Kingston Logistics Centre (KLC) says it has secured several strategic partnerships to help finance and decorate its newest container home options.

The company has been the centre of an intense media frenzy since launching its six new container homes in late April.

Speaking on Taking Stock with Kalilah Reynolds, Communication Officer at KLC, Cherine Forbes, said that while the idea of residential container homes may be new to some Jamaicans, the company has been in the container modification business for over a decade.

“Our container retrofitting was being done on a customization basis and more on the commercial side. We’ve made offices, storage units, clinics, police stations and now we’re stepping into the residential side,” she explained.

“Commerical retrofitting has been our mainstay for over a decade now and so the transition into residential was just a natural progression for us,” she added. 

The company currently offers six homes with a starting price of $2.3 million, and range from 160 to 800 square feet.

Head of Sales and Special Projects Novelette Henry-Mathison noted that land is not included in the home purchase. Buyers have to already own or lease the land where the container home will be placed. 

She also said there is a transportation fee starting at $220,000, to move the home from the KLC facility to the desired location.

Henry-Mathison said the homes are competitively priced compared to the typical construction of a concrete home. She explained that homes come retrofitted with insulation, electrical and plumbing and basic amenities such as toilets and kitchen faucets. 

She also said the homes are made using the same materials used in regular construction. She added that the company assists in ensuring the house’s foundation is strong enough to accommodate the container home.

“It can also support vertical expansion. As with any conventional structure, if you’re going to expand with a second level you have to ensure that you’re foundation has that capacity to support that weight,” Henry-Mathison said.

Forbes acknowledged that people also have valid concerns about the homes’ ability to withstand hurricanes. However, she noted that containers are built to be seaworthy.

“Remember that these containers are brought by sea. So they are built to be seaworthy and withstand hurricanes, monsoons, and everything. Additionally, we add facades to the outside of the homes which add extra protection,” she explained.

Henry-Mathison noted that containers have a long span of 30 years without any upkeep or maintenance, therefore, she said container homes can last much longer if taken care of by homeowners. 

For her part, Forbes said the company has been working with local companies to provide special container home discounts.

“So we’ve partnered with Courts Jamaica for furnishing and appliances, Elegant Creative Designs for glass and windows, alternative power for solar power and Steve Jones Landscaping for landscaping,” she said. 

Forbes also said the company is working with financial institutions to help customers secure financing.