Any SS owners have storage units on property?

[Bethel Car Wash]

Does anyone have storage units on their car wash lot?
I have a small lot 75' x 100' in the back of my 3 bay self serve wash. I thought of putting a few small storage units back there. I probably couldn't get many on a lot that small but $1000, - $1200, a month could mean better upgrades to the wash. The space would be tight and the traffic probably wouldn't effect the wash that much. I also thought of adding concrete pads and canopies for drying and detailing areas instead?
What are your thoughts and or experiences?
I haven't visited the storage unit section on the forum yet. That might be my next move for ideas.
Tim

 

[MEP001]

I would think storage units would make you more money than concrete pads and canopies, especially since you aren't in Texas.

 

[2Biz]

How many units can you get on a 75x100 lot? The larger units back here go for $70 a month. I'm guessing the size for the larger unit is about 16x30? Will the 75x100 also include access or is this the area just for the building?

 

[MEP001]

I considered some storage on property behind the wash, but city restrictions made it where it would have been very hard to make profitable. With parking I had room to go about 75 x 100 and planned on three stories. With many of them planned as small as closets, there would have been a lot of units.

 

[Bethel Car Wash]

I'm not sure how many I could actually get on site. A storage unit designer would know how to get the most out of the space. A 10 x 20 unit here is $97.+ tax and a 10 x 30 unit is $140.00 + tax. if I put 8 10x30 units straight across with nothing else it's $1,120. a month. If configured correctly there would be room for more. That would pay the water and electric bill for me and actually have a profit for a change. I would have to relocate my two vacuums. I just don't have the up front cash to make that move yet.

 

[MEP001]

Climate-controlled is the way to go around here. Build costs are only about 15% more, electric runs about $200 a month in the summer, and you can get 50% more for rent.

 

[Bethel Car Wash]

Climate-controlled is the way to go around here. Build costs are only about 15% more, electric runs about $200 a month in the summer, and you can get 50% more for rent.

Around here? I'm East of Cincinnati, Ohio. Where are you MEP001?

 

[MEP001]

Central Texas.

 

[MudMoney]

I bought 20 foot sea cans that were single use,look like new.My city codes allowed the units and are exempt from property taxes.

 

[Bethel Car Wash]

I bought 20 foot sea cans that were single use,look like new.My city codes allowed the units and are exempt from property taxes.

And you're renting them out? What's a 20 footer go for? Rent wise. They have adds all over my area selling them.

 

[MudMoney]

Rent on a 20footer is $114 a month.

 

[Brad0505]

I currently own 122 self storage units and am looking at selling it and buy several ss car washes in the area

 

[mjwalsh]

Brad0505,

Since you have experience with both, I wonder how some operators would come out cost-wise if they felt a need to convert the bays into self storage units. That is if the ss car washes unexpectedly did not work out for whatever reason.

 

[mjwalsh]

I bought 20 foot sea cans that were single use,look like new.My city codes allowed the units and are exempt from property taxes.

Just to give you a heads up, in our capitol city of neighboring north dakota ... bismarck ... the city commission responded to a whole bunch of complaints about shipping containers used as storage & now there are way fewer around our area. I don't know all the details & the full extent but the complainers appeared to eventually get their wishes.