Moving on a Budget: Tips for Choosing the Right Shipping Containers for Sale in Houston

1. March 14, 2018 Moving on a Budget: Tips for Choosing the Right Shipping Containers for Sale in Houston According to the American Moving and Storage Association, an average interstate household move can set you back as much as $4,300 if you hire traditional movers. If you’re on a tight budget, such a move might not seem like a good idea especially with the risks involved. You’d be better off finding alternative methods of moving like purchasing and using new cargo storage containers instead. New shipping containers can cost anywhere between $1000 to $3000, which means you’ll have plenty left over for other expenses. You’ll also get your very own portable storage space after the move or at the very least earn back what you spent when you put the containers back on the market. Page | 1

2. Before you get started on packing, however, you need to make sure that you have the right unit for your needs. Here are some great tips to help you choose. Pick the Best Container Size Just how much stuff do you need to pack? Generally speaking, a standard 20-foot container has enough space to fit the entire contents of a standard 2 to 3 bedroom home. If you have a four bedroom home or perhaps plenty of large furniture to move, a 40 foot box may be more suited to the task. If you don’t have room on your lot for containers with these capacities, you can buy a few smaller 8-foot or 10-foot containers instead. Each one may hold up to 1 to 1.5 bedroom home’s worth of stuff. You can also just buy a 20-foot box and then rent out 8-foot or 10-foot containers for your other belongings that won’t fit in the first one. In any case, be sure to ask your supplier what the exact dimensions are so you can pack efficiently. Consider Container Grades Shipping containers come in different grades of cargo-worthiness. They are rated based on several factors, but grades can vary depending on your supplier’s own standards and that of the third-party company that conducted the inspection. Shipping container grades can also affect the pricing, so make consider this an important discussion point when you talk to your supplier. Some common terms you might hear, particularly if you are purchasing used containers, include cargo worthy and wind-and-water-tight. If you are moving to a new home outside the United States though, it is more ideal to buy a brand new container because they are clean, odorless, dent-free and have doors that are easier to open. Moving out of state, across the country or outside the U.S. doesn’t have to be expensive if you use shipping containers instead of hiring movers. Talk to a reputable supplier of quality containers to learn about your options. About Equipment Management Services Equipment Management Services is a one of the most trusted suppliers of shipping containers in the U.S. We operate two off-dock container storage and management facilities in Houston. The EMS team offers a wide variety of services including sale and rental of shipping Page | 2

3. containers, modifications and depot services. Contact us to find out more about what we can do for you. Sources: Don't Want to Hire Movers? 7 Ways to Move Your Stuff to a New Home, TheSpruce.com How to Pack a Portable Moving Container, Moving.com Page | 3