3 Things You Need to Know Before Buying a Shipping Container

9 March 2017
 Categories: Business, Blog

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Shipping containers are essential for storage of equipment. You can also convert your shipping container into an office space or even a house. However, with a variety of shipping containers available for sale, you need to be careful in your selection so that you end up with the right one for your needs. For this reason, here are a few things you may want to know before making your decision.

Permission to Keep the Container On Your Property

In some jurisdictions, you may be required to obtain a permit if you intend to keep the container on your property, even if it's for temporary use. Usually, this will depend on things such as the location of your property (rural or urban) or any local regulations. Many suppliers will know the regulations in place for your area. For this reason, you may want to find out from them ahead of time whether it will be necessary to acquire any permits. However, before you schedule your delivery, get a confirmation from your local authorities for any regulations concerning having the container on your property.

Container Options

Shipping containers come in a range of options and conditions. You have to be careful on this especially if you are buying a used shipping container. Labels on the container are usually one great way to determine their condition. For instance, if you need a fairly new looking shipping container in a good condition, go for the one-trip shipping containers. These types of containers are often used only once to ship cargo before being sold. They may even be listed as new. You may want a shipping container to transport cargo. If that's the case, cargo worthy labels are what you should look for. This often means that the containers are inspected and cleared for cargo shipping by an inspector. If you want to freshly paint your shipping container, choose one with factory paint labels. This often means that since its manufacture, the container has been painted only once. Avoid containers with refurbished labels because they tend to cause the paint to peel off from rust.

Shipping Options

Even when you get an ideal shipping container at a favourable price, shipping it your property can prove quite expensive. Therefore, know your shipping or delivery options. Delivery fees vary because of things such as the location or distance of your property from the suppliers. For this reason, the total price of your container may not be inclusive of the delivery fee. Find out from your supplier the delivery fee you are likely to be charged. Compare this to hiring a long tilting trailer or truck and picking up the container yourself and then choose whichever option is cheaper.