How how you all handled setting up a new GMB page with a facility that already has one (but not good reviews) and we are rebranding? Do we need existing owners to remove their GMB page first?

Hi @Dave DeMink and everyone . I’m getting some conflicting advice and would really appreciate insight from those of you who have actually closed on a self-storage facility. I’m hearing two different approaches: One side says to identify a deal, complete enough initial underwriting to determine that it fits your criteria, submit the LOI, get it accepted, and then begin raising or securing the capital. The other side says to establish your capital structure and investor base first, whether through a fund or another vehicle, and then aggressively pursue deals. The reasoning is that once an LOI is accepted, the clock starts. Due diligence, financing, legal, inspections, and everything else begin moving quickly, and that may not be the ideal time to also start figuring out where the equity is coming from. As a longtime business owner, the idea of committing to a transaction before having a clear path to the capital feels somewhat backwards to me. At the same time, I understand that investors generally want to see an actual opportunity before committing capital. For those of you who have successfully closed self-storage acquisitions, how did you approach this on your first few deals? Did you build the investor relationships and capital pipeline first, find the deal first, or develop both simultaneously? I’m especially interested in what worked in the real world, not just what works on paper. Thank you. I appreciate the insight.

Not on LoopNet. Not on Crexi. The deals with real margin almost always come from off-market sourcing — direct mail, cold calls, driving for dollars, or a broker who calls you first because they trust you'll actually close. I've bought several of my 8 facilities through channels like these, and the pattern is always the same: consistent outreach across multiple channels beats waiting for something to hit your inbox. If you want to see how I approach broker relationships specifically, I broke the whole thing down here: https://youtu.be/pdQMvZhvSJA. Brokers are the fastest lever for most first-time buyers because one good relationship can put you at the front of the line on deals nobody else sees. Here's the soft ask. If you're serious about finding your first deal and want a second set of eyes on your sourcing plan, hop on a clarity call with me. We'll look at where your deal flow is leaking and what channel makes the most sense for your market. If you'd rather self-study first, grab the Blueprint here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wkUwltCW9wk7LbsoddYwTfTFn5UgMg2x/view?usp=sharing — it walks through the same system I use. Which sourcing channel are you leaning into this week — brokers, mail, or cold calls? Dave "First Call, Best Deal" DeMink