Self Storage Investing

Why Self-Storage Due Diligence Could Be Your Best Investment

Send a textCould a few thousand dollars spent on a Property Condition Report actually save your self-storage investment…and pay for itself many times over? Joe Downs and guest David Harkness of Fivefold Technical Consultants prove exactly why the answer is yes. This is the inspection tool that saved Belrose and their students over $200,000 this year alone. David brings his engineering expertise, drone technology, and boots-on-the-ground experience to every acquisition, and in this episode he reveals what he actually finds on site: failing metal roofs, catastrophic drainage problems, hidden vehicle damage, and deferred maintenance that sellers routinely underestimate. This is the self-storage investing intelligence that separates the investors who survive from the ones who thrive. Listen For::12 What due diligence mistake turned a “$200,000 roof fix” into a $1 million problem?1:50 What is a property condition report and how is it different from a home inspection?7:07 What are the three most valuable things investors get from a property condition report?17:36 Why did this Buffalo-area facility really need a full roof replacement?28:25 What hidden self-storage issues help investors renegotiate major discounts? Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GUEST: DAVIDE HARKNESS, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR | SENIOR CONSULTANT AT 5-FOLD TECHNICAL CONSULTANTSWebsite | LinkedIn | Email CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramJoe Downs on LinkedInBelrose website | Belrose email | Belrose LinkedIn Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Attend the LAST Self Storage Academy of 2026A 3-Day Live Implementation Event for Investors Ready to Executehttps://selfstorageacademy.com/https://selfstorageacademy.com/

What the Iran Conflict Means for Self-Storage Investors

Send a textWhen a U.S.-Israel military operation launches against Iran and the Strait of Hormuz hangs in the balance, what does that mean for your self-storage portfolio? Scott Meyers cuts through the noise of the Iran conflict to deliver the practical, market-savvy analysis self-storage investors need right now. Scott unpacks Operation Epic Fury's immediate impact on oil prices, interest rates, inflation, and real estate markets then makes the data-backed case for why self-storage remains uniquely positioned to weather the storm. From the four D's of demand to month-to-month lease flexibility and a 190-basis-point outperformance over inflation from 2008 to 2024, Scott gives investors a clear-eyed picture of what's happening, what it means, and exactly what to do next.Listen For:2:44 What is Operation Epic Fury and why does it matter to self-storage investors right now?6:16 How did oil prices, treasury yields, and stock markets react the moment the Iran conflict began?13:59 How does the conflict in Iran directly affect the real estate market and self-storage construction costs?27:51 What opportunities does the current interest rate environment create for self-storage buyers with dry powder?32:28 What is Scott Meyers' practical playbook for self-storage investors navigating this market uncertainty?CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramFollow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Attend the LAST Self Storage Academy of 2026A 3-Day Live Implementation Event for Investors Ready to Executehttps://selfstorageacademy.com/https://selfstorageacademy.com/

The AI Competitive Advantage for Self-Storage Operators | Peter Smyth

Send a textIs AI quietly becoming the most powerful competitive advantage in self-storage operations and are most operators already behind? Meyers sits down with Peter Smyth of White Label Storage, fresh off an industry panel on AI and self-storage at the Florida show. Peter breaks down how operators at every level, from single-facility owners to large portfolio managers, should be thinking about AI: not as a tech project, but as a gap-filling leverage tool. From agentic call centers handling 30,000 calls a month to automated gate testing and sentiment-driven review outreach, Peter shares what's actually working in the field.He also weighs in on market transaction volume, the maturation of the asset class, and the consumer complaint environment now threatening rent control. If you're a self-storage investor trying to run leaner, smarter operations in 2026, this episode delivers the inside view. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR1:18 How should self-storage operators actually think about AI before buying any tools?4:18 What does White Label Storage's 30,000 monthly calls reveal about AI's real value?11:28 What are the quickest AI wins a self-storage operator can implement right now?18:12 Why is the Extra Space lawsuit a warning sign for every self-storage investor in 2026?23:48 Is the self-storage market setting up for more transaction volume and opportunity in 2026?  Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GUEST: PETER SMYTHWebsite | LinkedIn | Email | You Tube | Facebook | XCONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramJoe Downs on LinkedInBelrose website | Belrose email | Belrose LinkedIn Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Attend the LAST Self Storage Academy of 2026A 3-Day Live Implementation Event for Investors Ready to Executehttps://selfstorageacademy.com/https://selfstorageacademy.com/

You Probably Qualify for More Than You Think | Anne Mino

Send a textWhat if the most powerful financing tool in self-storage has been hiding in plain sight…dismissed, misunderstood, and underutilized by the very investors who need it most? Joe Downs sits down with Anne Mino, Senior Loan Officer at Live Oak Bank, the #1 SBA lender in the country by dollar volume for self-storage loans, to pull back the curtain on what SBA financing can actually do for self-storage investors. Anne reveals how a borrower earning $80,000 a year could qualify for a $1 million acquisition, why no prior self-storage experience is required, and how strategic use of SBA loans can turn $300,000 into a multi-property portfolio. If you've been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the perfect deal or the perfect balance sheet…this episode is your wake-up call. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR3:46 Can a first-time self-storage investor with no experience actually qualify for an SBA loan?11:03 Could someone earning $80,000 a year qualify for a $1 million self-storage acquisition?19:08 How can SBA financing help investors buy and expand a self-storage facility at the same time?23:41 How do experienced investors use SBA loans to build a self-storage portfolio faster?28:21 Does SBA lending really take six months to close a self-storage deal? Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GUEST: ANNE MINO, SENIOR LOAN OFFICER AT LIVE OAK BANK, SELF STORAGE DIVISIONLive Oak Bank | LinkedIn | Email | Website CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramJoe Downs on LinkedInBelrose website | Belrose email | Belrose LinkedInAttend the LAST Self Storage Academy of 2026A 3-Day Live Implementation Event for Investors Ready to Executehttps://selfstorageacademy.com/https://selfstorageacademy.com/

A Broker’s Warning to First-Time Self-Storage Investors

Send a textIs the self storage market finally catching a tailwind again? Joe Downs sits down with broker Matthew Rosendale of Lindsey Self Storage Group to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes from $345,000 “Crapper King” deals to $90 million institutional transactions. Matt shares how 2025 exceeded expectations for his team, why early 2026 is flashing green flags, and how Fed rate cuts and slowing new development could spark occupancy growth. They dive deep into seller psychology post-2021 peak pricing, whether expectations have finally reset, and why first-time buyers consistently miss the mark by chasing the “perfect deal.” From underwriting mistakes to supply pipeline blind spots and management cost realities, this conversation is a tactical, no-fluff look at what separates serious operators from stuck dreamers…and why taking action now might matter more than timing the cycle. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR3:18 What can a $345,000 deal teach you that a $90 million deal can’t?9:25 Have sellers truly adjusted from 2021 peak pricing expectations?19:29 Why do first-time buyers miss great deals chasing the “perfect” one?29:59 What’s the one action new investors must take to land their first deal? Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GUEST: MATTHEW ROSENDALE, BROKER AT LINDSEY SELF STORAGE GROUPWebsite | LinkedIn | Email | 484-695-0872 CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramJoe Downs on LinkedInBelrose website | Belrose email | Belrose LinkedIn Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Attend the LAST Self Storage Academy of 2026A 3-Day Live Implementation Event for Investors Ready to Executehttps://selfstorageacademy.com/https://selfstorageacademy.com/