The Stor-Age Tokai store.

SA Self Storage Investments (SASSI) and its management company, Stor-Age Self Storage, have launched a service for estate agents handling the letting of homes over the World Cup period to store valuable goods at a Stor-Age location, away from the attentions of tenants.

Steven Horton, a director of SASSI, says Stor-Age will reserve any number of units for agents requiring them and will pay agents commission on all bookings received.

“Our reading of the situation is that prospective landlords are optimistic about rental prospects offered for World Cup visitors – but are also afraid of what un-vetted, unknown tenants from overseas might do to their properties.

“For this reason, many prospective landlords are looking for temporary storage facilities for their more precious items such as plasma TV screens, sentimental items, expensive cutlery, paintings, valuable furniture and so on.

“As letting agents are often at the forefront of the entire operation, they are the right people to be contacting Stor-Age, said Horton. “This is a value-add service, so it makes the letting agent’s proposition more attractive.”

Stor-Age has five stores in Cape Town and Johannesburg, with a further seven to open over the next 12 months. The units vary in size from one cubic metre lockers to 30 m² lock-up spaces. In every case the renters hold the keys and they can gain access 24 hours a day, seven days a week under strict security provisions.

Stor-Age’s services include a free pick-up van for clients living near each of the stores and the provision, through in-store retail outlets, of packing materials such as locks, boxes, bubble wrap, tape, mattress covers and other additional ancillary items required for storage.

Horton says Stor-Age will soon mount a further campaign to publicise its services to all estate agents.

“We are increasingly aware that, although the World Cup has focused attention on the need for temporary storage of domestic goods, estate agents deal daily with people going through a life changing event, such as moving home, relocating, renovating, downsizing and the like. In these circumstances there is often a need for self storage – as there is when businesses undergo similar changes,” says Horton.

Call 082 852 8947 or visit www.saselfstorageinvestments.com.