Why Self-Storage Success Starts With Better Systems

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What if the fastest way to grow your self-storage portfolio is to stop trying to do everything yourself?

Joe Downs sits down with Magen Smith, CPA, CEO and co-founder of Atomic Storage Group, to unpack her remarkable journey from managing a single self-storage facility fresh out of college to leading one of the nation's largest third-party management companies with more than 180 locations across 30 states.

Magen shares how accounting, operations, marketing, development, and technology all intersect to create exceptional storage businesses, why great management is far more than collecting rent, how one lease up reached nearly $70,000 in monthly revenue within just nine months, and why AI is transforming operations without replacing people.

Whether you're considering self-management or outsourcing, this conversation offers practical lessons on data driven decision making, scaling a portfolio, building systems, and focusing on the work that creates the greatest long term value.

Listen For:

6:00 How did Magen Smith scale Atomic Storage Group to 180 facilities?

12:46 What drove a new self-storage development to 57% occupied in nine months?

21:37 Is the fear of losing control to third-party management actually backwards?

25:01 What was a REIT operator missing that let revenue jump 220%?

27:48 Which KPI should every first-time storage investor track from day one?

CONNECT WITH GUEST: MAGEN SMITH, CEO, ATOMIC STORAGE GROUP

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Check out the FULL episode on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@TheStorageMoguls

60 minutes

Storage Moguls Live. Friday, October 16 in White Marsh, Maryland. One day with self storage owners. Walk through a real facility and learn how they find, finance, and close deals. Only 15 tickets. Register at https://go.storagemoguls.ai/white-marsh-md before Thursday.