portable storage

5
Jul

Posted by admin

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Owners and operators are taking notices of the portable storage business and asking themselves if it is a logical expansion to their current facility. These containers can be seen parked among driveways and transported along streets and highways all over the country. Those who own traditional types of facilities are questioning the opportunity they may be missing on offering another option.

Portable storage or often called mobile or drop box, comes from a facility offering to delivery a container to the customer, either their home or office. The container is then packed by the customer and locked with their lock. The facility then picks up the container and returns it to a warehouse among other containers. This saves the customer the expense and hassle of renting a truck or hiring a moving company to pack and move his belongings from his home or office to the facility.

Portable storage differs significantly from the traditional facility. With the traditional facility it is more of a landlord and tenant relationship where the company rents space. The tenant or customer is responsible for all risks to the loss of their property. The facility does not need to have insurance for the contents.

With the container program, the company becomes responsible for the locked unit when it is placed on the truck and stored in the warehouse. The facility is now responsible for the risks and needs to carry insurance on the property.

The system means you will need a new rental agreement from your standard lease agreement. The agreement will clarify you liability limitations and the responsibilities of the renter. One of these responsibilities might include proper packing to prevent damages to the contents.

The portable storage operation requires the use of a truck, drivers and forklift. The facility will need to provide insurance coverage for the trucks that will be transporting the containers as well as any workers compensation for employees. But the most important coverage the insurance needs to cover is the contents the renter stores on the premises in the container.

You should determine if adding containers to your current facility is a viable option. Shop your competition to determine a range of rental and delivery fees. A market within a 30 mile radius is typical of the container customer. The rates are often two to three times higher than a typical unit, with the addition of delivery and pickup fees.

Demand will often depend on the population of the area you serve. Smaller rural areas often want larger containers while the crowded city area looks for a smaller container to rent.

There are other considerations as well to take into account. What will be the estimated costs of launching the upgrades?

Containers are a big investment. Will you be using wood crates or investing in the more durable steel or plastic containers?

Land and warehouse space will need to be figured into the costs. Do you have land suitable for storing containers outdoors or will you want them stored in a warehouse that can be climate controlled? Check local and zoning restrictions on the placement of containers. You may need permits. There will be transportation regulations you will need to comply with.

There are many benefits of adding portable storage to your existing operations. You can add more containers as your business grows unlike the permanency of a traditional facility. With the right planning and research, adding containers to your operation can increase the profits you see from this growing trend.

Brought to you by:

Storage Concierge – Premier Local Storage and Mini Storage

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