How Much Does Moving With PODS Cost?
Are you wondering about PODS movers and their pricing? PODS moving can be an excellent alternative to renting a self-storage unit.
If you are considering using portable storage for your move, the cost of moving with PODS will be an essential factor.
We will look at the cost of PODS and the things that make up your bill.
When moving with PODS, you must have a solid grip on how your expenses will run.
To give you a rough understanding of the PODS cost, a typical local move will likely cost between $250 and $800. Long-distance moves range between $1000 and $7,500.
The national average is around $3000.
These figures include a month of storage, the distance traveled, and the fuel used during your move.
The variables in these prices include the PODS you use and the distance they need to be moved. However, any labor or packing materials required for your move aren’t included.
Let’s take a comprehensive look at the cost of moving pods so you know what to expect with your next move.
Once you’re done reading, you’ll have an in-depth understanding of how moving PODS work.
What Are Moving PODS?
A moving Pod is a self-contained unit usually made of steel with a roll-up door that provides a place for your padlock. PODS is short for Portable on Demand Storage.
PODS is one of the most recognized moving and storage companies specializing in residential moving.
The business was founded in 1998 and is based in Clearwater, Florida.
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan owns the company. PODS currently has three different portable storage containers. The sizes of a PODS container are a 7-foot container, 12-foot container, and 16-foot container.
The 16-foot container is a trendy choice containing 857 cubic feet.
PODS will deliver their portable containers to load at your own pace. The storage pods can then be moved to your new home or one of the PODS storage centers. The pod container provides the space you need for as much time as you want and where it’s needed.
Moving with PODS has made having storage space a less stressful option. PODS has numerous locations providing a whole lot of flexibility for your move. They are located in 46 different states in the US, including DC and Hawaii.
When you need on-demand storage, PODS could be a great choice. They are known to have solid customer service.
Why Choose PODS Moving and Storage
You can use PODS to store your stuff for many reasons. Perhaps, you are having your home renovated. When staging your home, you might need storage if you are between leases or need to store your possessions.
But whatever the reason, PODS isn’t the only option.
You could pick a local storage facility. You might have access to a few different storage businesses conveniently near you, and they could have competitive prices. However, when renting a storage unit, you must remember to move your items twice to and from the storage unit.
If you plan to store your possessions for a more extended period, like a year or more, a storage unit will become much more cost-effective.
A full-service mover will often offer storage in their warehouse as well. Their prices can also be very competitive, though typically not as good as storage facilities. This makes them a reasonable choice if you need to store your things for a few months.
The disadvantage of this option is the more restricted access to your possessions. They may also require you to use their services to move your stuff to and from their warehouse.
With PODS storage, you can deliver the container to your home to fill your time. They will then take the moving pod and store it in their facility when you are ready. Some folks do not realize there is a PODS storage facility.
Doing so makes the PODS moving cost less than the other options if you need to store your items for a few months. A more careful look at PODS pricing will show you this.
How Much Does PODS Cost For a Local Move?
One of the most popular questions is how much storage pods cost. The costs will be high if you want to use PODS for a local move.
Let’s look more closely at the monthly fee and other costs.
The PODS moving cost will be based on the number and size of the containers you need.
As mentioned, PODS has three different container sizes to choose from; 7, 12, and 16 feet. The moving PODS cost doesn’t include delivery fees and storage costs beyond the first month.
The typical costs for storage containers don’t change too much between the size of the pod. The first month’s rental fees are $164.99 for the 7-foot container, $189.99 for the 12-foot container, and $199.99 for the 16-foot container.
The delivery charge or transit costs are $99.99. That same amount in pick-up fees is paid again for the final collection.
If you need the container moved to a new location, they charge $89.99. When you need more than a month, they charge $164.99 across all sizes per month.
Other costs include a padlock at $25 and insurance, which starts at $10. The insurance charges depend on your declared value and can go as high as $450 monthly.
Insurance charges are an expensive option to plan for.
You should get a free quote from the PODS website for a more exact breakdown of moving pod costs.
PODS provides online quotes to get a general idea of what you can expect to pay.
Long-Distance Moving PODS Cost
For obvious reasons, PODS long-distance moving costs can vary greatly. Many different factors will contribute to PODS pricing with long-distance moves.
We will examine the price ranges you can expect to pay for an interstate move. You will have to call them for a more accurate pricing estimate, as they don’t give these sorts of forecasts on their site.
