Rent-to-own is how a large share of our buildings leave the lot, and it is also the option people understand least before they ask. Here is what it actually is, what it is not, and when it makes sense.
What rent-to-own is
You choose a building, put down a first payment, and we deliver it. You then make monthly payments. When the term is complete the building is yours. You can also pay off the balance early at any point, and doing so costs less than running the full term.
There is no credit check. That is the part that surprises people. The agreement is tied to the building rather than to a credit score, which is why it works for customers a bank would turn down and why it does not put a hard inquiry on your file.
What it is not
It is not a loan and it is not layaway. You are not waiting to take delivery while you pay something off, and you are not borrowing money from a bank with the building as collateral. The building is delivered to your yard at the start, and you use it from day one.
It is also not a rental in the sense of renting forever with nothing to show. Every payment is moving you toward owning it outright.
What it costs
Monthly payments start at around $88 and scale with the price of the building, working out at roughly two percent of the purchase price per month. A few examples:
- A building around $4,000 lands near $85 a month
- A building around $6,000 lands near $125 a month
- A building around $10,000 lands near $210 a month
Those are estimates to help you plan, not quotes. Every product page on this site shows an estimated monthly figure alongside the price so you can compare as you browse.
The honest trade-off: rent-to-own costs more over the full term than paying cash. What you are buying is the ability to have the building now, without a credit check and without emptying savings. Paying it off early is where most people save, and there is no penalty for doing it.
Who it suits
- You need the storage now and the timing does not line up with having the full amount available
- Your credit would not survive a hard inquiry, or you would rather not have one
- You would rather keep cash available for something else
- You want to spread the cost of a bigger building rather than compromise on size
Who it does not suit
If you can comfortably pay outright, pay outright. You will spend less. Rent-to-own solves a timing and access problem, not a value problem, and we would rather tell you that than sign you up for something you do not need.
How to start
- Pick your building, either on the shop page or by walking the lot in North Dinwiddie or Charles City.
- Choose Rent-to-Own at checkout, or tell whoever you are speaking with on the lot. Choosing it online reserves the building right away, with nothing charged online.
- Our team contacts you to complete the agreement and take the first payment.
- We schedule delivery. In-stock buildings usually go out within one to two weeks; buildings that need to be built typically run four to six weeks.
Delivery and setup are free within 50 miles of either location, and the building is set level as part of that. One free relevel in the first year is included, as is the 5 year warranty. None of that changes because the building is on rent-to-own rather than paid outright.
Before you sign anything
Two things to sort out first, and they are the same two for any building purchase.
Check whether your county requires a permit for the size you have chosen, and check your setbacks from the property lines. We have a guide to permits in Virginia that covers what to ask.
Then get the base sorted. A building on rent-to-own still needs somewhere solid and level to sit. Our foundation guide covers the options, and our site prep crew can do the work if you would rather not.
Questions we get asked
What if I move? Talk to us. We move buildings for a living, and relocating one under agreement is something we deal with regularly.
What if I want to pay it off next month? Then pay it off next month. There is no early payoff penalty, and it is the cheapest way to run the agreement.
Can I still choose the colors? Yes on a building we order in for you. On a building already on the lot, what you see is what you get, which is part of why lot stock moves faster.
Full terms are on the financing page, or call (804) 894-8095 in North Dinwiddie or (804) 894-2985 in Charles City and ask for a walkthrough. There is no obligation in asking.
