By Iris Czygan
As peak season approaches, self-storage and RV/boat storage operators have a golden opportunity to maximize revenue, increase occupancy and enhance customer experience. With heightened demand from home movers, college students and businesses needing extra space, now is the time to fine-tune your strategy. Whether you’re looking to optimize pricing, improve operations or boost marketing efforts, these 10 essential strategies will help you stay ahead of the competition.
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Improve Facility Security & Smart Access
Improve Facility Security & Smart Access Security and convenience are top priorities for tenants. Investing in smart locks, access control systems, and 24/7 surveillance can help you stand out. Additionally, smart units provide real-time monitoring and remote access, giving tenants greater peace of mind while allowing operators to offer premium pricing for high-tech storage solutions.
✔ Upgrade to Bluetooth or keypad-controlled access systems
✔ Install high-definition security cameras with remote monitoring
✔ Implement smart units to enhance security, climate control and automation
StorageDefender offers state-of-the-art, AI-driven unit monitoring to provide an extra layer of security and real-time alerts for tenants and operators.
- Optimize Pricing with Real-Time Market Data
To make the most of peak season, your pricing strategy should be dynamic and data-driven. Atomic Storage Group specializes in revenue management and pricing optimization, helping self-storage operators maximize income by implementing demand-based pricing models. By analyzing market trends, occupancy rates, and competitor pricing, operators can ensure they are charging the optimal rate for each unit type.
✔ Adjust prices based on occupancy and market demand
✔ Utilize competitive pricing insights to stay ahead of nearby facilities
✔ Offer promotions on select units to attract new tenants while maintaining premium rates on high-demand spaces
StorTrack provides real-time pricing intelligence, allowing operators to track competitor rates and market trends to stay competitive and profitable.
3. Enhance Digital Marketing & SEO Strategy
Your customers are searching for storage online—make sure they find you first. Optimize your website with SEO-driven content, targeted Google Ads, and local search strategies to drive more leads.
✔ Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile
✔ Use location-based keywords to improve search rankings
✔ Leverage social media and paid digital ads to increase brand visibility
The Storage Group offers innovative digital marketing solutions, including PPC, SEO, and website development, to ensure your facility ranks higher in search results and converts more leads into tenants.
- Streamline the Rental Process with Online Leasing
Today’s renters expect convenience. Offering online leasing, automated payments, and digital contracts speeds up the rental process and improves conversion rates.
✔ Enable online reservations and move-ins
✔ Offer e-signature options for lease agreements
✔ Use self-service kiosks or contactless rental options
Securespace has revolutionized the tenant experience by integrating smart technology for seamless online rentals and facility management.
- Boost Revenue with Value-Added Services
Increase your revenue and enhance the tenant experience by offering premium add-ons that provide convenience and security. Smart security solutions like DaVinci Lock streamline overlock management, reducing delinquencies and improving operational efficiency, while tenant insurance programs create an additional revenue stream. These extra services not only generate more income but also improve customer satisfaction and retention.
✔ Sell essential moving and packing supplies, including boxes, tape, and locks
✔ Offer tenant insurance to provide peace of mind and generate additional revenue
✔ Streamline overlock management to reduce delinquencies and improve efficiency
SBOA Tenant Insurance makes it easy to offer tenant insurance, giving tenants financial security while adding a reliable revenue stream for your business.
- Leverage a Call Center to Capture Every Lead
Missed calls mean missed rentals. A dedicated call center service ensures that all customer inquiries are handled professionally—even after hours.
✔ Reduce missed leads by providing 24/7 customer support
✔ Offer multilingual assistance for diverse customer demographics
✔ Free up on-site staff to focus on facility management
XPS Solutions specializes in self-storage call center services, ensuring that every customer inquiry is handled professionally and converted into a rental.
- Train Your Team for Peak Season Success
Your staff plays a crucial role in customer experience and lease conversions. Train them to handle peak season efficiently.
✔ Role-play customer interactions to improve sales and service
✔ Train staff on using management software to streamline operations
✔ Ensure team members can answer questions about promotions and unit availability
Universal Storage Group provides top-tier training programs, management solutions, and operational consulting to help your team perform at peak levels.
- Maximize Occupancy with Dynamic Promotions
Well-timed promotions can fill vacancies quickly and maximize revenue.
✔ Offer discounts for long-term rentals to reduce churn
✔ Run referral programs to attract new tenants
✔ Provide move-in specials or bundling incentives
✔ Leverage digital advertising and targeted promotions to reach high-intent renters
G5 helps self-storage operators implement targeted digital marketing campaigns, paid search ads, and dynamic promotions that attract the right tenants at the right time. Their data-driven approach ensures you’re marketing to the right audience with the right message, maximizing lead-to-lease conversions.
- Automate the Lien Process for Greater Efficiency
Delinquencies are an inevitable part of self-storage operations, but managing the lien process manually can be time-consuming and costly. Ai Lean is a fully automated lien compliance solution designed to assist self-storage operators in reducing debt, increasing cash flow, and enhancing operational efficiency. From early collections to auction completion, Ai Lean’s SaaS solution automates every step of the lien process, allowing operators to focus on running their business.
✔ Automate the lien process from pre-lien notices to auction completion
✔ Access customizable workflows and real-time document tracking
✔ Utilize data dashboards to monitor trends and make informed decisions
Ai Lean supports operators in all 50 states, providing a seamless, compliant, and highly efficient lien resolution process.
- Monitor & Adjust for Continuous Improvement
Success during peak season isn’t just about preparation—it’s about adapting in real time.
✔ Track occupancy and revenue metrics weekly
✔ Monitor customer feedback and reviews
✔ Make data-driven adjustments to pricing and promotions
SBOA’s Mystery Shopping and Audit Programs help operators assess their facilities, customer service, and marketing effectiveness to identify key areas for improvement.
Final Thoughts
Peak season presents a huge opportunity for self-storage operators to maximize revenue and grow their customer base. By implementing smart pricing strategies, digital marketing, seamless rentals, value-added services, and strong security measures, you can ensure your facility stands out in a competitive market.
At SBOA, we connect self-storage operators with the best service providers in the industry to help you thrive. Whether it’s pricing intelligence, tenant insurance, call center solutions, or operational consulting, we’re here to match you with the right partners for success.
- Join SBOA today and access exclusive vendor discounts!
- Watch our next Self-Storage Unlocked Webinar, “Peak Season: 10 Strategies for Self-Storage Success.” Thursday, February 27 at 11am Eastern, and get your questions answered LIVE, and receive our FREE Peak Season Playbook.
Iris Czygan is the President of the Storage Business Owners Alliance (SBOA), dedicated to helping self-storage operators increase revenue, streamline operations and connect with top industry vendors. SBOA provides valuable educational webinars, marketing resources and industry partnerships to help operators thrive. Iris can be reached at iris@thesboa.com.
