The physical condition of a self-storage property significantly impacts both rental rates and occupancy by directly influencing customer perception of security, value, and quality. Facilities that are clean, well-lit, well-maintained, and modern can command higher rents and attract more tenants, while neglected properties must often lower prices to compete. In today’s hyper-competitive world, it is mission-critical to maintain or improve a facility’s physical condition. Impact on rental rates Higher rent prices: A well-maintained property with strong curb appeal can justify charging premium rental rates. Visible care of the facility signals…
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10 Warning Signs a Tenant is Living in Your Self-Storage Facility
Living in a Self-Storage unit is illegal in most areas and poses serious safety and liability risks for facility owners. Unfortunately, it’s an issue that many operators face at some point. The good news? By spotting the warning signs early, you can prevent a small problem from becoming a costly legal mess. Here are 10 signs that a tenant might be secretly living at your facility—and what to watch for. 1. Unusual hours of access. The first sign that someone may be living at your facility is unusual hours of…
Janus International Launches Redesigned Nokē Web Portal to Enhance Multi-Facility Management
The new enterprise-level platform simplifies navigation, streamlines operations, and delivers an intuitive experience for self-storage operators worldwide. Janus International Group, Inc. (NYSE: JBI) (“Janus” or the “Company”), a leading provider of cutting-edge access control technologies and building product solutions for the self-storage and other commercial and industrial sectors, today announced the launch of it’s newly designed web portal, marking a milestone in it’s ongoing commitment to delivering seamless, enterprise level experiences for operators to run their facilities more efficiently. The redesigned Nokē Web Portal gives operators the ability to manage…
Etude Capital Acquires 9-Property Storage Portfolio
Etude Capital announced today the acquisition of nine self-storage properties comprising over 800,000 net rentable square feet and more than 6,600 units for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $166 million. The properties were acquired from a single seller and are located in Northern and Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The properties will be managed by Extra Space Storage. “We are pleased to add these assets to our national portfolio and expand our West Coast footprint,” said Alex Hansen, Director of Self-Storage Acquisitions at Etude. “This transaction underscores Etude’s…
Self Storage Opens with Professional Management in Orlando, Florida
Local owners of Colonial Drive Self Storage proudly announce the acquisition of the self-storage facility at 4815 West Colonial Drive Orlando, FL 32808. This facility, being managed by Absolute Storage Management (Absolute), features 1,174 units totaling 101,207 rentable square feet. It offers safe and secure climate-controlled unit options to the local communities of Orlando, Kissimmee, and Sanford. Colonial Storage Holdings LLC has contracted with Absolute Storage Management (Absolute) to provide professional self-storage management services, and the facility is officially under Absolute’s management as of August 14, 2025. Residents and businesses…
Featured Broker: Jamey Cox
Jamey has been active in the commercial construction, real estate brokerage and development business since the early 2000s, all of which were based in the Charlotte, NC region with projects along the East Coast. Project types have included office buildings, industrial and flex space, and mixed-use developments. Jamey shifted to commercial real estate in 2011. He worked with clients throughout the region. His work included site selection, land use evaluation. In addition to land sales, Jamey worked on assignments that included industrial and office leasing and multifamily sales. Jamey joined…
New Self Storage Facility Opens to Serve Growing Batavia, Illinois Market
Atlanta-based Noble Storage today announced the grand opening of its newest facility, Space Shop Self Storage, located at 2345 Mill Street in Batavia, IL. This 100% climate-controlled facility offers 968 modern storage units designed to provide residents and businesses with a clean, safe, and convenient place to store their belongings. “Our mission is to deliver space-saving solutions that make life easier for our customers,” said Brad Noble, President of Noble Storage. “The Batavia area is experiencing tremendous growth, and we’re proud to introduce a state-of-the-art facility that’s not only secure…
Vertical Lift Gate or Slide Gate: Which is Better?
The access control decisions you make are vital to securing your self-storage property, but security isn’t the only factor that goes into the equation. In fact, there are pros and cons of vertical lift gates and cantilever slide gates that you’ll want to think about as well as questions you should be asking yourself to get the right fit for your facility. Get the Right Fit Many properties are getting tighter on space as land costs go up, so a gate that works within those site constraints is crucial. In…
VanWest Partners Completes Self Storage Expansion in Jacksonville, Florida
VanWest Partners announces the completion of a major expansion at its Jacksonville, Florida, self storage facility located at 6664 Firestone Road in the rapidly growing southern Jacksonville submarket. ClearHome Self Storage – Firestone Road was originally acquired in May 2024, marking VanWest’s ninth self storage acquisition in Florida over the past five years. The facility, originally constructed in 2021, consisted of 39,570 net rentable square feet across a mix of climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled units. The newly delivered expansion on the western half of the property adds more than 28,000 square…
How to Turn a Mismanaged Storage Facility into a High-Performing Asset
Some facilities seem to have it all—great location, good unit mix, strong market demand—and yet they still underperform. After lease up, occupancy stalls and net operating income (NOI) stagnates. More often than not, the issue isn’t the facility itself; it’s the management approach. This could manifest as inconsistent operations, outdated processes, poor tenant communication, lackluster marketing, or all of the above If left untreated, mismanagement can quietly erode your asset’s value and performance. But there is good news. A mismanaged facility can be transformed into a high-performing, revenue-generating asset with…