#124 - The Hidden Formula Behind Profitable Self-Storage with Jacob Vanderslice

Send us Fan MailWhat actually makes money in self-storage, and why do smart people still get it wrong? In this episode, we sit down with Jacob Vanderslice, co-founder and principal at VanWest Partners, for an honest, operator-first conversation about how these businesses really work. Jacob shares how pricing and revenue decisions happen day to day, why his team walked away from REIT management to run everything in-house, and how small choices add up to real NOI growth. We also talk about real risks investors should pay attention to right now, including new supply, local market pressure, and changes in how often people move. The big takeaway is simple. Strong results come from discipline, fast response, and caring deeply about operations.Jacob Vanderslice is a seasoned real estate investor and co-founder of VanWest Partners, a Denver-based investment firm that focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing value-add self-storage facilities across the U.S. He began investing in real estate in 2005 and now leads VanWest’s Investor Relations effort, where he is known for high transparency in reporting and strong partner relationships. Under his leadership, the firm has deployed hundreds of millions in capital into self-storage and other real estate assets, including significant residential acquisitions earlier in his career. Before real estate, Jacob served as a professional firefighter and arson investigator in Colorado. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Craig Hospital, which specializes in neurorehabilitation and research. Outside work, he enjoys aviation, skiing, hiking, and spending time with his wife and two sons.Connect with JacobWebsite: https://www.vanwestpartners.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-vanderslice-02905b16b/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VanWestPartners/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanwest_partners/?hl=enCompany LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vanwest-partners/Episode highlights:(0:00) Intro(2:12) Jacob’s journey into real estate and his family life(5:28) Why self-storage became the long-term focus(9:46) Revenue management, data, and month-to-month pricing(17:21) The hard lesson that led away from REIT property management(20:41) Why controlling operations changes performance(30:45) Where self-storage fits in today’s risk landscape(35:24) Who self-storage customers really are and why they stay(46:01) Why taking calculated risk is the only way to learn(50:07) Outro—Share this with your tech friends who you think would benefit from learning about passive income and alternative real estate investments. For more resources and guides, check these out:Crack the Code https://www.aritacapital.com/crack-the-code/Investor 101 https://www.aritacapital.com/investor-101-resource/Due Diligence Resource https://www.aritacapital.com/dd-checklist-resource/If you want to learn more, reach out at:Email: [email protected]:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/aritasteven/IG:  https://www.instagram.com/the.real.arita