Self Storage Investing

Send us Fan MailThis is a REPLAY of an episode first published in January 2025. Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one clickHow do you scale your self-storage business without risking your investors' trust?Scott dives into the art and science of raising private equity, sharing his proven strategies for crafting compelling investment offerings, building trust with equity partners, and creating systems that support sustainable growth.Learn how to attract the right investors, structure deals effectively, and deliver returns that keep your business ahead of the pack.WHAT TO LISTEN FOR2:14 Crafting Compelling Offers: Storytelling with Data9:37 The Key Metrics Investors Want to See17:38 Networking 101: Finding Your Ideal Investors26:20 Skin in the Game: Why It Matters to InvestorsCONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramFollow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.White Label Storage helps self-storage owners manage their facilities like a performance business, not a guessing game. Using facility-level data and custom technology tools, the team drives smarter pricing, marketing, and operational decisions with no gut-based revenue management.Website | LinkedIn(410) 693-5166 

Send us Fan MailWhat if the biggest problem in real estate is not money but finding the deal?Scott Meyers sits down with Josh Stech to unpack his journey from flipping homes to building one of the largest private lending platforms in the country and now disrupting off market real estate through his company, Sundae. Josh shares how the industry shifted from a lack of capital to a lack of inventory and how Sundae is solving that problem by creating a transparent, competitive marketplace for sellers and investors alike. From scaling a billion-dollar lending business to raising over $100 million for a new venture, he reveals the importance of staying mission driven, building trust with sellers, and resisting shortcuts for quick profit. The conversation also dives into the future of real estate, industry consolidation, and how entrepreneurs can partner with Sundae to scale faster.  Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one clickWHAT TO LISTEN FOR1:07 How did Josh Stech go from Stanford grad to building the nation's largest private lender?3:27 How does Sundae's competitive marketplace model benefit both sellers and investors?9:52 What kind of experienced operator does Sundae want as a franchise partner?14:33 What does Sundae's growth look like across every major US city in five years?26:20 What is the one piece of advice Josh Stech says every investor needs to hear?Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GUEST: JOSH STECH, CEO | CO-FOUNDER AT SUNDAEWebsite | YouTube | Facebook| Instagram | LinkedIn CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramJoe Downs on LinkedInBelrose website | Belrose email | Belrose LinkedIn Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.Thanks to our episode sponsor White Label Storage. White Label helps self-storage owners manage their facilities like a performance business, not a guessing game. Using facility-level data and custom technology tools, the team drives smarter pricing, marketing, and operational decisions with no gut-based revenue management.Website | LinkedIn(410) 693-5166 White Label Storage helps self-storage owners manage their facilities like a performance business, not a guessing game. Using facility-level data and custom technology tools, the team drives smarter pricing, marketing, and operational decisions with no gut-based revenue management.Website | LinkedIn(410) 693-5166 

Send us Fan MailWhat does it actually look like to walk away from a successful career and bet everything on self-storage…and win? Joe Downs sits down with Christin and Rod Blunk, a husband-and-wife team who completed over 450 residential real estate transactions before pivoting to self-storage in 2020. Fueled by a health crisis that revealed the fragility of active income, they got educated through the Self-Storage Academy, bought their first facility in Kentucky for $330,000, and have since grown it to nearly $800,000 in value…while cash flowing $20,000 a year net. Their second acquisition, purchased for $430,000, is now worth $1–$1.1 million. Today, they own multiple facilities, hold LP positions, and are raising capital. This is one of the most powerful W2-to-self-storage investing stories in the space. Listen For:6:19 Why did Christin and Rod Blunk leave residential real estate for self-storage investing?14:19 How did the Blunks buy their first self-storage facility for less than a single-family home?17:04 How did driving for dollars lead to a $430,000 self-storage deal worth over $1 million today?23:33 How did Christin and Rod go from students at the mastermind to raising capital from investors?30:34 What advice do Christin and Rod Blunk have for investors sitting on the fence about self-storage? Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GUEST: ROD & CHRISTIN BLUNKWarriors 2 Wealth Website | Warriors 2 Wealth YouTube | Christin's Instagram | Christin's LinkedIn | Rod's LinkedIn | Rod’s Instagram  CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramJoe Downs on LinkedInBelrose website | Belrose email | Belrose LinkedIn Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.White Label Storage helps self-storage owners manage their facilities like a performance business, not a guessing game. Using facility-level data and custom technology tools, the team drives smarter pricing, marketing, and operational decisions with no gut-based revenue management.Website | LinkedIn(410) 693-5166 

