The Self Storage University Podcast

By Frank Rolfe

What's The Self Storage University Podcast about?

Welcome to the Self-Storage University Podcast, where you will learn the correct way to identify, evaluate, negotiate, perform due diligence on, renegotiate, finance, turn-around and operate self-storage facilities. And your host is a partner in one of the largest real estate portfolios in the U.S. with nearly $1 billion of holdings, Frank Rolfe.

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The Self Storage University Podcast episodes:

05.28.2024
The Power Of Stress-Testing
One of the cardinal rules of investing in a self-storage facility is making sure you have your downside protected. To help facilitate this analysis, many buyers and lenders will “stress test” the proposed deal to see if they can survive...
05.14.2024
Getting Ready For The Commercial Lending Apocolypse
There is around $2 trillion of commercial real estate loans coming due in the next two years, and there’s an anticipated $1 trillion of losses when those loans renew, thanks to the terrible performance of office and retail properties. And...
04.26.2024
The Problem With Cash
Bank interest rates are at the highest level in the past 40 years. But it still doesn’t make sense to buy a storage facility with all-cash. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to discuss why buying properties with 100%...
04.12.2024
What Happens When You Combine Direct Mail And Cold Calling
There are several ways to find a self-storage facility to buy. Two of the best are “cold-calling” and “direct mail” – but happens when you combine them together? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the powerful force...
03.22.2024
The Necessity Of Locating Utilities
Did you know that hitting a fiber optic cable with your post-hole digger can bankrupt you? There are a large number of buried utilities in the U.S. that you might hit every time you put a shovel in the ground...
02.23.2024
Dare To Be Different In Direct Mail
One great way to find a self-storage facility to buy is a simple direct mail piece. But with so much mail landing in mailboxes across America, how can you stand out from the pack? On this Self-Storage University podcast we’re...
02.09.2024
The Importance of “Time On The Market”
On most on-line offerings, the time on the market is featured somewhere in the listing. This is one of the most valuable pieces of information available – yet many buyers overlook its importance. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going...
01.26.2024
Can A Novice Really Get The Attention Of A Broker?
There are many different ways to find a self-storage facility to buy, but one of the best is working with a broker. But aren’t brokers only interested in working with big, experienced buyers? In this Self-Storage University Podcast we’re going...
01.12.2024
In Praise Of Recessions
Even though we don’t know it yet, experts predict that we are already at the start of the next Great Recession. There are two ways to approach a U.S. economic downturn: 1) with fear and loathing or 2) with a...
12.30.2023
Tips On Surveys
You can’t buy a self-storage facility without a survey. But most buyers do not get the most out of the survey nor do they understand what a proper survey should even reflect. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to...
12.16.2023
Getting Creative On Negotiating The Price
Some sellers are flexible and other won’t budge on their price. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review some creative ways to achieve a good price when the seller is unwilling to work with the buyer or acknowledge...
11.28.2023
The Different Ways To Assume A Loan
With the turmoil in the lending market, finding ways to lock on lower interest rates – or just have a willing lender with knowledge of the asset – have become very important. And often this revolves around doing a loan...
11.07.2023
The Different Types Of Capital Partners
You can’t buy real estate with at least some cash for a down-payment. But what do you do when you exhaust your personal money yet still find deals to buy and need a source of the capital to get the...
10.28.2023
When Will Higher Interest Rates Lead To Distressed Deals To Buy?
It’s no surprise that self-storage facility loan interest rates have gone up to the highest level in nearly 40 years – and in only 18 months. And there has to be a correlation between these increases and the arrival of...
10.13.2023
Does UPS And UAW Mean Your Are In Trouble?
There is a revolution going on in the labor market and the implications are rumbling through all areas of employment. How will self-storage fare in the newfound quest of employees to fight for staggering wage increases. In this Self-Storage University...
09.22.2023
The Best And Worst Too To Make Or Lose Money
The most dangerous – and profitable – tool in buying self-storage facilities is debt. It can either greatly enhance your rate or return or drag you down and drown you. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore debt,...
09.08.2023
Understanding The Art Of Persuasion
Buying a self-storage property typically revolves around getting the seller to do something, and that skill is called “persuasion”. But how does it work and how can you be better at it? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to...
08.21.2023
How To Find A Bank
Real estate is all about leverage and obtaining debt is a big part of successfully buying a self-storage facility. So how do you find a bank? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to give you the simple steps required...
08.07.2023
Paving Scams And How To Avoid Them
One of the key components – in fact the first thing you notice when you pull into the facility – of any self-storage property are the paved surfaces. Unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous paving companies that see your dependence on...
07.23.2023
A Tale Of Two Cities
I recently leased two storage units – one in a city of 2.8 million and one in a city of 4,500. And the results perfectly illustrate where the money is in self-storage investing today and where the money definitely is...
07.07.2023
Tips On Wrap Notes
You’ve got bank debt, and you’ve got seller carry – and then there’s the hybrid called a “wrap” note. But what does that mean, how do they work, and what do you have to watch out for? That’s the focus...
06.16.2023
The Impact Of Negative Population Growth
Many markets across the U.S. are experiencing negative population growth. But is that an important issue when it comes to making smart investment decisions regarding storage properties? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore what’s causing negative population...
06.01.2023
The Strengths Of Storage Revisited 50 Years Later
The self-storage industry began its self-promotion in the 1970s, at the time that Public Storage started its ascent. But has the storage niche been living up to the original premise? In this Self-Storage University we review one of the early...
05.23.2023
The Difference Between An Amateur And A Professional
It’s one thing to think about self-storage investing and another to actually do it. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the methods the pros use to find deals, analyze them, get them financed and operate them. If...
