AI is not one of the 5 ways to look for self storage land.

By Marc Goodin, CEO of Storage Authority franchise

There are 5 ways to find self storage land, and AI is not one of them.

AI is an important new tool that will increase the speed of your success.  AI can quickly gather data on where to look for land, specific parcels to review, and data to evaluate land.  You will quickly learn that AI is currently better and more accurate at some things than others.

Just like self-storage demand and demographic apps, Radius Plus and Stortrack, AI is a valuable tool (online apps), but it has limitations.  The data quality must be assessed by you and your team. The more perimeters and questions provided to AI, the more likely the results will be correct.  AI is especially great for doing an initial zoning data check

As always, junk in equals Junk out.  Also, not enough data in = junk out. One day, tools will be able to set your parameters required for your goals and actually do an evaluation based upon your goals, but we are not there yet.  AI will often point out next steps and ask if you want them to provide them for you.  It’s almost fun.

I asked AI if beauty is one of the most important features of the perfect wife. And it quoted Warren Buffett: You might think personality, humor, cooking skills, etc, make the perfect wife, but the #1 trait of a wife for a successful marriage is she does not expect much. AI is going to provide more than you expect!

AI is a great tool in many cases to do an initial, basic zoning check before you take the time to hunt down the zoning regulations and talk to town staff.  Often, data like setbacks, impervious coverage limits, and some other basic zoning regulations can be provided by AI. Not all zoning data online is current, easy to find, or complete, so in the end, you must still review zoning with the city staff and eventually a local engineer.

AI is a great tool to send you existing listings meeting the parameters you provided.  AI is also a great tool to help you find self-storage properties not currently on sale for sale, you can contact.  I always do at least 2 searches.  One that has fewer restrictions and one that has more restrictions (parameters).

 Always follow up on AI answers with more parameters and questions, such as: Where did it get the data? How accurate is the data?  What factors can change the data? And check a second AI source.  But in the end, I check all land qualifiers offline.  AI might not yet be able to provide you with items like the shape or other important land features like topography, so we often combine it with Apps like regride.com that provide these and other land features

Given the lightning speed of AI improvements, it will not be long before it incorporates information found on many other apps, making it one-stop shopping for self-storage development.  One day, AI might even learn my skill of rapidly providing a back-of-the-napkin concept plan in a couple of hours.

Want to learn more about AI and self-storage development?  Join us this Thursday at 11 am EST for a webinar on how to find land in half the time using AI. Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/frAtX-YPSZS8aajghmGMOA

JOIN US THIS:Thursday, Sept. 11th, 2025, at 11:00 AM ESTLive 45-min. Webinar with theStorage Authority experts!   [Webinar]

Find Self Storage Land with AI in Half the Time

Register here:  Save My Seat

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/frAtX-YPSZS8aajghmGMOA

The hunt for the perfect self-storage site is a grind. Months of chasing dead-end parcels, combing through zoning codes, and verifying market demand—all before you even make an offer. 

But what if you could cut that search time in half? 

That’s exactly what we’ll show you in our upcoming free webinar on September 11th, 2025, at 11 AM EST:

              “Find Self Storage Land with AI in Half the Time –                             Plus, The Critical Human Loop.” 

 Seats are limited. Register Now https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/frAtX-YPSZS8aajghmGMOA

Why This Webinar Matters

Artificial intelligence isn’t replacing developers—it’s becoming their unfair advantage.

· AI brings the speed, scale, and data – scanning thousands of parcels, zoning codes, and market trends in minutes.

· Humans bring the vision, negotiation, and judgment – ensuring AI’s suggestions translate into real-world wins.

Together? You slash wasted time, uncover hidden gems, and avoid costly mistakes.

What You’ll Learn

Here’s a sneak peek at what the Storage Authority experts will share will reveal:

 How to use AI prompts to find parcels that meet your size, price, and zoning criteria.

 Where AI fails—and how the human loop prevents expensive errors.

 Step-by-step strategies to build your “Yes Pile” of viable land.

 Bonus: AI hacks for organizing parcel data and speeding up due diligence.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to leverage AI without losing the human edge—a combination that will define the next wave of profitable self-storage development.

Who Should Attend

This isn’t just for tech geeks. If you’re a:

· Self-storage developer or owner

· Real estate investor

· Broker or consultant in commercial real estate

· Busy professional curious about AI’s role in site selection

…this is for you.

Why Now?

The best parcels move fast. With competition heating up, every week wasted on a dead-end search costs you opportunities.

Don’t let the perfect land slip away.

 Event Details

Topic: Find Self Storage Land with AI in Half the Time

Date: Thursday, September 11th, 2025

Time: 11 AM EST

Speakers: Garrett Byrd & Josh Parker

Cost: Free

 Seats are limited. Register Now https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/frAtX-YPSZS8aajghmGMOA

 Bottom Line: AI can cut your site search time in half, but only when paired with experienced developers who know how to verify, negotiate, and act. This webinar shows you how to strike that balance.

Proudly Sponsored By Industry Leaders

This webinar is brought to you by Storage Authority and sponsored by trusted partners in the self-storage industry, including:

· Mariottini National Contractor

· Five Nine

· Tenet Financial Group

· MSM Modern Storage Media

· Blink Signs

· Pro Engineering Consulting

· Stortrack

These sponsors are committed to helping you succeed by providing the tools, services, and expertise you need for your self-storage project.

Why Storage Authority?

Storage Authority is a leading self-storage franchise dedicated to making self-storage development easy and profitable. With a focus on best practices, industry connections, and personalized support, they help investors and developers achieve their goals. Visit our website to learn more about our franchise opportunities, industry reports, and construction best practices.

Have questions before the webinar? Reach out to the team at Garrett@StorageAuthority.com or call 941-928-1354. You can also schedule a discovery call to explore if self-storage and franchising are right for you. Schedule a call with me Did you miss last months webinar on Self Storage Tax Breaks Revealed: Boost Cash Flow, Less IRS

Stop Overpaying Taxes as a Self-Storage Owner! 

Every year, self-storage owners leave thousands of dollars on the table by not taking advantage of tax strategies that are already built into the IRS code. Don’t let that be you.

Click the Link to watch the full replay: 

Stop Overpaying Taxes! Self-Storage Tax Strategies Every Owner Must Know