Your Guide to Shipping Container Homes
Have you been tracking the trend of people moving into shipping container homes? Everyone knows that the housing market is competitive right now so it makes sense that people would look for alternative options.
A shipping container house might not seem appealing to someone who's used to living in ritzy apartments or high-end homes, but if you're thinking about downsizing, you're moving out on your own for the first time, or want to completely design your dream home, it might be the perfect choice.
But how do you make shipping containers into perfect little abodes? What's the point of living in one and how does it compare to a "normal" home? We're here to tell you all about it!
Keep reading to learn everything that you need to know about how shipping containers can become homes.
Can Shipping Container Homes Look Good?
When people think about shipping containers they often think about ugly steel boxes with rust and grime. These can't possibly make nice homes, right?
Shipping container homes are what you make of them. If you want to live in a shiny steel box you can, but you don't have to. Shipping containers come in all colors of the rainbow (and you can paint them if you choose).
A shipping container is just a box. Your home, at its core, is also a box. You add stairs, windows, fences, and other accessories to your box to make it a home.
Shipping container homes can look modern and fresh. They may even look better than some "real" homes that you've seen in your own neighborhood. Check out some shipping container home inspiration to see how great these homes can look.
You'd never know that these homes were made from shipping containers!
Keep in mind that the better the home looks, the more expensive it will cost to assemble (as with any new home). That said, you can save money. It's cheaper than a comparable "standard" home would be.
How Do Shipping Container Homes Work?
So you might be wondering how you can turn a little shipping container into a fully functional house. Is it large enough? Can you insulate it so you're comfortable during the summer and winter months?
Don't worry about that. Shipping containers come in various sizes. While they're all smaller than real homes (unless you live in a micro-studio), they can combine to build larger homes.
Insulation is tricky but a good contractor is able to add a thin layer of insulation between the "wall" and your interior. Some shipping containers already have insulation because they're good for shipping temperature-sensitive goods.
You need to have land for a shipping container home. The land is more affordable than buying a pre-existing home. You can build the home while you're already on the land or you can move it from the building area to the land when it's done.
Can You Make Your Own Shipping Container Home?
You might look at shipping container homes and think that they're simple enough to turn into DIY projects, but this isn't always the case. Sure, if you want a one-room bungalow for yourself or even a mother-in-law suite, you might be able to make it work. If you want something more substantial, though, you'll need to hire a savvy contractor.
You still have to do some work beforehand. Buy land and make sure that you have all of the required permits for building. You don't want to get in legal trouble later.
Pick the right shipping container dimensions for your needs. You'll likely use multiple containers so make sure that they'll all fit together.
Hire a contractor that has experience with shipping container homes. Give them your ideas and consider assembling a mood board.
Make sure that you take care of all of your utilities. Because you're starting from scratch, you need to make sure that you have water, electricity, and everything else that you need for a comfortable home.
What Are the Benefits of Having a Shipping Container Home?
So why bother with a shipping container home? What's the point of living in an alternative home environment when there are perfectly good homes for sale elsewhere?
Here are a few benefits of shipping container homes.
Good for the Environment
Shipping container homes are great for the environment as long as you do it right. If you use shipping containers that have already served their purpose, you're being more sustainable than you would be if you were using brand new materials.
If you're going for a sustainable home, make sure that you also use repurposed wood and other building materials when you're assembling accessories for your shipping container house.
Easy to Move
Shipping containers are easy to move by design. While this isn't a traditional "mobile home," it is still movable (within reason). Unless you have a home that's large and ornate you can take it with you when you move to a new location.
This is great for anyone who isn't sure about their forever home yet. If you're worried about putting all of that work in just to move later, don't be.
Easy to Modify
Shipping container homes are modular. You put together several shipping containers to build a home that's as large as you want it to be. The home can have multiple floors and as many rooms as you need.
Are you adding to the family? Do you want to build a small guest house on your property?
No problem. With a shipping container home your new rooms are just a few weeks away. Can you say the same when you live in a normal house?
Are You Ready to Move Into a Shipping Container Home?
Shipping container homes are unconventional but that doesn't mean that they're bad. If you've been struggling with rising home prices and you're ready to have something of your own, why not try a shipping container home on for size?
When you're moving to your new shipping container home, we want to help! We're College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving and we can help you get all of your things to your new shipping container home with ease.
Contact us with questions or book now!