Moving Pod

The idea of using a moving pod in order to store and then move your belongings first came about in 1998 when the company PODS was founded. The founder of the company was looking for new and inventive ways to expand his traditional storage company and so he came up with the idea of creating portable temporary storage units that could be transported very easily. However, moving pods didn’t really catch on until the early 2000s and now the company is available through the continental US and they boast 2,500 pick-ups daily.

In fact, using a moving pod has become so commonplace that you can drive through just about any neighborhood in the United States and see at least one of these units sitting in someone’s driveway. The portable moving unit has revolutionized the way that the moving industry works and no longer are individuals beholden to small-time windows for their move or having to rush to get everything packed in a single day. Many people now spend the better part of a month packing up their belongings into a moving container and then when they are ready they have their pod picked up and delivered to their new home.

The only real downsides to moving in this manner is that you may not have easy access to some of your belongings after you pack them into your moving pod and if you do not have a place to keep the moving container then you will not be able to use it for your move. However, even in you live in an apartment complex where space is limited, you may be able to work out a deal with management where you can keep the pod for a month or so.

What is a Moving Pod?

We expounded somewhat on this topic on our moving pod or truck page but it is best to reiterate some of the points here. A moving pod is essentially a shipping container that comes in various different sizes, usually 16’, 12’ and 7’ that is portable and easily used during a move. In many ways it represents a hybrid between moving yourself and hiring a mover because you are able to pack up the pod at your leisure but do not have to physically drive your belongings to your new place. This is ideal for situations where you are moving cross-country and is actually tremendously more cost-effective in long-distance moves.

A moving pod will be able to keep your items safe from the elements so you don’t have to worry about what will happen to your belongings if they are sitting in the pod for a month. And a moving pod also allows you to go through your possessions at a slower and more methodical pace, which allows you to get rid of items that you no longer have use for (a more in-depth guide on how to decide what to take or leave can be found here).

The Moving Pod Process

The first thing that you will need to figure out in the moving pod process is how large of a moving container you will need. If you are going through a company like PODS then you will have three different sizes to choose from: 16’, 12’ and 7’.

The breakdown for what size you will need is as follows:

•     16’ Moving Pod- This is the size that you will want if you have 3 or 4 bedroom home. It can store around 1,200 sq. ft. and should be perfect for most homes.
•     12’ Moving Pod- If you have a 2 to 3 bedroom apartment or home then this is the moving pod that you would want to choose. You will be able to store between 500-1000 sq. ft. of items.
•     7’ Moving Pod- These moving containers are rather small and should only be used for a studio or 1 bedroom apartment or if you just need to keep some of your belongings in storage during the move. You will be able to store around 500 sq. ft. of your belongings.

The above information are only estimates and you should really consult the moving pod company that you are going to use in order to ensure that you get the right size for the amount of stuff that you will be packing.

Once you have selected the size that you want and coordinated with the moving pod company as to how long you will need the pod for, they will then come and drop it off to your home. Most people choose to keep their moving container in their driveway, as this makes it easy to drop off and pick up and also allows them to easily move things from their home to the pod.

Since the rental is usually for a month you will then have that amount of time in order to pack up all of your stuff and get ready for your move. If you are going to be moving a long distance and do not want to have a moving container in your driveway for a month, then you can have the moving company store your container until you are ready to have it delivered at your new home.

This latter aspect of the moving pod process, being able to have someone store your items for you until you need them is a major draw to using a moving container. The reason being is that you don’t have to keep a bunch of boxes in your home leading up to your move, which can feel cluttered and can also lead to further anxiety.

Once you are ready to move in, the moving container company will then deliver your pod to your new address and if you decide that you want to move your items slowly you can keep the pod for as long as you’d like. This part is entirely up to you, and if you decide that you want everything out of storage the same day as the move you can do that as well. But with a moving pod you have a flexibility that you wouldn’t have with a traditional moving truck.

Moving Pod Pricing

The prices on the moving containers will vary depending on where you live, but for the most part a 16’ container will cost you $159.99 a month, a 12’ container will cost you $149.99 a month, and the 7’ container will cost you $119.99. This, however, is only for the actual rental of the storage container and does not include transportation costs to where you will be moving. In addition, if you need to have the pod stored off-premises at another facility besides your home then you can expect to incur some additional costs.

Before making a decision on a particular company you should get a few quotes from local places near you and also take a look at how much a moving company would cost and how much it would cost to just move yourself. Once you have all of this information you can then make an informed decision as to what is the best option for you and you won’t run into any surprises that really hit your budget. Luckily with the internet today finding out all of this information is fairly easy and you can be an informed consumer without that much work.