Self-Storage, a horror movie from Woodhaven Production Co. and Verdi Productions, will be available to viewers this summer through Universal Pictures international video-on-demand (VOD) platform. The production companies VOD distribution agreement also includes the film Infected, which will be available May 7. Self-Storage is expected to be released to theaters in March and distributed through VOD beginning July 2.

VOD will make both films accessible to more than 100 million homes. Producer Chad A. Verdi called the deal a filmmakers dream come true.

The rights to both films were sold to Screen Media Films of New York in October as part of a four-picture deal.

Self-Storage is a thriller starring Eric Roberts, Jonathan Silverman and Michael Berryman. It was directed by lead actor Tom DeNucci and shot in East Greenwich, R.I. DeNucci plays Jake, a night watchman at a highly secured self-storage facility. Jakes friends are home from college and looking to party, so he invites them to his work to indulge in a night of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. However, the characters stumble upon a covert black-market operation and find themselves trapped in an evening of pure terror.

Eliza Roberts and professional wrestlers Tommy Dreamer and Thea Trinidad also appear in the film.

Heritage Self Storage in Town of Union, N.Y., has been closed by municipal officials for a collapsing ceiling, black mold and other safety violations. Customer access to the facility and their property is on hold until repairs are made, according to the source.

Officials responded to two complaints about the facility. Investigators discovered a collapsing ceiling inside a storage unit, black mold, exposed wiring, and fire detectors and extinguishers that were not properly inspected. Daria Golazeski, director of code enforcement, said the damage appeared to accumulate over several months.

Customer Anthony Garcia said he discovered molded and warped furniture inside his familys unit and also had to throw away personal items like family photos and scrapbooks due to damage.

"About 40 percent of what we had in there got lost, and it was all mainly the bigger things," Garcia said. "We had brand new mattresses in there, my mom's, my brother's and mine. We had more furniture in there like this that the mold got so bad it was actually warping the wood away."

Facility owner Brandon Jay Hatch is based out of state in Orem, Utah. He told the source he questioned the validity of code violations. "This isn't some slum-lord situation, Hatch said. Either the code people aren't trying to make it sound right. There's something funny going on."

Access Self Storage, a self-storage operator with six facilities in Texas, turned its appearance on a TV reality show into a community event that also raised money for a local charity. The A&E network show Storage Wars: Texas filmed a segment at an Access Self Storage facility last August. The companys owners celebrated with two neighborhood viewing parties on Dec. 12.

Access Self Storage owners Doug and David Hunt hosted one party at Bienvenidos Restaurant & Cantina in Lancaster, Texas, while marketing director Jennifer Hunt hosted another in North Dallas. Tenants and friends from all six of the companys facilities attended, as did Storage Wars: Texas auctioneer Walt Cade.

During the planning phase of the parties, Doug Hunt saw more than simply an opportunity for a fun evening. We decided we could take a big success for us and use it to help out our community, he said. The owners asked attendees to bring a new toy to the festivities. The toys, along with a $5-per-toy donation from Access, were given to the Lancaster Outreach Center for distribution during the holidays.

Access Self Storage has six locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The operation's website features a "Community" tab, which highlights contests, events and other community outreach.

The Lancaster Outreach Center provides services to low-income families in Lancaster, Wilmer and Hutchins, Texas. The organization provides emergency assistance, job training, counseling and school-support services.

Edgewood Capital of Southport, Conn., recently sold four Connecticut self-storage properties to Albany Road Real Estate Partners, a recently formed private real estate firm based in Boston, for $11.3 million. The facilities, located in Bloomfield, Simsbury (2) and Waterbury, comprise 187,463 rentable square feet in 1,186 units.

The sale was brokered by Patrick A. Lemp of Self-Storage Consultants, who represented both buyer and seller in the transaction.  

Albany Road President Christopher Knisley, who has investment and management experience across multiple product types throughout New England, felt the Edgewood portfolio represented a unique opportunity to acquire a group of self-storage facilities with upside in this difficult-to-penetrate market, according to a press release. He plans to use the launch to become one of the dominant regional players in the New England self-storage market, he told the source.

J.R. Clisham, the managing member of Connecticut Self Storage LLC, which operates under the name CT Self Stor throughout the state of Connecticut, has been brought in to assist with the renovation and supervision of the properties. CT Self Stor is a multi-generational, local self-storage owner and third-party manager.

