Consulting & Brokerage
Self storage consultants and brokers help owners buy smart, sell high, and avoid feasibility mistakes — expert guidance for the industry's biggest financial decisions.
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Showing 42 vendors
Weaver Realty Group
Weaver Realty Group LLC offers property management, facilities maintenance, and real estate project management services.
Thomas D. Wood & Company
Independent commercial mortgage banking firm focused on Florida multifamily and commercial real estate.
SkilCheck
Industry Leaders in Self-Storage Consulting, Training, & Management
SVN | Bluestone
Portland Metro and SW Washington commercial real estate brokerage specializing in sales and leasing of commercial and multifamily properties.
Argus Self Storage Advisors
The largest national network of brokers exclusively specializing in self-storage property sales since 1994.
LeClaire-Schlosser Group
The pioneering national self-storage advisory team within Marcus & Millichap and one of the highest-volume storage brokerage groups in the U.S.
Self Storage 101
A national self-storage consulting firm by industry veterans specializing in acquisition due diligence and operational audits.
Cushman & Wakefield Self Storage Group
The self-storage investment sales and advisory division of global real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield.
StorageStudy
A Virginia-based self-storage feasibility firm with over 1000 completed studies backed by lender and underwriting expertise.
Colliers Self Storage Group
Colliers International's dedicated self-storage investment sales platform with over $2.45 billion in closed transactions.
SkyView Advisors
A nationally active self-storage investment sales brokerage headquartered in Tampa Florida and founded in 2014.
Gorman Self Storage Group
The premier self-storage brokerage and advisory team for the Southeast U.S. within Marcus & Millichap with $1.2 billion+ in closed deals.
All-Purpose Storage Management
All-Purpose Storage Management offers comprehensive operational, revenue, and marketing support services for self-storage facilities.
Bull Realty
A southeast U.S. regional commercial real estate sales, leasing, and advisory firm.
SKS Management
Customized management and superior results for self-storage properties.
Universal Storage Group
An Atlanta-based award-winning self-storage management and consulting firm with 200+ years of combined leadership experience.
Box Pro Consulting
A national self-storage feasibility firm led by a developer with 30+ built projects and 3 million square feet of hands-on experience.
Versal
An Austin Texas-based commercial real estate brokerage that specializes exclusively in self-storage investment sales.
Midcoast Properties
A regional self-storage brokerage firm with 20+ years of experience exclusively serving the Southeast for independent owners.
Argus Self Storage Advisors
National network of self-storage real estate brokers and consultants specializing in buying, selling, and valuing storage facilities.
BMSGRP
A national self-storage consulting firm with 22+ years of experience in feasibility studies and development consulting.
Cutting Edge Self Storage Consulting
A Utah-based national self-storage consulting and management firm specializing in feasibility studies and development consulting since 2000.
Self Storage Consulting Group
A Mesa Arizona full-service self-storage consulting and management firm serving developers and operators nationwide since 2014.
Sierra Self Storage Consulting
A Tucson-based self-storage consulting firm offering feasibility studies and facility audits and operational improvement services since 2004.
Advantage Consulting & Management
One of the longest-established self-storage consulting and management firms in the U.S. with roots dating to 1989.
RIPCO Real Estate
Commercial real estate services specializing in retail leasing, investment sales, capital markets, and property management.
Empowered Self Storage
A national self-storage operational consulting and management firm focused on revenue growth and leadership development.
National Storage Partners
A full-service self-storage brokerage and advisory firm offering brokerage plus feasibility studies and management consulting.
MJ Partners
MJ Partners Real Estate Services is a full service real estate brokerage and investment banking company.
Self Storage Strategies
A consulting firm offering a full suite of advisory services for self-storage operators and investors launched by Store Here Management.
The Sweaty Startup
A platform offering insights, podcasts, courses, and consulting for low-risk entrepreneurship and real estate, particularly self-storage.
REIN & GROSSOEHME Commercial Real Estate
A commercial real estate firm specializing in sales, leasing, and consulting for various property types, including self-storage.
The Jenkins Organization
Integrated real estate firm specializing in self-storage and RV parks, offering development, management, and investment services.
Selling Storage
Self Storage Sales: Convert more prospects into renters through expert training.
Walker & Dunlop
Walker & Dunlop provides comprehensive commercial real estate finance and advisory services across various property sectors.
Tradd Commercial
Commercial real estate brokerage and asset management services with a focus on the Carolinas.
Inland
Inland is a vertically integrated commercial real estate investment, finance, development, and operating group.