05.05.2023
All About On-line Listings
One of the first places that buyers typically look for self-storage facilities are on-line listing services, such as Loopnet.com. But this is actually one of the least productive sources, coming in last against brokers, cold-calling and direct mail. Nevertheless, there...
04.21.2023
How To Avoid Term Default
“Term default” is what happens when your loan comes due and you are unable to find a replacement borrowing option. It was a common problem in the Great Recession in 2008, and that was mostly because borrowers used poor judgement...
04.07.2023
Negotiation Practice Options
To get the price you want on a self-storage property, you have to be skilled in negotiation. So how can you develop and refine those skills? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review some simple methods to enhance...
03.24.2023
Bad Broker Benefits
Not all real estate brokers are created equal, and some display their deficient skills – yet there is benefit from these brokers if you hang in there. In this Self-Storage University podcast, we will review the benefits of bad brokers...
03.11.2023
The Impact of Higher Single-Family Mortgage Rates
Single-family home mortgage rates have risen faster in the past twelve months than at any time in the past 40 years. What’s the impact of this event on the self-storage industry? In this Self-Storage University podcast, we’re going to drill...
02.25.2023
Creative Down Payments
Before you can make money with a self-storage facility, you first have to buy one. But what if you’re short on the necessary down payment cash? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review creative methods to fund your...
02.14.2023
Postcards Or Letters?
Direct mail is one of the best ways to find a self-storage facility to buy. And the discussion always turns to whether you will have better luck sending a postcard or a letter. In this Self-Storage University Podcast, we’re going...
01.31.2023
When Values Meet A Stone Wall
Many believe that self-storage facility prices are infinitely negotiable as long as the seller and buyer agree to a price. But that’s simply not true. In this Self-Storage University podcast, we’re going to discuss how the banking industry ultimately fixes...
01.13.2023
Buying An Asset Vs. Buying An Entity
Some sellers may want you to buy the entity that owns their property and not the property itself. Can you do that? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to drill down on the concept of buying an entity, what...
12.29.2022
When Do You Call It Quits On A Contractor
So you hired a third-party contractor to do something, whatever it may be, striping the pavement, putting in a speed bump, fixing a roll-up door, but then suddenly the relationship gets awkward. It's not working out. It's not functional. Things...
12.09.2022
Bubbles And Baths
The world economy has endured countless bubbles and resulting financial baths. They follow the same trajectory every time and you can see them build with investor behavior and attitudes. Is there a bubble and bust coming in the self-storage industry?...
11.25.2022
How to Get a Variance
Sometimes you want to add on to your existing storage facility or make other modifications but you are blocked by city, county or state ordinance. In those cases you have only one alternative: obtaining a variance. But how does that...
11.11.2022
The Impact of Higher Interest Rates
Interest rates are up – way up. It’s the highest level in 20 years and still has not peaked. What will be the impact of these suddenly higher rates on the self-storage industry and what can you do to protect...
10.28.2022
Should You Sit It Out?
America is seeing a financial instability that has not been experienced in 40 years. Should you sit out buying a storage facility during this period of uncertainty? That’s the topic we’re going to explore in-depth in this Self-Storage University podcast....
10.14.2022
The Right Perspective For Cold Calling
Many of the best self-storage deals come from cold-calling potential sellers. Yet many people find this simple technique stressful and awkward. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review some tips on how to make cold-calling a pleasurable experience...
10.04.2022
When In Doubt Press Farther Out
The competition can be fierce in the heart of the city, with self-storage facility prices that often make no sense as an investor. But that does not mean you have to sit out the current environment. A better alternative is...
09.19.2022
Thoughts On Signing A Broker NDA
Many self-storage brokers are going to want you to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before they will give you the information on some properties. But is that a good idea? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to discuss what...
09.02.2022
Using Tools To Predict A Location’s Future
In an environment where many of the best self-storage deals are in American suburbs and exurbs it’s critical that you choose locations in the “path of progress” so that your occupancy and rents are always growing with the expanding population...
08.19.2022
Asset Vs. Entity
There are two ways to buy a self-storage facility: as an asset purchase or an entity purchase. What’s the difference? That’s the topic of this Self-Storage University podcast in which we’ll explore which one is superior and which is not...
08.05.2022
Going Where The Water’s Deep Without Drowning
Conrad Hilton’s mother once told him “if you want to launch big ships you have to go where the water’s deep”. But that sentiment almost cost him his career when 1929 hit. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to...
07.22.2022
All About Finding Target Properties With Direct Mail
One of the best ways to find a self-storage facility to buy is through “direct mail”. But what does that mean and how do you do it properly? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review how to use...
07.08.2022
Synergy Vs. Diversity In Portfolio Building
When you buy your second and successive self-storage facilities, you are faced with a tough choice of synergy vs. diversity – namely, to congregate all your holdings in one basic market or to spread that risk over more than one...
06.20.2022
The Taxman Cometh
One of the largest line items on any self-storage P&L is “property tax”. But there are tricks you can use to minimize this burden – which will only be expanding as counties nationwide strive to find more ways to pay...
06.03.2022
What Would Benjamin Franklin Say?
Benjamin Franklin, the historical figure from American history, had many thoughts and comments that live on today. One of his famous thoughts was “it’s not the price of the fireplace but the cost to keep it stocked with wood”. How...
05.24.2022
The Right And Wrong Way To Collect Rent
Self-storage is a relatively simply business model, and without cash coming in there’s nothing to go out. As a result, collecting your rent is key. But many storage buyers and owners do not use good business practices in this basic...
05.06.2022
Pushing The Seller Over The Top To Sign Your Contract
Let’s assume that you have a storage owner who you are so close to getting to sign your purchase contract but can’t seem to get them to sign on the dotted line – how can you push them over the...

