Yes, the leaves are doing it again: changing colors. And the apples are ripening and bouncing off the trees. Time for apple pie at my house!

But September means much more at Inside Self-Storage, where the current issue is dedicated to all things construction. I was reminded of this while reading an article published by the TimesHerald of Pennyslvania, which indicated that construction of non-residential facilities in Montgomery County, Pa., was on the rebound last year, as evidenced by comparing statistics from 2006.

Not that interesting, perhaps, but a bulk of that non-residential construction was dedicated to self-storage, which should be of interest. Accordiing to a county planner, there was "a boom in self-storage facilities, about 420,000 square feet" in the area.

This gives me reason to remind developers that pockets of promise for self-storage development do still exist, as many real estate professionals would tell us. But there is a caveat, and it's reminiscent of a cliche proverb: Look before you leap.

Don't get in over your head before you even begin building, recommend consultants in the industry. Always make sure you are educated and well informed. When you think you've found the perfect spot, "ask for a comprehensive demographic study and pro forma" as a first important step, recommends Bruce McCardle of Mako Steel, who authored, "Taking a Cue From the Past to Build the Future of Self-Storage" for the ISS September issue.

September is also the time of year most schools reopen their doors and get kids to get their noses back in the books. Have you done your homework this September? In these rocky economic times, you'll want to be sure-footed every step of the way. Along with the windfall of articles you'll find on the ISS website regarding construction, you'll want to be sure to visit the Self-Storage Training Institute where handfuls of audiocasts can talk you through many construction related topics. Want to see for yourself? Click here and you'll be on your way.

Have a safe trip and I'll see you next fall! (Couldn't help tossing in that pun. I'll be back next week with another blog.)

,