A storage unit is a subscription. A shed is an asset. That is the entire argument, but it only matters if the math works, so let us do the math.
The monthly comparison
A small storage unit runs a monthly fee that you will pay forever, that goes up over time, and that leaves you owning nothing at the end. Our rent-to-own program starts at $75.44 a month on a 6×8 with a 60 month term, requires no credit check, takes your first two months as the deposit, and ends with you owning the building. There is no early payoff fee, so if you want out of the payment sooner you can be.
Compare those two numbers against whatever the unit down the road is charging. For a lot of people in Marion County the payment is in the same neighborhood, and one of the two ends.
The costs people forget on the storage unit side
Fuel and time to drive there every time you need something. The fact that you will not drive there for a screwdriver, so you will buy a second screwdriver. Insurance requirements. Rate increases at renewal. Limited access hours at many facilities. And the slow accumulation of stuff you keep paying to store because it is easier than dealing with it.
The costs people forget on the shed side
Be fair about these too. You need a pad, and a level gravel pad about a foot larger than the building on all sides is a real expense, though far less than concrete. You may need a permit, so call the City of Centralia and ask about accessory structures and setbacks before you buy. And the building takes up yard, which is worth something.
Where the shed wins outright
Access. Everything you own is thirty feet from your back door at 6 a.m. on a Sunday. That is not a small thing; it is the whole reason people who switch never switch back. Also property utility: a shed can be a shop, a garden room, a home office or a mower garage. A storage unit can only be a box you rent.
Where the unit wins
Two cases. If you are between houses for six months, rent the unit. And if your lot genuinely cannot take a building, either because of covenants, setbacks or access, the unit is your only option. Otherwise the shed is usually the better buy.
What you are actually buying
Not a metal box on a rented slab. A Cardinal building carries our 10 year guarantee covering acts of nature such as storm damage and settling and our craftsmanship, with LP SmartSide siding under a 50 year warranty and AdvanTech flooring under a lifetime warranty, and we handle any claim ourselves. Sizes run 6×8 to 16×60, starting at $1,900 for a C+ Utility 6×8 and $2,762 for a Cardinal Utility 8×8.
Get Started on Your Centralia Building
You do not have to drive to a lot to get moving. Use our 3D Shed Builder to pick your size, siding, colors, doors, windows and add-ons and see the building take shape on screen. When it looks right, send it to us and we will confirm pricing and a delivery date for Centralia.
Prefer to talk it through? Call our main office at 618-518-5578. We will walk you through building styles, custom options and rent-to-own and financing, and answer anything on our FAQ page. You can also see what we serve nearby on our location page.
