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 NDAs are and offer some tips to consider when you have to sign them.

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 in these neighborhoods. But how can you predict the future of a self-storage location? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the many tools available to gauge the future growth of a location.

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 nearly as good.

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 review the dangers of going “big” and how to mitigate those risks.

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 direct mail as a tool to find deals to buy, as well as some tricks and tips to increase your success with this method of prospecting.

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 market. In this Self-Storage University podcast, we’re going to explore these two opposing forces and how to make the correct decision based on your goals.

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 their bloating bills. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the playbook to keeping your storage facility’s property taxes as low as possible.

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 does that relate to improvements to self-storage facilities? That’s the topic of this Self-Storage University podcast.

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 – but vital – arena. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to drill down on the right and wrong way to collect rent.

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 top? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to discuss some real-life solutions to getting your deal over the goal line.