Industry and products
storage center
A storage center is a secure site where a portable storage company keeps customer containers off the customer's property. After a customer fills a container, the provider picks it up and stores it at the center until the customer wants it back or wants it moved.
Why it matters
Storage centers solve three common problems. A home may be staged for sale. A new house may not be ready. Closing dates may not match. NPSA notes that the customer loads the container at the customer's own pace, and the provider then takes it back to its facility. Many providers also give customers access to the container while it sits there, so ask about visit hours and fees. A common mistake is to assume access is free and open all day. Terms differ by company. Operators should note that a storage center needs space, security, a way to move containers in and out, and local zoning approval.
Definition source: npsa.org
Related terms
off-site storage
Off-site storage means keeping a portable storage container at the provider's facility instead of on the customer's property. The customer fills the container at home, the provider picks it up, and the container stays in a secure storage center until the customer asks for delivery.
on-site storage
On-site storage means keeping a portable storage container on the customer's own property, such as a driveway or a job site. The provider delivers the container, the customer loads and locks it, and the container stays there until the customer wants it moved or picked up.
container yard
A container yard is an area where shipping containers are stored, staged and moved between trucks, rail and ships. In shipping, a container yard sits at or near a port, rail terminal or inland depot and holds both loaded and empty containers.
portable storage
Portable storage is storage in a container, trailer or similar unit that can be moved to the customer's site or elsewhere. NPSA describes portable storage containers as ISO shipping containers retired from international shipping and offered for rent and purchase on the domestic market. NPSA also includes trailers and mobile offices in the industry.
moving container
A moving container is a portable storage container used to move a household. PODS describes portable storage containers as large, secure, usually weather-resistant boxes that can be moved from place to place. The customer loads the container, and the company carries it to a storage center or a new home.
self-storage facility
A self-storage facility is a business that rents secure space where customers store and retrieve their own goods. U.S. industry codes describe it as renting space such as rooms, compartments, lockers, containers or outdoor space. The customer holds the key or code and visits the site to use the space.
For the industry
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