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I live in a flat. Your have to rent an outbuilding on a farm if you are in a rural area or small commercial unit/garage if your in a larger town or city. Storing tools in your van will be very high risk.
Some Councils will rent lock-ups for 'private' use. If you're very subtle and increase security and/or park van in front it may be a solution, but depends on area/location.
Shipping container on a friendly farm or a Storage Facility (however most will not allow you to store machines with fuelled tanks due to insurance).
Advertise you are looking for storage - you may be able to find someone wanting to sub or part let part of a commercial unit etc.
Farms don't tend to advertise unless running a very formal estate management setup, so you have to rely on word of mouth or go 'door knocking' around local farms
TBh storing them in a rented garage will be just as risky if they are clocked !!! I've always stored mine in the van/pick up, when I lived in a more urban area the van had dead locks fitted I fitted them myself to the side and rear doors..I cable locked all the tools together in the back and fitted two pir alarms...one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireles-motion-sensor-alarm-kit-PIR-remot... so if the door was opened it went off and one of these so I knew indoors that the buggers were in there http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DRIVEWAY-ALERT-WEATHERPROOF-ALARM-PROTECT... I fitted and Disk Lok to the steering wheel and left the theiving gits to easier targets ;-)
Mark
I live in urban London/Kent borders so nearest farms are some miles away. And we live on a busy thoroughfare road, so not sure I'd want to keep the kit in the van ... although with deadlocks and PIR sensors this might be a solution ..... do you have gardening adverts on your van, or is it unmarked so the toe-rags wouldn't know what is in there?
I was thinking something like this might be suitable (http://www.asgardsss.co.uk/high-security-sheds/insurance-approved-g...) but I guess it only takes one scumbag to clock me dropping off my kit and the next chance they get they will be over the fence and trying to break in!
We have quite a few 'yellow storage' type places by us that might work, but these places aren't cheap.
WhenI started out I had my van sign written I didn't have extra security but was in an ok area..this didn't save me ! van got robbed..after that I put in the security mentioned and apart from the odd false alarm all was fine..in retro spect I would not have sign written the van (current vehicle isn't) but TBH if they have clocked you it makes no difference! dead locks and pirs plus cable locks/disc lok cost me about 300 quid plus my time and meant softer targets were always available ;-)
I think I'll look at those Asgard sheds in more detail - they claim to be at an insurance level, so maybe they are good.
When I get set up I'll keep the van sticker free too so that I don't pique any interest from scum bags :)
As another question .... what is the 'normal' starter set up for a newbie?
- mower
- strimmer
- hedge cutter
- fork, spade etc
Anything else big ticket that I need to consider?
Plus, if there are any gardeners in the Bromley/SE London area in need of help/labour/subbie at the moment then please let me know :)
As a background, I currently work in the City in IT but want a career change to something more fulfilling and that I will enjoy. Her indoors thinks I need to lose weight too, so I'm hoping gardening/maintenance will get me fitter!!
Hi Carl,
Forget the major storage chains: they don't allow tools to be stored with fuel in, and it's going to be a nightmare to adhere to their terms every day. A rental garage is like putting an advert in "thieves weekly". There are always secure industrial units around, it all depends on cost.
I don't think having the van sign-written encourages thefts, and there's a lot of previous threads on that. The free advertsing will be key to you when starting out, and the criminals target any van that's an easy steal, sign-written or not.
If you are starting from scratch, and money and storage are an issue, I'd limit what you offer. Why carry hedgecutters and a chainsaw if you only use them rarely? Build the business on the minimum tools: I'd suggest mower, strimmer and blower, plus hand tools. As you expand, look to buying more kit according to the work you are finding locally.
The temptation is always to go in offering to do anything for money. If you aren't careful, you end up buying pressure washers, ride-ons, all sorts of expensive kit, only to do the occasional job with them.
Forget the major storage chains: they don't allow tools to be stored with fuel in, and it's going to be a nightmare to adhere to their terms every day. A rental garage is like putting an advert in "thieves weekly". There are always secure industrial units around, it all depends on cost.
Good point - thanks - I forgot about the fuel issue.
If you are starting from scratch, and money and storage are an issue, I'd limit what you offer. Why carry hedgecutters and a chainsaw if you only use them rarely? Build the business on the minimum tools: I'd suggest mower, strimmer and blower, plus hand tools. As you expand, look to buying more kit according to the work you are finding locally.
Initially I'd like to just offer mowing, weeding, strimming and general tidy ups. So good advice on the kit front, thanks.
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