Renting a Storage Container: 11 Things You Need to Know

When you’re finished loading your container, PODS professionals will transport your belongings to your new home or to a secure storage facility.

1. Will You Be Using Portable Storage Containers for Moving or Storage or Both?

Storage container rentals can be useful for all kinds of situations, but these are some of the most common uses: 

Moving With Storage

Selling Your Home

Containers give you convenient on-site temporary storage to help you stage your home for potential buyers.

Remodeling Your Home

Remodeling and renovations are already stressful, so why not skip the trip to the storage unit by having a storage container delivered right to your house? Especially if your project is large (requiring you to move furniture out of the way) but not necessarily a months-long one.

Downsizing

Whether moving somewhere to relocate after retirement or just trying to simplify, renting a storage container can make home organization and downsizing much easier. Just put all your extra furniture and possessions in the container and have it taken directly to storage or a donation center.

2. Portable Storage vs. Self-Storage Units: What’s the Difference?

So why not just go with a local self-storage unit if you need temporary storage or are not moving far? You can definitely do that, and it might be a bit cheaper. With a storage unit, mobile needs aren’t really a factor. But there are some big differences between portable and local storage that you’ll want to keep in mind. 

Portable Storage

With portable storage, you have a container delivered to your driveway or the parking lot of your apartment complex. This means you can load and unload over a few days, weeks, or even months rather than finding a way to transport your belongings to a self-storage unit over a day or two. Plus, if you need to get something out of the container, you have 24/7 access to your stuff.

When you’re finished loading, the container can be professionally transported to your new home or to a secure storage facility. If the container doesn’t need to go anywhere (like if you’re only using it for on-site storage), a driver will pick it up when it’s no longer needed.

 

PODZILLA is a hydraulic lift system that allows drivers to seamlessly place PODS containers in your driveway and then pick them up later.

3.  Watch Out for Sturdiness and Weather Resistance — Not All Containers Are Created Equal.

Moving and storage containers may seem simple: They're just big boxes that hold your stuff, right? Well, not exactly. If you’re not careful, you may end up with a container that doesn’t actually protect your stuff. 

The quality can vary significantly among moving container companies. While PODS containers are steel-framed and built for impact and weather resistance, others may be made mostly of wood and covered by a tarp. Watch out for some companies that advertise their containers as “all steel,” too, which may only be lightweight metal sheeting that offers no added security for your belongings.

In a nutshell, be sure to research the container quality before you choose a company.

PODS containers come in 8-foot, 12-foot, and 16-foot units — and you can mix and match different sizes to meet your needs.

4. What Size and How Many Containers Do You Need?

While some young college students may be able to fit everything they need into the back of their cars, the rest of us will need something bigger. But just how much space do you need for storing and moving? That will depend on several factors, like how large your home is, whether it’s lightly furnished or filled to the gills, and how efficient you are at packing and loading. 

Not all providers offer multiple sizes, but PODS container sizes come in 8-foot, 12-foot, and 16-foot units.* You can mix and match different sizes to meet your needs.

5. Do You Have Space for Delivering and Parking the Container? 

While portable storage containers don’t take up a huge amount of space, you do need to make sure you have enough maneuvering room for the container and its delivery process. Fortunately, if you’re renting a PODS container, the PODZILLA® lift system can maneuver containers into some amazingly tight places a normal moving truck or container company can’t reach. It’s a level-lift technology that makes it easy for PODS drivers to pick up and set down your moving and storage container almost anywhere that’s flat, level, and clear of obstructions. Once placed, you’ll be ready to start moving, store your belongings, or kick off your renovation project.

As for clearance room for PODZILLA, you’ll need a path that’s 12 feet wide, 15 feet high, 40 feet long (about two standard parking spots), and free of obstacles to make the delivery. If your driveway isn’t quite 40 feet long, the maneuvering area can include the street, too. Key obstacles to watch out for include sprinkler heads, bushes, concrete curbing, basketball hoops, parked cars, and mailboxes. Once that's taken care of, leave a couple of feet open so your driver can decouple the container from PODZILLA, and you’re set.

For most storage container rental companies, having your own driveway is ideal. But thankfully, mobile storage containers can usually go on the street or even in a shared parking lot — as long as you have the proper permits. If a paved surface isn’t an option, contact your company to discuss alternatives, and remember that your container’s placement is always up to the driver’s discretion..

