Rhode Island may not be an actual island. It might be the smallest of the 50 states throughout America. But it also offers some amazing opportunities for coastal views in the United States – and affordable housing that can’t be beat on the east coast!
And what if you could take all of these boons to Rhode Island living and make them even better? A shipping container home in Rhode Island just might make that possible. With a custom shipping container home, you get to repurpose metal building supplies that guarantee your home is long-lasting and resilient against all the unexpected chaos of life. Shipping container homes can be as big or small as you want – and they can even grow and move with your family over time.
Read on to learn more about the shipping container home trend and how you can start building a shipping container home in Rhode Island today.
A Shipping Container Home in Rhode Island
Because Rhode Island has such little land within its state limits, you are guaranteed easy access to the ocean no matter where you buy a home in the state. There are 40 miles of coastline throughout Rhode Island, and there are amazing festivals and restaurants you can enjoy year-round in the state.
But even more, people choose to move to Rhode Island because of its long tradition of top-quality schools and colleges, plus surprisingly affordable housing. Rhode Island homes are consistently sold below the median housing market price across the United States, and a shipping container home can make that even more possible.
Finally, Rhode Island is in the top 10 eco-friendly states throughout America. When you move to Rhode Island, you can enjoy cleaner water, less gasoline consumption, and lower energy bills for your home. This means your upcycled building materials used to create a shipping container home will fit right into the aesthetic and culture of Rhode Island neighborhoods
What is a shipping container home?
Shipping container homes were first conceptualized in response to housing shortages after several major extreme climate events throughout the world. Mobile homes and traditional timber homes have proven themselves to be less resilient against rising tornadoes and hurricanes. But the natural steel exterior of shipping container homes solves this problem – and at a low cost to you!
The main idea of a shipping container home is to take a used international shipping container and convert it into a living space. This solves two problems. First, shipping containers can’t always be used multiple times for transportation, which means they start to pile up in shipyards without any program for recycling their high-quality metal. Second, many individuals don’t know where to begin when choosing to commit to downsized living that is actually budget-friendly and long-lasting.
But one of the best parts of a shipping container home is that you don’t have to remain in a tiny home forever. Shipping containers are usually 8 feet in width and height, then either 10, 20, or 40 feet in length. Thanks to the interlocking function added to shipping containers for easy transportation, you can also easily add to your home over time. As soon as you can buy another reusable shipping container, your home can get a new addition!
Why Should I Build a Shipping Container Home in Rhode Island?
Like many spaces along the east coast of America, Rhode Island has a rich history connected to the beginning of the United States. But the Ocean State is also a great location to establish roots for your modern family.
With a shipping container home in Rhode Island, you can easily meet house zoning expectations. Plus, a shipping container home usually takes up to 12 weeks to be built. This includes any installation of electric and sewage lines, along with adding doors, windows, and flooring to the interior of your shipping container home.
Finally, if you’ve ever been curious about environment-friendly living, you should consider a shipping container home. Shipping containers are easily transportable to the property you purchase for building, and they can even move with you and your family over time. You can build your dream east coast getaway with a shipping container home, and you won’t ever have to worry about breaking the bank.
How Much Does a Shipping Container Home in Rhode Island Cost?
When it comes to any new home construction, it’s important to know what your building budget should be from the get-go. For example, if you are interested in adding a shipping container pool to your property, it’s helpful to add this cost to the construction loan you’ll pay back for your home design. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a separate bill that isn’t as tax-friendly in the future.
To build a shipping container home, you must first purchase a plot of land. Then the other three main costs involved are buying as many shipping containers as possible to create your new shipping container home. There’s the payment for a shipping container home builder to convert your shipping container(s) into a liveable space. And finally, there’s the actual installation of your shipping container on the property you’ve bought to live on.
With all of that in mind, a shipping container home in Rhode Island will usually cost around $30,000. The average cost of a newly constructed traditional home in Rhode Island is around $300,000. That means a single shipping container home costs about one-tenth of the price of a regular home.
If you have always wanted to invest in a new home but never knew out it could happen, a shipping container home in Rhode Island might be the answer.
Shipping Container Home Builders in Rhode Island
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When it comes to building your shipping container home in Rhode Island, there are several companies you can choose from. However, the main shipping container home business based directly in Rhode Island only involves the purchasing of shipping container homes. This makes sense, especially since Rhode Island is a coastal state with easy access to international shipyards.
To actually upcycle your shipping container into living quarters will require working with a shipping container home builder. These companies will either take a shipping container you’ve already purchased and help convert it, or they will help you find the right shipping containers you need for your custom home plans.
With all of that in mind, here are the top three shipping container home builders we recommend for your new Rhode Island home:
Custom Container Living
Custom Container Living is based out of Archie, Missouri, but they send their shipping container homes all over the United States. This company has been in business since 2015, and they understand the importance of keeping shipping container homes affordable, eco-friendly, and versatile.
Outback Storage
Outback Storage was started in 2004 as an option for shipping container rentals in Westerly, Rhode Island. Since then, they have expanded to work on converting shipping containers for a wide variety of uses, including shipping container homes for purchase.
JPW Shipping Container Homes
JPW is a national company that helps connect you to local shipping container home builders in your area. You can fill out a form on their website to help you find contractors in your community who are familiar with the shipping container home construction process.
Shipping Container Homes for Sale in Rhode Island
Shipped.com Shipping Container Marketplace
Shipped.com helps buyers learn what shipping container is suitable for them and help them. With over 60 depots and thousands of containers on hand, they offer great prices for shipping containers. They have online direct checkout and a digital cart to help you find what you are looking for!
Outback Storage Containers
Outback Storage Containers provides themselves with offering their customers shipping containers in a variety of sizes, conditions, and prices to meet their needs. They want customers to feel confident as they purchase their new shipping container. They also help deliver the container to the site within the specified timeframe.
Harper Steel
Harper Steel has been in business since 2001. They have been providing high-quality shipping containers for their customers since then. They have 10, 20, and 40 shipping containers available for you to choose from.
How to Finance and Get Insurance for Your Shipping Container Home in Rhode Island
If you go to a major bank today and say you want to build a shipping container home, you might get turned away. But it’s not because of your financial status. It’s actually because shipping container homes are still really new to the housing market.
For this reason, you have two options when it comes to financing and insuring your shipping container home. The first solution is to work with smaller banks and lenders. They are more willing to offer funding for alternative housing solutions. The second solution requires you to put in the research and network with individuals who can help you prove the financial value of your home.
The second option can be made even easier with an appraiser in the area where you’ve purchased land. You can easily find someone like this when you talk to other shipping container homeowners online who have been through this process before you.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read through our shipping container home cost guide, the only thing left to do is to start building your shipping container home! Feel free to also check out our shipping container home FAQs, including our tips on how much it costs to build a shipping container home. Or read more about shipping container homes on our blog, where you’ll see content like these top tips for building a shipping container home with a basement and floor plan inspiration for 3 40-foot shipping container homes.
If you want to learn more before you commit to building your shipping container home in Rhode Island, check out our program “Container Homes Made Easy”. It’s affordable, informative, and will give you every resource you need to confidently move forward with your shipping container home build.
