You've realized that it would be better to rent than to buy the construction equipment. Now what? The process for renting construction equipment can seem daunting but by following the instructions below, you will preemptively save yourself from many potential headaches.
Before you rent are you sure of the exact piece of equipment you need? Does the job require earthmoving equipment? Aerial work platforms? Porta-Potties? Knowing the best equipment piece for the job is the first step. There are usually many models and sizes for any one type of equipment. Knowing your needs prior to renting will make your selection process much smoother and quicker. After selecting the specific type of equipment you want the next question that requires answering is "For how long do I need the equipment?". The time period you will need the equipment is sometimes referred to as the duration of the equipment. Once the "what" and "when" questions have been answered, it's time to actually start the procurement process.
Now that you know the exact type of construction equipment you need, you now have to find a supplier to rent the equipment from. The obvious consideration here becomes the basic cost of the rental. Usually construction rental companies offer a daily, weekly, and monthly rental rate on the pieces of equipment. This is where your prior research on the needed duration comes in handy.
There is an additional factor when deciding on your rental supplier. The distance between the drop site and the rental supplier can be a cost factor if the equipment is being delivered. The greater the distance between the drop site and the supplier, the more expensive the delivery cost. Some suppliers have a fixed delivery rate while others have a variable delivery rate based on the distance. Make sure you understand the terms of the delivery so you don't incur additional charges.
In addition to the basic and delivery costs there could be other costs incurred. Some rental companies charge "environmental fees" or fees related to insurance to protect the equipment. Be sure you have a clear understanding of all of the fees related to the equipment you are renting. In addition be sure you have the equipment returned in good condition, else the rental supplier may have ground to charge you an additional fee.
After performing research on suppliers, a contractor can choose the supplier that best fits the needs of the contractor at the lowest cost. The most difficult part of this entire process is the research to find the best deal from suppliers. As the old saying, time is money and cost research can take some time.
Getable.com offers a platform where you can directly compare the associated costs for renting a given piece of equipment for a certain duration. With some suppliers you even have access to "out-the-door" prices so there are no surprise charges incurred.
Let's assume that a San Francisco contractor accepts a contract that requires a 2,000 lb mini excavator for two weeks. Since the first step is complete let's move to the second. The contractor now should perform cost research to find the best deal. An option would be to google "mini excavator", call up individual rental companies, get individual quotes, and compare each quote against each other. However there is a much quicker, simpler method available.
By visiting Getable.com, the contractor can save valuable time by directly comparing the costs of different suppliers.
Once the contractor arrives on the website, he need only select "Mini-excavators", type in zip code near his location (94101), and choose the supplier that offers the lowest cost to him. From there he can complete the entire checkout process online without ever having to call individual suppliers. This saves the contractor time and thus money.
Renting equipment should be a headache free process. Follow this guide and your rental process should be smooth and incident free.
