Feb 05

Tips for Renting Construction Equipment

If you are like most business owners in the Chicago area, you’re probably discovering that renting construction equipment is much simpler and cheaper than purchasing it.  This is because you don’t have to worry about many of the things that go along with construction equipment ownership.  For instance, you won’t have the responsibility of maintaining a large piece of equipment.

Also, you don’t have to worry about storing rental equipment in different places and moving it around to different construction sites.  Most importantly, you won’t waste money buying construction equipment that remains idle for a large portion of the year.  Opting to rent construction equipment allows you to get your money’s worth at all times, but without the hassle.renting construction equipment

Just rent the equipment, use it for the agreed upon time and return it in good condition.  If it breaks down, you are not responsible for repairing it. Return it to the dealer and get a replacement delivered to the site at no cost.   However, just make sure that you understand the terms of the rental agreement before signing it.

Basically, renting construction equipment is not as cumbersome as buying it.   However, there are some things that you should take into account first:

  • Have a general idea of what you are looking for.  Yes, most equipment rental stores have professionals on staff that can help you to find the right equipment, but knowing what you want and need can simplify the rental search.  Also, this makes you a knowledgeable business owner who relies on the expertise of others, but gets the job done without getting scammed.
  • Understand the rental store’s services and rental policies. There is more to renting construction equipment than knowing how it will affect your bottom line.  For instance, is there someone at the store that can show you how to operate the equipment?  Will there always be someone at the store that can help you if the equipment malfunctions?  What is the rental period, and how much is charged for late returns?  Does this store have cheaper rental equipment than the others?  Rent construction equipment from a store that fits in with your way of doing business, your time schedule and your budget.
  • Understand that renting is based upon time and money.  Rental companies charge based upon time increments such as by the hour, day, week or month.  Your rental period starts from the time that the equipment is picked up or delivered.  It really does not make sense to have it delivered to a job site if it isn’t going to be used the minute that it is delivered.  Plan accordingly and don’t waste your time or money.  Make sure that the equipment is used during the entire rental period if you want the rental expense to be cost effective.

All in all, do your research and rent construction equipment from a rental company that is reputable, experienced and professional.  Aide Rentals and Sales has been providing construction rental equipment to the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana areas since 1965.  The company has a large selection of bobcats, trailers, ladders, pressure washers, scaffolds, trenchers, hoists and other tools and construction equipment.  Indiana and Illinois are where Aide Rentals and Sales has rental stores with the best selection of construction equipment around.

Jan 15

Color Combinations to Consider when Painting Your Home

One of the more common steps that homeowners will take when preparing to list their home for sale involves repainting the walls. Walls can easily give the home a worn, drab look when they have visible signs of dirty, smudgy fingerprints and other unsightly blemishes. repainting

While repainting the walls can have a whitewashing effect that instantly makes the home look cleaner, brighter and more appealing, the color combinations that you choose for your home should be considered with care. You have a rainbow of possibilities for your space when preparing your home for sale, but you want to choose colors that will have broad or universal appeal to buyers and that will showcase your home in the best possible light.

Neutral or Muted Hues are Ideal
Many homeowners love to paint their walls stylish or trendy colors, and they may dislike the banal look of beige walls throughout their home. While this may or may not be what you prefer for your home, keep in mind that you are trying to transform your home so that it has broad appeal to the buyers. The colors you choose should not reflect personal taste or preference. Instead, they should be selected based on colors that may be more likely to appeal to most and that may go well with the color of furnishings most already own. Neutral or muted hues are ideal. These lighter colors can also make smaller rooms seem larger, and they can make your entire home seem cleaner.

Avoid Bold, Dramatic Color Combinations
You may have some colors on your walls that you absolutely love, and you may be sad to see them go. However, when you have a bold, dramatic color combination in a room, a buyer may instantly be taken aback by such an intense color scheme. The buyer’s attention may then be focused on your interior design efforts rather than on the home itself, and this is not beneficial to your goal of selling your home. In addition, some may love your bold choices, but many may not. They may think about how those colors would not go well with their furnishings, and they may instantly start thinking about how they would need to work hard to repaint the walls after moving in. The last thing you want is for a buyer to think about your home as needing work.

If you are preparing your home to list for sale, repainting one room or several may be at the top of your to-do list. When you are selecting your paint colors, lean toward neutral hues that may have better appeal toward a larger group of home buyers.

