Self Storage Investing

Send us a textIs self-storage really making a comeback in 2025? You bet—and the signs are everywhere. Scott Meyers breaks down why the sector isn’t crashing—it’s stabilizing and quietly setting the stage for a strong rebound in 2026. Scott uses fresh data and boots-on-the-ground insights to explore current vacancy trends, slowing supply, and the emergence of tech-forward, sustainability-driven upgrades that are becoming competitive edges. He outlines the three big trends shaping the industry now, and most importantly, shares four decisive, actionable moves that investors should take right now to stay ahead of the curve. From understanding market supply pipelines to building pro storage condos for business tenants, Scott makes the case that the smart money isn’t waiting—it’s moving.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR1:47 What do the latest numbers reveal about self-storage market health?3:10 What tech and customer trends are reshaping self-storage today?4:22 How is sustainability becoming a competitive advantage in storage?9:41 What are “pro storage condos” and why do they matter right now?  Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.

Send us a textThis is a REPLAY of an episode first published in March 2024. Success is not a secret—it's a mindset. In this episode, Scott unpacks the critical mindset shifts and practical strategies that have propelled his self-storage business forward. By emphasizing the importance of hard work over talent, the power of goal setting, and the necessity of surrounding oneself with smart, driven individuals, Scott provides a roadmap for growth. Scott dives into the habits that can transform both personal effectiveness and business operations, ultimately guiding listeners toward achieving their big, hairy, audacious goals (BHAG) and finding fulfillment in their professional endeavors. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR 1:49 Hard Work vs. Talent: The Hustle Mindset3:11 Mental Attitude6:31 Fear of Success: Overcoming Subconscious Barriers9:34 Finding Your Productive Peak Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

Send us a textThis is a REPLAY of an episode first published in October 2023. Luke Wong uses always has his head up for potential opportunities but when it comes to trusting your gut he says that’s really the key. He trusts his gut to help him make business decisions and powerful relationships in the self-storage industry. He also shares the importance of having a mentor and getting the right education in commercial real estate.WHAT TO LISTEN FOR2:41 Passive Investments in various asset classes3:43 Choosing Self-Storage for its management efficiency17:15 Partnerships for scaling25:52 Networking and relationship buildingABOUT LUKE WONGAfter graduating from Florida State University, Luke began his foray into real estate as an owner and operator of both commercial and residential properties. His early career also included land development.In 2001, he moved to Houston to work specifically in land acquisitions for residential subdivisions. To date, he owns and manages a total of five facilities, 959 units, and 150K nrsqft, with his eye on expanding all existing facilities and making additional acquisitions in the Texas market.Luke is also a proud member of the Self Storage and Commercial Academy Mastermind. Networking and self-education remain top priorities for him. CONNECT WITH LUKEWebsite | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

Send us a textCan a family of four with full schedules really break into self-storage investing? Adam and Kirby Leiby from Raleigh, North Carolina, just proved it's possible, and they brought the kids along for the ride.  In this first episode of a special new series “First Deal First Dive” episode of the Self Storage Investing Podcast, guest host Joe Downs connects with the Leibys, recent grads of Scott Meyers’ academy, to unpack how they went from Instagram ad skeptics to proud owners of Lemon Springs Self Storage in under a year.  From initial doubts and late-night training sessions to a near-missed deal and final success, the couple candidly shares their step-by-step journey, how they divided responsibilities, and what it really takes to get your first storage facility under contract.  If you’re wondering whether the dream of passive income through self-storage is actually doable, this is the episode that proves it. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:49 What was closing your first deal like?5:55 Why did they leave sales and homeschooling for storage?11:50 What shifted Adam’s mindset at the academy?17:01 What was the hardest part of training?23:21 How did they land their first facility? What to Watch For2:07 What does it feel like to close your first deal?5:29 Why did the Leibys leave the corporate world?11:45 What changed for Adam at the Academy?19:46 How hard is it to find your first good deal?23:20 How did the Leibys land their first facility? Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

Send us a textWhat happens when a Navy vet and a sales pro ditch Wall Street and go all in on self-storage? 🔑Scott Meyers welcomes back Rod and Christin Blunk, a dynamic husband-and-wife duo who went from 401k failures to self-storage success. They share how losing big in the 2008 crash sparked a mission to build real wealth—leading to over 400 real estate transactions and, eventually, a pivot to self-storage. From navigating the highs and lows of working together, to building a portfolio of owned and partnered facilities, Rod and Christin offer straight talk on due diligence, market trends, partnerships, and mentoring others in the game.  Listen For:1:12 How to pivot from traditional investing to self-storage?6:00 What are the challenges and wins of working with your spouse in business?14:00 What trends and opportunities are emerging in today’s self-storage market?19:52 What due diligence mistakes do new self-storage investors make?34:20 What advice would Rod and Christin give their younger selves? Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GUEST: ROD & CHRISTIN BLUNKWarriors 2 Wealth Website | Warriors 2 Wealth YouTube | Christin's Instagram | Christin's LinkedIn | Rod's LinkedIn | Rod’s Instagram CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

