This sentence is KILLING your deals
Banks are STILL rejecting 9 out of 10 storage deals right now.
Not because storage is risky – storage delinquency is at 0.1%, the lowest in all of commercial real estate.
Not because the market is weak; Nearly half of all Americans have used storage at some point.
They’re rejecting deals because of one sentence that amateur investors say without realizing it kills their credibility instantly:
“I’m new to storage, but I’m a quick learner.”
Or any variation of it:
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“This would be my first facility, but…”
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“I don’t have storage experience, but I’ve managed other properties…”
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“I’m still learning the industry, but…”
The moment those words leave your mouth, you’re done.
📊QUICK INDUSTRY UPDATES
SSAA Announces 2025 Award Winners – Self Storage Association of Australasia celebrated a year of excellence, highlighting standout operations in self storage over the last 12 months. The winners exemplify creative repurposing projects, fantastic purpose-built facilities, and other innovations in self storage. See all the winners here.
Aaron Saunders discusses 2026 industry challenges with ISS – The president of Spartan Construction appeared on the ISS podcast “Sounds of Storage” to discuss industry headwinds, market trends, and what operators should expect in the coming year. Listen here.
One injured in storage fire – A fire at a self-storage business in Fulton, NY recently damaged several units and injured one person before it was extinguished. Learn more at Oswego County News.
Banks don’t care how fast you learn.
They care whether you know what you’re talking about RIGHT NOW.
Here’s what separates approved deals from rejected ones in 2025:
Amateur approach: “I’m looking for a loan for a storage facility. What are my options?”
Expert approach: “I’m pursuing SBA 504 financing with a 10% down payment structure. Based on the property’s NOI and my liquidity position, I’d like to discuss terms.”
Same deal. Same property. Completely different outcome.
The bank’s job isn’t to educate you on lending products.
Their job is to assess risk. And the fastest way they assess risk is by listening to how you present yourself.
If you sound like you’re figuring it out as you go, they assume you’ll operate the facility the same way.
If you walk in knowing exactly which lending products exist, why you qualify, and what terms you’re targeting, they assume you’ll run the facility with the same level of sophistication.
It’s not about faking expertise. It’s about doing the homework before you walk in the room.
Nearly 50% of Americans have used storage. The demand is there.
Storage fundamentals are stronger than multifamily, office, or retail.
The operators getting deals approved in 2025 aren’t the ones with the most experience.
They’re the ones who positioned themselves as experts from day one.
Which sentence are you using?
Talk soon,
Cody
P.S. If you want the exact lending products to ask for (and how to present yourself so banks take you seriously from the first conversation), I’ve documented everything in Storage Financing Secrets. Get it here →