Renting a Container for Moving, Storage, or Both? Top Tips From People Who’ve Done It
Moving and Storage Container Guides
In all but one case, this was the first time these folks had ever used PODS storage rental for moving, and they weren’t sure how it worked. That leads us to our first tip:
When a last-minute move left Katherine Tuttle looking for an easy solution, PODS was there to help. She even said renting a PODS container was the “best decision we made for this move,” in her Instagram post.
(Source: @kotuttle via Instagram)
1. Research and Ask Questions About What To Expect When Renting a Container
Katherine Tuttle was surprised when a friend recommended renting a container from PODS after her Atlanta home sold faster than expected, leading to a last-minute move.
“I’d seen PODS containers around, but I never really thought about them for moving … I guess I always thought they were for storage,” she recalls.
But when her friend explained that “you just get the container early, pack it up at your leisure, and then they come to pick it up and take it to your new place,” Katherine thought, “That is genius!” After making eight moves in six years, Katherine said renting a container made it the “least stressful move” she’d experienced.
In the case of Ethan Hethcote, the first time he and his partner moved across the country, they knew they wanted “some type of container for hire” to get their stuff from Bloomington, Indiana, to Los Angeles while they drove both their cars. After doing preliminary research online, Ethan called PODS to find out more about renting a portable moving container.
“I’m really a fan of their customer service … They took their time and explained everything about how to rent a PODS container for moving,” said Ethan. In fact, they liked it so much, they used PODS again when they decided to leave L.A. and move to Nashville.
|
Curious about how to rent a PODS container? Check out the links below!
|
When Jehlisah Rae and her husband had to move while she was several months pregnant, they decided to take their time with PODS. She said having it delivered in advance gave them the breathing room they needed to complete the move virtually stress-free.
(Source: @jehlisahrae via Instagram)
2. Take Your Time When Renting Containers
By far, the most frequent advice from PODS customers is to pack and load at your own pace — flexibility is the thing they like most about renting a PODS container.
When Jehlisah Rae and her husband had to move while she was several months pregnant, they knew they couldn’t cram all their moving into just one day. Even though their new Pittsburgh-area home was just three miles from their townhouse, they didn’t want to go with a DIY rental truck like they’d always done. She said renting a PODS container and having it delivered to their driveway in advance gave them the breathing room they needed to get their packing and loading done gradually over the course of a few weeks.
“Everything was so easy,” said Jehlisah, explaining how the ability to do a little at a time helped her feel less stressed, even while working full time and caring for their toddler daughter.
When evaluating PODS container sizes and your storage needs, consider ordering the next size up if you think you might need more space.
3. Determine Which PODS Container Sizes You Need
For long-distance moves, customers can choose from two PODS container sizes: 8-foot and 16-foot. For local moves, there are three PODS container size options: 8-foot, 12-foot, and 16-foot.Most customers we talked to used PODS’ online moving and storage calculator and size chart to figure out how much space they needed, in addition to getting advice from a customer service representative. In all but one case, the PODS container sizes they chose provided enough space.
Ethan and his partner made both their cross-country moves in one 8-foot container. On their way out to L.A., it was no problem. But when they headed back east, even though they still lived in a one-bedroom apartment, he admitted they’d accumulated a bit more stuff. “So we decided we wanted to downsize and just trim the fat,” he said. They held a pre-move yard sale a month before, and “then we had just enough things that would fit.”
Even with the downsizing, they fit a lot of stuff in that 8-foot container: “We had a king-size bed, mattress and box-spring, and a queen-size mattress. Plus a lot of other stuff. We also had four bikes: Two regular and two electric bikes.”
Still, if you’re in doubt about the size, one strategy is to simply order the next size up if you think you might need more space.
When Stacye and her husband retired and downsized from a five-bedroom home in Columbia, Maryland, to a two-bedroom home in Phoenix, Arizona, they underestimated the space they needed. After filling a 16-foot and an 8-foot container, they still needed more space, so they rented a third container. If they had it to do over again, they would have started with two 16-foot containers. “Whatever you think you need, add some space to that,” she advised.
Another strategy for renting a container is to have them delivered one at a time (called “staggered deliveries”), so you can load the first and see how much more space you still need. That way, you can adjust the next container order if needed.
