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All Forum Posts by: Michael Williams

Michael Williams has started 6 posts and replied 22 times.

Post: A job in Self Storage too extreme? want to learn the business

Michael WilliamsPosted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Posts 22
  • Votes 2

Well nothing like taking action, I joined Storage Rebellion as suggested, as far as financing  I will definitely make some calls and see how I can make this happen or if I'm even in position to do so. Regardless I will find out, by making a few calls. I am reading Paul Moore's book, I am also going to contact the listing agent on the Property proposed by Henry Clark and speak with the agent. As of now I dont even know the correct questions to ask or how to properly analyze the property, however I know I can figure this all out fairly quickly. 

I will keep updating this along the way, thank you all again!

Post: A job in Self Storage too extreme? want to learn the business

Michael WilliamsPosted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Posts 22
  • Votes 2
Apologize for the delay, just now seeing this. My apologies for not being active this last week, I accept this challenge, and thank you for offering your time to reply to my post.  I will post my results!

Originally posted by @Henry Clark:

@Michael Williams

Michael, looks like your last posts were around 8 years ago.  My question, is this just a casual question, or has something changed in your motivation?

If your motivated "NOW" and not later, be glad to help you.  If you're just kicking the tires, then can't help you.

1.  Join the groups noted above.

2.  Answer the following.  Do you have access to $5mm financing?  That is the beginning price in LA for Storage. No point in learning it, if you will never be able to get into it.

3.  Keep your day job.  You don't make money in Self Storage.  You pay the banker off and you make equity.  You might be able to live there and save on housing.  Plus, there is really minimum "Work" in Self Storage.  You will get bored to death.

4.  Where do you start?  How much money or Collateral at 65% do you have?  How do you plan to finance?  Let's say you have $150,000; and plan to do an SBA loan at 10% down.  Then you can do a$1,500,000 deal.  If traditional loan of 25% then a $600,000 deal.  At 40% then $375,000 deal.  If you don't have $150,000 don't worry, you can get into storage for a lot less, just have to be imaginative.  The exercise above narrows down your focus and makes you more efficient in your thought process.

5.  Now, let's stop waiting for 8 years.  You ready to buy/build a storage place today?  Then let's do it.

You need to do 5 of the following exercises, before you actually make an offer or develop a location.  It is better to buy an existing location, but the premiums are really high.

You have to do the work.  No class, post or podcast is going to get you there.

A.  Pick an existing storage location or a development. Look out on Loopnet at 37631 6th St E, Palmdale, CA.  Don't worry about is this the one, it's not.  Since the info is there, it's an easy case study.  Realize you're in LA, there is a reason, I picked this location.  Let's go develop it.  The key is you're going to develop a system to analyze and develop/buy a location.  Could give it to you or tell you, but most folks learn by doing.

B.  Do this process, on this post.  The above people can add notes as they see fit.

When you get done with this, you will do 4 more sites. Then you will buy/build a Storage facility.

You only need to remember two questions.  1.  What's next?; 2.  Why?  I will walk you through this first one.  What do you "owe" me?  An Abalone dinner with wine my wife and you, looking out over the ocean, if I ever make it back to LA. Probably not happening.

You want to get through this in the next week.  Are you ready? You need to invest about 20 hours into this, and make several calls.   No parachute, time to jump off the cliff.

Start small and Make Your Big Mistakes Early.

Post: A job in Self Storage too extreme? want to learn the business

Michael WilliamsPosted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Posts 22
  • Votes 2
Originally posted by @Paul Moore:

@Michael Williams you got a ton of great advice here. I would join the Storage Rebellion and I would follow Henry Clark’s advice. Please post again after that and let us know what you’ve learned and what progress you’ve made. We are cheering for you!

Absolutely, and thank you ALL for the feedback. My journey starts now

Post: A job in Self Storage too extreme? want to learn the business

Michael WilliamsPosted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Posts 22
  • Votes 2
Originally posted by @Bruce Lynn:

There are places that will pay you to live onsite....so exchange work for rent.
Places that don't have onsite people often need people to do routine work...fix doors, paint, cleanup, cleanout.  Probably could be done as a side gig....and if they own multiple locations could be a full time gig or maybe weekends and after hours.  You could learn occupancy rates, upgrades, and alot about the numbers and operations.   I'd think you would want to get on the network of self storage syndicators and also keep in contact with the owners and operators in your area.   

When the time is right you'll have all the contracts, know who is ready to buy and sell, know the ins and outs of the property and the possibilities, and all the details you will need to know to be successful.

Great idea.

 Good to know! Something I will definetly look at, I wouldnt mind taking this on as a part time job as well. I just want to be boots to the ground so I can learn. I will definetly look into self storage syndicators, thank you!

Post: A job in Self Storage too extreme? want to learn the business

Michael WilliamsPosted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Posts 22
  • Votes 2
Originally posted by @Paul Moore:

Hi @Michael Williams. In the new book on self storage, I spend the last 1/3 of the material on seven different paths to enter the self storage business. It actually applies to any commercial real estate asset type  


Anyway, one of the paths is to get a job in self storage. There are five or six different job types identified. To see this information right away, you should be find a Facebook YouTube video on the BP channel on this topic.  “7 paths to…” or something like that.  

I got this idea from a guy in Texas who left his $120,000 salary to work for half that as a property manager at a self storage facility. His goal was to learn the business and be an owner. If you’re going to do this you should probably check out the coaching program from Scott Meyers.  Good luck! 

 excellent, i am getting your book and I will follow up on your suggestions! thanks again. 

Post: A job in Self Storage too extreme? want to learn the business

Michael WilliamsPosted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Posts 22
  • Votes 2

Thank you for this , i will get this book immediately! 

Post: A job in Self Storage too extreme? want to learn the business

Michael WilliamsPosted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Posts 22
  • Votes 2

Really useful! Thank you!

Post: A job in Self Storage too extreme? want to learn the business

Michael WilliamsPosted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Posts 22
  • Votes 2

I am very interested in getting into the self storage investment space. This is due to a podcast from Kris Benson on BP, working for a few developers that owned Self Storage in their portfolio, and looking at the favorable numbers from NAREIT. I am not in a space to invest at this time and would like more boots on the ground knowledge of the industry, so I am considering getting a job in the space in order to get a feel how things work. What are your thoughts? Any feedback is helpful 

Post: Online Leads - working for you?

Michael WilliamsPosted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Posts 22
  • Votes 2

@Andrew McBurney i am interested in Ryan’s entourage program, do you find it worth it. I am looking to become a loan originator, and i really want to hit the ground running regarding lead systems

Post: Wholesale Middleman

Michael WilliamsPosted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Posts 22
  • Votes 2

I am in a unique (maybe not so unique) position of seving as the middle man between a whole seller and investors. I am currently working with a whole seller who also does flips but is currently receiving a list of properties from an asset manager, I am aiding him in finding buyers for his properties. Now, once I find a buyer and the offer is made how do I ensure that I get paid an agreed upon finders fee without getting cut out completely? Is there a specific addendum or clause I can insert into the purchase agreement?