The Self Storage University Podcast

The Self Storage University Podcast

Welcome to the Self-Storage University Podcast, where you will learn the correct way to identify, evaluate, negotiate, perform due diligence on, renegotiate, finance, turn-around and operate self-storage facilities. And your host is a partner in one of the largest real estate portfolios in the U.S. with nearly $1 billion of holdings, Frank Rolfe.

Episodes

July 28, 2025 9 mins

The self-storage industry for larger owners is much more in peril than what they claim, yet many investors fail to heed the warning signs. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review why most large U.S. operators are in big trouble and how to learn from their mistakes.

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In many self-storage loans today, there’s one major question for the borrower: “do you want a fixed rate or floating?”. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the good and bad of each option and how you can make your own decision based on your perception of the future.

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July 1, 2025 10 mins

America is filled with uncertainty, yet many storage owners have the mistaken idea that these challenges are quietly behind them. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review many of the headwinds the self - storage industry is facing and how to best position yourself to survive these shocks.

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While copper and soybeans are some of the best-known commodities to trade, self-storage facility owners are also dependent on commodity pricing of their units. And there are certain winners and losers in this trading environment. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the future of the storage commodity and pick the winners and losers.

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When performing due diligence on a self-storage facility, the questions you ask have a huge impact on gathering facts – especially regarding the costs of capital improvements or maintenance projects. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the questions to ask and the questions to avoid.

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May 12, 2025 9 mins

Many buyers feel the least of their worries is the actual date of closing, but that’s not true. There’s a strategy to closing on a deal that can determine just how smoothly the transition goes. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the impact of the closing date you choose (or get railroaded into choosing).

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April 29, 2025 10 mins

Many of the self-storage deals out there are wholly unappealing. So what does it take to make a storage facility acquisition compelling? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the metrics behind evaluating a property and come to some conclusions on what should make you interested as well as what should make you run away.

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April 14, 2025 9 mins

There’s an old saying “when the tide goes out you find out who was swimming naked”. And with all of the economic chaos in the U.S. right now, the tide certainly appears to be going out. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review strategies to not be caught swimming naked.

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April 1, 2025 9 mins

It costs money to build or buy a billboard, and for many people that means getting a loan. But how can you find a lender and get a loan when you are just starting out? In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore this topic and discuss some real-life methods to make lending attainable.

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March 17, 2025 10 mins

U-Haul has historically been a great source of information on population movement. On a regular basis they publish the results of “one-way” rentals that give insight into both where Americans are going but also where they’re leaving. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the meaning behind the latest numbers.

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March 4, 2025 10 mins

A contract is a legal agreement that is signed by both parties – and sometimes you have to alter that basic agreement to get one or both parties to execute it. But how far can you go in modifying these documents? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review what’s acceptable and not, as well as what the ramifications are as you edit a standard agreement.

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February 18, 2025 10 mins

Webster’s Dictionary defines a “trap” as “a situation in which people lie in wait to make a surprise attack”. We’re all familiar with doing this to mice using a spring and a piece of cheese. But some self-storage owners use this same principle when selling their storage property. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to discuss the common traps that some sellers use and how to diffuse them.

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Every self-storage facility seller has two basic traits that guide their decision-making: 1) emotional and 2) rational. How you appeal to and guide these factors can be a key ingredient to forging a successful deal. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to drill down on how to use these attributes to your benefit.

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January 21, 2025 10 mins

There are too many people extolling the virtues of self-storage investing that have a stake in convincing you of false narratives. They will claim that demand is growing when, in actuality, occupancy in plunging. They will tell you that a market is "hot" when, in reality, it's a buyer's market. In this Self-Storage University podcast we're going to explore why you can't really trust anyone in the storage industry and must ...

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January 3, 2025 8 mins

There is a lot of pain and suffering among self-storage owners that paid too much for their facility, didn't operate it effectively, bought in the wrong location, or have been obliterated by competition. These type of situations often lead to mortgage default. So you do you buy self-storage properties in default? In this Self-Storage University podcast we're going to explore how default occurs, review how it is often addre...

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December 20, 2024 9 mins

Bluffing is not just a part of playing poker – it’s also found in working with self - storage facility sellers. In this Self - Storage University podcast we’re going to explore some of the most common seller bluffs and how to diffuse them.

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There is $2 trillion of commercial real estate mortgage debt coming due over the next two years. Given the low values and occupancy of much of these holdings, it’s assumed there will be a “commercial mortgage apocalypse” as a result. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review this event and where it currently stands.

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November 19, 2024 8 mins

Understanding The "Crocodile Defense" Maybe it’s a slip-and-fall claim or someone who make the false assertion that you sold their unit for non-payment in contradiction to the law. Regardless of the problem, a smart move is to adopt the "crocodile defense". In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review what this means and how you can use this theory to better your odds of prevailing

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You don’t have a deal until both parties have signed. So what do you do when the seller is dragging their feet? Is there a way to push them along? That’s the focus of this Self-Storage University podcast, in which we explore the methods available to get the seller to get out their pen and actually sign your deal.

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October 15, 2024 8 mins

Webster’s Dictionary defines an “appraisal” as “an expert opinion of value”. But sometimes the expert gets it wrong and your deal can collapse under the weight of that mistake. In this Self-Storage University podcast, we’re going to explore what the options are when the appraisal comes in too low.

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