Clisham has extensive development and management experience, according to the source. He is on the board of directors of the national Self-Storage Association and is a past president of the Connecticut Self Storage Association.

Self-Storage Consultants provides brokerage and appraisal services and feasibility studies to the self-storage industry throughout New England.

To begin, I must make you aware that I am not an accountant or lawyer, so please seek tax advice from your consultants before moving forward with the acquisition or disposition of your investments. Its also clear that the fiscal-cliff bill, which was drafted over a long weekend by sleep-deprived politicians and then agreed to by what seems to be two very adversarial political parties, may only be a band-aid to the current issues facing the country and leaves many big issues unresolved.

If you currently have investments or are planning to invest in 2013whether its stocks, real estate, airplanes or even rare stampsyou must have an understating of capital gains tax. After all, whether you win or lose with your investments, the understanding of this convoluted part of the tax code can both soften your losses and sweeten your gains. Its apparent that todays debate over taxes, the fiscal cliff, the debt ceiling and who should be paying more taxes will most likely have an effect on the after-tax proceeds self-storage owners achieve when selling their property.

The New Rule

For the first time in recent history, the percentage a real estate investor will pay in federal capital gains tax will be tied to his household income. In 2013, households earning more than $400,000 ($450,000 if married and filing jointly) will see federal capital gains taxes increased from 15 percent to 20 percent. For most everyone else, capital gains tax rates would remain at 15 percent (the 0 percent rate is retained for taxpayers in the 10 percent and 15 percent tax brackets). Additionally, all capital gains taxes may now include the 3.8 percent Affordable Care Act net investment income tax also known as the Medicare Tax.

While no one likes paying higher taxes, the effects will be felt more by the higher-income earners wholl see an across-the-board tax increase for the first time in more than 20 years. Its worth noting, however, that a 23.8 percent capital gains tax is still in the bottom half historically, as noted in the accompanying chart. Since 1916, the capital gains tax rate has averaged 26.5 percent. With the tax increases now in place, the value of tax-deferral mechanisms, such as 1031 exchanges and cost segregation have never been greater. Its now time to learn the new rules of the game and start developing your strategies.

Your Investments

The tax code has long favored investment income over the money you get in your paycheck. But todays new tax code will leave little question to higher-income earners that investment income is more important. With federal capital gains tax rates topping out at 23.8 percent, its substantially lower than the top federal tax rate for ordinary income, which now sits at 39.6 percent.

In 2003, Congress set the top tax rates for both capital gains and dividends at 15 percent, lower than theyd been since the 1930s. Under the current tax plan, the top capital gains would be taxed at 20 percent, not including the 3.8 percent associated with the Affordable Care Act, which is a 33.3 percent increase. So nows the time to better understand the strategies available to maximize your investments.

Of course, its never a bad time to be rich. But its a worse time to be rich now because the new tax plan has clearly stated that the wealthier Americans will shoulder a bigger burden of the federal tax revenue. Despite these tax increases, one aspect of the tax code provides real estate investors with a huge tax advantage. A Section 1031 exchange allows real estate property owners holding property for investment purposes to defer taxes that would otherwise be incurred upon the sale of investment property.

1031 Exchanges

Savvy investors use 1031 exchanges to redeploy their investment capital into better-performing investment properties while deferring capital gains taxes. The logistics and process of selling a property and then buying another are similar to any standardized purchase and sale, but a 1031 exchange is unique because the entire transaction is treated as a tax-deferred exchange and not just a simple sale. Its this difference between exchanging and not simply buying and selling which, in the end, allows the taxpayer to qualify for a deferred gain treatment.

To say it in simple terms, sales are taxable with the IRS and 1031 exchanges are not, unless consideration is received or debt is relieved. Its critical to remember that the capital gains taxes are only deferred and not eliminated when completing a 1031 exchange.

The foundation of a 1031 exchange by the IRS is that the properties involved in the transaction must be of like kind, and both properties must be held for a productive purpose in business or trade, or as an investment. The IRS also lays down a guideline for the proceeds of the sale. For example, the proceeds from the sale must go through the hands of a qualified intermediary (QI) and not through the sellers or their agent or the proceeds will become taxable.

