How to Rent an Excavator in Campbell River
Whether you’re digging out the foundation of your new home or simply digging out the driveway so you can park your car, renting an excavator in Campbell River is a great way to save money on this large and expensive tool. With that said, there are some things you need to know about renting excavators in order to ensure it’s done properly and at the best price possible. In this article, we’ll discuss all the ins and outs of renting an excavator in Campbell River and how you can use this information to make the best decision possible on your next project that requires this tool.
Best Place To Find An Excavator
Hello Rentals is the best place of course for renting an excavator. And Google too, is a great place to start. If you’re searching for something specific, Google is your best bet. Otherwise, let’s look at some other options for finding excavators for rent.
2 Tips For Renting An Excavator
Looking for a way to break ground on a new project? If you’re renting an excavator, there are two things you need to know.
- The first is that despite their power and versatility, these heavy-duty construction machines can be pretty dangerous if not operated properly. That means that when it comes time to rent an excavator, you should always choose a reputable company with fully trained staff, up-to-date safety equipment and proper insurance coverage.
- The second thing you need to know is how much excavators cost. There’s no one answer because it depends on several factors such as size and make; but rest assured: digging holes isn’t cheap!
3 Questions Before Hiring A Contractor
When it comes time to hire a contractor for any kind of work on your property, there are three very important questions you need to ask: What is included? What isn’t included? And what will I pay? You may already know what you want done, but it never hurts to check and be sure. Otherwise, you may find yourself surprised with extra charges or unanticipated work when your project is complete. If there’s anything that comes as a surprise at all, be sure you understand exactly why it’s being done and that it has been priced properly so there are no surprises at final billing.
1. Will I need operator services?
While you can operate some of these machines on your own, most people don’t have experience operating heavy machinery. Rental companies often include operators with equipment, which means you won’t have to hire a freelancer separately. But be aware that operators are generally only included when renting a large piece of equipment such as an excavator or backhoe loader (AKA crawler). If you need smaller pieces of equipment that don’t require operators, you will probably be responsible for hiring those freelancers yourself (which is fine and easy when using online marketplace like TaskRabbit).
2. What type of excavation project do I need help with?
You may not need an excavator rental if you’re just moving a small amount of dirt around. But if you want to dig up dirt from more than 6 cubic yards, then it might make sense to rent one out instead of asking friends/family members for their time/equipment. Make sure that you select an excavator rental company before agreeing to anything; after all, they will help determine whether it makes financial sense for you to rent versus buy one outright!
3. How far away does my job site location?
Distance matters—and not just because gas prices are high! All major excavator rental companies charge based on mileage traveled (you typically pay per mile), so if your work site is too far away you could end up paying a lot more than anticipated. The other reason distance matters is capacity: most likely, you aren’t going to load an excavator into your trunk and drive down there yourself! If your work site isn’t within reasonable driving distance of any major excavation equipment rentals locations, you should consider finding someone local who has either room on his truck or has a trailer to haul it down for you.
4. Do I really need an excavator?
Even though it looks cool, excavators can cost $250+ per day to rent out. So make sure you know what you’re getting into before deciding that an excavator is right for your project. Consider things like how big/deep/many holes you need dug, whether or not you’re planning on operating it yourself, how big your budget is for taking care of land afterward, etc. Some folks prefer stick augers because they’re cheaper…however stick augers move very slowly compared to skid steer sized shovels (the kind usually used on construction sites). Moving slowly isn’t always bad…but if you plan on doing a lot of moving with your stick auger then buying a bigger machine may actually save money in the long run!
4 Cost To Rent An Excavator
To rent a skid steer or excavator is not cheap. The cost of renting these machines by hour (usually via a per-hour rental fee) can be very expensive. It’s important to know what factors will affect your bottom line so you know how much it’ll cost you to rent equipment for any given job. Here are some things you should keep in mind when it comes time to rent machinery:
1. Distance: Depending on where you are and where your equipment is, hauling costs may start adding up if you need to move that heavy piece of machinery far away from its original location.
2. Time/Distance Ratio: No matter where you are, there will always be hauling costs involved with renting heavy equipment; however, larger cities tend to have more rental options at their disposal—and fewer transportation-related fees—so don’t underestimate those economies of scale.
3. Accessibility vs Convenience: In order to compare rates between different companies, consider what kind of pricing option each would provide based on your needs.
5 Do’s And Don’ts Of Hiring An Excavator
1. Make sure you know what you’re doing:
Be honest with yourself—do you have any experience operating heavy machinery? If not, it may be a better idea to hire a professional for your digging needs. And, even if you are experienced with excavators, be aware that excavators should only be used by professionals who have undergone rigorous training. The last thing you want is a jack-knifed backhoe on your property.
