor has turned her into a millionaire.
I wish you well in your new business.

Cool news, Julie!!!! Best wishes for mucho success.

(After all, I need someone else rich besides Troy to mooch off of when I get fired. [grin1] )

Seriously, though, it's a great business idea -- after all, Americans won't stop buying and accumulating stuff anytime soon. Which means they'll need something other than unaffordable big houses to store it in.

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It really is. Over the years I have come close to getting a mini storage place after all I have 3 insureds in the business. This year I decided to buy my own little storage shed and stick it out in back.

It does seem like more and more people are telling me they keep some of their belongings in mini storage.

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Yes.. it never fails to make an impression the amount of crap a single person seems to want to keep in their possession. My shop would prove that I am not immune to that either.. even when focused on eliminating some of it. And those occasions where I dig into the boxes of left overs for need.

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