Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

Last week, I introduced self storage Fundraising 101 and discussed three main types of raising capital for self storage investments. I have organized this large and complicated world of fundraising into three main buckets, syndications, joint ventures, and funds (or private placements). Today, let’s look closer into the world of syndications. This is how I see most small investors do their first s...

As a small investor who raises money for equity in the deals I do and as a self storage coach who helps people get into the self storage business who often have to raise money, I have seen a lot of deals and deal structures. Of all the training I have attempted to systematize and create, “fundraising” has been the most difficult for me to organize and present in a digestible way. The &...

Last week, as a self storage person, not an economist, I shared my ideas on inflation. Inflation is the driver of what is happening to our economy at this moment in time. So if inflation is the train barreling down the tracks, what does the landscape look like, and what is in front of the train self storage wise. Let me share with you my ideas and the moves we are making.

Yes, I am a self storage person interpreting the economic data points and sharing how I see it fitting into our area of interest, self storage. Now depending on which news silo, you get most of your “news” from, you hear vastly different interpretations of economic data. I say it is almost impossible, if not totally impossible, to draw any conclusions about the economy that are not a reflection of...

In the world of self storage, fundraising for self storage, or any other worthwhile endeavors in life, one needs to know what to do, but the most important aspect to success is one’s mindset. One’s thinking. Most people are not present to it, but you’re thinking is actually the filter through which reality is experienced. That is why 80% of your success in fundraising, self storage, or any endeavo...

Last week I introduced the idea that no matter what the industry, or niche in any industry, the more I hang around people who are at the top of their game, the less they discuss tactics and strategies, and the more they discuss the breakthroughs they had in their thinking. Last week I introduced what I consider to be Mindshift Number 1. This week let’s look at Number 2. I am going to introdu...

No matter what the industry, or niche in any industry, the more I hang around people who are at the top of their game, the less they discuss tactics and strategies, and the more they discuss the breakthrough they had in their thinking. When it comes to fundraising for self storage, that is no exception. Let’s discuss the first of three Mindset Shifts I suggest if you want to raise money in the sel...

Do you know you can talk to the person you hire for a self storage feasibility report and ask them to focus on a few additional things before you engage them? At least I do. So far it has worked. Let me share with you some of the things I may ask for. -Online Courses at https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ -Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-wealth-through...

As I discussed last week, I love doing self storage expansions. But sometimes, as I analyze an expansion, and I run a preliminary analysis figuring how much additional self storage I can get on the excess land and the numbers still don’t work very well. It’s not a deal we want to do. Let me share with you an idea that has made some of them work. -Online Courses at https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/...

Last week I told you I love self storage conversions. I also love self storage expansions. Like conversions, we have made a lot of money for our families, partners, and investors. I have also seen lots of people I coach and train do well with expansions. But I have seen and made some mistakes underwriting expansions. Let me share with you the three biggest mistakes I am seeing  NOW  in regard to u...

I love self storage conversions. They are a lot of fun and very rewarding, but … I have made and seen others make mistakes when doing conversions. Let me share with you three mistakes I have seen numerous times and have made myself. -Online Courses at https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ -Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-wealth-through-self-storage/id158...

2022 Holiday Message From Mark Helm -Online Courses at https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ -Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-wealth-through-self-storage/id1588425875 -5 KPIs we measure and how we do it: https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/top-5-kpi-ebook/ -My blog: https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.com/ -Facebook: https://www.faceb...

I have written and talked a lot about buying self storage. I figured it was time I wrote about selling self storage and my number one rule for selling a project. Let me tell you and give a couple of examples of what I think is the number one rule for selling a self storage project. -Online Courses at https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ -Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/...

About twice a year, I get on my soap box and pontificate about using sq. ft/per capita as the sole and primary basis for determining self storage supply/demand in a market or trade area. It’s that time of year again. Let me share with you two examples and some other variables that I think effect supply/demand as much as supply in a given trade area or market. -My Training and Coaching at https://T...

Is there really a slowdown in the self storage space as a result of rising interest rates? There appears to be, but for me at least, the total picture isn’t quite in yet. Just like our world today, the self storage industry is a mixed bag of contradictions. As a small investor, our job is to navigate these seeming contradictions, and come up with strategies to get in or grow our self storage busin...

I get a lot of questions about automaton and remote self storage management I am no expert, but let me introduce you to one. Meet Terry Campbell of Copper Self Storage Management Company. He is the expert. -My Training and Coaching at https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ -Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-wealth-through-self-storage/id1588425875 -5 KPIs w...

I have noticed a very interesting thing as I have coached and consulted people over the years getting into the self storage business. Before you watch, ask yourself if you are a self storage developer or operator. Video link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjemvjSH4PE

There is a lot of grinding of teeth and wringing of hands around rising interest rates and buying self storage today. I don’t want to minimize the impact higher interest rates can have on projects and underwriting them. I will make what may seem like a counter-intuitive statement about debt during times like these. Let me share my relationship with debt now. Our November 11th and 12th Bootcamp: ht...

I get asked many different self storage questions, but this one seems to come up a lot. I received one asking how much money it takes to get into self storage and cover the first few years. Hard to say because every deal is different. However, here are three examples in today’s market that I and people I know are analyzing. -My Training and Coaching at https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ -Listen on...

Let me introduce Terry Morrison. Terry was in a Self Storage Bootcamp I did in Q1 2021. Guess how many projects he is in now? Focus on what he says is the reason he has been able to be successful. He gives three reasons for the things he does. I think you will enjoy meeting him. -My Training and Coaching at https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ -Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple....

Let me introduce you to Chris. Here is an interview I did with him (keep in mind, I am not a good interviewer). Chris is a student who did, in his first year or so in the self storage business, 13 deals and has three more under contract. In an era of low CAP rates and now rising interest rates, I find this amazing. See what you can learn from him. -My Training and Coaching at https://TheQuickStart...

Let me tell you about Fred’s (not his real name) story and about how he got into self storage. Over the next few episodes, I will interview some previous students and/or tell the story of a few students I have worked with, so some of you may see yourself in them. Fred was a salesperson earning a very good income, in the $300,000 to $500,000 range per year. He had a wife and a small family. Soon af...

I actually get asked this question a lot today about self storage. “Is it still a good investment for small investors?” Or a question like, “Didn’t I miss when I should have gotten in 20 years ago?” Well… let’s look! -My Training and Coaching at https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ -Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-wealth-through-self-storage/id158842587...

Yes, self storage has performed well during past recessionary times. Let’s go over some stats you can use with partners, lenders, and investors. But… all this data is interesting but mostly irrelevant when it comes to deciding on a self storage project. Let’s discuss that as well and focus on what is relevant. -My Training and Coaching at https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ -Listen on Apple Podcasts...

I was asked to write an article on self storage as an investment vehicle to fund one’s retirement. I almost turned down the assignment because I have such a strong opinion about the retirement advisories and wealth advisors’ industry. I need to say I am not an investment advisor. I don’t want to be one. Everything I say is my opinion, and my opinion only. But let’s look at...