Argus Self Storage Advisors has crossed an exciting milestone for its third-party management platform, Argus Professional Storage Management (APSM). On September 24, 2025, SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc., a premier owner and operator of self-storage facilities in the U.S. and Canada, signed a contribution agreement with APSM to combine its management platform with SmartStop.
APSM, founded in 2012, has grown to become the sixth-largest and second-largest independent third-party management company in the nation, managing 227 stores across 26 states. Together with SmartStop, the combined platform will own or manage over 460 self-storage properties across North America.
In this game-changing transaction for the self-storage industry, SmartStop’s entrepreneurial approach, robust technology and multiple partnership options—including SmartStop branded, SmartStop Legacy and full Private Label—will allow APSM’s clients to continue enjoying the flexibility and independence they value, while gaining access to an industry-leading platform that drives operational efficiency, dynamic pricing and comprehensive marketing support.
By joining forces, APSM and SmartStop are creating an entrepreneurial-minded, industry-leading operating platform in self-storage designed to help storage owners thrive in today’s competitive marketplace. While this combination is an exciting step forward for APSM, it is important to emphasize what this transaction does not change: Argus Self Storage Advisors remains 100% independent and is not affected by the merger between APSM and SmartStop.
The brokerage firm Argus Self Storage Advisors continues to operate under its own leadership and vision, and its team members have never been more energized about the 
future. Over the past year alone, Argus Self Storage Advisors has enjoyed a 26% increase in the number of closed transactions and a 47% increase in total volume, a testament to the strength of our network, quality of its brokers and the trust clients place in them.
As market conditions continue to evolve with cap rates stabilizing across all primary, secondary, and tertiary markets, and with the 10-year Treasury hovering around 4%, the Argus brokerage team is uniquely positioned to advise owners on how to navigate these shifting dynamics. Whether it’s understanding the “right to quality” that is driving investors toward major-market, Class A deals or leveraging our national reach and local expertise to unlock value in secondary and tertiary markets, Argus Self Storage Advisors remains a trusted partner for owners seeking to maximize the value of their self-storage investments.
The firm prides itself on delivering unbiased advice, customized marketing strategies and personal attention to each client. It draws on three decades of self-storage brokerage experience, a robust national network and deep market knowledge to craft solutions tailored to each owner’s goals.