Because the exchanging of a property represents an IRS-recognized approach to the deferral of capital gain taxes, its very important to understand the many components involved and the actual intent underlying such a tax-deferred transaction. Its also worth noting there are several very specific conditions one must comply with to complete a successful 1031 exchange. This includes the 45-day identification period, 180-day exchange period, and the purchase price of the exchange property must be of equal or greater value, just to name a few.

As mentioned earlier, self-storage owners are also allowed under the current tax code to use cost segregation to maximize the timing and amount of depreciation an owner can achieve to shield ordinary income from income tax. Accelerated depreciation has many details you must follow to successfully use this part of the tax code. The use of cost segregation to achieve accelerated depreciation is also simply a deferral of taxes and not a loophole that allows you to avoid paying taxes.

As investors in real estate, self-storage owners must continue to understand the ever changing rules that will allow them to maximize the return on their investments. They also must continue to seek the necessary experts in the industry who will help them develop the required strategies needed to navigate the evolving real estate investment world.

Ben Vestal is president of the Argus Self Storage Sales Network, a national network of real estate brokers who specialize in self-storage. Argus provides brokerage, consulting and marketing services to self storage buyers and sellers and operates SelfStorage.com, a marketing medium and information resource for facility owners. For more information, call 800.55.STORE; e-mail [email protected]. To learn more about cost segregation and accelerated depreciation, visit www.argus-selfstorage.com .

The self-storage real estate partnership between Barker Pacific Group and Artemis Real Estate Partners Fund I has purchased Global Self Storage in Norco, Calif. The seven-building facility is comprised of 113,429 square feet and 908 storage units on 4.12 acres. It will be rebranded under the partnerships Storage Solutions brand name. No financial terms were disclosed.

The facility has an occupancy rate of 68 percent and also offers surface parking for boat and RV storage.

We are excited to add another property to our Storage Solutions portfolio, said Jae Ho, chief operating officer of Storage Solutions. We were attracted to the propertys location, high-quality construction and amenities for tenants, and the current property-management team that will augment the company.

This is the second Storage Solutions facility to be launched by the joint venture. The group purchased its first facility last April in San Jose, Calif., for $8.5 million.

Storage Solutions is Barker Pacific Groups self-storage division, originally operated under the Union Development Co. (UDC). UDC maintained 21 Storage Solutions locations in Southern California until the portfolio was sold to a real estate investment trust in 2011. Barker Pacific Group relaunched the brand last year and plans to expand throughout California, company officials said.

With each expansion, we are working to ensure an easy transition for existing tenants, Ho said. As we integrate our system and approach, well be able to provide existing and new customers the benefits of Storage Solutions.

Founded 28 years ago, Barker Pacific Group is comprised of real estate professionals active in asset management, acquisitions and development of commercial projects, including self-storage.

Artemis Real Estate Partners is a real estate investment management firm that has raised $736 million of investor capital across the Artemis Fund I and The New York State Common Retirement Fund.

U.K. self-storage operator Big Yellow Group PLC released its financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31. Revenue for the quarter was £16.8 million ($27 million), which was up 3.7 percent year over year but down 9.7 percent from the previous quarter. Occupancy fell by 139,000 square feet (4 percent of capacity) during the quarter across the companys wholly owned, 54-facility portfolio, compared to a 57,000-square-foot decline during the same period last year.

The declines were attributed to typical seasonal slowing, move-outs from an unusually high influx of student tenants during the summer, and impact from a 20 percent value-added tax (VAT) from the government that went into effect Oct. 1.

The occupancy rate across all locations was 63.3 percent, comprising 2.2 million square feet. Occupancy increased from 2 million square feet year over year but fell from 2.3 million square feet (67.3 percent) the previous quarter.

The introduction of VAT presented the group with a significant challenge, and we are broadly satisfied with the way the business has absorbed this change, said James Gibson, CEO. Although it is early in the New Year to have much visibility, January has started positively with a return to more normal trading and an encouraging book of reservations. We look forward now to our seasonally busier period."

Big Yellow Group operates 66 self-storage locations in the United Kingdom under the Big Yellow Self Storage brand name, with most concentrated in Greater London. The portfolio comprises 4.2 million square feet. The company also has four sites under development.

Schur Success Auction & Appraisal Inc., a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based company that conducts auctions at more than 200 self-storage facilities in three states, raised $2,000 for the Colorado chapter of the Starlight Children's Foundation. Founded in 1982, the nonprofit helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities.

