Self Storage Investing

Send us a textRick Gibson made his living successfully as a lawyer for nearly four decades. But it was a noteworthy book that made the case for him to think about investing.  Rich Dad, Poor Dad. That book inspired Rick to leave corporate America and form an investing team with his sons in real estate.  Today Gibson's portfolio includes mobile home parks and storage facilities, which he was able to grow and sell to a real estate investment trust.  And along the way Rick has come to see the importance of community in the self-storage industry, highlighting the value of Scott’s mastermind group in providing resources and support.   WHAT TO LISTEN FOR4:16 The Role of Family and Legacy in Business10:30 The Importance of Community and Networking18:16 Adapting and Thriving Through Economic Cycles21:16 Leveraging Experience and Collaboration for Success Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click  ABOUT RICK GIBSONRick was a lawyer by trade in the St Louis area for 37 years. As an investor, his family business owns 80 single family rentals, six mobile home parks and nine storage facilities. He’s also involved in passive investing with another half dozen storage facilities and three different storage funds.  CONNECT WITH RICKEmail   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 textBen Kall, a former college football player and coach turned real estate agent and investor shares his journey from coaching to real estate, explaining how he started a property management company and brokerage business before moving into self-storage investment.  He discusses the importance of diversifying in multiple asset classes and the challenges of managing other people's money.  Kall also talks about the importance of systems and processes in managing a growing portfolio and recommends the book "Who Not How" for those looking to improve their operations.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR1:35 Calling an Audible. Ben’s From Football to Real Estate Investing3:29 Ben’s First Foray into Self-Storage Investing Without Prior Experience9:17 Ben’s Involvement in Different Asset Types21:03 Adapting to Current Market Conditions Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click ABOUT BEN KALLBen is the managing member and co-founder of Legacy Investment Group. Legacy is a real estate investment firm focusing on the acquisition, improvement, and best-in-class management of select self-storage, multifamily, and triple net properties throughout the US Midwest.  CONNECT WITH BENInstagram| MN Storage | Waukee Storage | Legacy Storage | Legacy Investment Group |  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 textGinny Sutton is the executive director for the Texas Self-Storage Association. In this episode she discusses the evolution of the self-storage industry, highlighting the shift from a less professional approach to a more sophisticated business model.  Sutton emphasizes the importance of joining industry associations for networking, education, and advocacy purposes. She also shares advice on the importance of insurance, property taxes, and seeking advice from experienced industry professionals.  And the future? Sutton says further consolidation in the industry and the increased use of technology, including artificial intelligence is going to shake things up. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR1:21 Growth and the Evolution of the Self-Storage Industry in Texas6:45 The Role of Lobbying and Advocacy on the Business Environment27:02 The Impacts of Technology Advancements on Self-Storage31:48 Trends and Future Predictions in Self-Storage Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click ABOUT GINNY SUTTONGinny Sutton has been the executive director for the Texas Self Storage Association, the largest state self-storage association in the country, since 1997. Her career in association management spans 30 years, with previous work as the director of education for the Austin Apartment Association. During her tenure at TSSA, the membership has expanded from approximately 800 to 3,000 members who own more than 5,000 facilities in Texas and a few surrounding states. For the past 26 years, Ginny has supported and advised self-storage owners, managers, and developers, as well as the vendors who serve the self-storage industry. Ginny has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas with a teaching certification in English and Journalism. She and her husband live in Central Texas and have two grown sons. CONNECT WITH GINNYLinkedIn  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 textFor Jonah Hall, the journey into the self-storage industry began in 2017 when he worked for a family office in the oil and gas sector. His initial project involved converting a building into a storage facility, which marked his entry into the industry.  Hall emphasizes the importance of remote management and self-service features in the self-storage business, as these allow customers to access the facilities with ease. He also sees significant potential in conversions and acquisitions in the current market, especially in medium-sized markets.  Hall is optimistic about the increasing role of automation and technology in the industry and believes that they will be crucial for the future of self-storage.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR4:57 Technology and unstaffed facilities12:23 How to adapt to rising construction costs15:19 Why consistent market outreach is so important21:06 Technology and process optimization Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click  ABOUT JONAH HALLJonah is the co-founder of Smartlock Self Storage®. In Garland, Texas, Jonah repurposed a vacant property early in his career. He used a former Dollar General building to test various industry innovations. In October 2020, he co-founded Smartlock Self Storage® with David Hoover. They quickly grew the company. By Summer 2023, they opened sixteen locations with six more underway.  