Jan 04

DIY Decorating: How to Use Paint to Spice Up Your Home and Furniture

furnitureThe idea of using spray paint to make some quick fix-ups to your home might seem uncouth, but it can be a great way to make some easy, economical upgrades that will shift the overall look of your living space. Instead of assuming that spray paint is just for graffiti, here are some simple ways to use a can of quick paint to change up your home’s style.

Dress Up Your Doorknobs
An outdated doorknob can instantly age the look of your home, but what you might not know is that a simple douse of spray paint can instantly change the look of your knobs and provide a facelift. Instead of going down to the hardware store and paying hundreds of dollars to switch out each and every knob in your home, you can grab a can of paint in an appropriate shade and spray away for a result that will be long-lasting, modern and easy to complete.

Fix Up The Fixtures
Instead of just contending with the light fixtures in your home, you may want to consider replacing them altogether for a look that is up-to-date and unique. However, instead of going to the lighting store for an expensive, ornate piece, hit the thrift store or a discount home store. You should be able to find a fixture that will benefit from a quick spray of paint, and will spruce up your home nicely without all the cost of a trendy new piece.

fixtures

Make An Old Piece Of Furniture Shine
There are probably certain items in your house that you’ve gotten sick of looking at, but whether it happens to be a basic brown coffee table or an old, oversized chest of drawers, spray paint can make for an effective change that will entirely switch up your room. While this will help you save money since you won’t have to invest in a new piece, it can also provide years and years of future use for an item that was only on its way to the dumpster.

Spray paint might seem like something that you’ll never have a use for, but it can actually be a simple way to dress up your home without the associated costs of new furniture pieces and fixtures. If you’re dressing up your home to put it on the market, you may want to contact your local real estate professional for more inside tips.

Dec 14

Safety: 5 Ways to Prepare for a House Fire and What to Do if One Breaks Out

 

fire

House fires can break out for a wide range of reasons, and these include everything from grease fires while cooking in the kitchen to lightning striking the home. They can cause a significant amount of property damage as well as personal injury or even loss of life, so preventing them and knowing how to properly respond if a fire does break out are important. Whether buying a new home or residing in an existing home, everyone can benefit from learning more about fire safety rules.

Have An Exit Strategy
Fires can break out whether residents are awake in the living room or kitchen, taking a bath or sleeping in the bedrooms. It is important to have a fire exit strategy for every floor of the home and every room of the home. In addition, it is equally important that all residents in the home understand the strategies and know how to get out.

Invest In Fire Safety Ladders
Fire safety ladders are designed to give residents a safe escape route from second story windows, and they should be placed in a convenient location in every second floor room in the home. Residents should know how to attach them securely to the window as well as how to get down the ladder safely.

Purchase A Fire Extinguisher
Generally, it is safer for residents to get out of the home in the event of a fire rather than to attempt to put the fire out, and personal safety should also come before thoughts about saving the property. However, in the event a very small fire has broken out, a fire extinguisher can provide a homeowner with a safe way to put the fire out. It is best to keep a fire extinguisher in a convenient location on each floor of the home.

Place Fire Detectors In Strategic Locations
There are codes regarding the placement of fire detectors in a home, be sure you are familiar with and are in compliance with these standards. In many cases, homeowners may benefit from having additional fire detectors placed in strategic locations throughout the home in addition to the locations required by code.

Check Fire Safety Equipment Regularly
Fire safety and prevention equipment is only useful if it works, so it is important to test the equipment and supplies regularly. For example, a homeowner may test the batteries in a fire detector monthly and may take extinguishers to the local fire department for testing annually. These steps will help to ensure that residents have access to functional safety equipment regularly.

Residents should also know what to do if a fire breaks out in a home, and in most cases, the answer is to get out of the home quickly and to call the fire department. Attempts to save personal belongings should not be made, and all residents should know where the family will meet outside of the home in the event of a fire.

Dec 07

5 Tips for Reducing the Amount of ‘Stuff’ You Need

Are you in the process of buying a new home? Then now is the perfect time to finally go through all the clutter and make some tough decisions about what needs to move with you and what needs to go away. home

There is no point in waiting until after a move to go through the junk lying around, as tempting as it may be, so here are five ways to decide what should find a new home before a move.

Start With A Trip To The Dump
Before starting your move, grab some garbage bags and do a sweep of the house, making sure to toss out anything that needs to go to the dump. This will clear up the home of anything unnecessary and makes it easier to throw out some items when there’s no decision making pressure.