But choosing a container size really depends on the size of your household, how much stuff you have, and how much downsizing you’re willing to do. This leads us to our next tip…
When renting containers, many customers have them delivered in advance to allow time to declutter and downsize as they pack and load.
(Source: @smashingdiy via Instagram)
4. Have Containers Delivered Early To Allow Time To Downsize and Declutter
Since every PODS storage rental includes a 30-day rental period, many customers get their containers delivered in advance to allow time to declutter and downsize as they pack and load gradually. You can put furniture, boxes, and other belongings in your container to help you stay organized while you’re sorting things and making decisions. And if you need more time, you can always extend your rental.
“Just because something goes in doesn’t mean it stays in,” said Sherry and John of the popular Young House Love podcast when they used a PODS container to help their family of four downsize.
They went from a sprawling 3,150-square-foot home in Richmond, Virginia, to a home less than half that size, so they could live on the beach in the Florida panhandle. They managed to fit everything they really needed into a 16-foot PODS container.
5. Take Control of Container Renting With Tools Like Moving Checklists and Packing and Loading Tips
In addition to the moving calculator, many customers are fans of PODS’ moving checklist and all the packing tips and hacks here on the PODS Blog.
The downloadable moving checklist helps you stay on track with a week-by-week, step-by-step guide to everything you need to do for a successful move. You can also check out our packing and loading video and tips to help maximize container space and minimize damage to your belongings.
One of the tips that Stacye and other customers stress is to create an inventory of what you’re packing — especially if you’re using multiple PODS container sizes.
Your inventory list should include the following:
- PODS container number
- Categories of items going in the container (e.g., kitchen, living room furniture, clothing, sports gear)
- List of items going in the container (including numbered boxes with their own contents listed)
- Pictures of items going into the container, as well as a picture of the packed container
If you’re renting a container and need time between moving out of your old place and into your new one, you can store your container in a secure PODS Storage Center until you’re ready for it.
6. Simplify Moving in Stages When You Have Time Between Homes
Many people use temporary housing or short-term rentals when they have a gap between long-term homes. Customers tell us that’s when PODS makes the relocation process much easier, because they can keep most of their belongings locked up inside their own container in a secure PODS Storage Center.
If they need access to something, it’s easy to schedule a visit, and their container will be waiting for them when they arrive. Once they’ve decided on their new permanent home, their container is delivered. In contrast, with traditional moving services and rental trucks, customers have to unload and reload multiple times, not to mention pay to move twice (at least)!
Temporary housing is a typical scenario for professionals relocating for a job. For instance, Paul Tucker, who relocated from San Antonio, Texas, to Tampa Bay, said he and his wife always rent before buying when they move to a new area, so they have time to get to know the neighborhoods and make better home-buying decisions.
While they’d always used traditional movers for job relocations in the past, he said containerized moving was a “game-changer” for his family. “Renting containers made this our easiest move ever,” said Paul, who has relocated several times either for his own career or his wife’s.
Renting a portable moving container is even easier when you hire local moving help, too. Whether you want a crew to completely load and unload your storage container or you just want some help with the heavy lifting, this is a great option.
7. Get and Pay Only for the Moving Help You Need
While renting a container doesn’t include loading or unloading your belongings, several customers used PODS’ referral network to hire local packing and loading assistance.
“It’s worth it, because the pros know what they’re doing. They’re familiar with loading containers, so they’ll get the most out of your space,” said Paul.
Because flexibility is built into the PODS plan, it means customers like Paul get a PODS storage rental cost that only includes the space they need. When it came time to unload at the home they purchased, the ease of unloading a ground-level container enabled him to save money by hiring help only for moving the heavy furniture. This also enabled Paul and his wife to unpack gradually and downsize even more by having a local furniture dealer pick up furniture pieces to sell on consignment.
“We didn’t even have to unload certain items because they were picked up and sold instead,” Paul recalled. They also had only one container delivered at a time, so once one was empty, the next was delivered.
Renting a container during home remodeling is a game-changer. It provides a convenient place to store your tools and materials nearby or keep furniture and other items safe from dust and debris during the project.
