Gabfocus Self Storage Podcast

Pricing your self-storage units isn’t just about setting a number and hoping for the best—it’s about staying informed and adapting to market conditions. In this episode, we break down why keeping an eye on your local competition, regional trends, and even seasonal factors is essential for optimizing your rates and specials. Topics covered include: Market Research Tactics – How to track competitor rates using AI, rate-scraping services, or manual calls Comparing Apples to Apples – Why it's crucial to compare similar unit sizes and property types Rate Adjustments & Local Development – How new construction, economic shifts, and population changes impact pricing The Role of Specials & Discounts – When to offer promotions and when to hold firm on pricing Seasonal Pricing Factors – How college schedules, moving trends, and local events should influence your rates Whether you're using technology or old-school research methods, staying ahead of market trends ensures your pricing remains competitive and profitable. Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

A consultant shows you the path you need to walk, but a mentor walks the path with you. In a business as nuanced and unique as self storage, enlisting a mentor can be the difference between a successful business venture and one that never makes it through lease up. As the industry evolves, new investors often face overwhelming decisions about facility design, technology, and operations, while experienced operators struggle to modernize outdated systems and marketing strategies. We tackle this topic from both perspectives: Common mistakes new owners make when setting up a facility How outdated practices can hold long-time owners back The role of mentorship in navigating technology, pricing, and marketing Where to find a mentor and why expert guidance saves time and money Plus, we share a few key recommendations you don't want to miss. Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

In this rebroadcast of our February 20, 2025 webinar, John Chang from Marcus & Millichap provides an in-depth analysis of the self-storage industry's economic landscape in 2025. With inflation stabilizing, interest rates remaining high, and occupancy trends shifting, John breaks down key market forces shaping the industry and what operators should be prepared for. Topics covered include: The impact of economic uncertainty on self-storage Pricing strategies, rate wars, and competitive pressures Market saturation, construction slowdowns, and regional trends How younger tenants are changing length-of-stay patterns The growing role of technology and AI in operations and marketing Investment insights: Is now a good time to buy, sell, or expand? If you’re a self-storage owner, investor, or operator looking for expert insights into what’s ahead, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. Guests: John Chang, Marcus & Millichap Hosts: Tommy Nguyen & Melissa Huff Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Self-storage isn’t just for life transitions anymore—more and more small business owners, gig workers, and entrepreneurs are using storage units to run and grow their businesses. From Etsy sellers and antique dealers to pharmaceutical reps and lawn care companies, these customers have unique needs and can be some of the longest-staying tenants. In this episode, we explore how self-storage operators can attract and serve business customers effectively. We discuss marketing strategies beyond the traditional "4Ds," including digital advertising, social media platforms like Pinterest and TikTok, and pricing models that work for business users. Joining us is Jamie Boros, Business Development Manager at StorSuite, who shares her insights on why business owners are an untapped market for self-storage and how facilities can position themselves as the perfect solution for their storage needs. Plus, we throw in a few moving and cruising recommendations. Guest: Jamie Boros from StorSuite Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Today we dive into figuring out your self storage story- the characters, the plot, and the target audience. It's only after those pieces are in place that an effective story can be told, and your business is no different. But that's only half of the journey. Once you've figured out your story, you have to tell it, and often words just aren't enough. We discuss several examples of storytelling in our industry and dive into figuring out the "why" of your business. A good story will set you apart from your competition and may bring surprising results. Plus, we end with a few recommendations, including an unorthodox marketing campaign we hope someone tries. Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

We're back for part 2 of the self storage SEO discussion that began on last week's episode. There were so many unanswered questions that needed a response: What if you have multiple locations? Do you use 1 website, 1 Google Profile? How do you get in the Map Pack if your not already? Should my website list every single chain restaurant near my facility? When is it worthwhile to mention a landmark or other business in my content? What if people don't have Google accounts? What metrics should we prioritize to accurately measure the ROI of our SEO efforts, particularly in driving move-ins and reducing customer acquisition costs? Can you advise on how to ask customers and the frequency for reviews after rate increases have been given across multiple facilities? How do you get people to follow your Facebook page? As voice search usage increases, how can self-storage businesses adapt their SEO strategies to capture leads from queries like 'storage near me' or 'affordable storage units nearby'? For the longest time we have heavily focused on Google Ads thinking it was the primary lead driver. However are you all saying it is actually organic/SEO? How do you measure how well your website is doing compared to other facilities? Does SEO have to cost a lot? We are paying an outside company a lot of money a month to put us at top. Would it be worth it to do it ourselves to save money? Yes, we tackle all of these, plus give a few recommendations at the end for furthering your self storage education. Listen to Last Week's SEO Episode - SEO 101: How To Rent More Units Online Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

What is SEO, why does it matter, and how does it work for self-storage specifically? Today we tackle search engine optimization basics and discuss the impacts of the REITs, AI, and changes to expect in the coming year. Do you need to still be on page 1 of Google? What metrics should you pay attention to? Who and how do you target your ideal customer? David, the SEO expert from StoragePug, joins the webinar to answer these and many other questions to make sure you are on the right track. This is a re-broadcast of the January 23, 2025 webinar. Guests: David Austin, StoragePug Hosts: Tommy Nguyen & Melissa Huff Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Lighthouse Storage Solutions

When is the last time you looked through your self storage operations manual, assuming you have one in place? Is it still fully applicable and relevant? Are you using it to train new employees or is it so out of date it just collects dust on the shelf? Today we talk best practices for optimizing your operations manual. These documents should be regularly used tools to run your business. If they aren't serving you well, we go over several ways to turn that around and make them a valuable piece of your operation. Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

A new year is here and change is in the wind! Is it time to get into TikTok? Do you need to pivot to AI search? Maybe a billboard strategy or having a manager available 24/7 is what you need. As more and more options for doing self storage become available, what do you need to be doing as a business owner or operator? As with most things, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Self storage has been around for a while, and the basics are still the basics. Yes, there are more options, but the core of what we do isn't changing at all. Join us as we kick off 2025, leaning into what works and keeping an eye on what's coming. Listen to the SMART Goals Episode from 2022 Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

Welcome to Episode 4 of Legal Chat. This virtual "Power Hour" covers a variety of topics and questions sent in from self storage owners and operators around the country. Today it's all about costs, data protection, and un-signed leases. Is it okay to pass along costs to your tenants? How long should you hold on to your tenants information once they vacate their unit? What if your tenants refuse to sign a new or updated lease? Carlos and Scott tackle these topics on this quarter's episode. You can watch this episode over on the YouTube channel- Watch Episode 4 on YouTube Make sure to subscribe to watch future episodes. Hosts: Carlos Kaslow & Scott Zucker with the Self Storage Legal Network Brought to you by Lighthouse Storage Solutions