Equipment hire for construction and events: how to get a good deal
Hiring is often better than buying
If you need equipment for a few days, buying makes no sense. A concrete mixer, a generator or scaffolding would sit idle, take up space and eat a good part of your budget. Hiring lets you take powerful equipment for exactly the time you need. But choose the specifications carefully: too little power will stop the work, and too much will push the cost up.
What people look for most
What to put in your request
- Type of equipment and the power or size you need.
- Period — start date and the number of days or hours.
- Work site — city, site address, whether a truck can reach it.
- Delivery — pick-up, or delivery and installation.
- Fuel and consumables — who fills up, and whether they are in the price.
- Operator or training, if you have not used such equipment before.
- Budget, if you want to name one.
Example: “I need a three-phase diesel generator of 10–15 kW for a building site in Toronto, for 7 days from 12 October. Delivery and a short demonstration needed. Budget up to $70 per day.”
How to compare offers
First check the specifications: power, capacity, what is included in the set. Then ask what is in the price: delivery, fuel, transport back, and whether the tank is handed over full or empty. Ask separately about the deposit, its amount and return terms, and who is responsible for a breakdown during use. Insist on a clear description of the equipment's condition at hand-over, with photos, to avoid disputes later.
For generators and power stations, ask about the real load: starting currents of power tools and pumps can be higher than the rated power, so the hire company should know exactly what you will connect. Find out how the rental is charged: per day or per hour, and whether weekends count. A longer period sometimes gives a better daily rate, so ask about it in the chat.
Never run a generator in a closed room, and scaffolding needs correct assembly and inspection. If you have not used such equipment, ask the hire company for a demonstration or installation, even if it costs extra.
Plan a spare date: in the building season and in the wedding and festival months, equipment goes fast. If your dates are flexible, say so in the request and hire companies will suggest better dates.
Also ask whether you can extend the hire by a day or two if the work drags on, and at what price.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You describe your request once on BlaBlaPrice, and hire companies reply in the chat with offers: the equipment, the price per day, delivery, deposit. The system shows first the offer that fits best, and the reviews are visible next to each one. Hire companies see where they stand among the others, so they compete for your request. Contacts stay hidden until you choose who to give them to. More details: “How it works”.
