Advice on offering storage units for rent
Hey, looking for some opinions/input on the ins and outs of renting storage units... I'm looking at buying a house that is located in my hometown. It has a 120x40 pole shed that was built in the 1970s as a 15 unit ministorage. The last owner took all the walls out and filled it with junk (hoarder).. The contents are being auctioned and then the house.. I'm thinking that if I were to buy the house, I'd probably put walls back in at least part of the building and offer 6-10 units for rent. Wondering if anyone has offered this and how much of a nightmare it is to offer storage units for rent? Also, as an IT/Security guy, I was thinking that it'd be a cool option to put surveillance cams in each unit with a centralized NVR.. Does anyone think that advertising 24hr surveillance of peoples "stuff" would be good for additional rent money?

As a side note, I already own an LLC small business that I would run this through..
[{"id": "dyn63a5", "text": "I worked for a few self-storage clients before the municipalities became too hostile to the use and made it hell to get one of these deals done. My first thought is while it may have been permitted in the 1970s, it is very unlikely your residential zoning will permit you to run a self-storage for rent use out of your backyard. I've seen municipalities heavily restrict where self-storage uses can locate over the past three years and would be surprised if you can get past that step.\n\nIf zoning is not an issue, you need to look a few main items:\n- The clientele you will attract might not be the people you want in your backyard. Most well-off users will stick with the established, commercial storage facilities around, rather then using a dilapidated facility in someone's backyard. This will leave you mainly renting to those that cannot afford one of the above-mentioned facilities and potentially those who do not wish to use those facilities due to rules in place there (meaning potential for illegal/dirty storage).\n- The new standard in commercial storage is to allow the tenants access as much as possible, with many of the newer facilities in my area offering 24-hour service. Even if you do not offer 24-hour service, are you going to want to be available to supervise those going into your backyard during normal business hours? Will the users just go in unattended?\n- Is the return for the relatively small amount of storage units you can lease going to be worth the headaches? An old, 1970's era structure in someone's backyard makes me think fairly low rents will be in order. Have you examined your competition, seen the rates they are achieving, and accounted for them?\n- How will adjacent neighbors feel about this? Even if the use is permitted, a few complaints from neighbors and you can still be looking at a big headache.\n\nOverall, I'm not sure the idea would be worth pursuing, but I bet a quick call to your municipalities planning and zoning department will likely shut this down. In the event you do go for it, I'd say your best bet is to rent the units strictly to neighbors.", "replies": [{"id": "dynmtv1", "text": "I second what this guy said. 15 units is nothing, and the rents collected wouldnt be sufficient to make it worth it. ", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "dynxozq", "text": "these are most of my thoughts I was going to post.  \n\nFolks who want secure monitored 24/7 storage don't want it in someones back yard.  They want it in a business park with 24/7 security and fencing etc.  They don't care much about cost either, it will be corporations where the person who picks it isn't paying for it, but if something happens it is their job on the line.  They also may need to take semi's/large trucks in and out on occasion.  I'm not sure how that works with your property, but is something to think about.  \n\nI also agree the city is probably going to hate this for a variety of reasons.  I also wonder how up to code this all is......  That may be a large can of worms not worth opening.  \n\nThe people who will want something like this will be people close by who either want  a place to work on the cars or store a boat, xmas decorations etc.  Expect to wake up to Jed replacing the transmission on his 1985 mustang and various car fluids all over the floor.  You also get to chase these people down every month for their rent.  What fun.  \n\nTalk to your insurance too, I imagine that isn't going to be the easiest rider to get to cover this.  \n\nAs per a positive suggestion :) talk to some local churches and schools.  If you have local community theatres those too.  \n\nThose people always need storage space for stuff like festivals, plays, etc where they take shit out once a year then have to store it.  Just donate it and take a tax write off.  If you have people in and out all the time your neighbors are going to complain and code is going to get up your ass about zoning and whatever else you aren't legal on here, which is probably a lot.  If the school puts crap for their drama department there and comes and goes 2-3 times a year for an hour or two each it is unlikely anyone is going to fuck with you.\n\n\n\n", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "dyobujl", "text": "Maybe he lives in Houston and doesn't have to worry about this", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dyp1iu1", "text": "I would look into it. It's easy revenue. In my area a small unit gets better 85-110$/month. 6 units @ $100 month = $7200/yr \n\nWorth looking into it.\n\nIt's all depends on your area, what it looks like, what you can make it look like etc.\n\nAs an person that used to sell CCTV and worked in IT many years and many other business. Do not use that as a selling factor. That is for your own protection of your property. You will only open your self up for liability. It's not worth the headache. I've seen plenty of smaller units like you describe, it's a good idea if you can. \n\nSearch what other places are charging and go cheaper. If you have a unit big enough for vehicle, market it that way.\n\n", "replies": [{"id": "dyp2zcb", "text": "Good info on not advertising the cameras...\n\nYes, these are big enough for vehicles.. The guy that lived in the house for years had a bunch of classic cars stored in it.", "replies": [{"id": "dyp3aa9", "text": "RV storage is 100-200$ month and not normally sketchy people and long term. If it fits. It sits.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "e5u7hbw", "text": "Buying a storage SAN on rent facility may be a ton more durable than you're thinking that - significantly if you would like to form cash with it. Over the years, there ar some basic traits that separate winning facilities from losers. which order is hard to interrupt.Over the years, numerous kinds of business concepts have sprung up. a number of them were well dead and have become a success whereas others weren't able to raise a requirement and so, nonexistent into oblivion. One concept has become popular for all the proper reasons is transportable storage units.\n\n[http://www.racwg.com/storage-devices/](http://www.racwg.com/storage-devices/)", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]