Building a Real Estate Legacy with Daniel Gates

Operations, Culture & Chicken Units | Jessie Lamb

This week on No Vacancy, we sit down with Jessie Lamb, one of the most insightful voices in self storage operations and technology today. From HR and call centers to multi-site operations and tech innovation, Jessie breaks down the operational side of self storage that most people never think about… but directly impacts performance every single day. We dive into: * Why maintenance and asset management are often the most overlooked part of the business * How operators can scale smarter with better systems and workflows * The challenges of implementing new technology and getting teams bought in * Why company culture is everything in operations * The future of hub-and-spoke and remotely managed facilities * And of course… the unbelievable story of a storage unit filled with hundreds of chickens 🐔 As always, the conversation gets real, unfiltered, and occasionally off the rails — including lathes, baseball bats, vinyl records, and Celsius addictions. If you’re in self storage, operations, or leadership, this episode is packed with practical insights and a lot of laughs along the way.  🎧 Listen now on No Vacancy.

Culture, Marketing, and the Truth About Winning | Gary Vaynerchuk

In this episode of No Vacancy, we sit down with Gary Vaynerchuk for a raw, honest conversation about culture, leadership, and the reality of building a business that actually lasts.  We dig into what that actually means in the real world: *  Why most leaders say they care about culture, but don’t live it  *  The truth about empathy in leadership (and whether it can be taught)  *  Why tolerating one toxic employee can quietly destroy an entire company  *  The balance between accountability and compassion *  And why playing the long game with people almost always wins, even when it’s harder in the moment  Gary also opens up about his personal mindset, the pursuit of massive goals (yes, including owning the New York Jets), and why the journey, not just the outcome, is what drives real fulfillment. As always, we keep it No Vacancy style, real talk, a few laughs, and a conversation that goes deeper than the typical business playbook. If you’re in self storage, or any business where it’s easy to blend in, this one is a must-listen.

Building a Real Estate Legacy with Daniel Gates

In this episode of No Vacancy, the crew sits down with Daniel Gates of Gates Realty, engineer, broker, and third-generation operator, to talk about what it really takes to build and sustain a family real estate business for over 70 years. From humble beginnings in post-WWII New Jersey to developing a thriving portfolio of small-bay warehouses and self storage facilities, Dan shares how Gates Realty evolved from maritime construction into a stable, cash-flow-driven real estate operation. The conversation dives into: *  Why small-bay and multi-tenant assets outperform in uncertain markets  *  The importance of low leverage and long-term thinking *  How to evaluate land, zoning, and deal feasibility  *  The growing opportunity in flex space and co-warehousing *  And what it really means to “build homes for small businesses” Plus, the guys keep it true to form with some laughs, a lightning round, and a few unexpected tangents (yes… wigs and karate boards included).

Guardrails, Growth & Grocery Store Lessons for Self Storage

In this episode of No Vacancy, the crew dives into self-storage tech, without losing sight of the fundamentals that actually drive growth. From AI and automation to customer service empowerment, response time, and why “old school” service still wins. Along the way, they compare storage to grocery stores, telecom companies, and even self-checkout chaos, proving that sometimes the biggest competitive edge isn’t more tech… it’s better people.

Self Storage Trends for 2026: Rent-Up Strategies, Smart Locks, Website Upgrades & Rate Increase Backlash

It’s a classic No Vacancy roundtable with Andrew, Brian, and Chris—kicking off with some off-the-rails podcast and bedtime-story chaos, then getting into what really matters for operators heading into 2026. The guys break down why 2026 looks like a strong year for rent-ups, what’s changing with smart lock technology (and why it’s a big operational win), and how Access is thinking about faster websites, smoother online rentals, and even e-commerce add-ons. They also dig into what renters are saying online, especially the Reddit threads and why transparency and trust are still the best long-term revenue strategy. Plus: lawn-mowing robots, gravel parking hacks, and an ice maker that refuses to stay quiet.