Self Storage Income

Big REITs can raise and lower prices whenever it suits them - but is this actually the best way to treat your customers? We don't think so. Instead, we focus on operations - how can we improve, so the customer gets a better product?? Our operations team has been visiting our facilities to look at what we can do to improve the value we provide to customers. Are we missing a piece of equipment that would make cleaning easier? Are we making sure we respond to customers' concerns in a timely manner? Then, how do we pass this feedback along from customers to employees to managers?  These are all critical areas of day-to-day business that hugely impact our customers' experience. This is how we compete with the big REITs. They have the means to slash prices that many operators cannot afford. But what you CAN do is to IMPROVE the value you provide for the money.  If $90 can get you a bigger unit for the same cost as a smaller one, making this known to your customers when they're looking to purchase can be a huge win and help you stand out from the REITs that move you in at $50 then jack up the prices in a few months. As a customer, which company would you think more positively about?  We talked about the Pros & Cons of buying out of state in a recent YouTube video, but in this episode, we dive deeper into the ins and outs - the caveats, the behind-the-scenes - of how we manage our facilities despite them being hundreds of miles away. Enjoy this podcast? Leave us a great review wherever you listen!  Ready to buy storage? Have your deals personally evaluated by AJ and our team!  https://www.selfstorageincome.com/feasibility  Take advantage of today’s market conditions and invest with us:  https://cedar.cc/invest  Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/ 

Expert Dane Elefante discusses the impact of COVID on self-storage industry mindset. Emphasizes the need for effort and improvement in the current market. Insights on market dynamics post-pandemic, revenue tactics, and branding importance for operators.

Explore the importance of surrounding oneself with positive influences for personal growth and navigating contradictions in leadership. Learn about strategic business planning and leadership strategies in the storage industry, and the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship.

Lance Watkins, CEO of Tenant Inc., discusses how self storage tech lags behind other industries, highlighting the potential for contactless rentals, customer convenience, and operational efficiency. The podcast explores the impact of technology on the storage industry and the need for operators to embrace modern tech solutions for competitive advantage.

Learn how cell towers can boost profits for self-storage facilities as experts discuss negotiating lease agreements with tower companies, maximizing value, and the importance of expert guidance in this insightful episode.

Like any industry, self storage has recently adopted the idea of "promotional pricing." Think "first month's rent" for housing or "device trade in credit" for buying the newest smartphone. At some point, it is just too good to be true.  There's a fine line between "promotional" and "false advertising." Attracting the right customer base - and getting them in the door the RIGHT way - is what Conner and Jesse Harmon talk about in this episode of Self Storage Income. Jesse recently got back from the Tenant Inc. Innovation Conference, where there was a lot of discussion on customer acquisition, customer service, and the role of AI in revenue management. The overwhelming consensus in the industry (particularly the REITs), is to lower prices, get people renting, and then jack up prices. But that takes the choice away from the consumer (and as a consumer, you may feel swindled or ripped off. Rightly so!). Questionable ethics aside, is this really a sustainable long-term strategy? Is there any other way?  Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/ Check out Storelocal! https://www.storelocal.com/ Ready to buy storage? Have your deals personally evaluated by AJ and our team!  https://www.selfstorageincome.com/feasibility  Take advantage of today’s market conditions and invest with us:  https://cedar.cc/invest

Single Family homes and Self Storage facilities are drastically different assets. They are both a solid path of investment that can yield great returns. And as a homeowner (or a prospective one), self storage may seen complicated and out of your price range. Like Mike, you may be a homeowner with 1 or multiple properties. He is an ex-corporate worker in the Charolette, NC area and used to be a player in long-term/short-term rentals for Single Family homes. Barely making it out of 2008, he eventually ended up in storage. Three years ago, Mike bought his first Self Storage facility, a small deal under 10,000 sq.ft, moving up from there. Mike's story is inspiring and provides great insights into the nuances of being a new storage owner. Are you ready to take on the challenge? Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/ Ready to buy storage? Have your deals personally evaluated by AJ and our team!  https://www.selfstorageincome.com/feasibility  Take advantage of today’s market conditions and invest with us:  https://cedar.cc/invest

Self storage marketing is one of the most CRUCIAL parts of owning a facility, but most self storage operators completely overlook it. They hear words like “branding,” “advertising,” and “SEO” and become frozen, so they stick to drive-by marketing and running ads in the local newspaper. This WILL NOT work in 2024, and with vacancies still running high across the country, the ONLY thing that will save you is self storage marketing done RIGHT. Luckily, we’re about to show you exactly how to do it. We’ve tested these self storage marketing ideas for over a decade, beating the local competition AND the REITs at their own game. And if you’re struggling to fill up your first facility or seeing your whole portfolio stagnate, slowly losing customers to the self storage facility next door, this is a show you CANNOT miss. We’re going to tell you exactly what you need to do to get in front of new customers, close the sale, and fill up your facility in 2024.  What you’ll learn in today’s show: How to start marketing your self storage facility so customers find you TODAY What to do when a REIT or big facility moves into your local market  Why small facilities MUST “play a different game” to get their doors rented  Our surprising finding about intro rates that completely blew our minds  Why your self storage facility name (probably) doesn’t matter as much as you think How to use branding to break into new markets (EVEN if they have high competition)  Want more free education & market insights? Search "Self Storage Income" on YouTube! Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/ Ready to buy storage? Have your deals personally evaluated by AJ and our team!  https://www.selfstorageincome.com/feasibility  Take advantage of today’s market conditions and invest with us:  https://cedar.cc/invest

Learn how to acquire your first or next self storage deal in 2024 by building an investing 'buy box' and avoiding rookie mistakes. Explore the benefits of property management software and feasibility studies. Discover the importance of building relationships and networking within the self-storage industry. Surround yourself with experts, access abundant resources, and enjoy the lower risk and faster growth of the current industry era. Overcome obstacles in closing deals by understanding sellers' wants, having a team, and being confident in decision-making.

The Fed chair Jerome Powell decided to stop interest rate hikes. It's in the news, it's what's trending - but is it accurate? If so, what are the effects on storage?   The potential rate drop creates a weird dichotomy. Despite wanting GDP to drop, and for unemployment to rise, the Fed changing its tune is surprising. Recessions are the most effective way to stop inflation...when it works. It's also an election year: historically, the Fed has only changed rates once before an election. It threatens the politics involved, and they want to step back.    If they're going to do something, they have to make a decision quickly.   In self storage, this affects more than just the price of a storage unit. This can hit maintenance costs, building/renovations, staffing costs, advertising, and much more. Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/ Ready to buy storage? Have your deals personally evaluated by AJ and our team!  https://www.selfstorageincome.com/feasibility  Take advantage of today’s market conditions and invest with us:  https://cedar.cc/invest