Derek and guest Jacob Vanderslice dive deep into the mindset and mechanics behind building a durable real-estate business — specifically self-storage. Jacob shares how he went from fighting fires to building a multi-state storage empire by surviving market cycles, raising capital responsibly, and developing systems that scale.
They discuss the current market environment, rising rates, cracks in the economy, deal flow challenges, overpriced assets, and investor fear. Jacob explains why transparency and delivering bad news quickly is critical when managing investor capital, and why operational excellence matters more now than ever.
The conversation also covers sourcing off-market deals, building long-term investor trust, managing a large operations team, navigating overhead, and avoiding the pitfalls that wipe out rookies. The episode ends with timeless advice: take action, take smart risks, and don’t wait for the perfect deal.
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📘 Overview
In this episode, Derek sits down with self-storage powerhouse Jacob Vanderslice, who went from flipping houses in the mid-2000s to owning 41 self-storage facilities, 21,000 units, and 3.5M+ sq ft across 15 states.
Jacob breaks down:
• How he survived multiple market cycles
• Why self-storage is still strong despite economic uncertainty
• How to raise capital the right way
• What investors are doing wrong in today’s market
• Why transparency and discipline matter now more than ever
This is a straight-talking conversation packed with real-world lessons on scaling, managing risk, surviving downturns, and building a durable real-estate business.
⭐ Key Takeaways
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Cycles Create Wealth — Experienced investors make their biggest gains during market dislocations, not booms.
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Self-Storage Thrives on Mobility — Demand is tied to people moving. As movement returns, storage demand will rise.
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The Biggest Issue in 2024–2025: Debt — Rising rates, floating loans, and debt maturities are crushing poorly structured deals.
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Transparency Wins Investors — Deliver bad news faster than good news. Investors value honesty over perfection.
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Don’t Force Deals — In tight markets, the winners are the ones who wait for great deals, not “make the numbers work.”
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Operational Excellence Matters — In today’s environment, execution and downside protection matter more than projections.
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Take Action — The worst thing a new investor can do is nothing. There’s no perfect deal, only well-structured ones.
📌 Relevant Topics Discussed
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Evolution from flips → development → commercial → self-storage
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Market cycles, interest rates, and macro pressures
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Investor relations, reporting, capital raising challenges
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Overpaying, rookie mistakes, and “selling the dream” deals
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Operational headaches (break-ins, staff, overhead, U-Haul damages)
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Sustainable business building vs. chasing scale
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Finding off-market deals vs. broker relationships
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Structuring investor equity, preferred returns, and K-1 benefits
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Risk management and avoiding unsustainable models
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Why action beats perfection for new investors
🎧 Why You Should Listen
This episode is for you if:
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You’re an investor who wants to survive — and thrive — in a shifting market.
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You want to understand the real economics behind self-storage.
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You’re raising capital (or want to) and need to understand what LPs fear most right now.
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You’ve lost deals, money, momentum, or confidence — and want a roadmap forward.
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You want unfiltered truth from two investors who have been through the fire and came out stronger.
Important Links:
About Jacob VanderSlice
Jacob is the co-founder of VanWest Partners and a seasoned real estate investor since 2005. He oversees the creation of self-storage investment portfolios and leads the Investor Relations team, known for its exceptional stewardship and transparency. Jacob is dedicated to maintaining long-term relationships with investment partners, with many renewing commitments over the years.
Under his leadership, VanWest has deployed over $375 million in capital into value-add self-storage facilities across the U.S. and acquired more than 1,000 residential properties. He also led a significant institutional partnership resulting in nearly 400 residential acquisitions between 2013 and 2014. Jacob designed and leads VanWest’s Investor Relations platform, recognized for its industry-leading investor reporting, reflecting his commitment to transparency and accountability. Before his real estate career, Jacob served as a firefighter and arson investigator in Colorado.
He continues his community service on the Board of Directors for Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, a leading facility for neurorehabilitation and research specializing in spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. Outside work, Jacob enjoys aviation, skiing, hiking, and spending time with his wife and two young sons.