by Dakota Storage Buildings, on May 16, 2017
Here are bullet point lists of pros and cons. Start here before you decide on a storage option.
Here are some pros and cons to renting a storage unit, building a DIY shed kit, and buying a pre-built shed—they're laid out in simple, easy-to-read lists. After considering these points, you should have a better idea of which best suits your situation.
Storage Unit Rental
Pros
Most rental units—
- Are clean, dry, and secure
- Are open 7 days a week
- Are easy to access with large trucks and trailers
- Have climate controlled units available
- Have an online payment option
- Have self-storage insurance available
- Offer the first month for free
Cons
Most rental units—
- Are away from your home which means you have to drive to it every time you need something that's stored inside of it which is less convenience a greater chance that what's stored inside will be used less frequently
- Have defined hours which means they may not be open on holidays
- Charge monthly fees—and if you get behind on your payments, you're items may be removed
- Are not rent-to-own—which means after years of monthly payments you still do not have any equity or ownership of the storage location.
Do-It-Yourself Shed Kit
Pros
Most DIY shed kits—
- Are inexpensive to buy and are cheaper than most pre-built options
- Save you the labor costs associated with pre-built sheds
- Can be constructed on your property wherever you want—you're not limited by space the delivery vehicle needs to offload the shed
- Are convenient—they're on your property which means you don't need to travel to a storage unit in order to access the items stored inside
Cons
Most DIY shed kits—
- May require special tools or advanced skills
- Offer limited customization options (e.g. number of windows, door options, siding type, etc.)
- Can be time consuming—it takes time and energy to build a shed on your own
- Use lower quality materials in order to keep the price of the kit low
Pre-built Shed
Pros
Most pre-built sheds—
- Are convenient—you only need to walk a few steps out your back door in order to get to your shed and you can do it as often as you'd like (no hauling vehicle required)
- Are made with high-quality materials—you don't have to worry about getting a low-grade product
- Are a good investment—they can add value to your property while solving your storage problems
- Are highly customizable—if you want a specific siding type, more windows, an overhead garage door, or anything else, it's possible
Cons
Most pre-built sheds—
- Are more costly than DIY shed kits—you get what you pay for!
- Must be delivered to your property—you'll need enough space in your yard for them to be offloaded
If you live in South Dakota or Minnesota and are interested in high-quality pre-built sheds, we have a range of choices. And don't let a credit check scare you—we have payment options for those who have less than stellar credit. Plus, if you think that your yard is too narrow for a pre-built shed to fit through, we can build any of our sheds on-site!
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