Self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT) Life Storage Inc. has made several upper-level staff changes in addition to officially launching Rent Now, a digital platform that allows customers to select a storage unit, complete a rental agreement and make payments online.

Jonathan Attea was appointed director of acquisitions. He’ll oversee the negotiation of self-storage transactions as well as shape acquisition, disposition and joint-venture strategy.

Life Storage also hired Joe Magiera as project director of construction management. He’ll oversee capital improvements and the repair-and-maintenance activity throughout the company’s portfolio.

The REIT also promoted Michael Osciak and Dale Payne to directors of human resources and business development, respectively. Osciak joined Life Storage in 2011 and served as human resources manager since 2015. Payne will lead the sales arm of the business-development division.

Rent Now is expanding from an initial test run in Buffalo, N.Y., to 142 locations in Florida, Missouri, New York, Texas and Virginia. Through the platform, renters receive their property-access code and step-by-step directions to reach their storage unit on a digital map sent to their mobile device, according to a press release.

"Rent Now is Life Storage’s answer to delivering storage needs to our customers on demand. We anticipated there was a growing segment of our customers who prefer to self-serve and complete their rental process online. Rent Now delivers that flexible solution,” said CEO David Rogers. "Making it easy for our customers to engage with us is a top priority at Life Storage, and we are very excited by Rent Now’s adoption rate.”

Rent Now integrates with the Life Storage operating, security and revenue-management systems, allowing real-time inventory and sales management, the release stated. "Consumer behavior is changing rapidly,” said Ed Killeen, chief operating officer. “Leveraging technology to transact in ways that are expected by these consumers, while also efficiently selling inventory at our owned and managed properties, is a win for each of our customers, partners and shareholders.”

Rent Now is expected to be integrated with all company locations by early next year.

Based in Buffalo, Life Storage operates more than 700 self-storage facilities in 28 states under the Life Storage and Uncle Bob’s brands. Its portfolio of owned and managed facilities comprises more than 50 million square feet.

Sources:
Markets Insider, Life Storage Inc. Introduces "Rent Now,” its Next-Generation Rental Platform
The Buffalo News, Jonathan Attea Promoted at Life Storage Inc.
The Buffalo News, Joe Magiera joins Life Storage Inc.
The Buffalo News, Dale Payne Promoted at Life Storage Inc.
The Buffalo News, Michael Osciak Promoted at Life Storage Inc.