Send us Fan MailCould a few thousand dollars spent on a Property Condition Report actually save your self-storage investment…and pay for itself many times over? Joe Downs and guest David Harkness of Fivefold Technical Consultants prove exactly why the answer is yes. This is the inspection tool that saved Belrose and their students over $200,000 this year alone. David brings his engineering expertise, drone technology, and boots-on-the-ground experience to every acquisition, and in this episode he reveals what he actually finds on site: failing metal roofs, catastrophic drainage problems, hidden vehicle damage, and deferred maintenance that sellers routinely underestimate. This is the self-storage investing intelligence that separates the investors who survive from the ones who thrive. Listen For::12 What due diligence mistake turned a “$200,000 roof fix” into a $1 million problem?1:50 What is a property condition report and how is it different from a home inspection?7:07 What are the three most valuable things investors get from a property condition report?17:36 Why did this Buffalo-area facility really need a full roof replacement?28:25 What hidden self-storage issues help investors renegotiate major discounts? Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GUEST: DAVIDE HARKNESS, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR | SENIOR CONSULTANT AT 5-FOLD TECHNICAL CONSULTANTSWebsite | LinkedIn | Email CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramJoe Downs on LinkedInBelrose website | Belrose email | Belrose LinkedIn Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.White Label Storage helps self-storage owners manage their facilities like a performance business, not a guessing game. Using facility-level data and custom technology tools, the team drives smarter pricing, marketing, and operational decisions with no gut-based revenue management.Website | LinkedIn(410) 693-5166 

Send us Fan MailWhen a U.S.-Israel military operation launches against Iran and the Strait of Hormuz hangs in the balance, what does that mean for your self-storage portfolio? Scott Meyers cuts through the noise of the Iran conflict to deliver the practical, market-savvy analysis self-storage investors need right now. Scott unpacks Operation Epic Fury's immediate impact on oil prices, interest rates, inflation, and real estate markets then makes the data-backed case for why self-storage remains uniquely positioned to weather the storm. From the four D's of demand to month-to-month lease flexibility and a 190-basis-point outperformance over inflation from 2008 to 2024, Scott gives investors a clear-eyed picture of what's happening, what it means, and exactly what to do next.Listen For:2:44 What is Operation Epic Fury and why does it matter to self-storage investors right now?6:16 How did oil prices, treasury yields, and stock markets react the moment the Iran conflict began?13:59 How does the conflict in Iran directly affect the real estate market and self-storage construction costs?27:51 What opportunities does the current interest rate environment create for self-storage buyers with dry powder?32:28 What is Scott Meyers' practical playbook for self-storage investors navigating this market uncertainty?CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramFollow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.White Label Storage helps self-storage owners manage their facilities like a performance business, not a guessing game. Using facility-level data and custom technology tools, the team drives smarter pricing, marketing, and operational decisions with no gut-based revenue management.Website | LinkedIn(410) 693-5166 

Peter Smyth, operator and executive at White Label Storage who builds tech-enabled management for self-storage, discusses AI as a gap-filling leverage tool. He covers agentic call centers handling high call volumes, quick AI wins like chatbots and automated follow-up, proactive automation to reduce inbound calls, sentiment-driven review outreach, and market shifts toward larger operators in 2026.

Send us Fan MailWhat if the most powerful financing tool in self-storage has been hiding in plain sight…dismissed, misunderstood, and underutilized by the very investors who need it most? Joe Downs sits down with Anne Mino, Senior Loan Officer at Live Oak Bank, the #1 SBA lender in the country by dollar volume for self-storage loans, to pull back the curtain on what SBA financing can actually do for self-storage investors. Anne reveals how a borrower earning $80,000 a year could qualify for a $1 million acquisition, why no prior self-storage experience is required, and how strategic use of SBA loans can turn $300,000 into a multi-property portfolio. If you've been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the perfect deal or the perfect balance sheet…this episode is your wake-up call. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR3:46 Can a first-time self-storage investor with no experience actually qualify for an SBA loan?11:03 Could someone earning $80,000 a year qualify for a $1 million self-storage acquisition?19:08 How can SBA financing help investors buy and expand a self-storage facility at the same time?23:41 How do experienced investors use SBA loans to build a self-storage portfolio faster?28:21 Does SBA lending really take six months to close a self-storage deal? Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GUEST: ANNE MINO, SENIOR LOAN OFFICER AT LIVE OAK BANK, SELF STORAGE DIVISIONLive Oak Bank | LinkedIn | Email | Website CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramJoe Downs on LinkedInBelrose website | Belrose email | Belrose LinkedInWhite Label Storage helps self-storage owners manage their facilities like a performance business, not a guessing game. Using facility-level data and custom technology tools, the team drives smarter pricing, marketing, and operational decisions with no gut-based revenue management.Website | LinkedIn(410) 693-5166 

