Tag: moving and storage

Portable storage weight limit

No matter what portable container company you are using you will learn about a weight limit. We will cover what a portable storage weight limit is, why we have weight limits, and how to gauge the weight of the contents.

What is a portable storage container weight limit?

A weight limit can be expressed as the total maximum allowable weight of the container and contents, or the weight limit of the contents alone. CAPSULE’s weight limit Is expressed by contents alone. The CAPSULE can have 6,000lbs of contents inside the capsule without going overweight.

Why do CAPSULE containers have weight limits?

Weight limits are typically specific to containers that will be moved with contents. Most weight limits do not apply to containers used only for on-site storage. CAPSULE has a weight limit of 6,000lbs of contents for our 8×16 CAPSULEs. This limit, and almost all weight limits set by portable storage companies are due to TXDOT weight regulations, not necessarily the durability of the container or equipment. For our truck, equipment, and container to operate on the road without a CDL driver, the entire rig needs to be under 26,000lbs. That is where the weight limit comes in. This is also why CAPSULE only provides 8x16ft containers and not 20ft, people go overweight with bigger ones, and the weight limits is actually less.

How do you gauge the weight of the contents?

CAPSULE has a machine that weighs the container before loading. However, to avoid delaying your move you want to make sure you do not go overweight. This can be tricky, but there are some easy and clear ways to make it a breeze.

First, it is more about what you put in it, than how much. Household items are not an issue, but some things are, BIG flags that affect the weight are things like:

Large gun safe
Large Rolling toolbox or shop full of tools
A fully dismantled rock fireplace (yes that happened)
Multiple full filing cabinets
Abnormal amounts of boxes with books and paper

If you do not have any of those things, but you are still a little concerned, take the heaviest things you plan to pack, and look them up online for a weight (most retailers provide this online). The weight of the heaviest items should not exceed 4,500lbs. Here is a link to a moving weight calculator you might find useful.

loading capsule portable storage in Texas heat

Other things to consider about weight:

If you’re getting multiple CAPSULEs, try spreading the heavy items between the 2 CAPSULEs instead of all the heavy stuff in one, and all the light stuff in the other.

It is also beneficial to try to evenly distribute the weight in the container for transport. Some make the mistake of loading all the heavy items first, that means they all go in one capsule, and/or loaded on one end.

If you have any questions you can always call ant talk or email us.

Learn more at our FAQ page HERE

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Moving Checklist

Moving tips and checklist, a short but useful exercise.

Moving is stressful, don’t make it worse by doing it last minute and on the fly. Do yourself a favor and plan ahead. However, plan for the plans to change, 80% of the time, moving schedules change.

“Planning is the most important thing you can do, but plans are useless” – Gen. George C. Marshall

Grab a notepad and a pen. You’ll need to physically create your own checklist because everyone’s move, and lives are different. Physically writing it down helps you focus and remember things you need. You can later put that list on a digital to-do list.

Moving Checklist: A Breakdown

Sort: You need to start sorting things out. They typically fall into the following FOUR categories.

Essentials
Nonessentials
Donate / Trash
Personal documents

You’ll want your essentials set aside, as they are the last to get packed, or not packed at all and kept on you personally during home transition.

Non-essentials are the things you can live a good amount of time without.

Purge the stuff you really don’t use and or will never use. Consider donating it to a local nonprofit before putting it on the curb if it’s in good shape.

Personal documents are often forgotten, especially when people don’t plan on things falling through or changing. You may need documents at closing you didn’t think you did. Enrolling kids at school may be difficult if their paperwork is put in storage.

Research movers and moving services

Figure out what you need or what combination of services will fit your needs best. Some people use a Capsule for 100% or their moving needs and pack themselves. Many others use it to supplement their move as a combination of services. Taking their time to pack nonessentials away and using full-service labor movers the day of. This also helps staging your home.

Not all movers are created equal. Reviews and referrals from friends are the most utilized resources. Unfortunately, many scams involve moving services. Some ways to verify this is a physical location, and online history, & reviews.

Get your Quotes on services and get them scheduled out, do not wait until the day before.

Get moving supplies. Boxes, tape, packing paper, and markers for labeling will help in numerous ways. First, you know what’s in a box without ripping into it during unpacking. Also when your loading a Capsule, geometric shapes like boxes, and various size of packages help compact at better utilize the space inside the container.

Random Moving Checklist everyone forgets

Boxes, packing paper, tape, and markers
Dolly’s, rope, straps, and blankets.
Change of address notice at USPS HERE
Notify Bank, Employer, Credit Cards, Mailing services
Defrost Freezer a few days out
Plan to eat all your perishable food or trash it.
Service your personal vehicles

Aforementioned, Make your own list. Hopefully this one helped too. Major takeaways, do net procrastinate, and the better organized, the more smoothly it goes. Utilizing a Capsule container can help.

Is a CAPSULE a good fit?

