The Simple Checklist That Got Me My First Storage Deal

Most investors struggle to buy their first self-storage facility because they don’t have clarity on what to look for. In this video, I break down the exact Storage Avatar (aka Buy Box) I used to land my very first 340-unit facility — even without using my own money.

📞 Want help buying your first facility? Book a call here: https://www.StorageWins.com/apply

You'll discover:

The markets I target (and avoid)
What facility size makes the most sense (and why)
How I filter deals using population, income, and supply data
Why clarity attracts deals (from brokers, sellers, and investors)

📥 Download my free Storage Avatar Checklist here (link also to pinned comment): https://form.typeform.com/to/PyfyCLtN

🛠️ Tools Mentioned:

✅ TrackIQ (for supply & building pipeline): Get 50% off with my affiliate link - https://tractiq.com/pardo

✅ Census Data: https://www.census.gov/

🔔 Subscribe for more storage investing content:    / alexpardo  

More videos on how to buy Storage (without using your money):
   • Legal Way To Buy Storage Using None of You...  
   • No Money, No Experience… & She Closed a St...  
   • From $0 to $5.1M: My No-Money-Down Storage...  

🏢 How To Buy Your First Storage Facility Playlist:
   • How to Buy Your First Storage Facility  

Connect with Alex on Instagram:   / alexpardo25  

📝 Summary

Alex Pardo reveals the exact checklist that helped him land his first self-storage facility. He breaks down the Storage Avatar he uses to filter deals, find the right markets, and avoid rookie mistakes — including how he bought his first 340-unit facility in a low-income, high-crime area and still made it work. If you're overwhelmed, unsure where to start, or just tired of chasing deals that don’t fit, this video will give you the clarity you need to find (and fund) your first storage facility.

⏱️ YouTube Chapters (Timestamps)

00:00 - Two Types of Storage Investors
00:33 - The Power of a Personal Deal Filter
01:09 - Why This Checklist Got Me My First Deal
01:46 - What is a Storage Avatar / Buy Box?
02:43 - Targeting the Right Facility Type
03:20 - Secondary vs Tertiary Markets Explained
04:52 - Population & Median Income Guidelines
06:12 - Avoiding REIT Competition
07:21 - Poorly Managed = Opportunity
08:38 - Square Foot Per Capita (Supply Index)
10:36 - Watch for New Storage Being Built
12:02 - Does Size Matter? Yes (Here’s Why)
14:20 - Focus Expands Results
16:04 - Clarifying Your Investment Goals
17:00 - Low CapEx Preference Explained
18:00 - Room for Expansion: What to Look For
18:34 - Location Rules (And Mistakes I Made)
21:14 - Remote Ownership & Travel Myths
22:34 - How I Think About Price (It’s Not a Filter)
23:45 - My “Light” Value-Add Strategy
25:34 - Evaluating In-Place vs Potential Revenue
26:56 - Direct to Owner vs Broker Deals
27:34 - The Real Reason This Checklist Matters
28:50 - How I Got My First Deal From My Network
30:05 - Don’t Box Yourself In
31:07 - BONUS: Deal Killers to Watch Out For
33:28 - Your Next Steps (Get the Free Checklist)

#SelfStorageInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #PassiveIncome #StorageWins #AlexPardo #StorageDeals #BuyStorageFacility #ValueAddStorage