| |
Just as you would consider the age and condition of a traditional home when house shopping, when shopping for a container for your shipping container home, you want to pay special attention to both the age and condition of the home. Even with used shipping containers, there will be a wide variety available—you’ll see containers that were used for only one trip and you’ll see containers that are ten years old and have been used for many trips. One-trip containers are usually like new and in excellent condition. This makes them easier to work with and they will generally have a longer lifespan than older, more heavily-used containers. Newer containers also pose less of a risk for chemical contamination and rust, dents, warping, or other damage.
If you aren’t able to inspect a shipping container personally, you can look at its history by using its serial number. But it’s really best to look over the container yourself before buying the container. Look for warping (use a level). Check for holes, corrosion, dents, excessive rust. Inspect the wooden floor for holes or bad smells. Check to see if you can see any sunlight coming through the roof or walls (if you can, the container might not be watertight). Make sure the doors work properly, as do the locking bars.
