Josh and Melissa recently went undercover, visiting several self-storage facilities near one of their managed properties in Southern California to see how the competition was showing up. What they found was equal parts encouraging and eye-opening.

The tours were genuinely enjoyable. Several facilities presented well, with staff who were friendly and professional. But not everything passed the test. Some red flags came up that no self-storage operator should be comfortable with, including staff who casually mentioned recent break-ins during a tour and a facility that openly disclosed rates could increase within just 30 days of signing.

In this episode, Josh and Melissa break down what they observed, what it means for operators, and what every storage facility should be doing differently. Secret shopping is one of the most underused tools in self-storage, and this episode is a practical reminder of why it matters.

If you've never walked into a competitor's facility as a customer, this one might change that.

If you're planning your year, here are a few events we recommend:

• Register for The Big Ideas in Storage Conference in Texas - Register Here
• Register for MSM's The Show using code LSS2026 - Register Here

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions