Rentals and hire: how to find what you need and not overpay
First, decide what exactly you need
Rentals and hire are very different things under one roof. Someone wants tents and a kayak for the weekend, someone a drill for a week, someone a minivan or a mini excavator for a month. Everything depends on this: who replies, how time is counted and what the deposit will be.
A simple guide. For machines and vehicles, see vehicle and heavy equipment hire and equipment hire: engine hours, an operator and fuel matter there. For repairs at home, tool hire will do. For celebrations, event supplies hire, where the main thing is to collect and return on time. For leisure, sports and camping gear. If you still cannot tell where something belongs, simply describe it in the request: the site will pick the category itself.
What to put in your rental request
A lender needs to know not only “what” but also “for how long” and “how”. Without this, everyone will answer in their own way:
- What exactly — model, class, size, power; for an outfit also the height and size.
- Dates and duration — an hour, a day, a weekend or a month. The price per day often drops for a longer term.
- Place — the city, neighbourhood, whether you need delivery or will collect it yourself.
- What for — a one-off event, repairs, a trip, work on site. This helps choose the right item.
- Terms — whether you can leave a deposit, whether an ID is needed, whether you need an operator, a driver or a briefing.
- Budget — if you want to name one.
Example: “I need a 5 kW petrol generator for three days, 14 to 17 November, Sydney. I will collect it myself and bring my own fuel. I will leave a deposit, budget up to $36 a day.”
How to compare offers
Two prices that look the same can mean different things. Check what is included: delivery and return, washing or cleaning, the set of accessories, a limit on kilometres or engine hours. Ask what condition the item is in, when it was last serviced and what happens if it breaks through no fault of yours.
Look at the deposit separately: its size, its form and when it is returned. And ask what a late return costs, because after the term ends the hours are often charged at a higher rate.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You do not search for lenders in listings, they reply to your request themselves. First it is checked: adverts and contacts are removed from the text, and you get hints about which details are still missing. Then lenders in the right category and your region see the request and write in the chat what they offer, at what price, on what terms and whether delivery is available.
BlaBlaPrice shows the best offer by content first, with reviews next to each one. Lenders see where they stand among the others, so they often improve their terms. Your phone is hidden: you give contacts only to the one you choose. It is free for you. More on the “How it works” page.
Common mistakes
- Not giving dates and getting “from such and such” instead of an exact price.
- Forgetting the season: wedding outfits, boats in summer and winter gear are booked well ahead.
- Not inspecting the item when you collect it and not photographing scratches, and then arguing about damage.
- Not asking who pays for fuel, charging or consumables.