8. Make Room for Remodeling With PODS On-Site Storage
Containers aren’t just for moving; renting a container for storage while you’re remodeling is also common. Diane Galow Hertel of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, did exactly that when she and her husband got new flooring installed.
They were concerned about protecting their fine furniture while their contractor replaced almost 2,100 square feet of oak and travertine tile with real hickory flooring. Although this was only part of their home, they wanted to make sure the rest would be livable. They also could have used their garage, but “that’s not the cleanest environment… I didn’t want my good furniture sitting in a garage. We talked about a self-storage unit for some of our more expensive furniture, but the idea of hiring a company to move it made no sense. Plus, you never know what you’re getting when you get a storage facility, how clean it will be.”
After she thought of renting a PODS container and checked it out, “that was a no-brainer,” said Diane. Although her husband was skeptical at first, the experience went so well, they planned on renting a container for the next two phases of their home flooring project.
“The container was clean, we could lock it, and having it made the container renting process so easy and effortless,” said Diane.
The timing was good, too. Since their floors were completed in three weeks, a one-month moving container rental with PODS allowed plenty of time.
Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, renting a container from PODS is a flexible option.
Renting a Container — FAQs
Q: How much is it to rent a moving container?
A: The cost of renting a container — or renting containers — depends on several factors, such as how long you need the container, the size of the container, and when you’ll need the storage. For a ballpark figure, the average PODS storage container rental cost ranges from $139 per month for an 8-foot container on your property to $239 per month for a 16-foot container stored at a secure PODS Storage Center. You can get a detailed quote for your specific storage needs by visiting PODS.com or calling (855) 706-4758.
Q: How does renting a container work?
A: Renting a container from PODS is simple and flexible. You select a container size and confirm the dates for your rental. PODS delivers your container to your driveway for convenient loading on your own time. You can keep it there for the duration of your rental or have it picked up and transported to a secure PODS Storage Center or to your new home (if you’re renting the container for a move). PODS containers are rented on a month-to-month basis, so you have the option to extend your rental period as needed.
Q: What size container do I need for a 4-bedroom house?
A: It depends on how much stuff you have and how large your things are, of course, but for a typical 3,000-square-foot home that’s lightly or moderately furnished, you’ll likely need three 16-foot containers. For a more personalized recommendation of which PODS container sizes will best suit your needs, check out PODS’ moving and storage calculator and size chart.
Q: What happens if a PODS container is too heavy?
A: PODS containers do have weight limits: 8-foot container (5,200 lbs), 12-foot container (4,700 lbs), 16-foot container (4,200 lbs). If you're renting a PODS container, remember that the total weight of your heaviest items shouldn't exceed 75 percent of the total allowed weight for the container. Heavy items to consider include appliances, sofas, large entertainment centers, bookcases, bedroom chests, safes, exercise equipment, pianos, and pool tables. Most retail websites will list the weight of their items, making estimating the weight easier. If your heavy items exceed 75 percent of the weight limit, consider renting a second container or perhaps downsizing (do you really need two pool tables?). Don’t feel like you have to calculate the weight of every item, though! The weight limits should be used as a guideline when packing the container.
Q: Can PODS containers be used for long-term storage?
A: Absolutely! Renting a PODS container is great for storing things on your property while you prepare for a move, but if you need storage for more than a month or two, we recommend having your container moved to a secure PODS Storage Center.
Q: Can I use PODS if I live in an apartment?
A: Yes, renting a container isn’t just for houses with driveways. Check with your property manager to see if your building has a policy on portable containers. Then, make sure you have enough room in your parking lot for container delivery and storage.
Choose the Moving Solution That’s Right for Your Needs
Renting a container is a great choice for those who want flexible moving and storage options and more control over their move and belongings. The important thing is to make the moving selection that best fits your specific needs. You can visit PODS online for a local moving quote or call (855) 706-4758 to speak to a pro about renting a PODS container for moving or storage.
Liz Taylor is a freelance writer based in Tampa who is always looking for ways to declutter after living in the same house for over 28 years.
Editor’s Note: Some customers quoted in this article were sponsored influencers or employees of PODS.
Related Articles
Comments
Leave a Comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *