How to Choose a Portable Storage Container
Portable storage units come in many sizes and offer bells and whistles you may not have known were available. Get some tips on how to choose the best match for your needs.
Kansas City, MO, May 02, 2007 --(PR.com)-- You may have noticed portable storage containers beginning to spring up seemingly everywhere, from residential neighborhoods to industrial parks to big box retail parking lots and beyond. Indeed, portable storage is gaining momentum and many new vendors are entering the market with new types of containers and even new uses for these old stand bys.
Finding the right type of portable storage container, then, depends on your specific needs. You can begin your search at the National Portable Storage Association, or NPSA. As the nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry, NPSA members adhere to a strict code of conduct and ethics. So you can be sure that the products you rent and the service you receive from these vendors is top quality. The NPSA web site even offers a “Solution Finder” that allows you to request information about the types of products in which you are interested.
“You’ll find plenty of vendors ready and able to serve you. Now it’s up to you to ask the right questions,” said NPSA Executive Director John Finnessy, CMP. “If you aren’t exactly sure what you need then just ask questions. Our members can help you determine the best size and features for your specific needs. Not all needs are created equal. Someone who is moving has different needs than someone who is storing equipment on a construction site.”
Storage containers come in a variety of sizes. Here’s what you need to know: Most are 8 feet wide and 8.5 feet high with common lengths of 20 and 40 feet (1,170 cubic feet and 3,340 cubic feet). Most customers choose 20-foot containers because they provide easier access the items inside. Forty-foot models provide almost three times as much storage space, but may require additional doors on the back or side to take gain quick access to the stored goods. You can also find containers in other lengths, from as small as 6 feet wide or as large as 54 feet wide, but these odd sizes can be difficult to find. If it’s additional clearance you need, consider what the industry calls “high cubes” that feature internal heights of 9.5 feet.
You’ll also want to keep in mind space considerations. For a 20-foot storage container, for example, plan on at least 75 feet of clearance for delivery, installation, and to maneuver in and out of the container. You need at least 100 feet of clearance for 40-foot units. Of course, containers can also come with additional features such as a lockbox, alarm system, shelving, doors on the side, ramps, ventilation, partitions insulation, refrigeration, HVAC and much more.
When considering pick-up and delivery, you’ll want to assess your options. Some vendors may charge for the round trip, others may only charge one way or roll the price into the monthly rental. Be sure to ask about the options up front because it could be a deciding factor as it relates to price. Speaking of which, price is an important distinction and you may find that pricing varies widely from region to region or even from one side of a city to another. Obviously, larger containers customized with electrical outlets will cost more than smaller units that will be used to store goods.
“Just like anything else, you can’t choose a portable storage vendor on price alone,” said NPSA Operations Manager Joel Rathbone. “Just because something cost more doesn’t mean it’s higher quality, and just because something seems like a bargain doesn’t mean there’s a catch. The good news is you can be confident you are getting a reputable vendor when you choose an NPSA member."
For more information, visit www.npsa-us.org.
The National Portable Storage Association
The National Portable Storage Association is dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. The people at the NPSA are here to serve those in the portable storage industry who rent, sell or lease containers, trailers and mobile offices. The NPSA assists members with industry, regulatory and workforce issues; plus, offers members networking, marketing and legislative support at national, state and local levels.
PR Contact:
Jennifer LeClaire
Self Storage Promotions
954.454.0072
jennifer@selfstoragepromotions.com
www.selfstoragepromotions.com
###
Finding the right type of portable storage container, then, depends on your specific needs. You can begin your search at the National Portable Storage Association, or NPSA. As the nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry, NPSA members adhere to a strict code of conduct and ethics. So you can be sure that the products you rent and the service you receive from these vendors is top quality. The NPSA web site even offers a “Solution Finder” that allows you to request information about the types of products in which you are interested.
“You’ll find plenty of vendors ready and able to serve you. Now it’s up to you to ask the right questions,” said NPSA Executive Director John Finnessy, CMP. “If you aren’t exactly sure what you need then just ask questions. Our members can help you determine the best size and features for your specific needs. Not all needs are created equal. Someone who is moving has different needs than someone who is storing equipment on a construction site.”
Storage containers come in a variety of sizes. Here’s what you need to know: Most are 8 feet wide and 8.5 feet high with common lengths of 20 and 40 feet (1,170 cubic feet and 3,340 cubic feet). Most customers choose 20-foot containers because they provide easier access the items inside. Forty-foot models provide almost three times as much storage space, but may require additional doors on the back or side to take gain quick access to the stored goods. You can also find containers in other lengths, from as small as 6 feet wide or as large as 54 feet wide, but these odd sizes can be difficult to find. If it’s additional clearance you need, consider what the industry calls “high cubes” that feature internal heights of 9.5 feet.
You’ll also want to keep in mind space considerations. For a 20-foot storage container, for example, plan on at least 75 feet of clearance for delivery, installation, and to maneuver in and out of the container. You need at least 100 feet of clearance for 40-foot units. Of course, containers can also come with additional features such as a lockbox, alarm system, shelving, doors on the side, ramps, ventilation, partitions insulation, refrigeration, HVAC and much more.
When considering pick-up and delivery, you’ll want to assess your options. Some vendors may charge for the round trip, others may only charge one way or roll the price into the monthly rental. Be sure to ask about the options up front because it could be a deciding factor as it relates to price. Speaking of which, price is an important distinction and you may find that pricing varies widely from region to region or even from one side of a city to another. Obviously, larger containers customized with electrical outlets will cost more than smaller units that will be used to store goods.
“Just like anything else, you can’t choose a portable storage vendor on price alone,” said NPSA Operations Manager Joel Rathbone. “Just because something cost more doesn’t mean it’s higher quality, and just because something seems like a bargain doesn’t mean there’s a catch. The good news is you can be confident you are getting a reputable vendor when you choose an NPSA member."
For more information, visit www.npsa-us.org.
The National Portable Storage Association
The National Portable Storage Association is dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. The people at the NPSA are here to serve those in the portable storage industry who rent, sell or lease containers, trailers and mobile offices. The NPSA assists members with industry, regulatory and workforce issues; plus, offers members networking, marketing and legislative support at national, state and local levels.
PR Contact:
Jennifer LeClaire
Self Storage Promotions
954.454.0072
jennifer@selfstoragepromotions.com
www.selfstoragepromotions.com
###
Contact
Self Storage Promotions
Jennifer LeClaire
954.454.0072
www.npsa-us.org
Jennifer LeClaire
954.454.0072
www.npsa-us.org
Contact
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