Australia is now a worldwide hub for sourcing second hand shipping container storage units. This allows Australians to procure excellent quality, second hand shipping containers at internationally competitive prices. However before you spend money on renting or purchasing either a new or used shipping container storage unit there are some things that you absolutely must know.
Tips for Choosing the Best Container Storage Units in your Budget
- Always ensure that you inspect the exact shipping container that you plan to purchase
- Check the CSU plate (Located on the doors) to find out when and where the shipping container was made.
- Make sure that the container meets the requirements of its ISO standard, to ensure that it conforms with the internationally accepted dimensions of what is shipped in the industry, otherwise you will have problems shipping it.
- Check the condition of the container closely. Otherwise you will need to fix any holes in walls, broken door seals or anything else. Leaving these will result in stored products getting mouldy and wet.
- It is generally cheaper to purchase a more expensive container in good condition than a “fixer upper” as door seals and holes can be difficult to spot, more expensive and harder to fix in the long run.
- Research shipping containers before purchasing so you know all the right questions to ask the sales representatives.
- All containers have a serial number stamped in several places. Ensure that these are all matching (you don’t want a container made of multiple old ones) and write it down. Make sure that the container you end up purchasing and getting delivered is the same one that you inspected previously.
- Containers that are less than five years old and are in active shipping use must have a CSC survey to check their condition. If a container is cheaper it is generally older and out of CSC survey, which can lead to more problems, ensure any out of survey containers are thoroughly checked before purchase.
Want some help finding the right container, at the right price? Talk to our highly experienced team of container storage experts at Gateway Container Sales & Hire. Our team will help you tick all the boxes to ensure that you have a high quality container that is right for the job, contact us now!