2. Find out if anyone else has planned their excavation:
Contact neighbours and local business owners and make sure they haven’t already scheduled their excavation work. If they have, ask them to coordinate efforts so you can minimize downtime and disruption of business or traffic flow on your street
3. Hire locals:
When hiring people for an excavation project, there’s no better way than to go with a locally owned company like Hello Rentals with years of experience behind them
4. Experience matters:
Look for experienced operators with skills; look for operators who are qualified in equipment operation, preferably by government bodies such as WorkSafeBC (in British Columbia)
5. Consider hiring an operator instead of DIY:
Excavators require so much skill and training to operate compared to doing it all yourself. At Hello Rentals we offer both options, but you might find that hiring our smaller machines could save you money or hiring one of our operators?
6. Always compare companies:
What are you getting. Compare apples to apples. Cheap is not always better. Far from it!
6 What Makes Rookies Go Wrong?
It’s not always easy renting a crane or excavator for your job site. But if you follow these tips, things will go more smoothly:
1. Call for Availability – There are certain times of year that cranes and other heavy machinery just aren’t available for rent—the rest of the year is fair game. That said, equipment rental companies may be busy during those peak seasons, so don’t take it personally if they can’t provide you with equipment on such short notice.
2. Have a Plan B – If all else fails, there are plenty of ways to work around getting access to an excavator; whether you have a family member who can lend you one or have connections at another company who might let you use their machines (if only temporarily), plan ahead!
3. Be Safe – Operating heavy machinery can be dangerous, which is why you should do everything possible to avoid putting yourself in danger. Use common sense when operating any piece of equipment and remember: safety first!
4. Don’t Wait Too Long – Renting a crane or excavator isn’t always quick or easy (nor should it be!), but waiting too long could mean losing out on valuable time that could otherwise be spent working towards your goals.
7 What Can You Do While Waiting For Your Project?
If you’re going to be renting an excavator, you might be wondering how long it takes for one to become available. That’s a good question, and one that we’ve asked many times ourselves! There are a few factors that influence rental time: availability of machines, time of year (i.e., summer versus winter), distance between job sites (the closer they are together, the quicker your machine will be ready) and size/type of machine requested. We work hard behind-the-scenes to ensure our customers have access to their equipment as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality or safety; often times, we can deliver within a few hours notice (depending on specifics). The takeaway? As soon as you know you need a machine, make sure to call us right away so we can start working toward getting it booked. Now—on with answering those questions you had while waiting! Not sure where to look for affordable excavation services? Well… now’s your chance to ask us because #1 is something we excel at: delivering service at unbeatable prices. It’s true, especially when compared with other contractors in our area that charge higher rates than us just because they’re big businesses. While bigger companies mean economies of scale (meaning sometimes lower cost per hour), smaller businesses usually provide better individualized service at comparable rates—like ours does.
8 Where Should I Dig?
Before renting your excavator, you should survey your site. You don’t want to realize too late that there’s a buried gas line or water main beneath where you need to dig. If you aren’t familiar with existing underground lines, call in a professional before attempting any work on site.
9 What To Avoid When Hiring An Excavator?
If you’re looking to rent an excavator for your upcoming construction project, there are a few things you should avoid. From hidden fees to equipment that doesn’t fit your needs, read below for our tips on what not to do when renting a large excavator.
1. Don’t Hire The First Company You Find:
As with any service, it pays to shop around. There are several reputable companies out there who will help you out at reasonable prices, so take some time and look for one that fits your needs and is within your budget. Cheapest is NOT always best. They are cheap for a reason. Find out why. Maybe they don’t have insurance?
2. Don’t Rely On Free Equipment To Get The Job Done:
It may seem tempting, but never get free or extremely cheap services from unlicensed companies as they might end up costing you far more than simply hiring licensed and insured professionals would have cost in the first place—in both time and money!
3. Don’t Forget To Consider Transport Costs:
While most people think of renting heavy machinery only once they’ve found their contractor, don’t forget to consider transport costs if you need heavy machinery moved from point A to point B.
4. Don’t Expect Per-Day Prices When You Pay For A Full Week:
Many people make exactly this mistake by assuming per-day prices will work for them if they plan on needing their equipment longer than just a day or two.
5. Avoid Hidden Fees And Charges At All Costs:
Always ask about hidden fees before making a deal; no company wants to overcharge customers unless otherwise agreed upon ahead of time
6. Make Sure What You Need Is Included In The Price:
Once again, ask questions to ensure you know whether additional equipment rental charges apply.
7. Check That Your Rental Includes Insurance Coverage:
Ask to see proof of insurance prior to signing anything, especially since many small contractors aren’t legally required to carry insurance.
8. Don’t Accept Dirty Or Damaged Equipment:
Just like you wouldn’t accept dirty dishes or damaged food in a restaurant, it also doesn’t pay to accept dirty equipment into your business. Instead, hire someone else or use another machine.
9. Don’t Assume One Size Fits All:
Even though there are different sizes available, not all machines are created equal; make sure you ask exactly which type of machine is best suited for your job.