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Moving? Consider a Shipping Container For Your Relocation

January 17, 2022

If you’re moving house or business, locally or abroad, you’ll have an important decision to make about transporting your possessions.

The prospect of moving can seem daunting, especially once you’ve realised just how many things you’ve accumulated over the years.

The collection of items is also usually vast from small delicate possessions to large bulky objects, making it even more challenging.

One option that may have crossed your mind is to use a shipping container for relocation, but how exactly does it work?

We thought we’d go through the finer details about how you can take advantage of containers for your big move.

 

Moving overseas with shipping containers

 

 

If you’re heading overseas with a large number of possessions, then using a shipping container is a practical and convenient option to consider. Not only is it an extremely safe and secure way to transport your belongings but it’s also a fairly simple one as well.

Once an order/request is confirmed, a container will be delivered to your home for you to load, after which it will be locked, picked up and delivered for shipping. Once it’s arrived at the port of destination, it’ll be unloaded and delivered to your new address.

There are a few other aspects that’ll need to be confirmed as well, such as clearance and entry paperwork for the new destination. Insurance is another important factor but we can guide you through the details to make it all as straightforward as possible.

 

What size shipping containers can you use to move?

 

There are three different sizes of shipping containers available to use when moving home or business. The smallest is the 10ft container which is great for a modest amount of possessions like that of a small apartment. The most popular is the 20ft container, which is typically big enough to fit the possessions of a 3 – 4 bedroom house (more on this later).

Last but not least, there’s the 40ft container, the largest option which is ideally suited for businesses or for those also shipping vehicles as well. If that’s not enough, you can also use multiple containers in combination i.e. a 40ft container and a 20ft container, if needs be.

 

Can you use different types of shipping containers as well?

 

As well as a range of sizes to choose from there are also different types of containers to consider as well. One such example is to choose a container that improves access when packing or unpacking. Containers that make this task easier include Open Side Containers which give you side access to the container and Double Door Containers which have container doors at both ends of the container.

Another type of container that might be of interest is the Insulated Container. An insulated container is a reefer/refrigerated container that no longer has an operational refrigeration unit. What it does have, however, is its overall insulation which means it is able to maintain a consistent ambient temperature while in storage and/or transit. If you’re moving possessions that will be susceptible to extreme changes in temperature, which can happen during a sea voyage, then an insulated container is a great option to choose.

 

What can you fit in a shipping container?

 

A key question that nearly everyone asks is “How much can you actually fit inside a shipping container?”. As we briefly mentioned, a 20ft container is usually enough to accommodate the possessions of a 3 – 4 bedroom house but what does that actually equate to?

A 20ft container has about 33m³ of space and a total payload of 28,000kg so straight away you get a feel for its considerable capacity. In terms of items, it provides enough space to fit 400 flat-screen TVs or 200 full-sized mattresses or 60 fridges or 4,000 shoe boxes.

Obviously, you won’t be shipping such large quantities of those specific items but it paints a more vivid picture as to what can be managed. If you’re thinking about 10ft or 40ft container options you can half or double those estimates respectively.

 

Moving locally with shipping containers

 

Shipping containers can also be used for moving domestically as well – a service known as shipping container relocations. The process for doing so is even simpler than the one described above as there’s no need to concern yourself with international permits and clearances.

Many people don’t even realise this service is available for domestic jobs but it most certainly is and has some great benefits for doing so.

 

What are the advantages of shipping container relocations?

 

There are a number of advantages for going with the shipping container relocations service for moving home or business. One of the most appealing has to do with the convenience it offers its customers.

Once an order is placed a container can be delivered promptly to your property (usually within a few days) meaning you can get started quickly. Regular house movers, typically need to be booked well in advance as they have free up a larger portion of time (for staff and moving truck) to do all the packing/unpacking. In a country with so many real estate sales and people moving residence, this often creates a backlog.

This aspect of convenience also relates to time as well. One of the most stressful aspects of moving house is the rush to get everything done. You have to book the movers at a time that both you and they are free. You have to make sure everything is packed and ready to load up by the time they arrive. You have to ensure they keep to time and that everything is moved and unpacked by the end of the day.

When using shipping container relocations, the time pressure is removed from the equation. The container is simply dropped off and picked up once you’ve loaded it and are ready to go. It could be the same day, it could be the next. It could be the following weekend or a month away. It’s completely up to you to decide how long you need to take. The same also applies when you’re unpacking it too making it a much more relaxed process.

Taking this stress out of the situation is also a big plus for many. Most people dislike stress which can lead to mishaps and mistakes – things to avoid when moving precious belongings. Having the flexibility to move at your own pace in your own time means you can do your move when you want to, as opposed to having to create time for it yourself. You can also pack and load things with the right amount of care that you know is required for each particular item, again avoiding any unnecessary accidents.

Last but not least, shipping container relocations can be a comparatively cost-effective solution. This is mainly because it is a self-packing option meaning you aren’t having to pay an hourly rate for multiple movers over the course of a long day. Anyone who has done this before knows how costs can quickly escalate. With container relocations, you are essentially paying a container hire and transport fee which is generally a lot better for the budget.

 

Steps for container relocations

 

The shipping container relocations process is made to be simple and can be broken down into four easy steps.
Step 1 – We send the truck
Once an order is confirmed, we send a truck with your container. This then gets unloaded in the best position possible on your property.
Step 2 – We arrange transport
Once your fully-packed container is ready to go, we’ll come to get it for delivery to your new location. This might be by the same truck or if it’s further afield, we may use a combination of truck/rail and/or sea.
Step 3 – We deliver and unload
The container is then delivered to your new location and unloaded off the truck.
Step 4 – You unpack
You are then free to unpack your container in your own time as you please. We’ll then come to pick up your container once you are done unless you’ve purchased the container outright, in which case it’s yours.

 

Use containers for your next move!

 

As you can see, you can absolutely use a container to move the contents of your home or business domestically or abroad. It’s an option that can save you time, stress and money with more and more people choosing the service all the time. If you’ve any further questions about shipping container relocations, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

 

 

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