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.
Self-storage consultants and brokers
Buying, selling, or developing a self-storage facility is likely the biggest financial decision you'll make in this industry. Specialized consultants and brokers save — and make — their fee many times over by helping you avoid bad deals, price assets correctly, and navigate feasibility mistakes that sink first-time operators. Generalist commercial real estate brokers rarely have the market data or operational experience to do this well.
What self-storage specialists do
- Feasibility studies: market demand analysis, competitor mapping, unit mix recommendations, and pro forma modeling for new development.
- Acquisition brokerage: sourcing off-market deals, underwriting, and negotiating purchase terms.
- Disposition brokerage: positioning a facility for sale, marketing to qualified buyers, and running a competitive process to maximize price.
- Operational consulting: rate optimization, revenue management, staffing models, and ECRI strategy.
- Valuation and appraisal: cap rate guidance and market-based valuations for refinancing or estate planning.
Questions to ask every consultant or broker
- How many self-storage transactions have you closed in the last 3 years, and at what deal sizes?
- Do you represent buyers, sellers, or both — and how do you manage conflicts?
- What's your fee structure, and what deliverables are included?
- Do you have access to off-market inventory, or do you work mostly from listings?
- Can you share recent comps for facilities similar to mine?
- What happens if a deal falls through — do fees roll to the next transaction?
When to hire which specialist
For development: hire a feasibility consultant BEFORE buying land — a $5,000–$15,000 study routinely saves operators from $500k+ mistakes. For acquisition: hire a buyer's broker who knows the submarket and can source off-market deals. For sale: hire a disposition broker 6–12 months before you want to close, giving time to optimize NOI and create a clean offering. For operations: a consultant engagement of 3–6 months is usually enough to implement rate and revenue management improvements.
Fee expectations
Brokerage fees typically range 1–4% of transaction value (buyer-side 1–2%, seller-side 2–4%). Feasibility studies run $5,000–$25,000 depending on scope. Operational consulting bills $150–$400/hour or $3,000–$15,000/month retainers for ongoing work. Good specialists pay for themselves through better deal pricing and operational improvements.
Explore vetted self-storage consultants and brokers above.
Frequently asked questions about consulting & brokerage
Do I need a self-storage specialist broker to sell my facility?
For anything but the smallest deals, yes. Self-storage specialists have relationships with the active institutional buyers, REITs, and private equity groups that aggregate facilities. They know current cap rates, can position your financials for maximum value, and run a competitive process. Generalist commercial brokers often leave 5–15% of sale price on the table.
How much does a feasibility study cost?
Professional self-storage feasibility studies typically run $5,000–$25,000 depending on market size and depth of analysis. They should include demand analysis, competitor mapping, unit mix recommendations, and a 10-year pro forma. Compared to the typical $3M–$10M cost of developing a facility, a feasibility study is the cheapest insurance policy in the industry.
What's a typical self-storage brokerage fee?
Seller-side brokerage fees typically run 2–4% of transaction value, with larger deals at the lower end and smaller deals at the higher end. Buyer-side representation is typically 1–2% or a flat fee. Some brokers work on dual-agency arrangements, but these create obvious conflicts — most sophisticated operators prefer dedicated representation.
When should I hire an operational consultant?
Two common triggers: you're under-performing your market on occupancy or rates (consultant can pay for themselves in 3–6 months), or you're preparing for sale (12+ months out, to optimize NOI before marketing). Also useful when taking over a newly-acquired facility where systems and pricing need immediate re-baselining.
How do I find off-market self-storage deals?
Most off-market deals flow through specialist brokers' direct relationships with facility owners. Brokers who farm specific submarkets for 5+ years know which owners might sell, at what price, and why. Generic listing sites (LoopNet, Crexi) show you the publicly-marketed deals — which is 30–50% of transaction volume at best.
What cap rate should I expect when buying a self-storage facility?
Cap rates vary widely by market tier, facility quality, and interest rate environment. In most markets today, stabilized Class A facilities trade at 5.5%–6.5% cap rates, Class B at 6.5%–7.5%, and Class C or value-add at 7.5%–9%+. Get recent comps from a specialist broker — cap rates have moved significantly over the past 3 years and published data lags reality.