With 43 rental properties under his management, Jim Batton had plenty of need for storage room.

The Crawfordville, Georgia resident wanted to find a large space for the tools, equipment and workspace required for keeping his properties well maintained.

But it might have been his outdoor hobbies that ended up requiring even more storage space.

Batton is an enthusiast of off-road adventures like four-wheeling. So he began a search in the Spring of 2004 for a permanent home for his growing collection of motorcycles, trailers, tractors, and four- and six-wheel All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).

He found the perfect building to meet his needs when he discovered Allied Steel. Prior to that, Batton had been storing his vehicles in his garage and, mostly, outside and around his garage.

"I saw the ad on TV and made the phone call," Batton says. "I didn't have any experience buying a building but Allied Steel made the whole process pretty easy."

The building arrived on schedule in September, and Batton said he appreciated that everything was in the shipment and that the blueprints were easy to follow.

He says that the only issue regarding zoning or permits was the need for the proper footers and thicknesses in the foundation. Batton says that Allied was good to work with regarding blueprints and addressing any zoning questions he had.

He hired a local construction professional, Shannon Parker, to erect the building for him. Parker worked with a small crew and a forklift - and the building went up in about three weeks with only one minor problem, Batton says.

"When it came to the door frame, one piece was slightly bent, which was understandable in a delivery that size," Batton says. "So I called up Allied and told them the problem and they took care of it immediately. We ended up not losing any work time."

The building was completed in October, and Batton began moving in all his "toys," appliances and equipment. He says that by December, he had everything in place and ready to go.

Batton says that Allied Steel made the entire process smooth for him, which he especially appreciated as a first-time building buyer.

"I'll admit it, I didn't always know what I was doing, but Allied was great about walking me through everything," he says. "I never felt pressured - and I liked the way they responded when I had the problem with the door frame piece."

Batton says he loves the new room his Allied Steel building affords him. He stores refrigerators and ovens for his properties, and he enjoys the workspace dedicated to keeping both the appliances and his myriad vehicles running smoothly.

"I didn't realize how much I needed this building until everything was moved in," Battons says with a laugh. "Hopefully I won't be needing any more room for a good long while."