Joe Downs explains how self-storage operators can catch tenants about to leave before they go. Watch for 60+ days without facility access, then call to check in. Follow up within 48 hours after resolving complaints to confirm they're actually satisfied.
Chapters
The at-risk tenant process is the proactive half of retention. One-call resolution handles the tenants who reach out. The at-risk process finds the tenants who are considering leaving without saying anything. Look for the following situations. No access, no facility access in 60 or more days. This is the most reliable leading indicator of churn risk. A tenant who hasn't been to the facility in 2 months is either no longer using their vehicle Or is considering their storage options. A call framed as a check-in, not a collections call, often surfaces a concern that can be addressed before it becomes a move-out. Recent unresolved complaint. A complaint that was technically resolved but left the tenant feeling unsatisfied. That's a churn risk that the data won't show. Follow up within 48 hours of any complaint resolution to confirm the tenant is satisfied.