If you have a 1 bedroom home or small apartment, the likely costs for a PODS storage container will be between $450 and $800 for under 250 miles. Expect to pay from $2,000 to $4,000 if you move across the country.
For a 2 or 3-bedroom move of fewer than 250 miles, the bill will be between $750 and $2,000. Long-distance moves will cost between $3,000 and $5,000 for 2 or 3 bedrooms.
A 4 or 5-bedroom move will cost around $900 to over $2,000 for less than 250 miles. Moving across the country will cost $5,500 to about $7,600 with a big home of 4 or 5 bedrooms.
With such a variation in costs, particularly for longer moves, it is advisable to call for a more accurate estimate. It is also recommended to get estimates from other movers and container storage companies to get the best deal.
Some Folks Like to Rent a Moving Truck
Not everyone will hire a professional moving company. Some will decide to get a rental truck. You can rent a truck from many reputable companies, including UHaul, Home Depot, and others.
It would help if you looked at the review of the best moving truck rental companies. If you rent a moving truck, it will be a good idea to factor that into your overall costs. It is an added expense that many people forget about.
Typically, it will be cheaper to rent a U-Haul vs. renting moving PODS if you are going to be choosing one or the other.
When calculating PODS pricing don't forget to factor in the cost of renting a moving truck if you need one.Click To TweetComparing The Cost of PODS With The Competition
PODS isn’t the only company offering containers to make moving home easier. There are other PODS competitors to choose from. They compete with PackRat, U-Haul, U-Pack, Zippy Shell, and more.
You can see our review of the best PODS moving and storage container companies.
When comparing price ranges from those companies and PODS, the prices are similar for local moves. PODS doesn’t seem as good for long-distance moves, with other companies offering lower ranges for all-size moves.
However, it would be best if you remembered that the service offered by each company isn’t identical, so the cheapest might not be the best. It would be best to get an estimate to understand which company will be more affordable.
Getting pricing can’t always be done online and may require calling the companies, but it is worth the effort if you save a few hundred dollars or more on your moving containers.
How Is The Cost of PODS Calculated?
Renting a moving container from PODS or any other company isn’t at a set price. When you are trying to find out how much you will pay.
Several factors will make up the cost of your final bill.
Let’s take a look at how POD prices are decided.
Your Location Impacts The Cost of PODS
Your location partly determines the cost of your move. How much demand there is and the level of competition can have a lot of influence on the costs of containers.
The distance the company has to travel to your home can also play a part. You are further away if you are in a rural area, but it can reduce your charges.
Since it is easier to transport containers in places with less traffic and restrictions, this can reduce costs.
Your Moving Destination Matters With POD Movers
The ZIP codes you are moving to influence your costs similarly to where you are moving from.
The combination of these things can change your overall moving costs. Getting a rental quote will help with pinpointing the pricing.
Moving Distance Plays a Role With The Cost of Moving PODS
The longer distances you need your containers moved, the more you will be charged. Typically, the further away your new home is, the higher your PODS costs will be.
The company will have to spend more on fuel, which will take up more time for their employees.
Moving a short distance will be the least costly, all other things being equal.
When You Move Can Impact PODS Pricing
Delivery dates are a critical aspect of PODS pricing. The timing of your move affects how much you will spend. It will cost you more money if you choose to move when most other people do. This will mean more demand for PODS, so they charge more.
Summer is a popular time to move home, along with springtime. You can expect to pay more to reserve your moving containers in these seasons of the year. It is also more expensive to rent containers at the weekend.
The average prices go up during this time frame.
How Much Stuff You Have Impacts PODS Moving Costs
It shouldn’t be surprising to learn that the more stuff you have to move, the greater the costs you will pay. It means you need more significant and more containers for your things, which naturally increases the costs.
It’s always a good idea not to bring along things you don’t need anymore. It is one of our better packing-for-moving tips.
Two popular options for getting rid of things are hiring 1-800-Got-Junk or donating to a local charity for items of value.
Size of Your PODS Moving Containers Impacts Costs
As you have found out, the monthly storage rates don’t change significantly between the size of your chosen unit. There is a different pricing, but the cost of the largest container isn’t that dissimilar to the smallest.
How Long You Need The PODS Will Influence The Cost
When renting monthly before moving to your new place, the time frame needed will play a significant role. Extra time will add to your total bill.
Extra Services Can Add to The PODS Pricing
This will add to your bill if you need more help with your move, like packing assistance or labor. Perhaps you need more insurance, which isn’t cheap, to cover your items. These are all critical things to consider.
