Are you in the process of moving or decluttering your home, and you need to store your items in a safe space? Did you know that there are portable storage rentals available for you to use to store your items and move them to your new home without you having to do too much work?
Traditional storage facilities are excellent for short-term moves, and they come with some tremendous advantages, but there are a few disadvantages that many customers aren’t too fond of. For example, traditional storage facilities can cost a lot upfront to get started and rent.
More clients are turning to portable storage facilities in Chicago to solve this problem. Continue reading below to learn more about these moving pods and who you can reach out to for the best rates in Chicago.
What Is a Storage Unit?
A traditional storage unit is one that you rent at a nearby storage facility. You’ve probably seen them driving down the highway or in your neighborhood. Although Chicago storage companies may have different amenities, they all offer the same concept.
You lease a unit, move your items into it, and pay a monthly fee to house your items. To ensure that your items are safe, you have your lock and key for the unit, and you have the ability to access your unit at a designated time. Some storage units are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whereas others are only open during business hours.
Climate Controlled Units
As mentioned above, some storage facilities have different amenities they can offer their patrons. One of those amenities is climate-controlled units. These units are ideal if you have to store delicate items sensitive to the heat or other extreme weather.
For example, if you need to store electronics or important documents, you may want to opt for a climate-controlled unit to ensure that they stay in top shape. It is important to note that these units typically come at a higher cost than a standard storage unit exposed to the changing elements.
Advantages of Traditional Storage Units
One main advantage of using traditional storage units is the fact that these have been around long enough to have competitive and standard pricing. There are also several different sizes you can choose from. They have units that are small enough to fit just a few pieces of furniture and ones big enough to house items for three or four bedrooms.
Disadvantages of Traditional Storage Units
Traditional storage units are excellent for short-term storage, but they do have a few disadvantages you should be aware of. For example, not all storage units are open 24 hours and are only available during business hours. This means if you work during the day but you need to get into your unit, you won’t be able to until your next off day.
Sharing Space with Others
Your storage unit is kept in a facility next to several other storage units, which can pose a risk of theft. If you don’t properly lock your unit, there is a chance that someone could get into your unit and take your items. Of course, there are cameras, gated access, and key codes available to protect your items, but there is still the chance that someone may try to get into your unit if the area is not well guarded.
May Require Frequent Trips
Depending on how many items you have and how much you can fit in your vehicle, you may have to take several different trips back and forth. You also have to do the heavy lifting when it comes to unloading and loading up your items. Unless you hire movers, the storage facility staff most likely won’t be able to help you with your items due to potential liability issues.
Chicago Storage Units vs. Portable Storage Rental
Storage units and portable storage units are similar in some aspects but wildly different in others. The main difference between the two is that portable storage units are moveable, whereas storage units are typically at a brick-and-mortar location.
When it comes to self-storage units, these units, either climate-controlled or not, are located in a building with other units. You can pay monthly to keep these storage units in your name, and they are great for temporary storage needs.
Portable storage units are ideal if you are moving to a new address. They are also extremely cost-effective because you can store your belongings in them and have the storage company move the unit to your new home.
When it gets to your new house, you can unload what you need and leave what you don’t need. The portable storage rental company can come to pick up the unit and store it at their location, and you can access it whenever you need to.
Common Uses of Chicago Portable Storage Units
In addition to using portable storage to move your items from house to house, there are other viable reasons why people use these moving pods. For example, some people use these for office renovations as well.
Suppose your office needs a complete renovation, or you need somewhere to store your items while you have work done at your office. In that case, you can use Chicago storage pods to hold your larger items such as furniture, important paperwork, and other office equipment.
Seasonal Storage
It isn’t uncommon for the average homeowner to accumulate a lot of holiday decorations throughout the years. If you don’t have enough storage space to hold all of these decorations, you can use portable storage facilities in Chicago.
In addition to housing your decorations, you can use the container to store any seasonal equipment such as summer tools, winter snow, ski gear, boating equipment, and more. Keep in mind that when you do store your items, don’t store anything with a gas or fuel tank.
Benefits of Portable Storage
One of the most significant benefits of using portable storage rentals is how convenient it is to move the containers. These moving pods provide you with a secure method of storing your items and make them easy to access whenever you need to access them. As mentioned earlier, you can store them at your current home or your new address if you are moving.
Chicago Portable Storage Units Are Affordable
Most people know that moving is an expensive feat. You have to pay for movers, a moving truck, boxes, and other things to make sure the move goes as smoothly as possible. If you are concerned about the cost of a portable storage unit, there is no need to worry.
The average price for an eight-foot moving pod is about $155 a month to store on your property or about $185 per month to have it stored at the storage facility of your choice. When compared to standard storage facilities in Chicago, storage pods are about $100 or more cheaper than a traditional storage facility.
Storage Containers Are Waterproof
Moving containers are very sturdy and secure, making them the best option when moving during unfavorable weather. These containers are designed to handle long-term storage, so regardless if you have your items in storage for a few days, weeks, or months, they will stay safe.
Disadvantages of Portable Storage Rental Units
Although there are so many excellent advantages of using moving pods, there are a few disadvantages you should keep in mind. For example, depending on your partner company, you may be limited to a standard eight-foot shipping storage container.
Make sure that you research your company and ask about their availability before moving forward with anyone. Other companies can offer you containers up to twenty feet.
Availability
Portable storage units are commonly used, but they are not available everywhere. In most situations, you may only have one or two companies in your area to choose from.
Even if you find a company that has availability, you should be sure to reserve your moving pod as soon as you can. It is recommended that you request your portable storage rental unit at least three weeks to a few months before you have to move. This will eliminate any availability issues.
Store Your Items with a Peace of Mind
Let’s be honest; no one likes the idea of moving, especially if you have a lot of items you need moved. If you decide to move or store your items the traditional way, you will have to worry about paying for the cost of a moving truck in addition to paying for a storage unit that you may have to go back and forth to.
Instead of dealing with that, you can just opt for an affordable portable storage rental unit and let the pros handle the rest. Contact us if you are ready to lock in your competitive rate and reserve your portable storage unit. Our team is prepared to answer any questions or concerns you may have about the process.
