Source: Pixabay

We’ve all seen them on TV or YouTube at some point, and we’ve all marvelled at just how great artistic and forward-thinking developers can make them look. Shipping containers which have been converted into small and comfortable homes offer a seemingly endless amount of choice for expression and customisation, as demonstrated so aptly by Discover Containers. This seemingly odd idea has exploded in popularity in recent years, epitomising downsizing, decluttering, and leaving a smaller footprint.

As much potential as we see here, not everything is as simple as it looks. In reality, building a shipping container from a home is a considerable challenge and one which might not be worth the effort. To explain why this is, we’re going to look at some of the issues facing moving into a shipping container home, to see which are easily solved, and which raise real concerns with the concept.

“Cool prefabricated shipping container –” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by one cool habitat

The Easy Parts

There are only really two elements of moving into a container home that could be considered streamlined. The first is locating and purchasing a container. Since shipping containers are so common and are always being replaced, it’s easy to a new or surplus containers, and having them delivered is rarely an issue. Of course, you don’t really want to buy used for the risk of damage and the potential smell of what they used to carry.

The other simple component comes from initial financing. Buying a shipping container costs a lot less than buying a full home for obvious reasons, and new home selling systems can help you quickly and efficiently sell your old home. Services like We Buy Any Home in Nottingham and around the UK guarantee sales on any property, helping you receive funds in just seven days. These newer approaches have eliminated the stress of delays of older systems, serving as a powerful solution for anyone not keen on the old-fashioned route. The amount you’ll get from a traditional home is easily enough to buy a few shipping containers, it’s what comes next that might not be so simple…

Complicating the Process

Firstly, and most applicable to our website, decluttering on a level that allows you to move everything in a home to a shipping container or two is a tough ask. This requires significant planning and, depending on the size of your existing home, might be too monumental for all but the most dedicated individuals.

The other issues come from the nature of shipping containers, and the level of modifications needed to make them home-worthy. Living in a shipping container means additional complications with permitting, modifications for reinforcement and insulation, corrosion issues, and installing basic utilities. According to the data from Universal Containers, shipping containers can include harmful paint coatings and toxic floors which could require overhauling before they’re compatible with long-term habitation.

So, while shipping container homes can work, they’re often not the best solution for a smaller and decluttered lifestyle. Instead, it can be better to buy a prefab which has already solved all the issues shipping containers produce, at a much lower final cost. It might not be as cute of an idea, but this is almost always an easier, cheaper, and healthier choice.