What's The Self Storage University Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Self Storage University Podcast episodes:

The Power Of Stress-Testing

Getting Ready For The Commercial Lending Apocolypse

The Problem With Cash

What Happens When You Combine Direct Mail And Cold Calling

The Necessity Of Locating Utilities

Dare To Be Different In Direct Mail

The Importance of “Time On The Market”

Can A Novice Really Get The Attention Of A Broker?

In Praise Of Recessions

Tips On Surveys

Getting Creative On Negotiating The Price

The Different Ways To Assume A Loan

The Different Types Of Capital Partners

When Will Higher Interest Rates Lead To Distressed Deals To Buy?

Does UPS And UAW Mean Your Are In Trouble?

The Best And Worst Too To Make Or Lose Money

Understanding The Art Of Persuasion

How To Find A Bank

Paving Scams And How To Avoid Them

A Tale Of Two Cities

Tips On Wrap Notes

The Impact Of Negative Population Growth

The Strengths Of Storage Revisited 50 Years Later

The Difference Between An Amateur And A Professional

All About On-line Listings

How To Avoid Term Default

Negotiation Practice Options

Bad Broker Benefits

The Impact of Higher Single-Family Mortgage Rates

Creative Down Payments

Postcards Or Letters?

When Values Meet A Stone Wall

Buying An Asset Vs. Buying An Entity

When Do You Call It Quits On A Contractor

Bubbles And Baths

How to Get a Variance

The Impact of Higher Interest Rates

Should You Sit It Out?

The Right Perspective For Cold Calling

When In Doubt Press Farther Out

Thoughts On Signing A Broker NDA

Using Tools To Predict A Location’s Future

Asset Vs. Entity

Going Where The Water’s Deep Without Drowning

All About Finding Target Properties With Direct Mail

Synergy Vs. Diversity In Portfolio Building

The Taxman Cometh

What Would Benjamin Franklin Say?

The Right And Wrong Way To Collect Rent

Pushing The Seller Over The Top To Sign Your Contract