The Sunday Morning Test: If You Stopped Checking Your Phone, What Would Break?

The difference between running a business and being held hostage by one

The Unit Mix Mistake You Inherited

The guy who built your facility in 2006 thought everyone owned a four-bedroom house. They don't. Here's what it's costing you.

Fire 15% of Your Tenants This Month

The customers you inherited are costing you more than you think -- here's how to systematically identify and upgrade your tenant base

Your Track Record Was Built in a Market That No Longer Exists

The lending standards that rewarded your 2021 deals are gone. Here's what qualifies as "experienced" now.

The $70,000 Hidden Tax Every Storage Operator Pays

I tracked my time for one week. The math made me angry.

The Access Log Goldmine: What Gate Data Reveals About Your Customers

Your gate system collects data every time someone enters. Most operators never look at it. Here's what you're missing, and what it costs you

Your Software Is Hiding a Gold Mine: The Data You're Paying For But Can't Access

Stop waiting for your PMS vendor to build better reports. They've had 10 years and they won't. Here's how to extract the data yourself and analyze it in tools that actually work.

The Automation Stack: How I Broke My Data Out of Storage Software Jail

Your property management system wants to be everything - CRM, task manager, reporting tool, communication hub. It's failing at most of it.

The 1099 Problem: You Have Until January 31st (And Most Operators Are Getting This Wrong)

File late and you're looking at $310+ per form in penalties

The Mom & Pop Advantage - Why Independent Self-Storage Operators Are Beating REITs in 2026

The smart money is no longer just betting on the biggest horse, but on the most agile jockey

No issue this week (just a thank you)

Back in January with more for Storage Operators

Someone's Life Is in That Unit (And I Have to Sell It)

The data says 'process for auction.' The human says 'someone's life is in there.' How operators navigate lien sales with integrity

The December Playbook: 7 Financial Moves Before the Clock Runs Out

You have until December 31st to make moves that could save you $20K-$50K in taxes

Build or Buy? The Self-Storage Question Nobody Answers Honestly

Development promises 8-10% yields. Acquisitions trade at 5-6% caps. So why do most operators make more money buying existing facilities?

Thanksgiving Reading List for Self-Storage Operators

A short list of books, newsletters, podcasts, and tools that made me better at self-storage this year. No affiliate links. Just gratitude for the resources that sharpened my edge.

The Climate Premium: How Insurance Costs Are Quietly Killing Your Returns

While conference panels debate climate politics, insurance actuaries already repriced the risk and your pro forma is about to blow up. Here's how to underwrite what Wall Street won't talk about.

Exit Velocity: The Data Signals That Tell You When to Sell

Most operators sell reactively—responding to offers, tax deadlines, or gut feelings. Here's the quantitative framework that predicts optimal disposition windows before the market turns

Free Rent, Hidden Price: When Promotions Backfire on Your ROI

A data-driven look at when giveaways boost occupancy and when they burn profit.

AI Won’t Save Your Storage Facility

The hype is loud, but a few smart tools are quietly adding real dollars to NOI, here’s which ones

Raising Rents Without Losing Tenants: How to Communicate Like a Pro

The rent increase that added $900K to our portfolio value

The Difference Between Data and Noise

Quick Wins: 3 Small Changes That Make a Big Difference in Storage Security

A few smart upgrades -lighting, clear sight lines, and budget-friendly cameras - can stop trouble before it starts.