Jeff Greenberger, a nationally recognized self-storage attorney and founder of Late2Lien, joins Matt Engfer to explain why lien enforcement isn’t dangerous—but getting it wrong absolutely is.

With more than 30 years of experience serving the self-storage industry, Jeff walks through the real legal risks operators face when notices, timelines, disclosures, or documentation aren’t handled precisely. From evolving state statutes and California’s increasingly complex disclosure requirements to tenant tactics pulled straight from Reddit, this episode exposes how small operational missteps can quickly turn into lawsuits.

Jeff also shares why “compliance is king,” how technology can remove human error from the lien process, and how Late2Lien was built to take responsibility off managers’ plates while protecting owners from liability. The conversation blends legal insight, real-world examples, and practical guidance that every operator—large or small—can apply immediately.

Key Takeaways:

(0:00) Intro

(1:47) Jeff's story

(4:56) Shaping the legal landscape of self-storage

(7:52) Current legal issues Jeff’s clients are facing

(11:12) Making sure clients are limiting risk and exposure to litigation

(12:24) CA & PA Bills impacting rates and lien statutes

(19:46) Reddit threads creating risk for self-storage owners: Credit Cards

(22:31) Reddit threads about change of address scams

(26:14) How does Late2Lien work?

(33:28) Late2Lien helps avoid the sale

(34:54) How Cubby and Late2Lien work together

Resources Mentioned:

Late2Lien | Website

https://www.late2lien.com

Jeff Greenberger | Self Storage Law

https://www.selfstoragelegal.com/

Cubby | Website

https://www.cubbystorage.com

Thank you for listening to “Students of Storage.” Be sure to leave us a 5-star review and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

#SelfStorage #SelfStorageLaw #StudentsOfStorage

Kale Leavitt, CEO of StorageReach, joins Matt Engfer to break down why Google Reviews have become one of the most powerful—and most misunderstood—drivers of growth in self-storage.

Drawing on nearly a decade of experience in storage marketing, Kale explains how reviews impact far more than reputation. From organic rankings and paid search performance to leasing velocity and customer trust, reviews now touch every part of the renter’s decision-making process. He shares what he learned while helping grow SEO services from zero to nearly 1,500 facilities, and how those lessons led to building StorageReach as a review-first platform designed specifically for self storage.

In this episode, Kale walks through the mechanics behind quality, quantity, and consistency in review generation, why “spikes” hurt more than they help, and how automation allows operators to generate steady reviews without overwhelming tenants. The result is a practical, system-based approach to turning reviews into measurable business performance.

Key Takeaways:

(0:00) Intro

(1:34) Kale's story

(4:16) The beginning and growth of StorageReach

(7:11) Marketing lessons learned from the early days

(9:00) The MVP of StorageReach and getting Google reviews

(11:41) Checking the boxes of getting reviews and seeing results

(14:44) Effective ways to get positive review and avoid negative reviews

(19:56) Working alongside Google

(22:21) What’s next for StorageReach

Resources Mentioned:

Kale Leavitt | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kale-leavitt-9063488b/

StorageReach | Website

https://storagereach.com

Cubby | Website

https://www.cubbystorage.com

Thank you for listening to “Students of Storage.” Be sure to leave us a 5-star review and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.



#SelfStorageReviews #StorageMarketing #StudentsOfStorage

Magen Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Atomic Storage Group, joins Matt Engfer to share how disciplined execution, strong fundamentals, and a people-first mindset have fueled one of the fastest-growing third-party management companies in self storage.

Magen walks through her unconventional path into the industry—from accounting and consulting to development and ultimately building Atomic Storage Group into a national platform. She explains why marketing is often the first indicator of operational health, which metrics truly matter in a property audit, and how consistent execution across marketing, operations, and customer experience creates long-term success.

Rather than chasing shortcuts or shiny tools, this episode reinforces a simple truth: doing the basics well, every day, at scale is what separates average operators from great ones.

Key Takeaways:

(0:00) Intro

(3:13) Magen's story

(7:14) The metrics that matter in a property audit

(9:23) How do you compete in today's market

(10:18) Managing all aspects of the facility

(12:37) Doing it well everyday - it's all about execution

(15:34) Building an effective team

(18:07) A diverse group of managed properties

(19:16) The secret is, there is no secret - hard work and a great team make the difference

(20:56) The growth and future of Atomic Storage Group and self storage

(25:46) What's ahead for Cubby in 2026

Resources Mentioned:

Magen Smith | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/magensmithcpa

Atomic Storage Group | Website

https://atomicstoragegroup.com

Cubby | Website

https://www.cubbystorage.com

Thank you for listening to “Students of Storage.” Be sure to leave us a 5-star review and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

#SelfStorageManagement #StorageMarketing #StudentsOfStorage