To help you have a smooth delivery process, here are a few more tips:

Finally, if you have any questions or concerns at all about container placement, you should always reach out to the company ahead of time — before the delivery.

PODS does all the driving for you.

6. Will You Need Local or Nationwide Service?  

One of the best parts about storage container rental is that you get to skip the driving. Well, as long as you’re using the right company. 

If you choose a moving and storage container company that has a broad, nationwide network (like PODS), then you shouldn’t have to do any container driving — even if you're moving 3,000 miles across the U.S. Whether you’re in the same city or another state, renting a PODS container means the container will come to you. 

On the other hand, while PODS offers both local and long-distance service, some moving container companies don’t provide local portable storage or moving service at all. 

You’ll thank yourself later if you take time to label your boxes and write down what’s inside each one.
(Source: Ketut Subiyanto via Pexels)

7. You’ll Want To Keep Track of Your Stuff.

Loading a PODS portable storage container is easy, but you’ll still have to keep track of a few things, like where you put your stuff. This is especially true if you’re using multiple containers.  

Here are a few neat tips to help organize your stuff with multiple containers: 

Make an Inventory for Each Container

Record the container serial number and write down everything that’s inside, so you can unload easily and efficiently or access what you need while it’s at a storage center.

Stagger Container Deliveries for Convenient Unloading

For instance, you might want to have the container with your essential everyday items — like your mattress and television — come before the one that has all of your specialty china and old record collection.

Designate One Container for Storage

If you’re downsizing or not sure what items you’ll want in your new home, designate one container for storage. That will cut down on the number of items you have to deal with when you start unloading. 

If you take a little bit of time to plan your packing and loading before you get started, you’ll thank yourself later. 

Careful packing with the proper materials helps to reduce the risk of anything happening to your belongings in transit.
(Source: Cottonbro via Pexels) 

8. Proper Packing and Loading Minimizes Damage Risks. 

As with any type of move, when you pack and load your stuff carefully, you can significantly lower your risk of damage. Just make sure you’re following best practices.    

Some of the most important things to remember when packing are:

For more packing advice, see our packing and loading guide and tips to avoid damage when moving long distance.  

9. You Can Hire Hourly Help.  

If all this talk about packing and keeping track of your stuff sounds intimidating, don’t worry. You don’t have to do it all by yourself. You can hire hourly assistance from pros who have experience working with portable moving containers.  

They’ll know how to pack and load your stuff safely and efficiently, so you maximize your space and reduce the risk of damage. 

And if you’re renting a PODS container, the company can also help you find reputable packing and loading services in your area.

No matter what kind of insurance you get for your move, make sure you read all the fine print before you sign anything. 

10. Will You Need Moving Insurance?

You’ve got insurance for your stuff while it’s in your home. But what about when it’s not in your home?

Homeowners insurance doesn’t always cover your belongings during a move. And even if it does, getting supplemental moving insurance may still be a good option. For instance, if you file a claim through the moving company’s coverage, your homeowner's insurance rates wouldn’t be impacted. In addition, the plan’s deductible will probably cost you less out of pocket (as little as $100), compared to your homeowners insurance deductible, which could be $1,000 or more.

In some cases, you can get these policies from your existing insurer or a third party. But it’s often easiest to just get insurance through the moving container company.

If you go with a company like PODS, there are two main kinds of protection:

No matter what kind of insurance you end up getting, make sure that you read the policy carefully before signing it.

Planning your move in advance with a timeline and checklist will help you save money and time — not to mention stress.
(Source: Anete Lusina via Pexels)

11. It Pays to Plan Ahead.

A lot of the considerations and tips we’ve shared about renting a storage container and moving effectively all have one thing in common: good planning. If you plan your move in advance, you can save money and time and cut down on the stress and hassle. 

It can help to make a master list of everything that needs to get done and then make a timeline for doing each item. And lucky for you, we just happen to have a master list to follow. You can even take your pick: Storage Checklist or Moving Checklist. 

Figuring out storing and moving solutions isn’t always the most fun process, but with these tips, you should have everything under control!

Easton Smith works as a freelance writer and researcher, reviewing technology trends and the moving industry. He moved all around the continent, from New York to California, before landing back in his hometown of Salt Lake City.

*PODS is constantly upgrading its container fleet, and container sizes may vary slightly from one model to another.