A facility map shows each unit where it sits on your property and whether it is open. In Stitch Storage you build it by hand with the Row tool, and you can upload a site plan as a tracing background. It is a visual layer on top of your unit grid.
Why a map helps
Staff learn the site by walking it. A new renter has never seen it. A map tells them "the unit is by the gate, on the left" before they arrive. It also helps you: you see at a glance which building has the vacancies.
What exists today
- Unit grid. A list of units with size, rate and status.
- Map builder. Draw units on a canvas.
- Row tool. Draw a row of units in one pass instead of one box at a time.
- Site plan upload. Add a plan, aerial image or sketch as a background to trace over.
Automatic maps from a photo are not available. That idea is behind a feature flag, and we do not offer it. If you see it advertised elsewhere, ask for a demo.
Build your map, step by step
- Open the map builder for your facility.
- Upload a site plan (optional). A scan of a drawing or a screenshot of a satellite view works. It sits behind your units as a guide.
- Draw a row with the Row tool. Say a building has 12 units, each 10 feet wide. Draw the row along the building.
- Name the units. Match your door numbers, such as A01 to A12.
- Repeat for each row and building.
- Check statuses. Vacant, rented and past due use different colors.
- Save. Tenants and staff see the map.
Worked example
Say you have 120 units in 4 buildings of 30. With the Row tool, you draw 2 rows of 15 per building, 8 rows in all. That is 8 uses of the tool instead of 120 single boxes. If your mix is 60 units at 5x10, 40 at 10x10 and 20 at 10x20, your unit mix shows in the map by size. Use the unit mix calculator to plan changes.
Map or grid
| Need | Use |
|---|---|
| Quick list of vacancies | Unit grid |
| Show a renter where a unit is | Map |
| Fix a status | Either |
| Plan a new building | Map plus unit mix calculator |
Sharing
The map helps on your facility website and in the online rental flow, since a renter can see where the unit sits.
What to look for in map software
| Criterion | Why |
|---|---|
| Hand drawn rows | Fast for regular layouts |
| Plan upload | Tracing is easier than guessing |
| Linked to unit status | No second list to update |
| Works on a phone | Renters use phones |
| Honest feature list | Avoid paying for demos only |
Cost
The map is part of your plan. Starter $39 a month (up to 50 units), Pro $99 a month (unlimited units), additional facility $59, 0.3% platform fee on rent processed. No contracts. See pricing.
Using a site plan as a tracing background
A site plan can be a survey drawing, a hand sketch, or a screenshot of a satellite view. Upload it in the map builder. It sits behind your units so you can place rows along the real lines of the buildings. You are not required to match it exactly. A close match is enough for renters to find the right building.
Tips:
- Crop the image tight to your property.
- Rotate it so north is up, if that helps your renters.
- Use a plain image without heavy marks.
- Keep a copy of the original.
Naming and numbering
Number units in the order a person walks them. If A01 is by the gate and A12 is at the far end, renters learn the pattern quickly. Match the numbers painted on the doors, and fix any doors that are out of order before you build.
Special cases
Irregular layouts. Draw each short row separately with the Row tool, then adjust the units one by one.
Multiple floors. Build each floor as its own set of rows and name them clearly, such as 2-A01.
Outdoor spaces. Draw a row of parking spaces the same way. See RV and boat storage software.
Units that merge or split. Update the unit list and the map together, so they never disagree.
Keeping the map in step with reality
The map reads the status of each unit from the same place as your grid and website. If you change a unit, the map changes. If a door is walled off or a unit is out of order, mark it out of service so it does not appear as rentable.
When a map is overkill
If you have 30 units in one building, a grid and good door numbers may be enough. A map earns its keep as the site grows beyond a few rows. Start with the grid and add the map when renters begin asking where things are.