Local governments cracking down on unsightly storage containers BY ELIZABETH RAZZI The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — Oh, no. The neighbors have brought in PODS. These portable storage containers can be one of the first hints that a home is being prepared for sale. They promise a more convenient alternative to schlepping junk out to a mini-warehouse. The big box is in your driveway; you have the only key; you can load and unload on your own schedule. It’s just that neighbors often fail to see the charm of PODS, or the equally garish boxes rented out by the many competitors to that market-leading company, Portable On Demand Storage. That’s especially so when the boxes remain for months. If they’re on the street, they tie up parking space and can be a traffic hazard. Elsewhere, they’re just ugly, with giant logos and 1-800 phone numbers plastered on the sides. Driven by complaining constituents, some local governments are drafting regulations to make the containers a little less convenient — and sometimes quite a bit more expensive. “The jurisdictions are starting to crack down, if you will, on containerized storage,” said Tom Johnston, an owner of Store to Door, a company in the Washington region. It’s the homeowner’s responsibility to comply with regulations about container placement. You’re less likely to owe fees if you can place the container in your driveway or the back of the house. But even if it’s in a driveway, some jurisdictions balk if the box remains for more than a month. Neighbors may object even sooner. A friendly reassurance that you don’t intend to keep it there long goes a long way toward keeping the peace. And by all means, get rid of the box before putting your home up for sale. Why go through all the trouble of decluttering only to have the container announce that the house lacks storage space? One reason the boxes linger is that rentals typically are for a minimum of one month. You can have it hauled away after a week or two, but you would still owe a full month’s rent. If customers were to pay for only a few days, it wouldn’t bring in enough revenue to cover delivery costs, according to Johnston. “We lose money on every delivery,” he said. “I’m a storage guy.” ADDED COSTS Container rental is not inexpensive. Renting a 12-foot-long unit from PODS for a month would cost about $385. Local government permits and fees can add significantly to the cost, especially if you have to pay in both your old and new neighborhoods. The fees could make it less expensive to hire fullservice movers. For example, to place a container on a street in suburban County, Md., a renter must pay a $137.50 fee and post a $1,000 bond to compensate the county if the box damages the street. Boxes left on the street for more than a few days cost more. A renter who leaves a container out for more than 30 days could be asked to move it to the backyard and obtain a permit for constructing a shed. “Some folks are using it for long-term storage, and essentially it becomes a shed, and that is not allowed in the driveway,” said Gail Lucas, Montgomery County permitting services manager. Allow several weeks to get permission from local governments and any condo or homeowners’ associations. ADD INSURANCE Don’t forget insurance. If the container remains on your property or curbside, your belongings will be covered under your homeowners insurance policy, said Donna Haight, personal lines account manager at Ney-Silverman Insurance, an independent agency in Rockville, Md. Once the box is hauled away, however, your coverage would decline to 10 percent of the personal property insurance coverage specified in your policy. “We recommend purchasing insurance through the movers,” Haight said. “And anything of value, they should move themselves.” PODS, for example, charges $34.95 a month to assume liability for damage from fire, burglary and other specific causes while the unit is in its custody. The rental company should be contacted about liability for damage to the container itself while it’s on the renter’s property. PODS charges $10 a month to cover such damage to the units, which cost as much as $2,500 to replace. When it comes to fixing damage to your relationship with the neighbors, you’re on your own. GERALD MARTINEAU/THE WASHINGTON POST Neighbors often fail to see the charm of portable storage containers, which can tie up parking space and be a traffic hazard.
I think that they are need and clean looking. I don't consider them an eye sore. They just shouldn't be on the same property for an extended period of time. And if need be, place it somewhere on the property where it is out of sight.
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I think they are a good idea for someone who needs temporary storage space. For example someone just moving in/out, someone who suffered a catastrophe such as a fire, flood, storm damage.
Hey, it's better than someone just taking the stuff that they would have inside it and throw it all over their front lawn, isn't it? I mean really, think about the houses out in the country (besides the broken down cars) that have all the furniture and everything thrown through the yard, looks like the house threw up. These PODS do look nicer and while I agree that there should be a limit to how long these sit out on someone's lawn, its better than the alternative.
I do agree with you on this BigK. Except there are people who use them as a storage shed. And these PODs aren't cheap. I would think it would be cheaper to put up a shed. Although they don't pay taxes on the PODs but they would on a newly erected shed. Not to mention the cost of a building permit if required.
Maybe they should have to park them at the nearest Flying J's or follow the no car washing ordinance and the dont put your garbage can out at the road more than 24hours before your due pickup......they are ugly and unsightly and should only be used for short periods....if you have that much crap--you have a problem.....get help.....
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Quoted from Joann I do agree with you on this BigK. Except there are people who use them as a storage shed. And these PODs aren't cheap. I would think it would be cheaper to put up a shed. Although they don't pay taxes on the PODs but they would on a newly erected shed. Not to mention the cost of a building permit if required.
I can't speak for Rotterdam but in D'burg you don't need a building permit for a structure under 144 sq. ft. and therefore it would not be taxed.
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Quoted from Senders if you have that much crap--you have a problem.....get help.....
Yup, I agree or build a shed
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Quoted from Somebody This is another example of people being intolerant about just anything you can imagine.
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