Episode Details

I talk with Kevin Bledsoe, President of The Bledsoe Storage Group at Marcus & Millichap, about his transition from operations to brokerage and his outlook on the 2026 self-storage market.

Kevin's story is one of hard work, he started by installing gate controllers and sweeping storage units before becoming a Director of Operations for major firms like Simply Self Storage. This deep operational knowledge allows him to look at a P&L and instantly identify $500,000 opportunities that sellers overlook.

What You'll Hear:

• The Operational Edge: Kevin explains how his experience managing over 100 properties gives him an advantage in providing immediate, value-add advice to sellers.

• Betting on Himself: He shares the entrepreneurial mindset, inspired by mentors like John Gilliland and Alyssa Quill, that pushed him to leave his secure job and start his own brokerage firm during a difficult market period.

• The Myth of the Mom & Pop: Kevin believes that while opportunities in top markets are "dwindling," 25%–35% of the assets he values are still great deals for regional investors that major REITs will never acquire.

• 2026 Forecast: Kevin is bullish, forecasting that continued interest rate drops will spur transaction velocity and make 2026 a much better year for the self-storage market.

Connect with Thaddeus Campbell:

• Email: thaddeus@s3.partners

• Website: https://s3.partners/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaddeuscampbell

Connect with Kevin Bledsoe:

• Email: kevin.bledsoe@marcusmillichap.com

• Direct: (215) 531-7113 | Office: (215) 531-7000

This episode was brought to you by:

https://www.kiwiconstruction.com