Vs. 1-800-PACK-RATS
Moving pods are a more recent addition to the variety of moving options and storage facilities. They allow you to load up all your belongings at your own pace and schedule a date for them to be picked up and transported to your new home or office location. If you’re going to be handling the loading and unloading portion of your move, storage pods are about as easy and hassle-free as moving can get.
If you have a local, commercial, or long distance move coming up, or you’re looking into storage facilities, you’re probably in the middle of comparison shopping -- and with their convenience and cost savings over full service moving or moving truck rentals, pod moving services should be a part of your research.
So take a moment here to consider some of your options. You might be wondering how SMARTBOX measures up as a 1-800-PACK-RAT alternative, so let’s take a look at what each of these storage companies has to offer and how they compare to each other:
SMARTBOX as a 1-800-PACK-RAT Alternative
1-800-PACK-RAT rents storage containers in 12-foot and 16-foot sizes. Their storage containers are made entirely of weatherproof steel and have metal skids embedded inside the container to help keep furniture dry. The larger sizes of this storage and moving company’s containers means that they hold a lot of your belongings, but might be hard to place if you don’t have a lot of room outdoors for them to go -- such as if you’re moving to or from an apartment.
Also, the larger (16 foot) container holds only 3-4 rooms worth of furnishings. So if you find yourself going over the storage capacity of your 16-foot storage container, you might find yourself having to rent another storage container -- and even if it’s the 12-foot size, it might be significantly more space than you need or can fill.
SMARTBOX offers pods for moving and storage in just one size: 8 feet x 7 feet x 5 feet. Our storage pods are weather resistant, but also allow air in so the contents of the container can “breathe.” This is important because it helps prevent mold, mildew and rust in a way that all-steel containers do not. So a SMARTBOX container helps to protect your belongings from being damaged by the elements, both inside and out.
It can be difficult to get the container size right. When it comes to portable storage containers, smaller can actually be a better choice because it naturally divides your items by room.
You might think that's counterintuitive, especially when SMARTBOX offers an 8' x 7' x 5' container compared to 1-800-PACK-RAT's 12- and 16-foot containers. But here's one reason why bigger isn't always better for container sizes: you might not have enough from one or two rooms to fill a space. With SMARTBOX's smaller size, you'll be able to fit items from one or two bedrooms in the same container, keeping like items together. Packing a lawn mower and a couch together is far from ideal. If you decide to separate items and not maximize space, a larger container might allow items to shift against a steel frame.
The size of our SMARTBOX containers is also an advantage because they are easy to access and pack, help protect your belongings from shifting in transit and getting damaged in the process, and hold about 3,000 pounds. And because of their relatively small footprint, they are ideal for moving dorm rooms and small apartments, as well as smaller homes that don’t have a lot of space on the property for a larger container.
The SMARTBOX Difference
Offering only one size of moving pods is one way that we’re different from other storage companies, but that doesn’t mean that your options are limited when you choose SMARTBOX. Each of our moving pods holds about a room and a half’s worth of furnishings, so you can rent exactly the number of SMARTBOX containers that you need for your move or storage needs. You get just the right fit and don’t have to pay for space you’re not using. SMARTBOX is an excellent choice for local moves as well as long distance moves.
If you are planning a “hybrid” move -- one in which you load and unload the truck or storage container, but you don’t have to drive it to your new home -- we are the company to choose. We’re all about keeping it simple and convenient so you have a great experience every time you deal with SMARTBOX!
Easy, Convenient and Just the Right SIze
For long distance moves or even commercial or local moves, climate-controlled temporary storage while you renovate part of your house or long-term storage, residential or business storage, SMARTBOX is a great alternative to 1-800-PACK-RAT and other storage companies that also rent pods for moving. Our conveniently-sized containers mean you only pay for the amount of space you use. So if you find yourself needing a little more space, you don’t have to commit to a lot more space than you can actually use. That keeps your costs down and helps you pack your belongings more securely.
And since we drop off and pick up our SMARTBOX pods, you don’t have to hassle with renting and returning a moving truck. Our friendly customer service professionals will walk you through the process and make sure your questions are answered at every step of the way.
Besides business and residential moving and storage, SMARTBOX is also a good choice for military storage, military moves, and college student storage and moves. You choose when we drop off the container or containers and when we pick them up, so you can load your belongings into a weather-resistant, easy to access container at your own pace. Whatever your need for our easy to use, convenient pod-based storage, we will make sure it’s a stress-free, hassle-free and positive experience for you.
Contact us today to get a quote on your SMARTBOX storage container rental for local or long distance moving, or temporary or long-term storage. Let us know what your ZIP code is and what delivery date you prefer, and we’ll get back to you to discuss availability. We’ll help you choose just the right SMARTBOX solution for your needs!
Why Is SMARTBOX Better for Long-Distance Moving?
With SMARTBOX, you only pay for the space you use. Plus, with our smaller container sizes, it's much easier to get your container delivered right to your door. There's nothing convenient about using larger containers if you have to walk long distances to load them. With a SMARTBOX, you can get one container delivered in front of your home or apartment, and you can get it replaced if you need another.
SMARTBOX vs 1-800-Pack-Rats for Onsite Storage?
You may be out of space in your home and need to take advantage of storage services. SMARTBOX makes it easy by putting the storage unit on your property for as long as you need. Whenever you need an item, you'll have it right there. A steel container might offer more storage space, but it's a real pain finding a place to put it for weeks or months.