Call or contact us here locally in DFW if you have any questions or what to find out.
Read our blog about whether or not a Capsule is a good fit HERE
Read our FAQ page HERE

Is a CAPSULE Moving and Storage Container Right for You?

There are a lot of benefits to a CAPSULE moving and storage container, but it may not be the best option for everyone. We don’t like to talk ourselves out of business, but we have a high customer satisfaction level because we want to make sure we are a good fit.

In order to understand if it’s right for you, let’s look at the primary benefits. Then, we will look at the common misconceptions where a Capsule may not be a good fit vs the alternatives.

Benefits of CAPSULE Portable Storage Bins

Containers for moving

Reduces labor and effort.
- Load at your own apace
- Load at ground level
- Packing one time
- You call when ready to move
You’re packing so you know where things are at
Flexibility when things change
- Things do and will change, supply chain issue, construction dates, closing issues. 80% of moves change because things do not remain on schedule.
- Closings or projects don’t always stay on schedule, don’t get stuck with bad options if things fall through on closing or a contractor doesn’t finish on time.
You don’t have to drive a large truck
Cost effective when compared to full service movers

On Site Storage of Restoration or Remodeling

Keep things on site and near for quick easy access
Get stuff out of the way of construction workers
Avoid having to move items multiple times

Moving Storage Container Misconceptions

Moving all in one day
- If you need the container dropped off in the morning and moved the same day you may be better of renting a truck, or a full-service moving crew. Capsule does not provide same day drop and pick up, this is due to logistics, someone is always waiting on someone else (mover don’t show up on time or you thought it would take 30min to load). No one else does this either, be weary of salespeople in a call center that promise you that.
Apartments
- Capsule has helped many people move in and out of apartments. However, you want to check on the apartment complex rules regarding them, plan for where you want to put it.
- Second, if you’re in downtown Dallas, and the only parking is a parking garage, there may be no place to drop the capsule, we do not put them on the curb. They must go on your property, or in a parking space.
24 hr Access
- If you plan to put the container into our storage, we are happy to give you free access during business hours with 24hrs notice so we can pull it. However, if you plan to make regular stops in and out, a traditional 24hr self-storage facility may be a better option

Moving alternative in DFW, what’s right for you?

FAQ

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Choosing a Moving Service: What to consider

Capsule is local and helping North Texas DFW

Choosing a moving service or moving and storage container company? If your shopping around a container company to use, you might find it a bit confusing now that you realize there is more than just one company. I’ll walk you through some pricing models and what you might want to evaluate.

Here are the quick things to Consider:

Beware of “No transport fees”
Get all your costs upfront and in writing, advertised pricing is not your pricing
Beware of high storage rent
Beware of term commitments
“Transparent Roof” means it’s plastic, not Steel
Read reviews

Moving & Storage Container Pricing

CAPSULE

Capsule has a low constant rent with no term commitments, with flat transport fees. We do not charge more in rent if we keep it, and we do not charge by the mile. What we quote, is what you pay. It’s all month to month so no early move out penalties. This keeps it simple for you and for us. Transport fees help keep the monthly rent low and helps customers based on need. Not everyone is needing the same type of move or storage, we typically move it 2,3, or 4 times.

Other Moving Container companies:

Beware of “no transport fees”. That’s because there usually are, read the fine print if they travel more than 20-30 miles from their shop, there is a set $ per mile you’ll get charged after the delivery. These are gimmicks that usually result in “no transport” but a high monthly rent. This is bad for 2 reasons, you’ll get an charge you didn’t know about and a high rent. This is problematic if something goes wrong and you need it longer, because you’re going to pay that very high rent again. Most people who choose this route, think they only need it one month, but get a big surprise at the final bill.

Others may charge more rent if you keep it with them. One red flag to keep in mind is that if you only need them to store it for a week, but you keep it on your property for 5 months, your paying 5 months of high rent. Just because they kept it with them for one week.

Another thing to keep in mind is term commitments. This is when you say you’ll probably need it for 6 months, and the company quotes you based on 6 months of rent. Beware if you move out early from what you originally said, you may pay a penalty. Term commitments you make at the beginning also tie into transport fees along with rent, any deviation may result in a high unexpected transport fee.

80 % of our customers that needed it one month or less had issues with a contractor, realtor, or title company that resulted in longer storage.

Moving Service Reviews:

When choosing a moving service or moving and storage container company why are reviews important? I’ve been told, there’s no difference, they all the same thig, and that couldn’t be further form the truth. The containers and service between competitors can be like day and night.

We are very proud of our customer satisfaction level and our online reviews. Like choosing a traditional mover you will want to do your research on them. They are not all just a box, they are not all the same.

Google, Facebook and twitter are good places to look for customer reactions and feedback. Yelp too, but it isn’t Used as much in our industry because their platform doesn’t conform to our niche industry.

Also, many boast about “transparent” roofs. That’s because they are plastic, we live in Texas, get a steel roof.

We hope this helps you in your search for the right company. We hope we can help you out

Read some reviews on Google

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