Moving Containers VS Moving Trucks: What Are The Pros and Cons

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Should I Go With a Moving Company or Use Moving Containers?

One of the questions homeowners often ponder is whether they should go with a moving truck rental company or use storage containers. There are pros and cons to many of your moving options.

When you start planning your move, you will discover that you have a wide range of options for getting your things from one place to another.

You can use moving containers, get your own moving truck, have professional movers do it all, or hire labor for loading and unloading.

If you are trying to save money, you will find that some options work better for you than others. Or maybe you are going for convenience?

If so, you may be willing to pay more. Ultimately, the moving method you choose will be based on what is most important to you.

Deciding between hiring movers vs. having storage containers in your yard certainly has pros and cons.

While there are many choices for picking moving truck rental companies, the most recognizable name in onsite moving is PODS. Whether you are a business or homeowner, PODS is a reliable option for self-storage.

Making a move with PODS is super convenient as you will have access to all your things right from your own yard.

Before deciding to go with a moving container or a moving company, be sure you check out these solid moving tips. By being well prepared, you’ll increase the odds of moving with a little less stress in your life.

Containers Or A Moving Truck – Which To Choose?

Let’s take a closer look at the two main options, moving containers or moving truck rental service.

Pros of Moving Containers

1. Convenience is at the top of the list with moving containers.

The container company brings you the container to fill up. Once you have filled it, the company will take it away and transport it to your preferred destination. All you have to take care of is the loading and unloading – either do it yourself or hire someone.

2. Longer storage times.

If you need some time before you unload your possessions, moving container companies are usually able to keep your container for an extended period of time.

Containers stack easily so that they can store it at a location without too much trouble on their end. Storage containers can come in handy when you are trying to get your timing options down to buy and sell the house.

3. Moving container companies are flexible.

Moving container companies are often happy to leave a container at your place for a month or more. You can take your time loading it or unloading it, something that some people value.

A month is a long time, a lot longer than the single day you often have with a moving company to get all your stuff in the truck. You also can easily access your things right in your yard, which can be very convenient.

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Cons of Moving Containers

1. The cost of moving containers is expensive.

You would think that something as simple as moving containers would be relatively inexpensive, especially compared to hiring a moving truck. But in reality, moving containers are often the more expensive option.

You pay for convenience. It is a good idea to do your homework before you assume you will want containers, particularly if you are on a budget.

2. Accessibility of your possessions.

Your things will be in a metal container that you cannot get to until it is unloaded at your home. You cannot expect to have access to any of your things in the container, even if you will be many months between leaving the first home and arriving at the second home.

In contrast, with a moving truck, you can put all your things in a storage facility where you can get to them if you need them.

With a storage facility, you also could have the option of going with a climate-controlled unit. There is no such option when you go with a Pod.

Be sure to check out some great tips for choosing a storage unit if you decide to go that route.

Best Moving Container Companies

The following are some of the more well-known self-storage moving container companies:

1-800-PACK-RAT – while not as well known as PODS, 1-800-PACK-RAT is undoubtedly a reliable option. They have a solid reputation for being one of the best moving container companies out there. Their containers are made of weatherproof steel. You can choose to store a container on your property or at a nearby 1-800-PACK-RAT storage facility.
U-Haul – most people have heard of U-Haul being part of the moving industry. U-Haul also does container storage as well. They call it U-Box. U-HAUL is a popular choice because it has many delivery and storage options, including a low-cost, do-it-yourself option, superior convenience option, and a cost-effective option. You can see each of these storage options on their website. U-HAUL also has a storage facility option as well. Take a look at this excellent rental pricing guide for U-Haul. The other nice thing about them is you can do a U-Haul truck rental and get storage as well. One-stop shopping is a nice advantage U-Haul offers.
SMARTBOX – Smartbox is another well-known self-storage company. There is a downside to SMARTBOX moving containers. Unfortunately, they all come in one size, measuring 7′ x 5′ x 8′. These moving containers are capable of handling smaller moves. Keep in mind; you may t need to rent a few SMARTBOX moving containers for more significant moves.
GO MINI’S – GO MINI’S is yet another storage option. They allow those using the container service to have storage placed at their own home, at an outdoor Go Mini’s facility, or an indoor Go Mini’s facility.
U-PACK – U-PACK is the 5th alternative storage company worth checking out. See all their options at their mentioned website.

Pros of Moving Trucks

1. There are many different options for rental truck sizes.

Moving containers come in a few size variations, but there are usually many more truck sizes available to you than containers. You also have the option of doing everything yourself, from packing up all your things to putting them on the truck and driving them to your destination.

