Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

Hosted by Creating Wealth Through Self Storage

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Episodes

201

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Supports investors getting in or growing a self storage business

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60 recent

August 14, 202610 min

What the Jobs Report, CPI, and Bond Market May Be Telling Us About Interest Rates

It has been a while since I used an SBA loan to develop some storage, but I am in a deal where we are using it now for a boat and RV development. We are racing to get it closed by Sept. 14 because the deal was underwritten at today’s interest rates, and if rates go up and the deal is not closed…well, it has to be underwritten at the new rate. Let’s look at 2 key reports I have been keeping a watch for and how the market reacted to them, and let’s make a prediction where interest rates are going in Sept. and beyond. **My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation** **Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-476-four-steps-i-use-to-revive-a-self-storage-facility-non-fb/ **Startup Checklist** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-475-self-storage-startup-checklist-4-steps-owners-miss/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **The 4 Critical Metrics Download** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-474-4-critical-metrics/ **Five Mistakes PDF* https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-473-5-mistakes-new-owners-make-in-self-storage/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy** https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ **Listen on Apple Podcasts** **5 KPIs we measure** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/top-5-kpi-ebook/ **My blog** Creating Wealth Through Self Storage **Facebook** https://www.facebook.com/markhelmselfstorage/ **Twitter** Posts by MarkHelmSelfSt **The Storage World Analyzer** http://storageworldanalyzer.com/ **The QuickStart Academy Store** https://quick-start-academy.myshopify.com

August 7, 202610 min

The One Habit I Wish I Had Started Early In My Career

I have made a lot of mistakes over my business career and done a few things right. Fortunately, it only takes a few good decisions, and some grace from the universe, to be successful. But if there is one lesson I wish I had learned early in my career, it is… in this episode. **My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation** **Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-476-four-steps-i-use-to-revive-a-self-storage-facility-non-fb/ **Startup Checklist** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-475-self-storage-startup-checklist-4-steps-owners-miss/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **The 4 Critical Metrics Download** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-474-4-critical-metrics/ **Five Mistakes PDF* https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-473-5-mistakes-new-owners-make-in-self-storage/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy** https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ **Listen on Apple Podcasts** **5 KPIs we measure** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/top-5-kpi-ebook/ **My blog** Creating Wealth Through Self Storage **Facebook** https://www.facebook.com/markhelmselfstorage/ **Twitter** Posts by MarkHelmSelfSt **The Storage World Analyzer** http://storageworldanalyzer.com/ **The QuickStart Academy Store** https://quick-start-academy.myshopify.com

July 31, 202611 min

Why the Smaller Investor Can Win in Today’s Self-Storage Market

As I move through some of the various deals I am involved with today, the markets and the deals themselves are changing at a very rapid pace. Let’s look at what is behind these changes and the big advantage this current environment can offer the smaller investor/operator. I think you may be surprised. **My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation** **Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-476-four-steps-i-use-to-revive-a-self-storage-facility-non-fb/ **Startup Checklist** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-475-self-storage-startup-checklist-4-steps-owners-miss/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **The 4 Critical Metrics Download** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-474-4-critical-metrics/ **Five Mistakes PDF* https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-473-5-mistakes-new-owners-make-in-self-storage/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy** https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ **Listen on Apple Podcasts** **5 KPIs we measure** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/top-5-kpi-ebook/ **My blog** Creating Wealth Through Self Storage **Facebook** https://www.facebook.com/markhelmselfstorage/ **Twitter** Posts by MarkHelmSelfSt **The Storage World Analyzer** http://storageworldanalyzer.com/ **The QuickStart Academy Store** https://quick-start-academy.myshopify.com

July 24, 202617 min

The First-Call Offer: A Different Approach to Finding Off-Market Self-Storage Deals

