Frequently Asked Questions
Mobile storage, also known as mobile self-storage or portable storage, is a super-easy alternative to traditional self-storage. No renting a big truck, scheduling a specific day and time to pack, and then driving through traffic in an unfamiliar vehicle to an unfamiliar location and then unloading. While the containers come in various sizes and store the same amount or more than a unit at a self-storage facility, the units are brought to you and picked up on your schedule.
Our corporate office is located at 215 N Payne St, Suite 311, Alexandria VA 22314 , and our secure warehouse facility is conveniently located inside the beltway at 120 West Hampton Ave, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. And, we also have a facility serving Southern Maryland at 2440 Old Washington Road, Waldorf, MD 20601.
Only your first month's rent and initial delivery fee are due when you reserve your unit. Payment is by major credit card and is debited monthly on the anniversary of the delivery of your unit. The additional transportation fees are charged on the day of the service. If you are a contractor or a business customer, please contact us about alternative billing arrangements.
Active military get 10% off the full price of the monthly cost of a storage unit. A current military ID is required.
You have no time limit – anywhere from 1 month to 100 years! That is the beauty of mobile storage. You decide how long you want to have the container. You decide when to load and unload and how much time you want to take. Check with your homeowners association or local government to see if your property is subject to any restrictions or permitting requirements.
You can purchase insurance amounts ranging from $2,000 to $15,000 in coverage for your valuables and up to $3,500 for container protection. It is required if your homeowners does not cover your stuff while it is in storage with us or does not cover the cost of any damage to our container. Damage to a container to easily exceed $3,500. In addition, our insurance and protection plans typically have lower deductibles, starting at $100. Your homeowners insurance may have higher deductibles or exclusions, or may raise your rates for filing a claim. Container protection to cover the cost of a damaged container while on your premises or in transit is also a good idea.
Please schedule as far in advance as possible, knowing that all service is based on availability. For your convenience, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT FOR US TO DELIVER YOUR CONTAINER. Typically, you need to book at least two full business days in advance, and all services are based on availability. For instance, if you want to have a container delivered this coming Monday morning, you need to schedule it by the close of business the Wednesday before. However, if you need next day service or a container sooner, please call us and we will do our very best to help you out!
Usually it is not a problem. We pride ourselves in getting containers into places that our competition can’t. Please notify us at the time of booking and when our driver calls you prior to delivery and will will confirm that we can drop a container at your location. SpaceMaker is the local leader in customized solutions and precision delivery and can find a solution for you.
SpaceMaker has the most advanced delivery system in the mobile storage industry. Our precision-delivery system, the SpaceMaker, can maneuver a container into almost any space a car can be parked. If you have a very tight space, we often recommend opting for 1 or 2 of our 8’X8’ containers. Our containers measure 8 feet wide and we have three lengths, 8', 16', and 20'.
When you book your container, we will provide options for renting or purchasing boxes and blankets and renting dollies or hand-trucks. These items will be delivered along with your container, so you have everything you need to get moving. We want to make this super easy and convenient for you!
With our SpaceMaker precision delivery system, the container always remains level when being loaded on and off the truck. Also, unlike some other companies, our containers have both E-track and tiedown-rings, so you have plenty of points to secure your belongings. However, it is your responsibility to ensure your contents are packed and loaded securely and that they do not shift during transport or storage. Refer to our packing and loading tips.
Every container must have a lock. You can purchase one from us or provide your own. All types of locks work, except for the heavy round locks (“hockey puck” or “van locks”).
Our storage units are allowed almost everywhere, including the street in front of your house. However, check with your local government or Homeowners Association (HOA) to find out if you need a permit or are subject to specific rules, such as time limitations for parking a container in front of your house. Obtaining a permit is your responsibility and can typically be done quickly and easily online and for a nominal fee. You are also responsible for any fines or fees incurred due to the placement of the unit in your designated location and authorize us to charge your credit card to cover such fines or fees, if necessary.
Our truck will drop off the storage unit at your house or business. Once you pack it with all your stuff, you can keep it on your property for as long as you want or have us pick it up and take it back to our secure storage facility. If you are moving or relocating, then we will take the container from your house, or our secure facility, to the location of your choosing within our service area.
Yes! There are two ways. 1) Just call us up or schedule it online, and we will redeliver your container back to your house or business. Once you are finished with it, we will pick it up again. You get one free onsite (at your house) access for every 12 months in storage. Otherwise, our standard, reasonable transportation fee is charged for re-delivery. How convenient! 2) The second way to access your stuff is to come to our secure facility inside the Beltway in Hyattsville, MD. Please give us at least 48 hours’ notice and we will place your container in our special customer viewing area inside our warehouse or yard.
You are responsible for the container and any damage to it during your rental period and your credit card may be charged to cover any damage. A typical container replacement cost is approximately $7,500, when you factor in loss of use, shipping, labor, and administrative fees. Even if you have homeowners or renters insurance, youstill are required to purchase the Container Damage Protection for a nominal monthly cost. It will potentially save you a load of money and give you peace of mind at the same time. And the deductible is only $500, much less than the $1,000 or $5,000 deductible typical of a homeowner’s insurance policy. Plus, you won’t risk having a claim lead to higher premiums from your insurance company.
Payment is by major credit card. Your credit card will be charged automatically on the anniversary of your storage unit rental. Only the payment for the first month’s rent and the initial delivery is charged at the time you reserve your container. Storage units are rented by the month and are not prorated.
Absolutely. Because of the variety of our container sizes and our precision delivery system, we have no problem serving apartments, townhomes and condos. Check with your management and HOA for specific rules about moving. Generally, our mobile self-storage units can fit wherever you can park a car, such as the parking space in front of your unit.
