By Ed Clement
"Your Self Storage Planning - Site Selection - Design-Build" by Marc Goodin
Chapter 3
1. Do a personal review to make sure you have sufficient time, energy, and money to get off to a great start. After you read this book, you will have a much better idea of the time, money, and work it takes to build a self-storage.
2. Sign up for the Storage Authority Blog to get great current insights and tips for self-storage development and marketing. https://www.storageauthorityfranchise.com/blog-news
3. Join your local State Self Storage Association and attend meetings.
4. Subscribe to one or two Self Storage trade magazines: www.insideselfstorage.com or www.ministoragemessenger.com. Type in Marc Goodin in the ISS search bar and read a few of my articles for a quick self-storage overview.
5. Read the Zoning and Wetland Regulations from the Town(s) you may purchase land. Often, they can be found online for free. Meet with the Town Engineer and Planner to discuss the permitting process for a self-storage facility, the zones in town they are permitted, and the zoning regulations on self-storage development.
6. Find a commercial realtor to help you with your search for land. But remember a good portion of self-storage land is found offline so you need to do more than search the multiple listings.
7. Meet with your banker and ask about self-storage loans. (Storage Authority® has national lenders ready to help you.)
8. Meet with a local civil engineer & self-storage architect to get rough time frames and costs for site designs and approvals. (Storage Authority® has national architects ready to help you.)
9. Stop at every self-storage you pass by and talk to the managers and owners. Let them know you are thinking about starting your own self-storage. Some owners will be reluctant to say much, but many will be happy to give you tons of useful information.
10. Get a preliminary self-storage demand done for the area you are looking to build to make sure it is not over built. Storage Authority® has you covered here too. In fact, they have you covered from where you are today, right up to getting your doors open with a list of people ready to rent on day one. And keep you on track with ongoing operations, sales & marketing guidance.
11. Order your free developers "getting started packets” from one of the premier self-storage building manufacturers.
12. Start a business plan folder today. You will accumulate a lot of information over the next several weeks that will be used to prepare your business plan. Your business plan will help you understand the costs, planning, work, and risks associated with your new project. When you apply for your loan, submitting a well-prepared business plan will let the bank know you understand the self-storage business and you and your team have the knowledge it takes to be successful. This can often help the bank make a positive decision in less time and often with better terms.
13. Check out Storage Authority Franchising, the fastest and most profitable way to get started in self-storage. www.StorageAuthorityFranchise.com Don’t forget to sign up for their monthly newsletter and blog notifications.
For a free copy of Marc's book, "Your Self Storage Planning - Site Selection - Design-Build"
Email me at ed@storageauthority.com
Ed Clement is a franchise director at Storage Authority. One of his passions and responsibilities is helping franchisees find land by sharing how to find land both online and offline. Ed has a strong background in real estate, investment banking, and management consulting. He is available at Ed@StorageAuthority.com or 727 946 0745 to answer your questions and share the Storage Authority Franchise opportunity and advantages with you.