Send us Fan MailIs the self storage market finally catching a tailwind again? Joe Downs sits down with broker Matthew Rosendale of Lindsey Self Storage Group to unpack what’s really happening behind the scenes from $345,000 “Crapper King” deals to $90 million institutional transactions. Matt shares how 2025 exceeded expectations for his team, why early 2026 is flashing green flags, and how Fed rate cuts and slowing new development could spark occupancy growth. They dive deep into seller psychology post-2021 peak pricing, whether expectations have finally reset, and why first-time buyers consistently miss the mark by chasing the “perfect deal.” From underwriting mistakes to supply pipeline blind spots and management cost realities, this conversation is a tactical, no-fluff look at what separates serious operators from stuck dreamers…and why taking action now might matter more than timing the cycle. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR3:18 What can a $345,000 deal teach you that a $90 million deal can’t?9:25 Have sellers truly adjusted from 2021 peak pricing expectations?19:29 Why do first-time buyers miss great deals chasing the “perfect” one?29:59 What’s the one action new investors must take to land their first deal? Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GUEST: MATTHEW ROSENDALE, BROKER AT LINDSEY SELF STORAGE GROUPWebsite | LinkedIn | Email | 484-695-0872 CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramJoe Downs on LinkedInBelrose website | Belrose email | Belrose LinkedIn Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.White Label Storage helps self-storage owners manage their facilities like a performance business, not a guessing game. Using facility-level data and custom technology tools, the team drives smarter pricing, marketing, and operational decisions with no gut-based revenue management.Website | LinkedIn(410) 693-5166 

Send us Fan MailYour first self-storage deal doesn’t have to be perfect… it just has to get done. In this episode, Joe Downs sits down with Dr. Jeff Richardson, a full-time veterinarian who closed his very first self-storage acquisition while still working 30–40 hours a week in his practice.  Jeff walks through his journey from feeling intimidated by his first deal to becoming informed enough to negotiate with confidence, assemble the right team, and ultimately close Canton Self Storage at $1.875M. $325K below list price. From underwriting paralysis and hesitant LOIs to due diligence surprises involving termites and a hidden residential tenant, Jeff shares the real lessons that no textbook can teach.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR2:19 How did a full-time veterinarian break into self storage?9:16 Why did self storage win over every other asset class?21:19 How do you know when a deal is overpriced—and when to offer?24:54 How did due diligence surprises lead to a lower price?Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click GUEST DR. JEFF RICHARDSONCONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramJoe Downs on LinkedInBelrose website | Belrose email | Belrose LinkedIn  Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.White Label Storage helps self-storage owners manage their facilities like a performance business, not a guessing game. Using facility-level data and custom technology tools, the team drives smarter pricing, marketing, and operational decisions with no gut-based revenue management.Website | LinkedIn(410) 693-5166 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Joe Downs flips the usual success-story script and dives into the close calls. The near-deals that, if closed, could’ve spelled financial disaster.  Joined by VP of Acquisitions and lead mentor Jack Pezzino, they walk through four real-life stories from students in the Self Storage Academy who dodged costly bullets, from overvalued properties with shaky tenant bases to sketchy sellers and hidden tax time bombs.  Each example offers a masterclass in why due diligence, data validation, and strong mentorship matter in the self-storage investing game.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR02:59 What if one tenant makes up 25% of your revenue?10:30 How does a signed deal turn into a legal nightmare?16:50 Can a tax reassessment blow up your entire deal?23:09 What are the red flags of a shady seller?28:10 Why do first-time investors need mastermind support?Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GUEST: JACK PEZZINO, VP OF ACQUISITIONS BELROSE STORAGE GROUPWebsite | LinkedIn  JOE DOWNS, CEO BELROSE STORAGE GROUPLinkedIn  | Website  CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.White Label Storage helps self-storage owners manage their facilities like a performance business, not a guessing game. Using facility-level data and custom technology tools, the team drives smarter pricing, marketing, and operational decisions with no gut-based revenue management.Website | LinkedIn(410) 693-5166