Steel Storage Containers – Buy or Rent?

If you ever have to shop large sized products, or large quantities, then the best way to achieve that will be by using steel storage containers. This is firstly because they are a very spacious, standard size. You can use them as a convenient storage area as well, which adds to their usefulness. In fact, a lot of people use steel storage containers as an additional storage space, particularly because they are available as very low cost rentals. While they were originally designed for transport, a large amount now idly sits in storage areas and can be either rented or purchased at very low prices. They are particularly useful for large and medium capacities.

Some Information about the Containers

The idea behind steel storage containers actually comes from the United States Army. They needed something of a standard shape that could carry anything from tanks to soldiers. This is where the rectangular idea came from. After the war, the containers became more commercially available and people quickly started to see that they were suitable not just for the shipping industry, but for the storage industry as well. Because containers are built for transportation, they are also popular with people who want to move home. The container can be brought to a property where it can be filled up, after which it is taken to a new property to be unloaded, perhaps with some storage time in between. The question is, however, should you buy or rent one?

Buying or Renting Containers

Renting is more expensive in the long run. This is because you are expected to only use them for a short period of time. However, they are generally still cheaper than other storage facilities. Plus, if you rent for a longer period of time, your rates will generally drop quite significantly. However, the reality is that when you rent a container, you will never quite own it. Hence, if you intend to rent it for a very long period of time, buying it may be a better option.

There are two problems with buying a container, however. These are:

1. You will have to pay the full purchase price up front.
2. If you ever want to move your container, you have to pay for that yourself as well.

As such, it is a question of weighing up your pros and cons. If you have significant assets behind your name and you know that you will frequently use storage facilities, then buying the container may be the better option. Yes, you will have to pay every time you want to move it, but that will still be less than rental fees. On the other hand, rental is often so cheap that it is very easy to budget for it, whether you are a business or an individual. And, if you do rent it, you may have insurance and security included with it. What matters most is that these containers are more affordable and of better quality than any other option, particularly storage warehouses.