Self Storage Income

343. Where to Buy a Self Storage Facility (Finding Markets 101)

Before you buy your first self storage investment, you’ll need to figure out where to buy. But in a country with over 10,000 different cities, just picking wherever you find a deal won’t cut it. Today, we’re showing you exactly how to find the best self storage market for you—and it may be closer than you think. This is the checklist we use when analyzing any area for self storage investing, along with the metrics that matter most when deciding whether or not to buy there. How much does population growth really matter? What if new facilities are being built there? Should you buy close to home, or is remote self storage investing easier than you think? And what’s the one “king” of metrics that shows you whether or not your self storage facility will flourish or fail? Then, once you find the market, how do you get deals sent to you? We’ll share exactly who to connect with and even how to find off-market facilities so you can acquire, manage, profit, and repeat. Beginners, this is the first stage of your self storage business—do not skip it. What you’ll learn in today’s show: Where to invest in self storage and which markets will work best for you The “king of metrics” that can make or break any self storage investment The software we use when doing market research that everyone should try Who to connect with in a market so you can start getting deals sent your way How to find “off-market” self storage facilities with massive upside potential — Join the Self Storage Income Community: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn Grab AJ’s Book, _Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0_ : https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865 TractIQ: https://tractiq.com/ 316. How to Analyze a Self Storage Facility from Scratch (6 Steps): https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2149092466 327. He Built a 15-Facility Portfolio with These “Underrated” Skills (Not Money) w/Gottfredson: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2149127504 332. Self Storage’s “Impossible” Data Just Went Public (This Changes Everything) w/Noah Starr: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2149154512 CNBC: Self-storage real estate has ‘close to zero’ correlation to the broader economy. That’s a good thing: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/20/self-storage-real-estate-sector-opportunity.html

342. How to Be Successful in Self Storage (3 Things That Make The Difference)

There are three crucial things every self storage investor must pay attention to when building their portfolio. These are the things that helped me scale a $300M+ self storage business and grow through the Great Recession, the pandemic lockdowns, and every downturn and upturn in between. If you get these three things right, you will be successful in self storage. Even better news? There's a huge buying opportunity right now (with more on the way). I’ll outline everything from your self storage market, to the operations and tech you should use, to the structure of the deal (I’ll even share how much debt I have and how I structured it) so you can survive the down times, thrive during the good, and grow in the middle. Plus, I’ll share how we’re “making” deals right now and getting facilities 40% under replacement cost with millions in walk-in equity. I wish someone had told me all this when I started, but now, I’m giving it to you in under half an hour. What you’ll learn in today’s show: The three things that make a self storage facility successful Huge buying opportunities happening right now that 99% of people are missing Measuring supply and demand: how to know your facility’s rates can grow The technology we’re using right now to automate self storage facilities in our portfolio How to structure debt, loans, and capital when buying a facility (exactly what I do) The due diligence clause you need to add in every self storage offer you make — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 - https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865 TractIQ - https://tractiq.com/ Nokē Smart Entry - https://www.janusintl.com/products/noke Hummingbird by Tenant Inc. (Self Storage Software) - https://www.tenantinc.com/products/hummingbird

341. How to Unlock “Hidden” Revenue in Any Self Storage Facility (Immediately)

The biggest threat to your self storage revenue isn’t your market, customers, or the asset itself. It’s you. In the wake of the 2008 Great Financial Crisis, I developed a simple yet powerful framework for mastering operations, unlocking hidden revenue, and increasing valuation. And in today’s market cycle, it’s just as relevant as it was back then. At its core, it all comes down to how you view your self storage facility. Too many operators view their facilities as real estate “assets,” where they rent out “units” to “tenants.” But that mindset is fundamentally flawed. Self storage is a business, with real “customers” and different types of “products.” Once you understand this, you can begin implementing a pricing model that drives true revenue growth, and in this episode, I walk through real examples that demonstrate how these changes can impact your bottom line. The truth is, occupancy doesn’t matter. It’s about revenue. Net operating income. Real cash flow. And when you make these changes, you’ll have more of it than you know what to do with. What you’ll learn in today’s show: The best ways to increase the revenue (and value) of your self storage facility How to implement a profitable “tiered” pricing model at your self storage facility Why it’s crucial to operate self storage as a business (not a real estate asset) The biggest opportunities available to all self storage investors in 2026 How different pricing strategies can impact your bottom line (with examples) Three storage unit “buckets” you need to track with every facility — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0

340. 11 Red Flags You Can’t Afford to Ignore When Buying a Self Storage Facility

The mistake you’re about to make could sink your self storage deal. We’ve been there many times before. We’ve been too aggressive with our numbers, cut corners on due diligence, and lost money. Thankfully, you don’t have to make these same mistakes. Conner and George are shining a light on the biggest red flags and pitfalls that catch self storage investors by surprise and, in some cases, leave them with a problematic asset that bleeds money. From environmental complications to “phantom” occupancy, we address the warning signs that should tell you to walk away or at least go back to the drawing board with your self storage underwriting. The truth is that not all of these issues automatically spell doom for your self storage facility. Some roadblocks that might scare off the average investor could actually be opportunities hidden in plain sight. But preparation is the key. With real-life examples, we’ll show you exactly how to approach every deal, from deep market and competition analysis to due diligence checks and balances, so that the next self storage facility you buy is set up for success. What you’ll learn in today’s show: 11 biggest self storage deal “killers” you should (usually) walk away from Real-life due diligence blunders we’ve made in the past (don’t repeat them!) How to turn minor self storage issues into major opportunities How to protect your cash flow by properly forecasting tax and insurance costs Evaluating property improvements for their return on investment (ROI) Zoning, permitting, and title challenges that could set your self storage deal back — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 - https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865 Join the Self Storage Income Community! - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn Live Oak Bank - https://www.liveoak.bank/

339. How to Start Investing in Self Storage Right Now

This is how to start investing in self storage, right now. In under 25 minutes, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to go from no self storage investments to your first one. Everything from building your “buy box” to finding the deals with upside potential, financing, due diligence, increasing revenue, and repeating it to build an entire portfolio. None of the steps I’m sharing are difficult and a beginner can follow each of them, step by step, to get their first self storage facility this year. But you’ll need to be consistent. There are opportunities out there right now—I should know, I’m heavily buying in 2026. But they won’t fall into your lap. If you’re able to spot the best self storage opportunities, present my three-offer strategy to sellers, and improve operations, you’ll have a cash-flowing, equity-building, stable asset for decades to come. I did it, too, buying small, mom-and-pop facilities for $500,000 or less. Now, it’s your turn. You want to know how to buy a self storage facility? These are the exact steps I’d take in 2026. What you’ll learn in today’s show: How to buy your first self storage facility by the end of 2026 Building your “buy box” and knowing what type of facility you want to buy The value-add opportunities that will boost a facility’s value once implemented The formula to follow to find stable, safe, opportunistic self storage markets Three financing options to give every seller when making self storage offers Spotting the “money on the table” that will make you wealthy in self storage — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 - https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865 Join the Self Storage Income Community! - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt