Joe DownsCEO & Co-Founder, Belrose Storage Group. Founder, Storage Moguls.

Seasonality the trap most new operators miss

1 May 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief advisory video, the speaker highlights a common pitfall for new boat and RV storage operators: underestimating the intense, compressed seasonal demand cycles. Unlike self‑storage, boat/RV storage experiences a spring move‑out surge (March‑May) and a fall move‑in surge (September‑October), each generating a sharp spike in volume. Operators must be not only theoretically available but fully operationally ready during these windows. The speaker warns against trying to manage a facility remotely—especially from another state—during the fall rush, citing real‑world failures as evidence that hands‑on, on‑site management is essential for success.

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though. The seasonal piece is where most new operators get caught off guard. This isn't like self-storage where demand is relatively flat. You have a spring move-out window, March through May, where tenants want their boats and RVs out, and a fall move-in wave, September through October, where they're coming back. Both windows are compressed. Both generate volume. Whoever is managing this facility needs to be ready for both, not just available in theory, but operationally ready. I've seen operators try to self-manage boat and RV storage facilities from 2 states away during a fall rush. It did not go well.