The other possibility is to hire labor to load and unload while you drive the truck and its contents to your new home. You have options, and some people like having options.

2. You have complete control of your move.

Because you can do everything yourself, you have a lot more control over your things than you do with a moving container company.

Depending on how you feel about leaving your possessions in the hands of strangers, it can be comforting to know that you always know where your stuff is, and you can get to any of it if you really need to.

3. The cost of renting a moving truck is usually less.

Your ability to do much of the work yourself means you can often save money using a moving truck. Even if you choose to have a moving company take care of the work for you, there is still a possibility that using a moving truck will be cheaper than moving containers.

4. Moving trucks offer easy accessibility.

Depending on the arrangement you make with the moving company, it is possible to access your things through pretty much every stage of the moving process.

If you plan on waiting a while before you move your stuff into a new home, you can unload the truck at a storage facility of your choosing. Storing your things can add some cost, so make sure you get quotes for expenses, including storage, if you think you will need it.

PRO TIP: To find a local moving truck company, use Google as a search tool. Truck rentals near me should give you some excellent options for moving trucks close to your location.

Cons of Moving Trucks

1. Moving yourself can be a challenge.

Moving is hard work. The more you do yourself, the more time and energy you will need to devote to the move. If you are a busy person, transferring to a challenging job, etc., doing all the heavy lifting may not be something you want to commit to. Even if you hire a moving company, your stuff will need to be unloaded within a day or two, whereas a moving container gives you much more time.

2. When renting moving trucks, there can be hidden costs.

There are many potential hidden costs in using a truck that you need to be aware of and account for. Gas, lodging, food, time – all of these are costs that can add up to significant expense, whether you are doing the moving or hiring someone else to do it. Just because the moving container seems more expensive does not mean that it is once you add everything up.

Best Full-Service Moving Companies

If you decide that renting your own moving truck isn’t the best idea for your situation, try getting a full-service moving company with an outstanding reputation. Some of the top moving companies in the industry include:

Mayflower Transit
United Van Lines
North American Moving Services
Graebel
Atlas Van Lines
Bekins
Wheaton World Wide Moving

Of course, it is never a bad idea to check out local movers as well. The moving companies mentioned above are large national firms. It is entirely possible you may get a much lower price for moving by going local.

Make sure you take the time to call a few local moving companies as well for quotes, especially if you are not moving out of state.

More Moving Resources Worth Viewing

When it comes to moving, there is a lot to do. It is effortless for things to go by the wayside when life gets in the way.

Take a look at the resources below that can be found here at Maximum Real Estate Exposure, which offers an abundance of helpful information. There are many moving topics to keep you on track.

Who to let know you are moving – one of the vital steps to do when moving is to inform everyone, including friends, businesses, and other service professionals you are associated with.
PODS vs. Self-Storage units – see a comparison between renting a storage unit vs. renting a pod. There are pros and cons to each of these moving methods.
Tips on how to move with pets – having a pet can add an additional layer to the moving process. Just like having children, you need to ensure that their needs are taken care of as all. See some of the best advice for a smooth move with pets.
How to avoid disputes with moving companies – no matter what service you have paid for, the last thing on your mind is receiving poor service. A moving argument is the last thing you need or want in your life. See how you can minimize your chances of having one.
Packing a house before moving – without a doubt, one of the worst things about moving is packing your house. Take a look at all of the tips for packing your home.
How to organize your things for storage – when putting your household items into storage, being organized is essential. See these great tips on how to get your home ready for storage.

Moving can be a stressful and challenging part of any home sale. These resources provide some useful tips for making the process easier.

Additional Helpful Moving & Home Selling Articles Worth Reading

When and Why should I contact a Realtor when selling – get some helpful advice on when the appropriate time is to contact a real estate agent when selling your home.
Don’t sabotage your home sale – making mistakes when selling your house for the first time is easy to do. See what you should avoid doing so you have an easy sale.
Take the ugly out of your home staging – one of the more vital sales tasks is to make your home look its best. In order to do this, it is essential to remove the tacky items from your home.
Proper representation when selling your home – in order to have a successful house sale, it is vital to have the best real estate agent fighting hard for your best interests. See what that means to have a great transaction.

Use these additional home selling references to make wise decisions. Always be well prepared before making a move into your next home!

About the author: The above Real Estate information on moving containers vs. moving trucks was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 34+ Years.

Are you thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

I service Real Estate Sales in the following Metrowest MA towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Douglas, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton, and Uxbridge MA.