Avoid unexpected charges next time you’re renting or leasing a Mobile Office by following a few suggestions:

• Use push pins to hang announcements, posters, messages, etc. on the walls.
  • Using tape to hang messages will cause damage to the walls, which will cost you/your company money.
  • Ask the company you’re renting/leasing from to provide you with a box of push pins to make sure you have the equipment you need to meet the requirements of posting special messages.
• Use a plastic floor protector.
  • Rolling chairs are frequently used at desks inside a Mobile Office. These chairs can cause extensive damage to the floor, often grinding the tiles down into the floor boards.
  • At the time of your order, ask the company to provide you with a floor protector. There will likely be a nominal charge; however, this practice will save you money over the course of your project. You may even be able to purchase the floor protector outright. That way it’s yours to keep and bring with you to use on your next project/job-site.
• Ask for assistance for on-site moves from the company you’re renting/leasing from.
  • Avoid hitch damages or replacement by enlisting their services to move an office to another location on your job-site. Hitch damage and replacement can cost you/your company up to $2,000.00.
• Purchase used steps instead of renting them.
  • A set of used steps can cost anywhere from $450.00 to the equivalent of a 12 month Mobile Office lease. If cared for properly, your used steps can last a very long time and be used on many future job-sites and projects.
• Purchase a used Mobile Office rather than renting one for a long-term or long distance project.
  • Long-term / long distance projects = longer leases / larger freight bills
  • If you have a long-term or long distance project, ask your Mobile Office provider what is available for purchase from their fleet. Use your money towards the purchase of a used Mobile Office rather than paying the company more freight to haul the trailer back and forth to/from their yard.
  • At the end of your project, you can either keep the office for future projects or, many times, the Mobile Office provider can help you re-market it by providing you with names of companies or individuals that are looking to purchase a used office of their own.
• Avoid damage waiver charges.
  • Prior to delivery, Mobile Office providers may require that you provide them with an insurance certificate or sign-up for their damage waiver program. Many times, a damage waiver will automatically be added to your monthly invoice if you don’t have a certificate on file with them. Damage waivers typically cost anywhere from $30.00 – $180.00 per month, depending on the type of equipment you are renting.
• Return all keys when you return the office.
  • Most likely, the company will send all available sets of keys with the office.
  • Why don’t Mobile Office providers keep an extra set of keys just in case?
    • Imagine the logistics of making hundreds of sets of keys in a year and then keeping track of them. This would end up costing you, the customer, more (made evident in rental rates) than just replacing the locks whenever necessary.
  • Check with your provider for their requirements and return at least 1 set of keys per door with the office. Otherwise, a new lock will need to be installed, which could cost you/your company upwards of $50.00 per lock.
• Order additional job-site products, other than offices, through your Mobile Office provider. This will save you time and money!
  • You may be able to order all of your job-site products including security systems, portable toilets, hand-washing stations, holding tanks, storage containers, ramps, skirting, furniture, door & window bars, security window screens, vending machines, and more through the same company.
  • Generating and processing just 1 purchase order can cost you/your company $150.00 or more.
  • Instead:
    • Make 1 phone call to place the order for your items, generate 1 purchase order, then there’s 1 invoice to approve each month, and you make just 1 more phone call to return the items.
  • Or:
    • You could order each item from a different company and at the end of the month be signing and approving 3, 4, maybe 10 purchase orders and invoices.

Now-a-days we’re all working with less resources and a leaner staff. Lean on your Mobile Office provider to provide you with all of the products you need for your construction job-site.

About the Author
Nikki Karnopp is a Sales Representative for Satellite Shelters, Inc. She has 9 years of experience in the Mobile Office and Modular Building industry. You can reach Nikki at 763-420-2001 or by email at NikkiK@satelliteco.com.

About Satellite Shelters, Inc.
For over 35 years, Satellite Shelters, Inc. has been a national provider of space solutions including Mobile Offices, Modular Buildings, Ground-Level Offices, Storage Containers, and Blast Resistant Modules. For more information, visit www.satelliteco.com or call 800-453-1299.