Pros and Cons of Portable Storage Units

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At some point, you may find yourself in need of extra storage space. Whether you're between homes and need a temporary spot for your belongings, coordinating a move that requires short-term storage, or facing a sudden change in your living situation, having a secure place for your items can be essential.

Urgency often makes storage decisions more challenging. In many cases, the priority isn’t how items are stored but simply getting them from one place to another with minimal hassle. Naturally, most people turn to traditional storage facilities, which are widely available and operate under familiar guidelines.

However, there’s another option gaining popularity—portable storage units. These offer a convenient alternative by bringing the storage solution directly to you. Once packed, the unit can be transported to a secure facility or your desired location.

While portable storage units provide flexibility, they also come with certain trade-offs. Let’s explore the pros and cons to help determine if this option is the right fit for your needs.

Pros of Portable Storage Units:

• Delivered to you: The units can come right to where you’re living, such as on a curb, driveway, or designated spot on your property. This is useful for those trying to stay close to home or unable to reach another adequate storage unit in their area.
• Less driving: If you’re concerned about your environmental impact and don’t want to drive back and forth with your loads or even drive a big truck around the country as part of your move, portable units can do the pickup and delivery.
• Quicker Moving Process: A portable unit saves you time and energy if you want to get your moving job done as fast as possible. Rather than loading your car or truck with your items, going to the nearest storage facility, unloading them, and then stacking them inside, you can bring a box or two anytime to your portable unit since it’s on site. This can certainly speed things up.

Cons of Portable Storage Units

• Not HOA friendly: Many HOAs have rules against portable storage units. Some only allow it on the property for a day or two.
• Lack of Security: They are often staffed around the clock by someone on-site or offering active monitoring. The portable unit in front of your home may come with a strong lock, but that’s as far as it goes. Any additional security or monitoring is up to you. You may even fear your packed unit being broken into since criminals may see it at your home, know what it’s there for, and start plotting ways to break in and take all your items.
• Not Climate Controlled: Storage facilities often ensure potential customers know about the integrity of their units. Many are designed to ensure your items stay safe and intact in cold and warmer weather, which is handy for items needing to remain in colder or warmer months. A portable unit will lack these protections since it’s designed to be used quickly.
• One size: One of the advantages of standalone storage units is that you can select different sizes based on the number of items you have. Portable storage units typically have one standard size, so you will pay more for storage than you need.
• Lack of Access: With portable storage units, you end up scheduling a pickup, but once it’s in their warehouse, you don’t have access to your belongings unless you schedule a drop off that can be costly if you forget anything.
• Potential Property Damage: Placing a heavy portable storage unit on your property may cause damage to your lawn, driveway, or sidewalk due to its weight or pressure points. This is not a concern with self-storage, as the units are not placed on your property.
• Long-Term Costs: While portable storage units seem convenient for short-term storage needs, the costs can add up over time, including rental and delivery/pickup fees. Self-storage facilities often offer more predictable and cost-effective long-term pricing.

In summary, portable storage units’ limitations and potential drawbacks, such as limited access, transportation costs, and security concerns, can make traditional self-storage a more appealing option for individuals or businesses seeking secure, accessible, and flexible storage solutions.

We’re Your Storage Solution!

Storage Rentals of America is your convenient self-storage solution. So come into our office or call our storage experts at 1-800-457-5678. Our call center is available 7 days a week and can help determine which storage unit size best fits your storage needs.