If you’re moving soon, you might thinking about renting a PODS container as opposed to hiring professional movers. Renting a PODS container can save you a whole lot of money, but is it the right move for you?
Let’s start with what PODS are: they are “Portable On Demand Storage” and the company is well established. After you pack the container, the company will move it for you, and is able to do so locally or long-distance.
Some of the main advantages of renting a PODS container is the fact that it is first and foremost cost efficient. It will cost about a fourth of what a professional moving company will ask for. It is also secure and works with your schedule, since you’ll be packing it yourself.
There’s also the fact that you won’t need to rent or drive a large truck, making loading and unloading much easier. The containers are weather resistant and comes with tie downs, steel locking latches, and a lock and key.
The final cost of the PODS container is determined by the size you want to rent, the duration of the rental you’ll need, and the distance of the move. Long-distance will start at about $800 and is based on the total mileage of the move. This is way less than hiring professional movers.
Before you start the rental process, you should do some planning. About a week before drop-off and pickup, you should schedule the container. When deciding which container to choose, overestimate the amount of space you think you need, because it will always be more than you think.
A helpful tip to try out is to use plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes. The plastic bins are stronger and won’t break or get crushed. Make sure you gather your supplies ahead of time so that you can optimize your time.
What’s nice about these containers is that they’re easier to pack than moving trucks because they are on ground level. However, that means that you need to make sure to pack the container with evenly distributed weight.