To raise the money, Schur Success donated a portion of its commissions from every unit it sold in the fourth quarter of 2012. In addition, auction bidders contributed to the cause, doubling the auction companys intended donation. Schur Success also auctions off t-shirts and hats to encourage donations.

The company began raising money for charities in 2011. It selects a new recipient each quarter and has raised more than $13,000 for various charities. Previous recipients include the Wounded Warrior Project, which enlists the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, and Sense of Security, an organization that supports breast-cancer victims. The charity recipient for the first quarter of 2013 will be St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a Memphis, Tenn.-based organization focused on advancing cures for pediatric diseases through research and treatment.

 Our wonderful bidders and clients contributed along with us, so we have made this a continuing program, said CEO Shannon Schur.

Schur Success is nearly a 30-year-old company that is 100 percent woman-owned. It has been the exclusive contract auctioneer for the city and county of Denver for more than 25 years. The company conducts self-storage auctions and works with government and commercial clients across Colorado.

CEO Shannon Schur is a Hall of Fame Auctioneer and a past-president of the Colorado Auctioneers Association. She and her husband, Rich, also operate United Country-Schur Success Realty & Auction LLC, a full-service real estate company, based in Monument, Colo.

The Investment Real Estate Group of Cos. (IREGC), which specializes in self-storage brokerage, consulting, construction and management, has promoted Joseph Braun to chief financial officer from the position of controller. Braun has been instrumental in the financial oversight and execution of the strategic goals for IREGC during the last several years, according to company president John H. Gilliland. He will continue those duties, adding operational and development/valuation responsibilities in his new position.

Braun has been with IREGC since 2009, having previously held senior financial positions with several firms in the manufacturing sector. He received a Master of Business Administration degree from York College of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from LaSalle University. 

Based in York, Pa., IREGC has been in business since 1998. In addition to providing various services to self-storage owners, the company operates a portfolio of self-storage facilities under the name Moove In Self Storage, with dozen locations in Pennsylvania.

By Nick Bilava

The world of search engine optimization (SEO) changed a lot in 2013. This shouldnt come as a surprise. Search engines are constantly finding ways to improve their processes and provide users with the best possible results. Every year, there will be alterations to which marketers will have to adjust. While this might seem daunting, it really isnt.

SEO is moving in a direction thats more similar to traditional marketing. Search engines want to provide users with useful results that lead them to quality websites that are entertaining and informative. In fact, search engines have started to rank websites based more on the user experience and less on SEO tactics.

In previous years, having effective SEO and ranking well in searches came down to knowing technical details that would lead to higher rankings and having the resources to make higher rankings happen. These are things the major search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo! have looked to correct in their search engine algorithms. Several updates to those algorithms were seen in 2013. Lets take a look at some of the big changes and important things to know going forward.

Google Releases New Algorithm: Hummingbird

Google has had some major ranking updates over the last few years. These updates were designed to reward high-quality websites with useful content, less advertisements and more credibility while devaluing websites using SEO tricks that worked in the past.

The 2013 update was an entirely new algorithm. Hummingbird was designed to look beyond keywords and into human intent. Now when someone types a question into a Google search, Google will find websites that answer the question best. Hummingbird is still in its early stages and will continue to become more advanced as time passes.

Ultimately, if youre using your self-storage website to provide useful information that can help those in need of your service, youll be fine. Focus on creating a great experience for your potential self-storage tenants and providing them with something worthwhile. Google will eventually reward you.

Important SEO Metrics

With all of the recent changes, metrics have also become more important. While user experience cant be entirely understood through numbers, there are certain metrics that can help and also have increasing SEO value. The two metrics to pay attention to are time spent on site and pages visited. These are both great indications that youve provided a website visitor with something in which theyre interested. If visitors spend several minutes on your website and check out different pages, its a good indication theyve found something worthwhile.

While SEO is changing year after year, taking actions to provide website visitors with a great experience and giving them useful information will never lose value. This is the direction in which SEO is moving, and that makes this constantly changing field much less overwhelming.

Staying up-to-date with the latest SEO news is important for self-storage operators. Online location is equally important as physical location in this industry.

Nick Bilava is the director of sales and marketing for Storage.com . He has been an active member of the storage community for over seven years and can be found at various industry events throughout the nation. His goal is to help self-storage operators market their business more efficiently and effectively.