Someone's asking about a 10x10. You're out on the lot.
Most storage calls are the same few questions: what size, how much, when can I get in. AlloPlace answers them in English or French from your price list, and puts move-ins, account questions and access problems through to your office.
The calls you get
"What size do I need for a two-bedroom?" "How much is a 5x10?" "Do you have heated units?" "Is the gate open on Sundays?" Then the tenant who forgot their code, and the one who wants to pay or ask about a late fee.
And then there's June. In Quebec, July 1 is the traditional moving day, and many leases end June 30. People between apartments, people whose new place isn't ready, people who just need the garage cleared out: a lot of them call in the same few weeks, often in the evening, when they finally sit down to plan.
What it does for you
Helps callers pick a size. Write down your sizes and what usually fits in each, the way you'd explain it at the counter. It walks callers through that instead of guessing.
Quotes your rates. From the price list you give it, including whatever promotion you're running. It doesn't invent discounts.
Keeps gate hours and office hours straight. Callers mix them up. It tells them both.
Books move-in visits. A time to come in, sign and see the unit goes into your Google Calendar. Or take booking requests and confirm each one.
Sends account calls to a person. Payments, late fees, a lock that won't open: transfer to the office, or a message when it's closed.
A typical call
June 27, 8:15 p.m., at a facility in Saint-Jérôme. A caller is leaving his three-and-a-half on the 1st, and the new place won't be ready until mid-July. AlloPlace answers in French, says it's an AI assistant, and asks what he's storing. It suggests the size your notes give for a small apartment, gives the monthly price, and mentions the gate opens at 6 even though the office opens at 9. It can't see which units are free, so it takes a booking request for the 29th, and your manager confirms in the morning.
TBD: replace with a real call once a customer agrees.
Rules you might write
- "Never give out gate codes. If a tenant can't get in, transfer to the manager's cell."
- "Balance and payment questions go to the office during office hours. After hours, take a message."
- "From June 15 to July 15, take move-in booking requests instead of booking directly."
- "We don't store vehicles, boats or anything flammable. Say so politely."
Good to know
- Calendar or software: no connection to storage management software. It can't check availability, reserve a unit or look up an account. Visits go into Google Calendar, everything else into your inbox.
- Payments: it can't take payments or card numbers.
- French: customers have the right to be served in French. It answers in the caller's language and switches when they do.
What it costs
Starter is US$30 a month (about CA$43) for 150 minutes. If late June runs over, extra minutes are US$0.20 each, with a spending cap if you want one. Full pricing