Accountability and Visibility for Remote Self-Storage Teams

Accountability and Visibility for Remote Self-Storage Teams

The Eternal Question: Is Anything Actually Getting Done?
When you move to a remote operations model, the first thing every operator worries about is the same: How do I know things are actually getting done? You can’t be everywhere at once, and no one wants to turn into the kind of manager who’s constantly asking for proof of life. The goal isn’t micromanagement, it’s visibility.
In remote self-storage operations, visibility means knowing what’s been done, when, and by whom, without twenty phone calls or sticky notes. It’s the difference between chaos and calm.

Define “Done” Like You Mean It
Start by defining what “done” really means. A lock check isn’t “done” when someone walks the hall, it’s done when the locks have been physically checked, photos uploaded, and the task closed out. If your process is vague, your results will be too. Time-stamped photos, digital checklists, or automated work orders make accountability part of the workflow instead of a separate chore.

Track It or Lose It
Then make it trackable. A centralized task management system lets your team see everything in one place, maintenance requests, tenant issues, vendor visits, you name it. That visibility builds trust. Everyone knows who owns what and nothing slips through the cracks.

Caught On Camera
I was consulting for a portfolio that had just rolled out a new remote model. During an audit, we spot-checked footage from a property where a vendor had reported “all clear” after fixing the gate. Everything looked fine… except the gate stopped three inches short of closing. Just enough for someone to reach in and trigger the sensor. We got the vendor back the next morning, fixed it, and avoided what could have been a very expensive lesson. That one spot-check turned skeptics into believers, because the system worked.

Trust, but Make It Verifiable
Regular reporting keeps that trust healthy. A quick end-of-day note or a dashboard that shows open tasks and site status gives everyone confidence that things are running smoothly. And it reinforces one of my favorite rules: if it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen.

Proximity Is Optional, Process Isn’t
Remote operations don’t have to mean losing control, they just require better systems. When you define “done,” track it, and make it easy to prove, your remote team can run as tightly as any on-site crew.

About the Author
Jessie Lamb is the VP of Self Storage at NodaFi. After nearly a decade leading self-storage operations, she now helps operators modernize their systems, teams, and technology, making remote management simple, visible, and effective.