This could be the biggest change to self storage industry data in years. For the entirety of its existence, the self storage industry has relied on guesswork to estimate competitor and market cap rates, occupancy, rental rates, and demand. Most self storage data is tied directly to REIT-run facilities—the biggest, most expensive facilities in the U.S. What about the small investor? Now, they have access to the data only the powerful players had for decades. Earlier this year, when we brought on Noah Starr from TractIQ to announce the biggest data transparency change in self storage history, we didn’t think he’d be back less than a year later to give us so much more to share. We’re giving it all away in today’s show: real cap rates in tertiary markets, actual occupancy rates from operators, the supply pipeline of new facilities coming to the market (and the ones that have been abandoned), and much more. If you’re a small operator in a small town, you can use this data to see what’s happening in your specific market to make better offers, increase your NOI, and beat the competition more easily than you’d imagine. Noah even shares a new announcement that will change the game for anyone building storage. What you’ll learn in today’s show: Real cap rates in smaller markets and why facilities are selling for far less than you’d imagine Cash flow is back! The profit spread is widening for self storage as we speak REITs continue to consolidate (why AJ is buying more self storage than ever before) Will demand boomerang back as home sales begin to edge higher? The surprising statistic that shows just how behind 80% of mom-and-pop operators are (your competition!) - Grab the Full Self Storage Data Report Now!: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/storage-industry-report?el=pc-episode-366 - Self Storage Deals Just Got MUCH Better in 2026 (Huge Announcement) w/Noah Starr: https://youtu.be/eoi825L7ag8?si=8V5VDllc0kMSCqqQ - The #1 Lie Costing Self Storage Investors Millions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wztYSZ5fc90
How much does a self storage facility cost, and how much can you make owning a storage facility? AJ has three recent real deals, all from Self Storage Income members, to show you the real cost, revenue, cash flow, and equity numbers that small investors are seeing in 2026. And even though these numbers look impressive, they’re not rarities. Self storage is changing, and the deals are getting better, sometimes by the day. AJ has bought more storage in the past twelve months than the past few years combined. Why? Sellers are waking up to reality and realizing that they can’t ask for high prices while interest rates are elevated. This is a huge opportunity to buy a poorly-operated facility, improve operations, increase cash flow, and sometimes make seven figures in equity along the way. AJ’s going to prove it’s still possible by walking through three real deals, all with sizable cash flow and equity, using simple, beginner-friendly strategies any new self storage investor can repeat. What you’ll learn in today’s show: How much self storage facilities are actually making in 2026 (and how much they cost) The simple value-add improvements small storage owners can make to increase their revenue and facility value Why AJ is buying significantly more self storage now than in the past (a repeat of 2013?) How one small investor financed a facility at just 1% down (and made a 23x return) The buy, improve, refinance, and repeat strategy to scale your storage facility faster — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 - https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865 Join the Self Storage Income Community to learn how to buy, build, and scale your self storage portfolio: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt?el=yt-ep365 Episode 321. How We (Remote!) Manage Our 19-Facility Self Storage Business - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2149107392 The Real Numbers Behind a $2M Self-Storage Deal (Case Study)- https://youtu.be/2tWBihDx-Y0?si=MEVtcIUkCuXx7llL This Family Closed a $247K Storage Deal in 2025 (Here’s How)- https://youtu.be/kxRCsk1YtG8?si=jFlIGmRnvRr6c80L
Buying a self storage facility is a major milestone, but closing the deal is only the beginning. The real work starts when you take over self storage operations. When closing day finally arrives and you get the keys, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by everything that suddenly lands on your plate. But in those first few weeks, one overlooked detail or mistake could set your self storage business back thousands of dollars. We want to help you avoid exactly that. Today, we’re giving you the ultimate checklist—a full laundry list of things to do before and immediately after you close. Follow these steps to fully stabilize your self storage facility and have it running smoothly in roughly two to four weeks. We’re covering all of your first steps—everything from setting up your property management software and transferring crucial tenant information to putting utilities in your name and much more. These details are easy to overlook if you’re not careful, and the consequences can be severe. Consider this your cheat sheet for taking the reins and getting your facility firing on all cylinders! What you’ll learn in today’s show: Our complete checklist for setting up your self storage facility (in 30 days) The most crucial steps for mastering self storage operations The biggest mistakes new self storage investors make when buying a facility What should happen on day one after taking over a self storage facility How to get your next facility running smoothly within two to four weeks — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865 Join the Self Storage Income Community to learn how to buy, build, and scale your self storage portfolio: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt?el=pc-episode-364 Learn more about Hummingbird - https://www.tenantinc.com/products/hummingbird
For months, we’ve been saying the same thing: The self storage industry has finally turned a corner. We’re now in a buyer’s market, and we’re seeing some of the best self storage deals in years. But if that’s the case, where are these deals? We’re answering this exact question on today’s episode. Of course, you can find self storage facilities the “normal” way—by building your buy box and giving it to your broker to pull properties already listed for sale. But some of the deepest discounts and greatest wealth creation opportunities come from buying off-market, mom-and-pop facilities with huge value-add potential. And today, we’re providing a three-part strategy anyone can use to find them, even if you’re brand new to self storage investing. We’ll even share a few case studies of real self storage investors who have been able to create several hundred thousand dollars in value by using these exact tactics. Whether you’re on the hunt for your first self storage facility or looking to grow your portfolio, these time-tested strategies will help you do just that! What you’ll learn in today’s show: Our three-part strategy for finding off-market deals in 2026 Case studies from self storage investors who bought off-market properties Creative ways to find mom-and-pop, value-add self storage opportunities How to develop your own self storage network from scratch How to foster the right mindset for finding self storage deals __________ Join our group, the Self Storage Income Community to learn how to buy, build, and scale your self storage portfolio. While also being around supportive people with similar goals! https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt?el=pc-episode-363 Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 : https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865 How to Win Friends and Influence People : https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671027034
By the end of this episode, you’ll have everything you need to buy storage facilities—not just any facility, but the facility that is best for you. This is the exact pre-acquisition checklist Conner uses to get prepped to buy self storage investments. Not only can it help speed up your timeline to your first storage facility exponentially, but it will also make buying every facility after that even easier. If you wonder how Conner and AJ invest at scale and can move on deals so quickly, this is how it’s done. We’ll walk you through everything you need, from finding lenders and insurance to getting your buy box set up and connecting to brokers who will send you deals, and finally making offers on facilities that fit your exact criteria. This is everything you need to go from zero self storage investments to your first one under contract, and by next week, you could have deals filling up your inbox if you follow Conner’s checklist. What you’ll learn in today’s show: The three things you need to find, offer on, and buy your first self storage investment It is not too early to talk to a lender and why you should be calling them before the deal hits your inbox The exact buy box you can send to brokers that will get them to send the right deals to you Submitting LOIs (letters of intent) and PSAs (purchase and sale agreements) before closing How to get on mom-and-pop owners’ good side so they offer you the chance to buy first — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 : https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865 Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/ Check out this episode next: The Last Time Self Storage Did This, We Made Millions (You Have 2 Years) - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2149240630 Join the Self Storage Income Community to learn how to buy, build, and scale your self storage portfolio: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt?el=yt-episode-362