In recent years, there’s been a push to see how we can better upcycle and recycle items that have already been created. Perhaps one of the most innovative ways of upcycling has been with the use of shipping containers. There are a ton of unique uses for storage containers — from creating temporary offices on a construction site to temporary classrooms or even homes! There will always be a steady supply of shipping containers being retired from their primary function — moving cargo — given that 95% of the world’s cargo is transported via ships. And though around 675 containers are lost at sea every year, there are almost 20 million shipping containers around the world and just six million are currently being used. The remainder could be used for a host of other tasks.
What Can Shipping Containers Be Used For?
One great use for shipping containers is storage. They’re initially built to store items in transport, so they’re durable and weatherproof. The only difference, of course, is that the items aren’t being moved in the containers from Point A to Point B.
Instead of renting out warehouse space, a company could simply rent a number of shipping containers, find land or a space they already own, and fill it with the shipping containers. They then own that storage space and don’t have to worry about rent or leases.
Shipping containers can also be used as temporary homes for disaster relief purposes or office spaces as well. There are plenty of companies that can modify them to add windows, skylights, shelving, locks, climate control, and other necessities that make a shipping container livable or workable.
Why Are Shipping Containers So Useful?
As mentioned above, there are so many shipping containers available, but not in use, so seeing them
repurposed is wonderful. Plus, for every recycled shipping container, around 3,500 kilograms of steel gets reused. Whether they’re used for storage, homes, or offices, using a shipping container also means that traditional building materials can be saved, since we’re using what’s already created and available to us. This makes them an extremely eco-friendly choice for businesses or individuals looking to have more of a positive environmental impact.
Furthermore, one will also save a good amount of money by purchasing shipping containers outright, instead of leasing or renting storage or office space or building a new home. For under $2,000, you could have 320 square feet of space, for example, and many homes can be built for under $50,000 — something unheard of with most homes built of traditional building material.
Shipping containers can move from worksite to worksite and are extremely flexible in terms of being remodeled into different kinds of spaces. They are also extremely durable, built to withstand 100 mph winds and turbulent seas, and protect the cargo inside. This makes them both incredibly safe and also gives the assurance that anything stored inside will be kept intact and dry.
How Can One Obtain Shipping Containers for Alternative Uses?
Some cargo companies may offer these storage containers for sale once their useful lifespan is over. However, there are other companies who specialize in used shipping containers that you can find online. And if you live near a big shipping hub, it may be even easier than going online — you might just try asking around locally.
Once you have the container, if you’re looking to repurpose it into an office or home, there are companies that specialize in remodeling for that purpose. They can add doors and windows, install climate control, add locks, paint the interior and add shelving, and much more. Whether you’re using it as a pop up store or basic office at a worksite to temporary housing, these companies can meet your needs.
There are tons of advantages to repurposing a storage container — it’s eco-friendly, affordable, flexible, and there are increasingly creative ways to totally transform the space into a workable, livable space.
There are millions of unused shipping containers that can be found throughout the United States. These containers are great for all kinds of uses, including additional storage space, commercial pop up shops, and can even be used as residential housing.
If you’re in the market for some used or new shipping containers, it’s important to go into the transaction with as much information as possible. From understanding average shipping container sales to accessing delivery fees, here are some important things to consider when purchasing used shipping containers:
- Delivery payments and fees — Depending on how far your container will have to travel to get to your home or site, you could end up paying a significant amount of money on delivery fees. Typically, the higher the mileage, the more money you’ll have to pay. Plus, if your property is difficult to access or get a container setup, you could end up paying even more.
- Container inspections — On average, only between 2% and 10% of shipping containers are inspected. Without a proper inspection, not only will you risk not gaining permission for your container to be placed on a certain site, you might end up having a lower quality container than you paid for. Simply scheduling an inspection before your final purchase will prevent these issues from happening.
- Find out if you need permission for where the container will be located — Most construction and retail sites will require you to get permission prior to placing it on their lot. Similarly, even if you plan on having a container placed on your own property, you still might have to get permission. It’s important to contact your city, county, and neighborhood association to find out the exact container requirements.
- Ask about site prep — Depending on the size and condition of the container you purchase, as well as the amount of time it will be stored there, the site prep time will likely vary. If your container will be in place for months at a time, or you’re storing multiple containers, you’ll likely need to go through much more preparation work. Beware of storing a container on ground that floods easily or is uneven.
- What kind of supplier you’re purchasing from — Typically, there are two options for buying used containers: third party sellers and local suppliers. Third party sellers might end up charging you a higher price for a lower quality container, so beware. Local suppliers usually have much better options.
If you’re looking for quality used shipping containers for sale in NY, make sure you’re considering everything above and contact Integrated Equipment Sales right away.
There are currently about 17 million shipping containers in circulation across the globe, but only 6 million are actually being used. No matter what your professional situation is, you could likely benefit from renting or purchasing a few strong steel shipping containers.
If you’re thinking about researching shipping container sales and buying one or two, there are some important things to keep in mind:
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- Why do you need it? — First, you need to identify why you actually need a new or used shipping container. Are you opening a new small business? Are you hoping to improve your storage capabilities? Do you just want a secluded area to get some work done? Whatever the reason, make sure you’re aware of it before you make a purchase.
