ACQUISITION DUE DILIGENCE STUDY

Our acquisition due diligence studies are designed for investors, developers, operators, and other buyers who are considering the purchase of an existing self-storage or specialty storage facility. The study is particularly valuable when you want an independent assessment of the property beyond the information provided by the seller or broker. It can help you better understand the asset's current performance, market position, potential risks, and opportunities before committing to the acquisition.

The study is intended to be completed during the due diligence period, before you finalize the purchase. This allows you to use the findings to further investigate concerns, validate assumptions, negotiate terms or pricing, or determine whether the acquisition still makes sense. Starting the process early in your due diligence period gives you more time to address questions that may come up during the analysis.

Our typical turnaround time is 3–4 weeks, depending on the scope of the property and the information available. We understand that acquisition timelines can be tight, and we can often accommodate an accelerated timeline when necessary. If you have a specific closing or due diligence deadline, let us know when you contact us and we'll discuss what may be possible.

We can typically get started with the property address and basic information about the acquisition. Once you engage us, we'll provide a list of the property and financial information needed to complete the analysis. Depending on the property, this may include historical operating statements, rent rolls, occupancy information, unit mix, current rental rates, property information, and other documentation available from the seller.

We review the available historical financial and operating information as part of the study, analyzing revenue, expenses, occupancy, rental rates, and other performance data. We then compare the property's performance with the surrounding market and comparable facilities to help determine whether the reported results and assumptions are supported by the market. This can help identify areas that may require additional investigation, as well as potential risks and opportunities within the existing operation.

Our analysis can provide important context for evaluating the proposed purchase price. We look at the property's historical and current performance, market conditions, operating potential, and other factors that can affect the value and future performance of the asset. While we are not providing a formal appraisal, our findings can help you better understand whether the acquisition assumptions and expected returns are supported by the property and market.

Yes. In addition to identifying risks, we look for potential upside within the existing operation. This may include opportunities related to rental rates, occupancy, unit mix, revenue management, operational performance, or other factors that could improve the property's future results.

We also consider the property's potential for future expansion, where applicable. This may include evaluating available land, site layout, existing development, surrounding market demand, and other factors that could support additional units or storage space. Understanding both the operational upside and potential for future growth can be especially helpful when evaluating the property's long-term investment potential.

An acquisition study is designed for an existing operating facility, so it places greater emphasis on historical financial performance, current operations, and validating the property's existing performance. It is the appropriate service when you're evaluating the purchase of an existing self-storage or specialty storage facility.

A traditional feasibility study is generally used to evaluate a proposed development or expansion, with a greater focus on market demand, competitive supply, projected performance, unit mix, and financial potential. If you already own a facility and are considering an expansion, a feasibility study can help determine whether the market can support additional storage and what the potential returns may look like.

In some cases, an existing facility may have expansion potential that is relevant to the acquisition decision. Our acquisition analysis can consider that potential as part of the overall opportunity, while a full feasibility study would provide a more detailed analysis of the proposed expansion.

If you're planning to develop a new facility or expand an existing store, learn more about self-storage feasibility studies.

The purpose of the study is to provide you with an independent, data-driven assessment so you can make that decision with better information. We don't make the investment decision for you, but we bring together the market, operational, and financial findings to highlight the key risks, opportunities, and considerations surrounding the acquisition. In some cases, the findings may support moving forward. In others, they may help you negotiate better terms or determine that the opportunity isn't the right fit.