The Complete Guide to Renting a Shipping Container

Finding enough space to store belongings for extended periods of time can be tough, especially if your items are fragile.

Shipping containers make for an excellent answer to most storage conundrums, but buying your own could be a bit cost-prohibitive for situations like a minor remodeling project or a move.  

Instead, it might make sense to rent your next shipping container and return it once you've finished using it.

Read on to learn what the shipping container rental process looks like and how you can hire your own container for personal use.

Planning

Before renting a container, you should do a bit of preliminary planning. This includes looking into relevant regulations for property use, figuring out how long you will need a container, etc. Here are the most important details to deal with ahead of time:

Permits and Regulations

Property zoning can come into play, depending on your location and the length of time you intend to keep your shipping container on your property. City and municipal permits could affect you if you are within regional boundaries.

Keep in mind that rural areas are much less likely to demand the use of a permit to place a container on your property for any reasonable stretch of time. If you live in a rural community and the container you choose to rent is well-maintained (not an eyesore), then you may be able to make do without one.

Pricing for Delivery and Pickup
Shipping containers are designed to be transported safely and easily on relatively common vehicles, so finding a service that is well-equipped to help you pick yours up from a shipping yard and place it securely on your property should not be much of a hassle.

It helps to get in contact with your delivery service provider of choice early on in the planning stage of renting your container so that they have time to ready their equipment and plan out a route before your container has arrived.

Size
Size matters when it comes to shipping containers. Smaller containers will cost you less across the board as they are easier to transport and take up very little space. However, if you anticipate needing a lot of room to store your belongings, larger shipping containers could prove to be ideal.

A standard 20ft shipping container can carry up to 20 metric tons of weight safely, but you might not need all of that space unless you are planning a move, etc.

Features
Getting the right shipping container for your needs involves picking a model with the right features. Precisely what you need depends on the items you intend to store and the amount of time you expect they will be in the container. 

You should also consider whether or not your container will need to be shipped somewhere else when you're finished loading it up and what type of journey it will need to make (land, sea or air).

Shipping containers of all types are available at CBOX, including special varieties outfitted for hazardous chemicals, perishable goods and more.

Site Preparation    
Before your shipping container arrives, you should take some time to prepare the space you intend to place it in.

Containers are designed for use in a variety of conditions and are tough enough to withstand a bit of rough treatment, but unstable foundations and insufficient space can make for quite a headache once your container has been dropped off.

Muddy areas may need to be packed down or amended with suitable material to provide a stable foundation for your container. Ensure there is enough space for the truck that is carrying it to reach your chosen location as well.

Renting a Shipping Container

The rental process for shipping containers starts with the selection of an appropriate leasing plan.

You can choose from a variety of leasing options with CBOX, from fixed-term agreements and as-needed options to long-term and finance leases. The latter allows you to purchase your rented shipping container outright after a given term and once all the payments have been made.

Once you have determined which leasing option works best for you, a delivery plan can be arranged.

Delivery
With your chosen spot prepared for the perfect container to arrive, the next step is to have it delivered to your property and set in place. Once it has been set down on your property, take a moment to make sure it is level and all of the doors are functioning properly.

Storage
With your container in place, you can open it up and store your belongings inside. Depending on the type of container you have chosen, you may have access to shelving inside. If not, you can arrange items as you see fit.

Pickup
Once your container is full or you have finished using it, you can arrange to have it picked up and taken away. Depending on your location, you may be able to send shipping containers that you're done using to a nearby pickup location to simplify the return process.

 Renting the perfect shipping container can make temporary self-storage, moving and more a breeze. By hiring your container from CBOX, you can be sure you're getting the best there is.

Reach out to us today to learn more about the shipping container rental process and how we can help you handle it.