I think trying to find off-market listings is hard as well today. As a storage owner, I get, on average, 10 texts a week, lots of letters a month, and perhaps one to two calls every week or so about selling my facility. Some inquiries even come for properties I sold years ago (not sure what lists out there show us as owners). The reality is, for the most part, the way most of us try to connect with and buy off-market properties doesn’t work very well. Perhaps there is a better way to stand out from the herd. Try this method and see if it may help. **My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation** **Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-476-four-steps-i-use-to-revive-a-self-storage-facility-non-fb/ **Startup Checklist** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-475-self-storage-startup-checklist-4-steps-owners-miss/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **The 4 Critical Metrics Download** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-474-4-critical-metrics/ **Five Mistakes PDF* https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-473-5-mistakes-new-owners-make-in-self-storage/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy** https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ **Listen on Apple Podcasts** **5 KPIs we measure** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/top-5-kpi-ebook/ **My blog** Creating Wealth Through Self Storage **Facebook** https://www.facebook.com/markhelmselfstorage/ **Twitter** Posts by MarkHelmSelfSt **The Storage World Analyzer** http://storageworldanalyzer.com/ **The QuickStart Academy Store** https://quick-start-academy.myshopify.com

July 10, 202614 min

AI in Action: How I’m Using It Right Now to Move Through Self-Storage Due Diligence

We all know how AI is changing the self-storage landscape. Others smarter than me have talked about using chatbots for storage answering services, AI in revenue management and tenant data analysis (determining which tenants can pay what rate based on behavior), and many of the tools savvy operators in the industry use today. Let me give you a real-life example of how I am using it today as I move through the diligence process of some deals right now. **My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation** **Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-476-four-steps-i-use-to-revive-a-self-storage-facility-non-fb/ **Startup Checklist** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-475-self-storage-startup-checklist-4-steps-owners-miss/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **The 4 Critical Metrics Download** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-474-4-critical-metrics/ **Five Mistakes PDF* https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-473-5-mistakes-new-owners-make-in-self-storage/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy** https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ **Listen on Apple Podcasts** **5 KPIs we measure** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/top-5-kpi-ebook/ **My blog** Creating Wealth Through Self Storage **Facebook** https://www.facebook.com/markhelmselfstorage/ **Twitter** Posts by MarkHelmSelfSt **The Storage World Analyzer** http://storageworldanalyzer.com/ **The QuickStart Academy Store** https://quick-start-academy.myshopify.com

June 26, 202618 min

Five Lessons About Business I’ve Learned After 40 Years

After over forty years in real estate and the self-storage business, I have learned a few things about business that I am sharing as I hover around this 500-episode mark. I guess we could call these episodes “What I’ve Learned About Wealth, Business, and Life.” This also coincides with my newly released book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation. Let me share with you five things I have learned about business over the years. When I started, I knew very little about money, wealth, and running businesses. I have learned what I know through research and grinding away. I think you may be surprised. **My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation** **Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-476-four-steps-i-use-to-revive-a-self-storage-facility-non-fb/ **Startup Checklist** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-475-self-storage-startup-checklist-4-steps-owners-miss/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **The 4 Critical Metrics Download** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-474-4-critical-metrics/ **Five Mistakes PDF* https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-473-5-mistakes-new-owners-make-in-self-storage/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy** https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ **Listen on Apple Podcasts** **5 KPIs we measure** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/top-5-kpi-ebook/ **My blog** Creating Wealth Through Self Storage **Facebook** https://www.facebook.com/markhelmselfstorage/ **Twitter** Posts by MarkHelmSelfSt **The Storage World Analyzer** http://storageworldanalyzer.com/ **The QuickStart Academy Store** https://quick-start-academy.myshopify.com

June 19, 202618 min

Five Things I Have Learned About Creating Wealth

As I hover around the 500-episode mark, I am apparently becoming more philosophical and want to share some insights I have gained over the last ten years or so in the storage business. I’ve talked about the five biggest mistakes I have made in my career and the five decisions I have made that helped me create my first millions in wealth. In this episode, let me share with you five things I have learned about creating wealth. Some may seem obvious, but these are all critical lessons I actually had to learn on my own. I didn’t know anyone who could teach them to me. I hope this helps you on your journey toward your goals **My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation** **Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-476-four-steps-i-use-to-revive-a-self-storage-facility-non-fb/ **Startup Checklist** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-475-self-storage-startup-checklist-4-steps-owners-miss/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **The 4 Critical Metrics Download** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-474-4-critical-metrics/ **Five Mistakes PDF* https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-473-5-mistakes-new-owners-make-in-self-storage/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy** https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ **Listen on Apple Podcasts** **5 KPIs we measure** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/top-5-kpi-ebook/ **My blog** Creating Wealth Through Self Storage **Facebook** https://www.facebook.com/markhelmselfstorage/ **Twitter** Posts by MarkHelmSelfSt **The Storage World Analyzer** http://storageworldanalyzer.com/ **The QuickStart Academy Store** https://quick-start-academy.myshopify.com

