SELF-STORAGE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Building a successful self-storage facility isn’t just about putting up buildings. It’s about planning with purpose from day one. At UnitMix, our process is designed to guide developers, investors, and entrepreneurs through every critical stage of development. Whether you’re working with raw land or preparing to open your doors, we help you make smart, informed decisions at each step.
Too often, people rely on the wrong professionals to lead the process. Metal building suppliers, civil engineers, or contractors may know how to design a site, but they don’t understand how to make it perform. That’s where we come in.
Our approach breaks the development journey into five clear phases. Each one is built on real-world experience and focused on what actually drives long-term success—layout strategy, unit mix optimization, operational readiness, and more.
You can work with us through the full process or choose an a la carte approach based on where you are in your journey. Either way, we’ll make sure you’re moving forward with clarity and confidence.
Here’s how we take your project from idea to reality.
Phase 1. Discover
Before any plans are drawn, we help you evaluate the true potential of your site. We look at zoning, access, visibility, and competition, then create a conceptual layout that reflects the property’s natural strengths. You’ll get an initial unit mix recommendation, rough financial projections, and honest feedback about whether the project pencils out. This phase helps you avoid costly mistakes by understanding if the site makes sense before you invest time and money into engineering.
Phase 2. Design the Mix
This is where most storage projects go wrong. Many site plans are created without considering revenue strategy, market demand, or operational flow. In this phase, we help you bring in an engineering firm to begin formal site planning and guide the layout around a high-performing unit mix. Once the layout is in development, we begin gathering preliminary construction bids. These early numbers help shape realistic financial models and allow us to fine-tune the site plan before committing to the next steps. After that, we assist in ordering a third-party feasibility study to validate the project and support your financing or investor conversations. This phase brings design and data together to create a plan that performs in the real world.
Phase 3. Prepare to Build
With the layout finalized, unit mix optimized, and bids in hand, we move into the preparation phase. This is where we help coordinate your full city submittal package, guide you through the entitlement process, and support any revisions required by local agencies.
We also review the third-party feasibility study with you, making sure it aligns with the plan and supports your financing goals. If any adjustments are needed, we help refine the strategy. At this point, you’re fully positioned to secure funding, finalize approvals, and move toward construction with clarity and momentum.
Phase 4. Manage the build
Most developers end up hiring a general contractor who takes a large percentage of the total project cost, often cutting deep into their profits. But the truth is, self-storage isn’t rocket science to build. With the right support, many owners can manage the process themselves.
At UnitMix, we help you take an owner-builder approach. We guide you through contractor selection, review bids, and provide construction oversight so the project stays aligned with your plan and budget. You’re still in control, but you’re not alone. Our goal is to protect your investment, reduce unnecessary costs, and help you build efficiently without giving away a chunk of your profit.
Phase 5. Launch and Operate
Congratulations — your facility is built. But now what? You’ve just gained access to a multi-million dollar business, and for many first-time owners, the reality hits hard. You have no idea how to run it yet.
That’s where we come in. UnitMix helps you bridge the gap between construction and operations. We guide you through setting up your office, selecting software, installing security systems, and preparing the site for customers. We help you create rental contracts, establish lien procedures, set pricing, and build an operational flow that makes sense.
Running a storage facility is not passive. There’s a learning curve, and we’re here to shorten it. We’ll teach you how to manage the day-to-day, handle customer interactions, and operate like a seasoned owner from day one.