Is the Self-Storage Development Business Dead?

While certainly not dead. It is, at best, in hybernation!  Spring may be
around the corner, but the real wake up call for self-storage development
will be the springing back to life of capital.  Until the developers have
access to capital, on reasonable terms and at rates that make sense, there
will be few signs of life.

The gloom having been said, there is hope on the horizon.  This is likely to
be the time when we create a plan for "linear water fowl management", in
other words, getting our ducks in a row!

At the March 2010 ISS Expo, Virgo Publishing will hold another developers
seminar.  While the projections will look different, there are still
investors with cash on the sidelines, that are getting their plans in order,
so that when the checkbooks are open again at the bank, they will be posied
and ready to move.  This strategy will put them way ahead of the curve, and
facilitate speed to market when it comes to opening the doors.

This is the time to create best paractices for market and site selection.
Determining the stranght of markets can best be tested in times of trouble.
Those markets with strength today, should excel in good times.  This is the
time to      work out the best site plan, and to choose the right amenitites
and design, to create world class projects that can come to fruition as soon
as it makes "cents".

For the well capitalized, land bargains are out there, and retail big boxes
for conversion more available than ever.  With many municipal zoning
officials having nothing to do these days but enforcement, many are more
open than ever to creating tax base by working with developers to move
projects forward that they would never have considered three years ago, and
when the faucets are flowing in the future, they may not consider then.

So, this may be the best time ever to plan and prepare for development.

RK Kliebenstein
Coast-To-Coast Storage
533 Muirfield Drive
The City of Atlantis, FL 33462
p:      561.963.4004 x81
e:      rk@askrk.com
w:     www.askrk.com
f:      734.758.7538