Rental Services: Do It Yourself with a Little Help

Home improvement projects aren't always big endeavors, but when they are, you may need to rent heavy equipment, storage trailers, or any number of tools to get the job done right. While some might get excited at the idea of renting a backhoe or jackhammer, the need to rent heavy equipment is not something that every homeowner will relish. Whether you're entering your first big home improvement project, or you're a die-hard DIY looking to expand your portfolio, here are a few tips on who to rent your equipment from and how to get the most bang for your rental buck!

Rent Storage Trailers for Long Projects
One of the most common job site rentals is the storage trailer. Large home improvement projects not only require the right tools for the job, but a lot of materials that will not be used immediately. While some homeowners might be fine keeping these tools and materials in the garage, others who don't have a garage or an alternate parking space might find that their needs can only be met with a storage trailer. Rentals are typically easy: the company will drop off the trailer at your home before work begins and pick it up again when the work is finished. Those who rent storage trailers are often happy not only with the ease of pick-up and drop-off, but the saved space on their property, the security of their materials, and the convenience of having all their tools and materials in an easy to access spot (rather than keeping materials stored inside the house or in the basement).

Criteria to Rent Heavy Equipment
Though you may not need anything but a credit card to rent storage trailers, heavy equipment rentals are a completely different story. Not only will many projects that require heavy equipment rentals require you to obtain building permits, as well, simply operating the machine itself could require a license in some cases. In no situation should you assume that you'll be able to figure out how to operate rental construction equipment once you get it home! The pact you make when you rent heavy equipment is clear: You must know how to work the machine in question before you can rent it. It's true that homeowners who can use a backhoe themselves are likely to greatly reduce the cost of their projects, but these machines are extremely powerful and not meant to be practiced with. The money you think you'll save by operating it yourself can fly out the window quickly when damage to person or property results in its misuse, so rent only what you are prepared to operate!

Finding a Heavy Equipment Rental Middle Ground
Somewhere between renting heavy equipment and using it yourself and hiring a professional contractor to do an entire job for you is hiring a certified operator for the necessary stages of the project. If you are lucky, you have a friend or family member who is well versed in operating your heavy equipment rental, but even if you don't, you may be able to work out a deal with a local operator who wants to make a few bucks. Many certified operators are hired by general contractors to perform the specific task of using a single piece of equipment; if you feel comfortable performing the other aspects of the project on your own, you may be able to rent heavy equipment and pay one of these operators an hourly rate at a much lower cost than it would be to hire a contractor for the entire job.

Rent Heavy Equipment for Less
When planning to rent heavy equipment, every homeowner should make sure to check out multiple rental companies to make sure they get the best deal possible. While some companies might charge a relatively low daily rate, longer projects might be better served by a company that offers weekly packages or packages that contain more than one machine. In addition to contacting multiple heavy equipment rental companies, you should also make sure to talk to your neighbors. If you need a specific piece of equipment for an hour or two, and a neighbor needs that same equipment for a similar length of time to use on his or her property, it should be easy to rent the device for a day and split the cost, saving you both money!

Rent Construction Tools
High-powered machines and storage trailers aren't the only things you can rent. Instead of going to your local hardware store and spending a bundle before you begin a project, you should ask at the counter if they offer construction tool rentals. Specialty drills, saws, sanders, buffers, and plenty of other smaller tool rentals can often mean the difference between a DIY job done cheaply and a ton of tools in your garage that you spent a bundle on, but will never use again! You may need to pay a deposit to rent construction tools from hardware stores, home improvement centers, or local contractors, but unless you do some sort of damage to the tools, you'll get it back. Remember, professional results require professional equipment; by renting your equipment from those who know how to use it, you might even get a few tips and tricks of the trade to make your project go even better!