CONNECT WITH JONAHWebsite | 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 textCori Garrod is an expert in contact centers. In this episode she discusses the importance of having a good call center for a self-storage business. She emphasizes the need for compassionate and knowledgeable staff who can provide excellent customer service.  Garrod also highlights the importance of being ready to close a sale at every customer interaction, whether it's through a website, phone call, or in-person visit. And she shares the pros and cons of having an in-house call center versus outsourcing to a third party.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR2:17 Digital transition and online rentals5:01 The importance of customer service in contact centers6:38 In-house vs third party contact centers26:11 Being ready to close sales Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click ABOUT CORI GARRODCori has over two decades of expertise in the self-storage industry. With a strong focus on local SEO, digital marketing, customer experience, online reputation management, and contact center operations and technologies.  CONNECT WITH CORIWebsite | 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 textRegister for our January, 2024 Academy in Mesa, AZ. Use the code SSAP to save $500.Joel Friedland is an industrial real estate veteran with over 40 years of experience. In this episode Joel shares his insights on the industrial real estate market, explaining how he focuses on B and C industrial buildings, which are older and have lower ceilings than modern warehouses. He discusses the high demand for these types of buildings, particularly from manufacturers, and how he often sells them to users at a premium. Joel also shares his strategy of doing all-cash deals with no mortgages to mitigate risk.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR2:33 Why the workforce is so important in the industrial business5:02 The value of B and C industrial buildings10:22 The impact of the internet on industrial real estate35:06 Joel and Scott share their experiences with development and redevelopment ABOUT JOEL FRIEDLANDJoel's entrepreneurial journey began at 14 when he ran a landscaping business, managing the yards of 70 families and employing 40 students. He later founded a brokerage firm overseeing 20 brokers.  Over four decades, Joel has participated in nearly 100 acquisitions, amassing about 3 million square feet and raising over $250 million in private capital. Currently, he manages an 18-building industrial portfolio, emphasizing low-risk, cash-flow-centric investments.  CONNECT WITH JOELWebsite 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.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

Send us a textRegister for our January, 2024 Academy in Mesa, AZ. Use the code SSAP to save $500.The questions we get from listeners are always gold. We answer more of them in this episode looking at the current state of the market, the importance of networking, and the dynamics of self-storage investing in today’s economic climate with high inflation rates. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR4:42 The Impacts of increasing interest rates and decreasing Loan-to-Value rates11:57 A strategy for creating deal flow in self-storage18:27 Why the personal touch and relationship-building is so important24:39 The S&P 500 vs Self-Storage over the last 25 years. It’s not even close 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 textRegister for our January, 2024 Academy in Mesa, AZ. Use the code SSAP to save $500.Scott Zucker, a lawyer specializing in the self-storage industry, discusses the evolution and future of the industry with host Scott Meyers. Zucker highlights the importance of understanding and complying with the legal aspects of running a self-storage business, especially as the industry continues to evolve with technology and market demands.  He also emphasizes the need for operators to keep their documents and operations in line with legal requirements to avoid potential liabilities.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR19:51 Why industry ownership is the reverse trend to other industries like assisted living and hospitality24:23 Consolidation trends44:10 Scott’s predictions for the self-storage industry in 202448:31 The lending landscape includes troubled commercial loans on the macro level  ABOUT SCOTT ZUCKERScott is a founding partner of the Atlanta-based Weissmann/Zucker law firm. He’s been a legal practitioner since 1987, specializing in representing self-storage owners and managers on a range of legal matters from property development to tenant claims defense. He’s an external counsel to the national Self Storage Association and legal advisor to various state self-storage associations.  CONNECT WITH SCOTT ZWebsite | Website for Self Storage Law  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 textRegister for our January, 2024 Academy in Mesa, AZ. Use the code SSAP to save $500.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 building  ABOUT 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 textIn this episode Scott discusses the current state of the Self-Storage industry and why it’s attracting new investors. With other asset classes experiencing a downturn, Self-Storage remains a lucrative investment option.  Scott explains how self-storage thrives during economic downturns as businesses and individuals downsize, leading to increased demand and rental rates. He also highlights the benefits of investing in self-storage during a recession and the opportunities it presents. This episode provides valuable insights for those interested in entering the self-storage market or looking for alternative investment options.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR 1:25 Why Self-Storage during economic downturns 8:26 A solid plan for getting started in Self-Storage 10:14 The vital importance of writing a business plan 23:00 How to really understand cashflow  CONNECT WITH US Website | 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.