by Mark Helm | Jan 10, 2025 | Buy Self Storage
I have worked with several self-storage investors who are now considering and undertaking mixed-use projects of self-storage and flex space. Flex space is the new shiny object for many smaller self-storage developers. As strange as it may sound, I worked for a...
by Mark Helm | Jan 3, 2025 | Buy Self Storage
Until the 2020s, as a self-storage owner and developer of smaller projects (i.e., not large multi-story projects), I never used the design-build process many people apparently use to start a development project or even an expansion. A “design-build”...
by Mark Helm | Dec 20, 2024 | Buy Self Storage
Let me share with you my experience of being a self-storage owner and operator in the year 2025. Remember that I sold off most of my portfolio (2 different brands) between 2019 and 2021. I am expanding again, but smaller than before (beats retirement). If I had to sum...
by Mark Helm | Dec 19, 2024 | Buy Self Storage
How many times have you found a self-storage expansion deal, calculated the expansion amount you can add to the facility, and run the numbers, but it still does not work because you can’t get enough new square feet in the project? This has happened several times to...
by Mark Helm | Nov 22, 2024 | Buy Self Storage
I just saw a news article, “Self-Storage Manager Accused of Embezzling $53K From ______ Mini Storage.” I also remember buying a facility showing $73,000 or so a month in income. During the due diligence period, I couldn’t understand because I was estimating we would...
by Mark Helm | Nov 15, 2024 | Buy Self Storage
I see a common mistake today as I work with people who are getting into the self-storage business. Especially people getting in their first deal. They will underwrite a deal using the downpayment amount a bank quotes. Often, this will change them, and they are left...
