Every savvy self-storage operator makes sure they understand their current market. This includes knowing metrics such as competitors’ street rates, occupancy and available unit inventory. Why? This information can greatly impact your own revenue-management strategy. For example, if you discover your nearest rival doesn’t have any 10-by-10 units available and your property has several, these spaces become more valuable on the open market and can, therefore, be priced a bit higher.

Though many facilities publish their rental rates online, it can be difficult to gauge what’s really happening in your area. It sometimes takes a bit of sleuthing to uncover the important insight you need. In this thread on Self-Storage Talk, the industry’s largest and most active online community, members are sharing their secrets for getting the scoop on competing properties. Do you have a surefire tip to offer? Post it in this thread and see what others say.