Yes, it is typically determined by your zip code and designed to cover our transportation costs (driver, gas, tolls, truck maintenance). It works like this: delivery, pick-up, redelivery or curb to curb relocation, final pick-up. Onsite storage at your house usually requires only two trip fees. Storage at our facility, a local move, and moving with warehouse storage all require four trip fees. Please check out our pricing page for more details.
You need to book a storage unit or schedule a pick-up at least two full business days in advance, subject to availability. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE A DELIVERY TIME. FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT FOR US TO DROP-OFF OR PICK-UP YOUR UNIT. All deliveries are typically made between the hours of 7 am and 3 pm, Monday through Saturday. We will contact you late afternoon or early evening the night before your scheduled service to confirm the details. We strive to provide prompt delivery and flexible service. SpaceMaker is a local, family-owned company and we want to customize our service as much as possible for you. If you have special requirements or an urgent need please contact us and we will do our best to help you out.
For your convenience, you do not have to be present when your container is dropped off or picked up. No, just be sure that the space designated for the container drop-off or pick-up is clear and accessible. We will call you the day or two before your scheduled delivered to confirm the logistics. If you cannot be there, please be sure that the area for drop-off or pick-up is clearly marked in some way. Some mark the area with shoes or chalk. Others take photos with their phones, mark them up, and text or email them to us.
We do not offer Sunday service. Even during the busy season, we try to give our employees at least one day off per week. However, on occasion we will do Sunday delivery or pick-up by special appointment. Saturday dates on our schedule fill up weeks in advance but we will always do our best to help you out if we can based on availability. Keep in mind that you do not have to be present for us to drop-off of pick-up your container, making our service flexible. Many of our residential customers expect to use the container on the weekends and evenings, but have it delivered during the week so they can load and unload at their convenience.
Most jurisdictions allow containers on the street but check with your locality or Homeowners Association (HOA) to determine if you need a special permit or for other restrictions. Getting a permit is your responsibility and can typically be done quickly and easily online and for a nominal fee. You are liable for any fines or fees incurred due to the placement of the unit in your designated location and you authorize us to charge your credit card to cover such fines or fees, if necessary. You will also need to make sure that there are no vehicles blocking the parking spaces on the street when we come to deliver the container and pick it up. In addition, our advanced precision delivery system is able to maneuver over uneven terrain and curbs and allows us to place a container in your front yard; however keep in mind that it can cause damage to your lawn or landscaping.
No problem. There are numerous companies in the area that provide moving labor. Just let us know when you are booking a container and we can provide their contact information. Here are a few our customers have used in the past: www.getbellhops.com and www.hireahelper.com.
No motor vehicles or gas-powered equipment of any kind, no explosives, no hazardous materials or chemicals, and no food or perishable goods are allowed. We also recommend that you do not store family heirlooms, expensive artwork or paintings, or other items that are easily damaged and potentially irreplaceable. Lastly, no living things, including you! Please refer to our rental agreement for more exclusions.
Most people don’t come close to our weight limits.We have the strongest containers in the business. Our 8’x8’ unit can hold up to 5,000 lbs and our 8’x16’ and 8’x20’ units can hold up to 10,000 pounds onsite, and approximately 7,500 pounds if transported. But just in case, see our containers page for the weight limits and other specifications.
Yes, on the rare occasion we can’t place the container directly on the street or in your driveway, request one of our street-legal trailers – don’t let a few nit-picky rules and regulations hold you back! Then we can move your things in our mobile self-storage unit to the safety of our facility for storage.
Because of our traffic here in the DMV, we strive to complete all deliveries and pick-ups between 7 am and 3 pm. This also means that we do not allow you to schedule a specific time for delivery or pick-up. Our “morning delivery window” is from 7 am until 12 noon, and our “afternoon delivery window” is from 12 noon until 3 pm. Remember, for your convenience, you do not have to be present to have the storage unit dropped off or picked up. Our driver will call you 1 or 2 days before your scheduled service to confirm the details, and if the drop-off or pick-up area is clearly marked, we can easily drop off a container while you are at work, running errands, or out of town. Please be sure and call or text our driver back to confirm the details – if you don’t, we won’t deliver the container, in our discretion. If you need to be present for some reason, the driver can call you 30 minutes prior to arrival so you can meet them there.
Yes, this is possible, subject to availability. However, the logistics require that we charge you an additional convenience charge. However, if at all possible, we always recommend having your container delivered the day before your plan to load it or schedule movers. Not surprising, we also recommended that you schedule the pick-up of your loaded unit the day after you anticipate packing it, just in case unforeseen delays occur. Please contact us for details.
Emergencies happen. We get it. Please call us and we will do our best to get you one!
If placement of your container is not on a paved surface or driveway, a level and firmly compacted and established gravel parking area, or in a paved street, then you may be charged a fee of up to $150.00. This fee generally applies to unlevel surfaces, such as yards, backyards, side yards, and narrow alleys, or other time-consuming or potentially hazardous placements. Placement of containers is in our sole discretion and we are not responsible for any potential damage.
SpaceMaker has the most advanced delivery system in the mobile storage industry. Our precision-delivery system, the SpaceMaker, can maneuver a container into almost any space a car can be parked. If you have a very tight space, we often recommend opting for 1 or 2 of our 8’X8’ containers. Our containers measure 8 feet wide and we have three lengths, 8', 16', and 20'. If you need the container to be placed in a tight space, please measure carefully – we require 9ft of width and an overhead clearance of 9ft high to place a container.
SpaceMaker Mobile Storage
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SpaceMaker Mobile Storage
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Business Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
Special Deliveries
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM