Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

One of the advantages of being a smaller self-storage operator is that — unlike the REITs and larger players who focus on their investors and stockholders — we can focus on the real source of our success: our customers.

I found the StorageCafe (an online marketplace for consumers) newly released survey on self-storage in 2026 very interesting.

Let’s explore the results and what they can mean for us smaller owner-operators.

**My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation**

**Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook**

**Startup Checklist**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**The 4 Critical Metrics Download**

**Five Mistakes PDF*

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

**5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

As I look to the future, as I regularly do as a business owner, I realize that the self-storage business of the past will most likely not be the industry of the future.

Let’s jump into the time machine and take a look at self-storage in the years ahead.

Hint: To a large degree, this future landscape is already here. Don’t tell anyone.

**My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation**

**Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook**

**Startup Checklist**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**The 4 Critical Metrics Download**

**Five Mistakes PDF*

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

**5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

Let me tell you why I am not a big fan of large storage funds.

I was recently reminded of this when I read an article in the ISS Newsfeed.

We have got to do something to restore the image of our industry and I think the time to start is now.

Let me explain in this episode.

**My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation**

**Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook**

**Startup Checklist**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**The 4 Critical Metrics Download**

**Five Mistakes PDF*

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

**5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

I don’t see owners utilizing landing pages that much anymore in online self-storage marketing, and I am not sure why. I suspect it is because it has been beat into our heads that reduced clicks for consumers is the holy grail for online marketing success.

Now I am all about reducing friction to renting units online, but let me tell you why I am still a firm believer in landing pages.

Even today!

**My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation**

**Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook**

**Startup Checklist**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**The 4 Critical Metrics Download**

**Five Mistakes PDF*

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

**5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

It has been a while since I used an SBA loan to develop some storage, but I am in a deal where we are using it now for a boat and RV development. We are racing to get it closed by Sept. 14 because the deal was underwritten at today’s interest rates, and if rates go up and the deal is not closed…well, it has to be underwritten at the new rate.

Let’s look at 2 key reports I have been keeping a watch for and how the market reacted to them, and let’s make a prediction where interest rates are going in Sept. and beyond.

**My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation**

**Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook**

**Startup Checklist**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**The 4 Critical Metrics Download**

**Five Mistakes PDF*

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

**5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

I have made a lot of mistakes over my business career and done a few things right.

Fortunately, it only takes a few good decisions, and some grace from the universe, to be successful.

But if there is one lesson I wish I had learned early in my career, it is… in this episode.

**My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation**

**Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook**

**Startup Checklist**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**The 4 Critical Metrics Download**

**Five Mistakes PDF*

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

**5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

As I move through some of the various deals I am involved with today, the markets and the deals themselves are changing at a very rapid pace.

Let’s look at what is behind these changes and the big advantage this current environment can offer the smaller investor/operator.

I think you may be surprised.

**My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation**

**Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook**

**Startup Checklist**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**The 4 Critical Metrics Download**

**Five Mistakes PDF*

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

**5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

I think trying to find off-market listings is hard as well today.

As a storage owner, I get, on average, 10 texts a week, lots of letters a month, and perhaps one to two calls every week or so about selling my facility. Some inquiries even come for properties I sold years ago (not sure what lists out there show us as owners).

The reality is, for the most part, the way most of us try to connect with and buy off-market properties doesn’t work very well.

Perhaps there is a better way to stand out from the herd.

Try this method and see if it may help.

**My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation**

**Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook**

**Startup Checklist**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**The 4 Critical Metrics Download**

**Five Mistakes PDF*

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

**5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

We all know how AI is changing the self-storage landscape. Others smarter than me have talked about using chatbots for storage answering services, AI in revenue management and tenant data analysis (determining which tenants can pay what rate based on behavior), and many of the tools savvy operators in the industry use today.

Let me give you a real-life example of how I am using it today as I move through the diligence process of some deals right now.

**My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation**

**Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook**

**Startup Checklist**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**The 4 Critical Metrics Download**

**Five Mistakes PDF*

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

**5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**

After over forty years in real estate and the self-storage business, I have learned a few things about business that I am sharing as I hover around this 500-episode mark.

I guess we could call these episodes “What I’ve Learned About Wealth, Business, and Life.” This also coincides with my newly released book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation.

Let me share with you five things I have learned about business over the years. When I started, I knew very little about money, wealth, and running businesses. I have learned what I know through research and grinding away.

I think you may be surprised.

**My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation**

**Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook**

**Startup Checklist**

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**The 4 Critical Metrics Download**

**Five Mistakes PDF*

**Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator**

**Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy**

**Listen on Apple Podcasts**

**5 KPIs we measure**

**My blog**

Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

**Facebook**

**Twitter**

**The Storage World Analyzer**

**The QuickStart Academy Store**