Buying a portable cabin is straightforward once you know the process — but skipping steps is how buyers end up with the wrong size, an unexpected cost, or a delivery delay. Here’s the step-by-step process we walk every client through.
Step 1: Define Your Use Case and Site Conditions
Start with what the cabin needs to do — site office, security post, labour accommodation, toilet block — and where it’ll sit. Note your site’s access (can a truck reach the placement spot?), ground condition, and whether it needs to be relocated later in the project.
Step 2: Decide Size and Layout
Size should follow function: a single supervisor needs far less space than a multi-person admin team. Standard sizes like 10×10, 20×10, and 40×10 ft cover most needs, but layouts can be customized — partitioned rooms, attached toilet units, or combined office-cum-meeting spaces.
Step 3: Understand the Construction Specification
Before comparing prices, understand what you’re actually comparing. Ask for the frame material (MS box-section is standard), wall construction (a proper build uses GI sheet + glass wool insulation + MDF ply), number of windows, and electrical fitting count. Two quotes for the “same size” cabin can vary hugely once you dig into the actual specification.
Step 4: Get and Compare Written Quotations
- Insist on a written quotation, not a verbal price — it should break down basic amount, GST, and payment terms clearly
- Compare specifications side by side, not just the bottom-line number
- Confirm what’s included — transportation, installation, electrical connection — and what’s charged extra
- Check the delivery timeline in writing, typically 12–15 working days for a standard cabin
Step 5: Confirm Payment and Delivery Terms
A typical payment structure is staged — an advance to confirm the order, a further payment after inspection before dispatch, and a final payment at delivery. Get this in writing along with the delivery date before you pay anything.
Step 6: Prepare Your Site Before Delivery
Most portable cabins need only a simple leveled base or plinth rather than a full foundation — but this still needs to be ready before your delivery date, along with confirming truck access to the placement location.
Step 7: Installation and Handover
On delivery, walk through the cabin against your original specification — window count, electrical points, finish quality — before signing off. Address any discrepancies immediately rather than after the delivery team has left.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Comparing prices without comparing wall specification — the cheapest quote is often the thinnest wall panel
- Not confirming site access for delivery trucks in advance, causing delays on delivery day
- Skipping a written specification and relying on verbal promises
- Underestimating headcount when sizing labour or toilet cabins
Ready to start? Get a free quote today — most quotations are ready within 24 hours.