Container Homes: A Good Investment?

Cargotecture is the latest trend in construction and architecture - growing in popularity across the entire globe. Utilising steel shipping containers to build homes of various sizes and locations - this building style has been praised for its adaptability, amongst a myriad of other related benefits. While the smallest container home could be a few square metres in size, these architectural projects can also be multi-storey mansions. 

Hailing from Australia, the original idea to build homes out of containers came from the housing crisis afflicting many countries in the world. However, in South Africa, this trend has not really been applied to low-income areas but has instead received more attention from affluent property investors and buyers. 

Building A Container Home 

The above mentioned is largely due to the process involved in building these houses, as zoning permits need to be obtained and current laws are still catching up to this growing trend. With every region having its own sets of rules, you would have to research the various bylaws and regulations before you start the build. On top of the permission, that a prospective container homeowner will require, a vacant piece of land will have to be purchased. 

With plots in highly sought-after areas priced at lower than established homes, even when combined with the cost of building these abodes, it makes financial sense to consider this form of construction.  

Why Are Container Homes A Good Investment 

There are many advantages to building and therefore investing in container homes, let’s take a look at the main positives:

Flexibility: Because the shape and the material that shipping containers are made from, easily lends itself to modification, it can be used for many purposes and applications. 

Durability: Containers are made from strong steel and are designed to carry heavy loads, be stacked under tons of pressure and to resist the harsh weather conditions out at sea. For this reason, containers can last through many external conditions and are unlikely to fall apart easily. 

Standardised: As many shipping containers have to adhere to the same specific measurements (standard height, width, length), they provide a modular element that can be seamlessly integrated into a larger structure. Thus simplifying the entire construction process, as these containers are already designed to interlock with one another.

Cost: Shipping containers are widely available with both new and used containers, readily accessible in most harbour areas. The actual price of a used container varies between R20 000 and R90 000, dependent on size and the area they are located. This, plus the lower labour cost makes container homes much more economically friendly. 

What To Look Out For

As with anything, it is a good idea to remain vigilant and watch out for possible scammers trying to sell you a container home pipe dream. You wouldn't buy a secondhand car without test driving it first, the same goes for containers, while one-trip containers are almost always assured to be in great condition, some may have dents, rust and other structural issues. Therefore it is important to see what you are buying before purchasing and that you work with a reputable professional that will have your best interest at heart. 

If you are looking for the perfect piece of land to build your very own container home on, contact Knight Frank today. Our team of area specialists will help you navigate all avenues of the buying process and find you the ideal location for your new home or investment.