Send us a textIs your self-storage pricing strategy bleeding cash while you’re sitting at 90% occupancy?  Scott explains one of the most urgent and transformative trends in the self-storage industry today… dynamic pricing and AI-powered revenue optimization.  As markets soften, promotions spike, and new supply floods the industry, savvy operators are turning to real-time data-driven pricing models to protect margins and outsmart the competition.  Scott breaks down exactly how dynamic pricing works, what tools you need, and how to implement this system step-by-step, even if you're starting small.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR2:44 What is dynamic pricing in self storage?5:27 How can AI increase storage revenue at 90% occupancy?7:03 What are the risks of using dynamic pricing?8:44 How do I start using dynamic pricing in self storage?10:23 How is AI used to predict self storage demand?Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one clickCONNECT 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.

Send us a textWhen real operations experience meets brokerage, better deals get done.Scott Meyers welcomes back Alex Erbs for a dynamic conversation about his transition from running a multi-state self-storage management company to becoming a full-time broker with EqiCap Commercial.  They dig deep into what makes for a successful third-party management relationship, why many operators misunderstand what management companies actually do, and how Alex's hands-on experience gives him a competitive edge in helping owners value and sell their properties.  From lighthearted stories to serious strategy, this episode dives into what really drives value in today’s self-storage market.WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:13 The Big Shift: Operator to Broker4:16 Breaking Away from the Family Biz9:26 The Dawn of Third-Party Management25:25 Why Your Storage Facility Isn’t Filling Up29:05 The Four Must-Fix CapEx Items Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click GUEST: Alex Erbs, Director | EquiCap CommercialWebsite | Email | LinkedIn CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

Send us a textFrom 20 to 250: What Happens When Self-Storage Management Grows Too Fast? Peter Smyth returns to the Self Storage Podcast to share his explosive journey, from managing 20 facilities to nearly 250 in just one year. He outlines the challenges of hypergrowth, from client churn and employee scalability to building systems that can handle everything from rural RV lots to urban mega-facilities. Peter and Scott talk hiring for skill versus experience, the role of AI and custom-built software in operational efficiency, and why white-label management is becoming the go-to for storage owners who want control without compromise.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR1:10 From 20 to 250: The Rocketship Year5:53 Hiring for Talent, Not Just Experience10:24 Scaling Services for Every Size Operator14:10 KPIs, OKRs, and the Software Shift21:07 Managing a Startup and a Young Family Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click GUEST: Peter Smyth, White Label StorageWebsite | Email | LinkedIn CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

Send us a textWhat happens when a college senior aiming for luxury development ends up dominating the self-storage industry instead? Scott Meyers sits down with Cory Bonda, co-founder of Prestige Storage Capital, to explore Cory’s unexpected journey into self-storage and how he scaled from moonlighting in Columbus to managing a rapidly growing, vertically integrated storage empire. The conversation dives deep into Cory’s acquisition strategy, the value of fixed-rate debt, lessons learned through explosive growth (and pandemic curveballs), and the cautious yet innovative approach Prestige takes with technology and AI.  Listen For:0:46 From Student to Storage: Cory's Accidental Entry into the Industry4:02 How Prestige Storage Exploded Post-20206:22 Why Fixed-Rate Debt Fueled Smart Growth During Volatile Times10:16 How AI is Revolutionizing Hub-and-Spoke Storage Models16:28 2025 and Beyond: Strategy, Expansion, and the Top 25 Goal CONNECT WITH GUEST: CORY BONDALinkedIn  | Website CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.

Send us a textWhat happens when self-storage meets artificial intelligence? Scott Meyers and Joe Downs reunite right after their Mastermind and Academy events to dive deep into the game-changing role of AI in the self-storage industry. Fresh from coaching hungry investors through their first deals, they shift gears into a passionate discussion about AI’s transformational power—from automating market analysis and underwriting to building personalized dashboards and internal GPTs that replace hours of manual work. With Joe’s infectious excitement and Scott’s strategic insight, this episode delivers a powerful look at how leveraging AI can drastically speed up, simplify, and supercharge success in real estate investing—especially self-storage. Listen For:1:17 Seal the Deal: Whale hunts, masterminds, and champagne for first deals4:23 Hungry Dogs and First Wins: The energy of new investors and what fuels momentum11:00 AI Revelation: How Joe realized he's spending 50% of his time learning AI19:05 Market GPT is Here: The birth of Belrose’s self-storage-specific AI30:52 Redefining Industry Norms: Why common metrics like supply index might be outdated CONNECT WITH GUEST: JOE DOWNSLinkedIn  | Website CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.