Cleaning and maintaining a building means taking on all sorts of tasks, big and small, throughout the year. You may not have the equipment necessary for every job, and need to look into investing in tools or rental equipment to get the job done. Some seasons require more equipment than others and this means that it may be difficult to commit the dollars it takes to invest in that seasonal equipment.

RELATED: Adding equipment rentals to your maintenance plan

Here are some of the reasons that renting may be a more viable and cost-effective option for your business:

• Do you have limited storage space? If so, you may not want to store equipment that only gets used once in a while, so by renting, you can reserve that storage space for equipment you need all year long.
• If you have embarked on a special, one-time project, like re-sodding or landscaping, you may not require the equipment again, so it may not be worth spending the money to purchase the necessary equipment when you can rent it on a daily or hourly rate.
• Renting the proper equipment can help get the job done safely, efficiently, and in a timely manner. For example, rather than setting up a ladder for an exterior job, a lift may help you accomplish the same task faster, simpler, and more safely.
• Owning equipment means you need to factor maintenance and repair costs into your budgeting, but with rental equipment, you avoid those costs, along with the reduced value of equipment depreciation.
• If you have multiple projects on the go or are planning a major project, meeting the demand for all the required equipment is made much simpler by renting what you need as you need it, rather than managing an inventory of expensive equipment or tools.
• Ownership means that you may have outdated equipment or diagnostics, whereas rentals offer you the opportunity to access the latest technology and tools for potentially better results and more information.
• Are you in the market to buy new equipment? Renting offers you a ‘try before you buy’ system, allowing you to test equipment so you can make informed decisions that work for your business.

Equipment can become a major investment as part of your maintenance plan, so consider whether it’s more feasible to manage your property and projects with rental equipment instead.