Joe DownsCEO & Co-Founder, Belrose Storage Group. Founder, Storage Moguls.

The Golden Rule of Move In Charges

3 Mar 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:34

In this brief presentation, the speaker asserts that the industry standard for move‑in charges is to require only the first month’s rent, eliminating security deposits and last‑month rent. The rationale is to create the lowest possible barrier to entry for prospective tenants, which directly boosts conversion rates for self‑storage or rental facilities. By making the initial payment simple and inexpensive, customers are more likely to say “yes” and complete the transaction.

The industry standard is actually pretty clear across the board. Charge first month's rent only, folks. This is the golden rule for a reason. We want the lowest possible barrier to entry for the customer. Asking only, or asking for only the first month's rent means no security deposit and no last month's rent. This low barrier translates directly into higher conversions for your facility. You want to make it incredibly easy for the customer to say yes and complete the transaction.