Category: Sponsored

For more than two decades, Storage of America grew its self-storage portfolio one facility at a time. Beginning with a single big-box conversion in Indianapolis in 2003, the family-owned company expanded to 29 facilities and nearly 18,000 units across five Midwest states, managing every aspect of the business in-house: operations, customer service, delinquency management, marketing, and facility oversight in-house. That approach helped build a successful portfolio. As the company continued to grow, though, so did the complexity of managing operations. Processes varied from facility to facility, visibility into day-to-day performance…

Understanding where self-storage demand is strongest can help investors, developers, and operators make more informed decisions when evaluating new markets. While self-storage has become a nationwide asset class, usage rates vary by region due to differences in population growth, housing density, mobility, and lifestyle. According to data from the Self Storage Demand Study, the South leads the nation in self-storage usage, followed by the West, Midwest, and Northeast. Here’s a closer look at what drives demand in each region. 1. The South Leads the Nation The South has both the…

Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a business imperative. Across the self-storage industry, environmental priorities are reshaping operational decisions and investment strategies alike. Today’s consumers increasingly choose to support companies that take meaningful action to reduce their environmental impact. At StorQuest Self Storage, we’re not just keeping pace; we’re setting the standard by integrating sustainable practices across our entire portfolio. Since 2021, StorQuest has maintained carbon-neutral operations through renewable energy investments, energy-efficiency initiatives, and the purchase of high-quality carbon offsets. These efforts support our long-term environmental goals, including reducing greenhouse…

Financing is one of the most important considerations when acquiring a self-storage facility. Whether you’re purchasing your first property or expanding an existing portfolio, understanding the available financing options can help you structure a successful acquisition. One of the most common funding sources is a traditional bank loan. Banks often provide competitive interest rates and repayment terms for stabilized facilities with strong occupancy and cash flow. Investors with solid credit and a sufficient down payment are often able to secure favorable financing. For owner-operators, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans can…

For many decades, self-storage was a remarkably simple business. The product was almost always the same: a single-story, drive-up facility on a piece of well-located land, built efficiently, operated leanly, and supported by a fixed-cost base that allowed operators to absorb economic cycles with minimal disruption. It was, in many ways, a beautiful business model. Low overhead, sticky tenants, modest reinvestment requirements, and steady cash flow. The asset class earned its reputation as one of the most durable in commercial real estate precisely because it kept things simple. That simplicity…

Self-storage facilities are designed to store belongings—not serve as housing. However, operators occasionally encounter situations where tenants attempt to use storage units as living spaces. Beyond violating lease agreements, this practice can create serious safety, legal, insurance, and liability concerns for facility owners. Living in a storage unit can increase the risk of fire, property damage, criminal activity, health hazards, and injuries, all of which can expose owners to significant risk. Fortunately, there are several proactive steps operators can take to discourage unauthorized occupancy and maintain a safe, professional facility.…

Transaction volume in self-storage has been slower than buyers and sellers would both like. Capital is ready to deploy, and assets need to trade. But the gap between what sellers believe their properties are worth and what buyers are prepared to pay has kept a significant portion of the market on hold. That standoff is starting to shift, and not entirely by choice. Tom de Jong, Executive Vice President at Colliers and Founding Principal of the De Jong Self Storage Team, has tracked this across dozens of active deals over…

When evaluating a self-storage investment, one of the most important questions to ask is: How far are customers willing to travel to access their storage unit? Understanding tenant travel patterns can help owners, operators, and investors make better decisions about site selection, marketing strategies, facility amenities, and pricing. While convenience remains a major factor for most renters, customer behavior shows that many are willing to travel farther when a facility offers the right combination of value, security, and features. Let’s take a closer look at how far tenants are willing…

White Label Storage is excited to announce the addition of Austin Rockman as the company’s new AI Lead, joining the team in May 2026. As White Label Storage continues investing in automation, operational intelligence, and AI-driven technology initiatives, Austin’s role will help accelerate the company’s ability to explore and implement emerging tools that support both internal operations and the customer experience across its growing portfolio. Austin brings a unique blend of technical expertise, creative problem-solving, and hands-on experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning systems. His background spans AI infrastructure,…