Sometimes when you have fragile items, these extra perks are worth it.
You may not want to spend time unloading and sorting your possessions when relocating a great distance.
How to Get a Better Deal on Your PODS Moving Cost
Moving from home to home is expensive, no matter which company you choose. There are some things you can do to reduce the expense, however.
Comparing Your Storage Options
The costs of moving companies can vary considerably. The more companies you get estimates from, the more quickly you will understand which is offering the best deal.
There are many options if you want a moving container; the more estimates you get, the better.
You can then compare the services offered and their prices to find the best deal.
For example, you might find a cheaper option if you move cross-country.
These could also be considerations if you need long-term storage or items that need a climate-controlled environment.
Please look at our guide comparing renting PODS to self-storage storage space. Make it part of your moving checklist to determine which option is best.
Choose a Less Busy Moving Time
If you can move at a less popular time of the year, you could make substantial savings on your storage pods cost.
Moving home in the winter won’t be as easy as in the summer, but it will be cheaper.
You should also avoid moving on the weekend. If you can move in the middle of the week, you should make a saving.
Have Less to Move
With fewer possessions to move, your costs are going to be lower. Moving home is ideal for decluttering and clearing out the stuff you don’t use anymore.
Decluttering could reduce the number of containers you need, making packing easier.
You can make money for your move by selling unwanted items online or having a yard sale. Alternatively, you can donate furniture and possessions to charity. They will often collect them from you right at your home.
Your PODS rental cost could go down significantly with less to move.
Avoid Unnecessary POD Costs
You have to pay for one month of storage with your PODS rental. The same will be valid for most other container supplies, and if you go over this for another month, the charges will rise. PODS charges you $164.99 for additional months.
The charges continue until canceled on a month-to-month basis.
You might avoid extra charges like this by being very careful with your scheduling. While you can take time loading your container, you must give yourself enough time to unpack to avoid running into the next month.
It would help if you remembered transportation times, particularly for long-distance moves.
Don’t forget to read the small print of the contract you will sign. There could be extra fees to pay if you don’t stick to the moving container’s terms.
Don’t Use Extra Services
You will reduce your final bill if you don’t need the add-ons that moving container companies offer. This might mean doing more heavy lifting yourself or getting help from friends rather than paying for labor.
You can also find packing materials for less or even free if you plan. Moving boxes can often be obtained free online or from local stores and recycling centers.
Before you pay for insurance, check to see if your homeowner’s or renters’ insurance provides enough coverage. You will have to spend extra money if you don’t have enough coverage from other insurance policies.
Otherwise, you are going to be risking a lot during your move.
Though accidents are rare, you will regret not paying the premium if something goes wrong.
Don’t Be Afraid to Haggle With Price
It is worth asking if you can negotiate on the price. While many companies won’t budge on their estimate, some might.
Perhaps you have received a better price from another company which you can use as leverage. Will they match it or beat it?
Look for Discounts in PODS Pricing
You might find a discount code online or qualify as part of a particular group. Sometimes companies offer student or military discounts, and seniors can get reduced prices too.
How Do You Pay For PODS?
PODS will accept all major credit and debit cards, including Master Card, Visa, American Express, and Discover. PODS will allow you to pay via check, money order, or cash in some locations.
Typically, they will only allow paying by something other than a credit card for a local move.
PODS has a privacy policy that you can look over as well.
How to Find PODS Near Me?
Finding the closest PODS to your location is as simple as doing an online search. You can search for PODS near me, and you’re likely to see a few options.
Besides doing an internet search, the best way is to contact a local real estate agent. They are bound to know where to find one nearby.
Should You Choose PODS for Your Move?
If your final decision on moving services includes hiring PODS, check out some of their excellent tips. Their guidance will help your relocation go smoother. Whether or not PODS is the cheapest storage option for you will depend on many things.
PODS movers are very competitive in price, but you should get at least a few different estimates to compare what is available.
You could find that another container company is better, or renting a truck will be cheaper. A full-service moving company could be better, but you won’t know the situation without getting quotes.
There are many storage options, so it will be worth checking them out. Hopefully, you have found this PODS moving, and storage pricing guide helpful. Best of luck with your move!
About the author: Bill Gassett, a nationally recognized leader in his field, provided the above Real Estate information on how much PODS cost. 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 Metrowest towns for 37+ years.
Are you thinking of selling your home? I am passionate about Real Estate and love sharing my marketing expertise!
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