Development Basics for First-Time Self-Storage Builders in Canada

Determine the size of the facility and decide on your amenities. Each design decision, such as if you are offering heated or non-heated storage, will have an affect on the budget.

Once your design team has generated all the drawings, apply for the building permit and other required approvals, such as electrical, site servicing and development. Be prepared that all of these approvals cost money and time even if you are prepared to do it yourself. Do not underestimate the time and effort that will be needed to go through this stage. Being thorough will determine how smooth things will go with the various government agencies.

While your project is going through the approval stages, determine actual cost of the various components and construction trades necessary to take the project to completion. You can obtain quotes yourself or have your design team obtain them.

The Construction Phase

Once you have your building permit and selected your various trades and suppliers, it’s time to move to the construction stage. When construction begins, you must contact each various agency to coordinate inspection and approval stages. Allowing time for inspection and permitting is critical. Moving on without first having necessary inspections and obtaining approvals can delay your project and ultimately cost you time and money.

Before Opening Day

The last stage to confront is the occupancy of the facility. At this stage you will need to make sure you have your occupancy permits from the municipality governing your facility’s location. You should also obtain any final certificates of payments to ensure there are no liens against the property by a trade or supplier. You will want to ensure that all payments have been made so the opening of your building goes smoothly.

This general review of project-development stages should provide an overview to your first self-storage building. There are various subcomponents to deal with within each stage that will require your time and attention. Whether you choose to hire a group to coordinate your project or a turnkey project team, you must make sure you devote enough of your own time to the team so your project results are the most they can be.

David Hornblow is construction manager and administrator for the Ontario-based Canadian Metal Manufacturing Inc. Established in 1999, the company has been primarily focused on the self-storage industry since 2003. For more information, call 888.951.1762; visit www.canadianmetal.ca.