For Tim Goodwin, co-owner of Maxx Self Storage in Clarkston, little things matter.
The indoor, climate-controlled storage units are painted glossy white and well lit.
A room has been set up with complementary cold beverages and coffee, for people who want to take some records out of storage briefly to review.
Climate-controlled temperature stays at 55 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees in the summer for your comfort.
Large, sliding automatic doors provide easy access when moving.
State-of-the-art fire and security systems provide protection.
Music is piped in for your enjoyment.
‘It’s all to make this a comfortable place,? Goodwin said. ‘We want to shine above everyone else. Nowadays, people like the extra touches ? it makes a world of difference.?
Everything about this facility is planned to stand out from the competition.
The large, open showroom includes a display of kits for moving, prepackaged with boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and utility knife, various sizes of boxes, and a full-scale mockup of a 10-by-10-foot storage unit.
‘It gives people an idea of what they look like,? he said. ‘The typical response from a customer is ‘wow, we’ve never seen a display set up like this.??
Customers may request 24-hour access to their indoor or outdoor units ? they type in a code at the vehicle gate or building entrance. All of the storage units are constructed so that almost any size unit can be provided.
‘We’d just have to remove a wall,? he said.
The smallest units, 5-by-5 feet, are perfect for college students home between semesters.
Attorneys, doctors, and other businesses can use bigger units to store their paper records. They can equip units with shelves for storage of document boxes.
‘It’s less expensive to store them here than to rent office space,? he said.
They’ll pick up and deliver these items as well.
Pharmaceutical reps can use the units to store their inventories. Maxx employees can receive deliveries and lock them up as a convenience.
Maxx Self Storage offers indoor, climate-controlled units of up to 10-by-25 feet. Non-climate-controlled units are as large as 12-by-30. Outdoor parking spaces of up to 13-by-55 is available for RVs, boats, trailers, and other large vehicles. They will pick up, shrink wrap, and store boats, and unwrap and deliver them in the spring.
‘We have room for 500,? he said. ‘Our goal is 300 to 350.?
Phase one includes a 33,000-square-foot facility. So far, they have achieved 60 percent occupancy.
‘That’s very good, especially since we started during the slow time,? he said.
The next phase would include additional buildings, for a total of 85,000 square feet.
Goodwin opened the storage business this past September, with partners Larry Smith and Bill Guthrie, and self storage specialists Lisa Gooch and Heidi Whitelam. Property management is provided by Pogoda Companies of Farmington Hills.
‘It was something I wanted to do for many years,? Goodwin said.
Goodwin kept an eye on the property at 8483 Andersonville Road for a year and a half. When it became available, he bought it.
Goodwin was born and raised in Waterford, and also sells real estate with his wife, Darlene, out of the Max Broock Realtors office on Main Street in Clarkston.
‘I’ve always liked the area,? he said. ‘We enjoy living on Maceday Lake.?
Maxx Self Storage is located at 8483 Andersonville Road. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays. Call 248-620-0101 for more information.