Recommended Reading for Self Storage?

[CafeMonkey]

Hi All,

I've been intrigued with the concept of self storage for years... Does anyone know if there is a difinitive guide to starting or buying one? What about an association, or web forum?

[HMiller]

In my area the demand for self storage is amazing. We've been tossing around the idea ourselves. It seems that there are quite a few goig up here and they fill up very quickly. Here's a link to an association. The virtual trade show has alot of vendor resources.

[Las Vegas Real Estate]

If you're looking to build a new facility, odds are the lender will require you to have a feasibility study done. There are experts out there who can analyze your entire market with an added focus on the 3-mile radius of the location you have targeted. They determine the total number of units in the market, vacancy rates, average rents, population, subs with covenants restricting on-site storage (junk piles, in other words), they meet with owners and managers of existing storage facilities...and on and on. Cost is about $5-7,000. If you need a name let me know. We worked with one based in California but that travels to the subject city, and she was extremely sharp.