Go Store It of Wylie, Texas, Scores TSN Facility of the Month Award for Class A Features and Customer Service

Dallas Workshop attendees to experience it for themselves, September 26

By Drew Whitney

Always on the hunt for exceptional RV and boat storage sites, Toy Storage Nation (TSN) discovered a sweet gem deep in the heart of Texas that checks all the boxes–earning Go Store It of Wylie the TSN Facility of the Month Award. It also drew the attention of the TSN Workshop organizers, who have arranged to take all attendees at the upcoming RV & Boat Storage Workshop, in Dallas on September 26, for a site tour to experience all that a Class A site offers.

Constructed in 2012 and expanded in 2019, the hybrid facility comprises 524 units (348 self-storage units and 176 parking spaces) across 124,165 square feet. To qualify for Class A status, defined by TSN, the facility features a full perimeter fence, gated entry, enclosed high-bay private garages, canopy-covered parking and paved surfaces. In addition, Go Store It of Wylie brandishes LED security lighting, Bluetooth gate access and power in select spaces. The security system is monitored live after hours, for an added layer of protection, and customers also have access to on-call, two-way video support from the office during extended service hours.

The property was scooped up by the Go Store It brand in 2020, a move that continues to prove fruitful. Go Store It is a Madison Capital Group Holdings Company that owns BlueGate, which is currently a leading developer and operator of high-end RV and boat storage. BlueGate recently announced a $250-million-joint venture with GEM Realty Capital to accelerate acquisitions and development nationwide. 

“The partnership reinforces BlueGate’s mission to become the nation’s No. 1 leading owner/operator of premium Class A boat and RV storage facilities in high-demand markets. We are proud to manage BlueGate’s locations to support this growth,” says Beau Agnello, COO of Go Store It. 

With more than 200 locations in 26 states, Go Store It is now one of the largest privately held storage operators in the United States. “As owners, operators and developers, we focus on what directly impacts performance and returns,” explains Agnello. “Beyond our owned portfolio, we are rapidly expanding our third-party management platform for both self-storage and recreational storage. Our white-label management model allows owners to retain their brand while benefiting from our scale, systems and track record of outperforming public and private peers.”

Clearly, the strategies are working. Despite strong competition with 10 vehicle storage facilities and 17 hybrid facilities within a 5-mile radius, the site is currently 87% occupied and, according to Agnello, new customer inquiries have shot up 53.2% year over year in the last few months, giving promise to strong growth ahead. 

It doesn’t hurt that the Wylie facility is in a major recreational market with two lakes–Lavon Lake and Lake Ray Hubbard–attracting RV and boating enthusiasts year round. It also helps that it’s managed by one of the largest most successful management companies that self-manages all its locations. 

Topping it off, Go Storage It depends on a robust marketing team targeting high-intent customers actively searching for storage. “We use local geofencing and also serve ads in out-of-market areas to capture demand from seasonal and traveling customers like snowbirds,” Agnello adds.

Being fully transparent, he acknowledges that a site’s location and level of competition should never be overlooked during the feasibility process when developing a self-storage and/or RV and boat storage facility. Adding the Wylie facility into the portfolio was pretty much a no-brainer. “Demand was outpacing supply,” he says. Plus, “the hybrid model of self-storage and vehicle parking diversifies income streams and provides a high stabilized occupancy throughout the year.”

Because the property was an acquisition and the unit mix was already set in stone, so to speak, new management had no control over what sizes to offer. So even though the facility is gainfully occupied, if Agnello has learned anything from the Go Store It, Wylie, it’s that the larger spaces–both covered and uncovered–perform especially well at this spot, with 35-foot and larger units yielding higher occupancies and achieving a stronger average rent per foot than smaller spaces.

“If I could wave a magic wand, I would add more of the 42 to 47 feet long covered ones that are the best performers.” says Agnello. Actually, though, “on the storage side, we are currently 94% full, so the reality is that we could take more of everything!

“We see renters who store year round because of HOA restrictions, and others who use the facility seasonally around lake access,” he adds. 

Lastly, the most important message of all for Agnello (as well as all toy storage developers and investors) should be heard coast to coast: “Operating this property has shown us how strong demand actually is for high-quality RV and boat storage.”

To learn more about Go Store It, visit here.

Toy Storage Nation