In this episode, we're joined by Andrew Sherrard, owner of Reliable Storage in Seattle, to talk all things occupancy—and not just how full your units are, but how well your business is performing overall.

In this rebroadcast of the May 29 webinar, we break down the three types of occupancy (yes, there are three!) and how to evaluate what’s actually holding your numbers back. Spoiler: it’s not always your rates.

Here’s what we cover:

• Unit, Area & Economic Occupancy – What they mean and how to track them
• Diagnosing the Problem – Are you getting enough leads? Are you converting them?
• Conversion Wins – How missed calls and poor scheduling may be your biggest leaks
• Smart Rate Strategies – When to raise rates, when to hold, and why copying the REITs might backfire
• Promos & Discounts – When to use them, when not to, and how to measure impact
• Boosting Retention – Why keeping the right tenants matters more than keeping every tenant
• Top Tips – Andrew’s rapid-fire list of what’s cheapest, easiest, and most effective to boost occupancy

Whether your occupancy is dipping or you just want to sharpen your strategy, this episode is packed with insight.

Guest: Andrew Sherrard, with Reliable Storage

Hosts: Tommy Nguyen & Melissa Huff

Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Lighthouse Storage Solutions

We talk a lot about amenities in self storage—security cameras, clean units, keypads, gates—but what about you? The manager is one of the most important amenities at a facility, and often one of the most under emphasized.

Appearance, attitude, and professionalism can either enhance or hurt your facility’s image. What you wear and what you support during company time all sends a message about your business. Is it the message you want to send? Is it the message your organization wants to promote?

We cover:

✅ Why your personal presentation matters just as much as your property’s
✅ How to think about yourself as part of the customer experience
✅ Tips for keeping a clean, professional appearance without losing personality

Digital curb appeal and property curb appeal get a lot of attention these days. But don't forget that sometimes it's the personal curb appeal that makes or breaks the final sale.

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions

AI is transforming the self-storage industry—from smarter security cameras and chatbots to automated rate comparisons and call evaluations. But how much is too much? In this episode, we take a balanced look at the role of artificial intelligence in storage operations and explore where it helps—and where it may be hurting more than helping.

We discuss this balance regarding:

• Where AI Works Well – Data-driven tasks like rate comparison, call scoring, and tech enhancements (security, chatbots, drones)
• Where AI Falls Short – Creative work like content writing, marketing voice, and brainstorming where human insight is still essential
• AI and Customer Experience – The risk of losing personal touch when AI replaces too much of your team’s interaction
• Practical Use Cases – Evaluating vendors, optimizing marketing campaigns, and using AI to improve—not replace—your systems
• How to Avoid Overuse – Guidelines for keeping your business human-centered while still embracing new tools

Use AI strategically, not automatically. People still matter most in self storage success.

Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

Produced by Lighthouse Storage Solutions