I used a POD for storage while staging a home for sale. Unfortunately, they did not service my very rural new home area so we had to bring it back and unload the POD into a truck for the actual move. IIRC it cost in the neighborhood of $3K and my stuff was in storage for about four months. They were easy to work with and extremely convenient. Not the cheapest option but well worth the money IMO.

When you pack your items in the PODS, make certain they will not shift if the PODS need to be tipped up to load/unload on to the truck. We basically filled one 100% to the top with boxes, mattresses, and large furniture. Some POD companies use a type of lift to put them on a truck - keeping them level. Others do not.

One thing to consider, once you store items in them, you will not have access to the items until you empty them. A local storage unit will allow you to access items, and to also shuttle things back an forth while you remodel. Compare costs and factor in delays in getting your new home in order when considering monthly rentals.

We used a PODS competitor for a local move and it was great. We packed them, had them moved to our new lot where they sat for 4-8 months until we finished parts of the barn and house enough to unpack them and have them hauled away. Much cheaper than a storage facility and when we really needed to we could get into them without having to travel to a remote facility. Also avoided an extra unload/load cycle vs a storage place. Being able to load and unload without the clock running on an expensive truck rental also made for a more pleasant moving experience.

Friends used a pod from Noth to South move. They packed it tightly and sent it ahead and stored. They didn't mention cost but I know they had no issues.

Thanks for all the feedback. It looks like that's the only way to go for what's needed. Any more stories or advice?

We used a POD in our last move. We didn't know when we would access that stuff, as we were renting between selling and buying another house. It was very convenient. They dropped off the POD, we filled it, it was stored somewhere, and then delivered to our house once we bought one.

A lot of stuff in that POD was broken or damaged. Take care in packing it. I have moved several times and the POD seemed to be a rougher ride than others.

I totally agree with "Being able to load and unload without the clock running on an expensive truck rental also made for a more pleasant moving experience", but I'd add, and I don't have to bother people begging them to help me move, except one part of one day and even then, it's just one person who helps me move the really heavy stuff like the couch and dressers. Funny enough, I found out my son can now help with this. Now that's it my last move or last one for a long time at least. I could've not bothered my sister!

For a long-distance move, do you think that professional packing would eliminate or at least reduce breakage/damage?

What works best for me is to pack the boxes with special stuff like bubble wrap or paper, sure, but to wedge the boxes themselves into the POD with bags of clothes and/or pillows, and then wrap the contents with plastic wrap. That has worked a couple of times now. Nothing broken in my POD (except what I broke when I dropped the box before putting it in there. One box of china. Old china. argh!).

I had curios with 4 sides of glass, glass front cabinets. Glass library case. Many framed artworks, from small to ver large. Two glass table tops. 2 sets of fine China (don't ask) etc etc etc. I lost one old drinking glass...that's it.

I packed all boxes myself.

For the furniture...bought felt and quilted blankets. About 20, I think. Plus old foam I had etc. (Northern Tool for the blankets cheap.) I bought 2 packs of HD ratchet straps.

Our pods were always lifted with the gorilla lift. I had a few Garment bags hanging on the rod inside. The didn't move an inch. So ask about that. It's pretty slick.

Everything was protected and strapped in.

Seal your soft goods in heavy garbage bags to provide tight packing side to side and front to back.

I did have one edge of a cabinet rub against the back of something and the finish was completely worn thru by the jiggling but it was a small spot and, well, stuff happens.

Really, if you take your time and pack carefully, it's no problem. Lots of YouTubes out there on loading the pod.

Good luck.

The storage aspect complicates your move, for sure, but I would bid it out with movers too. We recently moved my son for grad school and I assumed we would use a pod at first. First issue was not being able to park them at the apartment building (city block, not a complex) for unloading. We were also getting estimates that were right on the border of needing one or two pods. We also priced both uhaul's version of pods and renting a truck and driving ourselves.

We also talked to movers who turned out to be brokers -- highest risk and least certainty in all areas, Wound up using a local moving company. I packed everything, they loaded and took to a warehouse and then reloaded when it was scheduled -- that because it was a small load and had to be matched up with other small loads going in the same direction. And your flexibility in timing can help you get a better price (also planning ahead 30 days or more, if you can). It really turned out so well and the cost was very reasonable -- and so much easier on us. It takes time, but it was worth it. We got pros to load and unload plus more than enough insurance for just slightly more than driving a truck ourselves, and it was far easier.

To clarify, I can pack the small stuff in boxes very well, and protect the fragile things in boxes. But I was talking about letting pros pack the POD with the furniture and the boxes.