You’ve always been a DIY-er at heart and now you are looking to tackle a project that might require you to have heavy equipment to complete the job. In this blog we will break down the pros and cons of renting equipment to complete your project.
Pros of Renting Equipment for DIY:
Time – The biggest reason for renting equipment on a project instead of doing it by hand would be to save time. Not only will you be able to complete the project faster but it can also save your back from aching for about a week.
It’s fun to operate equipment – Whether you are renting skidsteers, excavators, tractors, or anything else, operating equipment is fun to do! We have even heard people refer to it as “Tractor Therapy”.
It’s easy to rent – Many construction companies often rent equipment from companies that specialize in that industry, but as a homeowner you can also rent the same equipment. Rental companies such as United Rentals and Sunbelt Rentals are great options for homeowners to rent from. If you aren’t sure what equipment you need, these companies will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right equipment for the job. They even offer drop off and pick-up services so that you do not have to haul the equipment yourself!
Cons of Renting Equipment for DIY:
It’s intimidating – Running equipment that you have never used before can be intimidating. Luckily, YouTube has many videos that you can watch before deciding if you want to rent and operate that equipment.
It can be costly – When you look at the rates on equipment rental websites you will often see a daily, weekly, or monthly rate to rent the equipment. This rate does not include other costs such as rental insurance, transportation, environmental, fuel costs, or taxes. These are all costs that need to be factored into the price of DIY’ing your job. Once you get a feel for how long it might take you, consider that it might take a contractor less time to complete which may save you time, money, and stress.
Safety – Large equipment has the potential to cause significantly more injuries and damage compared to doing a project by hand. It is always important to research everything about your job before you DIY with a large piece of equipment. Besides learning how to properly operate the equipment, I would say the second largest safety hazard if you are digging is to ensure you call 811 to locate underground utilities on your property.
Workmanship – If you are going to rent equipment and DIY this thing yourself, you are going to want to make sure the money you are spending to rent the equipment is going to give you the best product possible. The last thing you want to do is spend a ton of money renting equipment and then turn around and have to have a contractor come fix your work anyways.
If you would like to someone else to do the dirty work, you can always contact us too!
