About Keep It Simple: Self-Storage Analysis

Most underwriting and cash flow analysis tools are either overbuilt, confusing, or designed for institutional teams with time and staff to spare. Operators and brokers in the self-storage space rarely have that luxury. The industry is fragmented, financials are inconsistent, and most self-storage properties are still run by owner-operators who don’t track revenue or expenses in a standardized way. Underwriting requires the flexibility to consider a variety of scenarios quickly and compare the results.

The Keep It Simple models and guides solve exactly that.

A Practical, Operator-Focused Approach

The Self-Storage Analysis Model was created out of real underwriting work for actual acquisitions. It’s designed to be clear, fast, accurate, and aligned with how self-storage assets actually operate.

No macros, no hidden logic, no institutional bloat. It’s one tab of clean inputs, instantaneous outputs, and an intuitive format.

The accompanying Self-Storage Analysis Guide fills in the context that most spreadsheets leave out. It explains the logic behind the model—how to approach occupancy, operating expenses, capex, valuation, DSCR, and key performance indicators. The guide and the model are built to work together: one shows you how self-storage facilities function economically, and the other turns that understanding into a complete acquisition analysis.

Aren’t Other Models Out There?

Yes, but none of them had the combination of industry-standard techniques, lender-quality underwriting, all in a clean, easy-to-follow format that anyone interested in self-storage investing could use. The goal wasn’t to reinvent underwriting; it was to remove friction, reduce mistakes, and deliver a clean analysis toolkit that anyone can pick up, understand, and rely on immediately. Don’t let unnecessarily complicated Excel models and industry jargon slow you down or prevent you from finding a deal. Keep It Simple, so you can get back to building wealth through self-storage investing.