First-Time Renter Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Admin
August 28th, 2025
Renting storage should be simple: pick a unit, move in, lock up. The truth is, your first experience is shaped by a few small decisions—choosing the right size, leaving yourself room to move inside the unit, and packing in a way that respects Michigan’s weather. Get those right and everything else feels easy. Here’s a straightforward, no-stress walkthrough for your first rental at Mt. Pleasant Storage.
The Size Trap: Guessing vs. Knowing
Most first-time renters try to picture a 5×10 or 10×10 in their head and call it good. That’s how you end up paying for space you don’t use—or worse, realizing you can’t fit the last two pieces of furniture. Skip the mental math and run your list through our Size Suggestion tool before you rent. Add the actual items—bed frame, dresser, bins, bike, futon—and get a recommendation based on real volume, not vibes. If you plan to visit the unit regularly, bump up one size so you can leave a small aisle and avoid the classic “unpack the entire front to reach one box in the back” mistake. For short, one-and-done storage between moves, tighter packing is fine; for anything longer, a little breathing room is worth it.
Layout Matters: Build Yourself an Aisle
A storage unit that’s packed like a moving truck looks efficient for ten minutes and then punishes you for months. Treat the space like a small storeroom instead. As you load, stage heavy items on the floor, lighter or fragile items higher up, and leave a narrow walkway from the door to the back wall. A simple center aisle turns a locked room into an organized extension of your home—especially useful for students and small businesses who pop in and out. If you use freestanding shelves or sturdy plastic totes, you’ll get vertical structure without turning every visit into a treasure hunt. Label the visible side of each tote before it goes in; future-you will thank you.
Moisture Control
Clean, well-maintained facilities help, and we keep ours fenced, gated, well lit, and under continuous video recording with 24/7 access. Still, what you do inside your unit matters. Start dry—don’t store damp jackets, snow-dusted gear, or recently cleaned rugs that haven’t finished airing out. Elevate boxes and furniture on pallets or plastic risers so air can move and any floor moisture stays away from cardboard. Use breathable covers for mattresses and furniture; shrink-wrapping wood and leather traps humidity where you don’t want it. Plastic totes with snapping lids beat cardboard for long-term storage, and a few moisture absorbers (think DampRid or silica gel) are cheap insurance—swap them out every couple months. If you’re storing photos, instruments, electronics, or other sensitive items, ask our team which locations have climate-controlled options and keep those valuables in the environment they deserve. A few inches between items and the walls is the finishing touch for good airflow.
Don’t Forget the Basics: Lock, Code, Move-In
Move-in day goes smoothly when the essentials are lined up. After you rent online you’ll receive your unit number and gate access details right away. Bring your gate code, keep your phone charged for confirmations and photos, and plan to secure your space with the free disc lock included with your rental. From there it’s straightforward: drive to your chosen facility any time, use your code at the gate, pull up to your unit, and load in with the layout you planned. A quick photo of the final setup becomes your map for future visits and saves you from guesswork later.
A Simple Three-Step Game Plan
Step 1: Select & Rent. Pick the location that fits your routine—behind Meijer on Corporate, next to Dollar General on East Remus, behind Medler Electric on Commercial, by Morey Courts on East Remus, or at S. Mission & Deerfield—and run your items through the Size Suggestion tool. Complete the rental online and you’ll be ready the same day.
Step 2: Access & Secure. Head over whenever it works for you. Our facilities are gated and well lit with 24/7 access and continuous video recording. Use your gate code, pull up to your unit, and lock up with the free disc lock.
Step 3: Load Smart. Stage heavy items first, keep a small aisle, stack lighter bins on top, and drop in a couple of moisture absorbers. Label the visible side of every box, take a quick photo of the layout, and you’re done.
Ready Today
Mt. Pleasant Storage was built to be easy for CMU students, families, and local businesses. We keep five convenient locations minutes from campus, offer free reservations and no long-term contracts, and make same-day move-ins simple.
Have questions or want a sizing sanity check? Visit the Help Center or call us at 989.854.3693 or rent online today.
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