In Self Storage Management
3rd-Party Self-Storage Facility Management
Realty Boulevard
A one-stop shop for real estate, property management, construction, and landscaping needs in Northern Nevada.
Texas Storage Investors
A licensed brokerage and consulting firm for buying and selling self-storage and boat/RV storage facilities in Texas.
When a consultant is worth the money
Most owners don't need a consultant on speed dial. But there are three specific moments where a consultant pays for themselves many times over:
- You bought a facility and something isn't working. Occupancy is stuck, delinquency is high, or revenue is below what the previous owner promised. A consultant can come in for a day or two, look at the books and walk the property, and tell you what's wrong.
- You're thinking about adding more units, a building, or climate-controlled space. Before you spend $500,000 expanding, $5,000 to $10,000 for a market study tells you whether the demand actually exists.
- You're thinking about selling. A good broker (or a consultant who specializes in selling facilities) can tell you what your facility is realistically worth and how to clean up the numbers before listing it.
What an "operations consultant" actually does
An operations consultant is someone who has run or owned storage facilities and now helps other owners run theirs better. A typical engagement looks like this: they spend a day or two on site, look at your management software reports, walk every building, and meet your manager. A week later, you get a written report with specific recommendations. Cost is usually $2,500 to $7,500 for a one-facility review.
Common things they catch:
- Rents that are 10 to 20 percent below market
- Late fees that aren't being collected
- Vacant units sitting un-rentable because nobody cleaned them
- A messy tenant ledger that's hiding accounting problems
- Software features you're paying for but not using
What a self storage broker does (vs. a regular real estate agent)
A self storage broker is a real estate agent who specializes in selling storage facilities. They know:
- Current "cap rates" (the formula buyers use to decide what to pay)
- Buyer lists for storage specifically
- How to write the financial summary buyers expect
A generalist commercial real estate agent can sell a storage facility, but they typically reach fewer storage-specific buyers and price it less accurately. Specialty brokers (Marcus & Millichap, Argus, others) charge a commission of 2 to 6 percent of the sale price, with smaller deals at the higher end.
A quick word on "cap rate"
You'll hear cap rate a lot. It just means your facility's yearly profit divided by the sale price, expressed as a percent. If a facility makes $200,000 a year in profit and sells for $4 million, the cap rate is 5 percent. Buyers use it to compare facilities. Right now, most stabilized storage facilities are trading between 5.25 and 7 percent cap rates depending on the market.
How to pick a consultant or broker
- Ask for case studies of similar projects. Same facility size, same kind of market. A consultant who only works on 5-facility portfolios isn't a great fit for your single facility.
- Ask for references from actual owners, not from other consultants or vendors.
- Be clear on the scope and price up front. A good consultant gives you a written scope of work and a fixed price. A broker gives you a written listing agreement with the commission terms spelled out.
Frequently asked questions about consulting & brokerage
Do I need a self storage consultant if I just bought a facility?
Not always, but it's often worth the money in the first year. A one-time consulting review (usually $2,500 to $7,500) catches things you might miss as a new owner: rents below market, late fees being missed, vacant units sitting un-rentable. Most new owners get the consulting fee back many times over within the first year.
What's a cap rate, in plain English?
Cap rate is your facility's yearly profit divided by what someone would pay for it, expressed as a percent. If your facility makes $200,000 a year in profit and is worth $4 million, the cap rate is 5 percent. Buyers use this to compare facilities. Most storage facilities trade between 5.25 and 7 percent cap rates right now.
How much commission do self storage brokers charge?
Specialty storage brokers usually charge 2 to 6 percent of the sale price, with smaller deals (under $3 million) at the higher end. A generalist commercial real estate agent often charges similar commissions but typically doesn't have the storage-specific buyer list. The specialty broker is usually worth the same fee.
When should I think about selling my facility?
There's no single right answer, but most owners consider selling when (1) their facility is fully stabilized and they want to reinvest in something bigger, (2) the market is hot and cap rates are low, meaning prices are high, or (3) life events make ownership less attractive. A specialty broker can give you a free or low-cost market opinion on what your facility would sell for today.
What's the difference between an operations consultant and a third-party management company?
A consultant comes in for a one-time review, gives you a written report with recommendations, and leaves. A third-party manager runs your facility for you on an ongoing basis (handles staffing, software, marketing, billing) for a percentage of revenue, usually 5 to 7 percent. Use a consultant to fix specific problems. Consider a third-party manager if you want to own the facility without running it day to day.