June 12, 202626 min

Five Decisions I Made That Created My First Million Dollars of Wealth

Here I am at Episode 500. On one level, it means nothing, really, but on another, it shows I can stick to something for a long time and/or you can hang in there with me no matter how bad or off I can be at times. I hope you have received some value from these episodes. Last week, I discussed some of my flaws and how they translated into some of the biggest mistakes I have made in my self-storage career. Today, I want to talk about some of the things I did right. I chose to do this in the context of the decisions I have made that generated the first million dollars of wealth from the storage industry. **My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation** **Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-476-four-steps-i-use-to-revive-a-self-storage-facility-non-fb/ **Startup Checklist** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-475-self-storage-startup-checklist-4-steps-owners-miss/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **The 4 Critical Metrics Download** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-474-4-critical-metrics/ **Five Mistakes PDF* https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-473-5-mistakes-new-owners-make-in-self-storage/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy** https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ **Listen on Apple Podcasts** **5 KPIs we measure** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/top-5-kpi-ebook/ **My blog** Creating Wealth Through Self Storage **Facebook** https://www.facebook.com/markhelmselfstorage/ **Twitter** Posts by MarkHelmSelfSt **The Storage World Analyzer** http://storageworldanalyzer.com/ **The QuickStart Academy Store** https://quick-start-academy.myshopify.com

June 5, 202619 min

The Five Biggest Mistakes I’ve Made Over My 31 Years In The Self-Storage Industry

As I approach Episode 500, I have been thinking a lot about the self-storage business and my thirty-one years in and around the industry. I was thinking about what I could share that would be helpful. I had two startling insights. The first was that what would be most helpful is not what I’ve done right, but more importantly, the biggest mistakes I have made. The second was, as I wrote them out, the realization that none of my biggest mistakes were really about the business itself or about making a bad storage decision, although I’ve made my share. They were personal development flaws in me that had an impact on my business. Let me share them with you, and hopefully you can learn from them. **My latest book, The Creative Method of Wealth Generation** **Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-476-four-steps-i-use-to-revive-a-self-storage-facility-non-fb/ **Startup Checklist** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-475-self-storage-startup-checklist-4-steps-owners-miss/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **The 4 Critical Metrics Download** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-474-4-critical-metrics/ **Five Mistakes PDF* https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-473-5-mistakes-new-owners-make-in-self-storage/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy** https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ **Listen on Apple Podcasts** **5 KPIs we measure** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/top-5-kpi-ebook/ **My blog** Creating Wealth Through Self Storage **Facebook** https://www.facebook.com/markhelmselfstorage/ **Twitter** Posts by MarkHelmSelfSt **The Storage World Analyzer** http://storageworldanalyzer.com/ **The QuickStart Academy Store** https://quick-start-academy.myshopify.com

May 22, 202616 min

Vendors Can Make or Break You Today

There has never been a moment in self-storage history where the gap between well-chosen vendors and poorly chosen ones mattered more than it does today. We are currently choosing our vendors for a new brand and have discovered one thing… Vendors today can make or break you! Let me share with you what I mean. **Self-Storage Turnaround Playbook** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-476-four-steps-i-use-to-revive-a-self-storage-facility-non-fb/ **Startup Checklist** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-475-self-storage-startup-checklist-4-steps-owners-miss/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **The 4 Critical Metrics Download** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-474-4-critical-metrics/ **Five Mistakes PDF* https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode-473-5-mistakes-new-owners-make-in-self-storage/ **Cap Rate, ROI & IRR Calculator** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/episode_472_cap-roi-irr-worksheet-2/ **Online Courses at The Quickstart Academy** https://TheQuickStartAcademy.com/ **Listen on Apple Podcasts** **5 KPIs we measure** https://creatingwealththroughselfstorage.lpages.co/top-5-kpi-ebook/ **My blog** Creating Wealth Through Self Storage **Facebook** https://www.facebook.com/markhelmselfstorage/ **Twitter** Tweets by MarkHelmSelfSt **The Storage World Analyzer** http://storageworldanalyzer.com/ **The QuickStart Academy Store** https://quick-start-academy.myshopify.com