If you’re like me, your weekend to-do list is never-ending. There are tasks to be done around the house, lawns, and plants to be maintained, and maybe even an addition to the kid’s playground out back. Regardless of the task, you’re will need to find a way to transport materials. I can tell you from personal experience, a small four-door sedan sitting pretty in the garage isn’t going to get the job done.
When I realized that fact for myself, I hit a fork in the road. Should I purchase a new pickup truck to aid me in these tasks or do I just rent one for those times when I need it?
Before I made my decision, I wrote a list of all the projects I had in the foreseeable future. Like I mentioned earlier, there were some lawn, home improvement and a few other random tasks ( like getting that old couch out of the basement!) I needed to get done. When I totaled up all the projects, I had about ten. From there, I paired the list down further by determining what tasks I truly needed the pickup truck for. This next step helps me cut my list down to about five.
Before we get to my decision, let’s go over the decision making steps first.
- Number of Uses: Just like I did, write down a list of the projects you see coming up in future. Does every single project need a truck? Can you pick up supplies for multiple projects in one run? If that sounds like an option, or your number of projects is low, renting might be the most cost-effective way to get the job done.
- Storage: Do you have a place to keep your new truck? In my case, I wasn’t willing to trade in my personal vehicle for a truck, and I didn’t have the storage space to keep both. Renting allows you to use it when you need it; when you’re not it’s out of your hair.
- Associated Costs: New trucks can be pricey. When I took my test drive I couldn’t believe how high the price tag was. When I did the math, I realized that my cost for each project was going to be high. On top of that, add maintenance, insurance, and other ownership costs that don’t come along with a rental. The numbers started to add up.
Based on those three items, I chose to forgo the shiny new truck and go with a rental when I need it!
Rent or buy what would you do? Have you bought a pickup only to find out it sits around? Any good home improvement stories or tips? Let us know in the comments below.
