| 20' Shipping Containers | 40' Shipping Containers | 40' High Cube Containers | Container Housing | How to Buy a Shipping Container |
***Note: Our office will be close on Monday, July 4th, in observance of the US holiday. We may not return calls, but will be monitoring emails.***
Renting a shipping container is a great option to meet your short term storage needs. It's common for people to rent containers when they're moving into a new house, remodelling their current home, or when companies need short term storage solution for seasonal inventory or other similar circumstances. Shipping containers can be delivered quickly, dropped on site, loaded and secured with your items in a relatively short period of time, leaving you with the confidence to go about your daily chores and activities.
Before you jump head first into renting a shipping container, you'll want to consider five factors that could impact your decision: Rental duration, the interior environment of the container, the overall condition of the unit, delivery of the container, and its overall security.
The period of time that you'll need the storage unit can greatly impact your decision to rent, or to buy. In circumstances such as home renovation or seasonal storage you have a clearly defined period of time that you'll need the storage for, and it makes complete sense to rent the container. Renting the container means that it's someone else's responsibility to move the container, and you don't have to worry about what to do with it when you don't need it any more. If you don't have a defined period of time that you'll need the storage, and there's a chance it could be more than 24 months, you may want to consider purchasing a shipping container to save on costs.
| Will the storage container be sitting in one place the entire time, or will you need to move it between sites during the rental period? It's rare that a storage container needs to be moved, but in the event that it does you'll first want to check with the rental company to see if moving the unit is permitted. If that's allowed, the next issue is how to load/unload the container if it's loaded with stored goods. Lastly, some states, such as Colorado, have special laws in place that prohibit moving a loaded shipping container without a full manifest of what's inside of the container. |  |
Shipping containers, by design, are wind and water tight. This is great way to keep everything inside protected from the elements, but the possible issue that may arise is internal condensation. If sensitive documents, electronics, or antiques are the items being stored be sure and ask if there is adequate ventilation in the container to allow any condensation build up to escape. Out of the factory, shipping containes are equipped with small breather vents, but some companies take it a little further and add large shipping container vents to help increase airflow.
| New and used shipping containers vary in purchase price, and they can also vary in rental price. If the items being stored need to be kept in a clean, environment and the container will be dropped in a visible, high traffic location, be sure and ask for a new or refurbished container. If you plan on storing auto parts or other things messy or greasy, and the container will be in the back of a lot where no one sees it, you may be able to save some money and ask to rent a used container that hasn't been repainted. |  |
Security is the one of the most important concerns when renting a storage container. If the container isn't secure, everything that you have inside of it could be vulnerable to theft or damage, and obviously that defeats the very core purpose of having a storage unit. Before you rent a container make sure you have a good location to put it. It should be well lit, and ideally visible from your home or office, or at least visible enough to deter would-be thieves. It's also important to ask if the container comes equipped with a lock box. A lock box is a small investment that protects the lock shank from being cut, making it more difficult to break into the unit.
Renting a shipping container to use as an on-site storage unit is a great solution if you're moving, renovating a home, or require short term seasonal storage for your business. It's possible to save money with a little research and planning by considering the rental period, delivery and repositioning, condensation and venting, container condition, and the overall security of the doors and locks.
If you have any questions about buying or renting shipping containers, no matter if the equipment is going to be used for storage or some other purpose, contact any of the sellers on ContainerAuction.com or our office directly. A few simple questions could save you time, money, and give you an increased piece of mind in knowing that you've made the best decision.