Whether it’s a one-off backyard blitz, a seasonal clean-up or an unexpected home emergency, hiring helps you do it right. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Let’s face it – most DIY projects don’t fail for lack of effort. They stall when you don’t have the right tools. And unless you’re building a hardware store in your backyard, owning everything you might need just doesn’t make sense.
Even if you do the maths and convince yourself you’ll use that concrete grinder, carpet blower or post hole digger enough times to justify the purchase, there are more merits to hiring equipment than cost alone.
Hunter Cocks from Asset Construction Hire says a dramatically changed manufacturing and retail landscape has triggered a major shift in the traditional rental model.
“Like everyday consumerism, the market has been impacted by cheap overseas manufacturing, which has made things like audio-visual equipment, cars, hand tools etc so much cheaper to buy than 30 years ago,” he says.
“With the rise in online how-to guides, these things are also no longer perceived as items only used by experts. Now everyone with a YouTube video and an Amazon account can have a crack.
“The downside is, now we all have sheds full of gear and tooling taking up space, collecting dust and falling into disrepair.”
Professionals and tradies are regular visitors to Asset Construction Hire, however these days more DIYers are also tackling projects on their own, according to Asset Construction Hire branch manager Jason Warren.
He reckons a combination of soaring construction costs and rising living expenses have driven more households to DIY – either to cut costs or finally tackle that long list of home projects.
“When that eye-watering quote comes in, you might decide to tackle it yourself, or at least take on part of it to reduce the cost. Or, you might figure – well, if we’re taking this one thing on ourselves, we might as well make a weekend of it and get a bunch of things done,” Jason says.
“That’s when the economics of hiring makes sense. You’ll hire one or two products to complete a task you might’ve otherwise needed a contractor to do, but at a fraction of the price.”
Some tools – such as lawnmowers or hand tools – are worth owning if you use them often. Others are perfect for rental. For one-off or seasonal jobs, hiring offers a more practical solution.
Think one-off weekend gear such as trenchers, post hole diggers, cement mixers and mini excavators, seasonal tools including whipper snippers and pressure washers, or emergency equipment such as carpet blowers used in flood recovery.
Then there are demolition, clean-up or tip run jobs where the right gear can transform a full weekend’s work into a half-day task.
“There’s nothing more valuable than your spare time,” Jason says.
Hiring also comes with the bonus of saving space and hassle. There’s no need to maintain or store bulky equipment, buy consumables such as blades, oil or fuel, or worry about repairs.
“All equipment at some point may incur a breakdown. That’s why we have mechanics on call seven days a week,” Jason says.
Equipment is easily hired and can be dropped off and picked up at your doorstep. But beyond convenience, hiring gives you access to top-tier equipment from leading brands and advice from knowledgeable staff.
“We have a massive showroom in Fyshwick and we actively encourage people to come and have a look at our range,” Jason says.
“It helps to have a visual on the footprint of something before you buy it, but also might offer inspiration on what you can achieve when you have the right equipment.”
It’s also a way to be part of the circular economy – using what you need, when you need it, without the waste.
“There’s a lot of wisdom in the idea that you don’t have to own something to use it,” Jason says.
For more information visit Asset Construction Hire.