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- What type of security will you need? — No matter what is being kept inside a container, a quality lock needs to be present. There are two types of container locks: exterior bolt locks and interior locking mechanisms. Interior locking mechanisms are a little more expensive but work extremely well — so if you have a lot of valuables inside your container, that’s your best bet. Otherwise, an exterior bolt lock should do. Many container suppliers sell a variety of locking mechanics including standard bolts and complex interior locks. Make sure you ask the supplier what additional security options they offer, as well.
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- What’s the condition of the container? — If you’re buying a new shipping container, you likely won’t have to worry about its condition. If you’re buying used, however, there are some important things you should look out of for, including: how it has been used in the past, what type of climate has it been exposed to, how many miles it has traveled, any and all repairs that have occurred, and whether or not is incurred any rust, dents, drops, and other damages.
Once you have determined why you need a container (or multiple containers), know your security needs, and have an idea of its overall condition, it’s time to get a quote. This is all the information that you’ll need to list out when getting a shipping container sales quote:
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- Business or personal address (street, city, state, and zip code)
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- Container condition: new, used, wind and watertight, or cargo worthy
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- Lead source: prior customer, referral, sign, trade show, other
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- Container type: refrigerated, insulated, dry, other
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- Number of containers: 1, 2-4, 5-7, 8 or more (please specify)
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- Custom container modifications
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- Delivery type: customer pick-up, flat bed, tilt bed
If you want to learn more about shipping container sales and find quality used shipping containers for sale in NJ, give Integrated Equipment Sales a call today.
Have you seen those tiny homes made out of shipping containers? They’ve become one of the most affordable and adorable trends for homeowners today. Shipping containers are the perfect base for so many different projects; they’re practically taking over the globe! There are endless possibilities when using a shipping container to start your next project. Here’s how to let your imagination run wild.
Creating a small home seems to be the most popular option right now with the amount of housing that isn’t available. Cities are filling up so fast they can’t keep up with demand, and buying a home has never been more expensive. With these obstacles, it just makes sense to cut back on the amount of space you need and build a small home from steel shipping containers. Buying used steel storage containers for sale is cheaper than constructing a two-story home or even a one-story rancher. A large family may not be the ideal occupants for these small homes, but if you’re on your own or only living with one or two other people, you have got it made.
Mobile offices are the best option for those who work on construction projects. Being onsite gives you the power to see how the work is being done and what needs to be monitored. You can easily make changes to your project or handle grievances your staff or customers may have right away instead of having them call you at home or in another office location. Steel shipping containers are secure and you can have on-site security to watch over your office when you aren’t around. When you finish your project you simply load up your office on a truck and deliver it to the next job site. You can use your mobile office for years to come and save hundreds each month by not having to rent a space for a regular office. Budget-friendly options are great for entrepreneurs.
Ever think of owning your own store, running a food vending operation or selling other products? Steel shipping containers make great pop up shops, restaurants, or vendors of any kind. Not only can you start selling practically anything out of your own personal storefront, but you can move anytime you like to a new destination. Say you decide to sell food off a busy beachfront location during the summer and business is great. When summer ends and everyone is in the streets downtown, you can find a lot and move there instead. You will save tons of cash by not renting building space and you can follow your customers where they tend to flock to. Location is everything!
So next time you have a business idea or start thinking of homeownership, think about the options that come with using steel shipping containers. Shipping containers can last for over 20 years if they are well taken care of, that’s a long haul for a minimal investment.
It’s amazing how much stuff someone can accumulate after a year or two. Multiply that by a few decades, an entire family, and years of hard work — and that’s likely a significant amount of things kept around the house and the office. As the new year approaches, it’s time to start thinking about freeing up more space in your life and, subsequently, alleviating much of the stress in your life.
It’s time to free up space for the new year. Here are some great tips to improve your storage capacity throughout 2019:
- Utilizing storage containers— A standard TEU shipping container can hold around 3,500 shoe boxes. And a 40-foot high cube container can hold more than 8,000 shoe boxes. That’s a lot of extra storage. Additionally, you can even make storage container modifications to accommodate for your custom storage needs. Utilizing storage containers is a great way to free up space in your life.
- Get rid of as much as you can— At the end of the day, you can only store so many items. No matter how many storage units you’re using, you don’t just want to be storing items that you will likely never touch. Rather than just wasting money and even more space, start thinking about donating or throwing out everything that you don’t need. Start walking around your home and office and make three piles: one pile of important items or things with sentimental value, one pile of things that you don’t need but you can donate like old clothes, and one pile that is just plain junk and needs to be thrown out. You’ll feel much better afterward.
- Don’t buy things you don’t need— As you progress throughout your career and earn more money, it might be tempting to spend much more frequently. But all that is really doing is causing more clutter around your home later on. Instead, save your money for larger and more important purchases down the line.
If you are ready to utilize storage containers to improve your storage needs and want to find some large shipping containers for sale in the NJ / NY area, contact Integrated Equipment Sales today!
repurposed is wonderful. Plus, for every recycled shipping container, around 3,500 kilograms of steel gets reused. Whether they’re used for storage, homes, or offices, using a shipping container also means that traditional building materials can be saved, since we’re using what’s already created and available to us. This makes them an extremely eco-friendly choice for businesses or individuals looking to have more of a positive environmental impact.