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

January 5, 2026 7 mins

What if you could combine two well-established methods to find self-storage properties to buy and create one unified system to improve your odds greater than each component individually? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the one-two punch method to improve your deal flow.

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There are methods of reducing taxes for self-storage owners, but they come with great risks that are rarely discussed. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the often misunderstood subject of tax deferral methods and their potentially harmful implications.

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When you are looking at a self-storage facility to buy, sometimes comments are made by sellers, or their brokers, that have hidden meanings. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to unlock what the simple expressions that many sellers and brokers use on a regular basis really mean.

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November 17, 2025 6 mins

Unless you can do everything yourself, you will have to hire contractors to perform certain services at your storage facility. But are you paying too much for them? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore some strategies to get you the lowest cost from vendors.

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November 3, 2025 8 mins

Creating a sense of urgency for your self-storage facility seller can often be difficult. But when you’ve been waiting for a while for them to sign a contract, you realize that you have to take some proactive action. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review some of the most effective ways to build a fire under sellers.

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October 17, 2025 8 mins

Self-storage properties recently made the #1 position on the lists that nobody wants to be on: 1) fastest declining same-store occupancy and 2) fastest declining same-store rents. But with every storm cloud there is a silver lining for those who stay on top of the trends and make their plans accordingly.

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October 6, 2025 8 mins

For many storage buyers, seller financing is an important component to that transaction. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore some of the methods you can use to enhance your ability to obtain seller carry.

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September 8, 2025 8 mins

There is an art to renegotiation based on the science of what’s worked in the past. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the best methods to get what you want when renegotiating a contract.

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August 25, 2025 9 mins

There are three types of sellers and only two of them typically result in a successful negotiation. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the different types of sellers in today’s market and rank your odds of achieving a winning deal with them.

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August 12, 2025 9 mins

If you are trying to expand your self-storage portfolio, but have run into a wall called available capital, you may have looked into the Reg. D 506 structure under the JOBS Act. But a proposed change to this opportunity may yield even greater potential. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the pending change and what the impact might be.

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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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July 15, 2025 10 mins

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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