Decide What Furniture Will Be Replaced In Advance
A new home often means new furniture. By deciding in advance which items will be purchased new, homeowners can prepare to either sell or give away their older furniture before they move. Saving space and cutting down one extra step after moving in.

 

 

home

 

 

 

Sell Or Donate What You Don’t Need
Holiday decorations are the perfect example of items that are only taken out once a year and tend to be replaced before they are ever reused. There are probably similar boxes or shelves in every home filled with items that will never be used again but are still held onto.

home

Now Is A Good Time To Go Through The Closet
Clothes are not looked at as seriously as other objects when clearing space because they can easily fold down or be tucked away. It’s simpler for most people to just throw all their clothes in a box or travel bag before moving, but this is the perfect time to finally go through and donate anything that doesn’t fit or is never worn.

Be Patient With Children
It is hard for kids to part with their toys, even ones they haven’t used in years. These are part of their identity and telling them what they need to throw out can impact them emotionally and make a move that much harder. Sit down with the children and have a long talk about moving and donating items to see if they are ready to go through their things.

Nov 30

How to Create a Proper Budget for Any Renovation, Large or Small

renovation

Whether you’re readying to put your home on the market or you haven’t updated your space in a while and want to modernize, approaching renovations can be a struggle. With so many things to fix up, both large and small, it can seem overwhelming to prioritize, set the money aside and get to work. If you’re having trouble figuring out where to begin with budget, here are some tips for how to properly prioritize so you can maximize your renovation expenditures.

Determine What Is Most Important
Whether it’s the tile floor in your bathroom or the outdated kitchen sink, if the need for an upgrade in a certain part of your home has been staring you in the face for a while, you’ll want to begin there. By determining your first priority and the no-frills cost assessment of completing it, you can arrive at the cost of what renovating the item will mean. Once you’re in the ballpark, you can then move on to any additional features or accessories that may perk up your basic renovation.

Add A Little Extra To The Budget
The downside of any budget is that costs will always come along that were not predicted, and they can entirely break the bank and your original projections. Instead of hoping for the best, add some extra money to the outline of total expenses for your renovation so you can be prepared for some of the hiccups that will come along. This will ensure that you have the financial wherewithal to complete the renovation and won’t be disappointed in the final outcome for your finances.

Consider Where You Can Cutback
Whether you’ve been dreaming of a new living room set for a while or replacing the flooring in the kitchen, you can update the area of your choice while still economizing in other ways. For example, if you’re going for modern eclectic in your living room, you may want to splurge on an updated couch, but you may be able to save by purchasing a retro coffee table online or a unique side chair that’s secondhand to go along with it. This may provide a unique upgrade, without all the expense of in-store purchases.

It can be hard to know where to begin when it comes to revamping your house, but it’s important to start with what you really can’t live without and move outward from there. If you’re curious about home renovations and how they can improve the market value of your home, you may want to contact your trusted mortgage professional for refinancing options that will work for your situation.

Nov 21

Simple DIY Remodeling Tips That Can Quickly Add Value To Your Home This Winter

home

Homeowners who are thinking about listing their home for sale in the coming weeks or months may be focused on improving their home to help it sell more quickly, but there also may be a focus on adding value to the home in the process. While each home is unique, there are a few projects that most homeowners would benefit from. In fact, these are a few simple and easy projects that can typically be completed over the course of a weekend; that can add value and desirability to the home.

Replace The Front Door
The front door has an impact on curb appeal, and it also is one of the primary features that buyers will see when they approach your home to take a tour. Replacing an older door that lacks style or that is plagued with signs of wear and tear can improve property value and curb appeal alike. Many homeowners who have basic tools and some do-it-yourself experience with other projects will be able to replace the front door without additional help from a contractor.

Update The Kitchen Back Splash
A kitchen is a key selling point in a home, and the back splash is among the most visible features in this space. Replacing the back splash with stylish tile can improve the look and can instantly make the home more desirable. This can be a relatively simple type of home renovation project, if you have experience with tile work, that may be completed within just a few hours.

Repaint The Walls And Baseboards
Few things can improve the look of a home more easily than a fresh coat of paint. If the walls are showing signs of wear or the colors do not have modern or universal appeal, applying a fresh coat of paint to walls and baseboards is a simple enough project to tackle. For the best results, focus on the rooms with the most undesirable paint colors, in the most visible rooms of the home or in areas where the paint is in generally poor condition.

Each of these projects can have a dramatic impact on the homes appeal and can influence the value of the home itself. Each of these projects under most circumstances can be completed with minimal time and cost to the homeowner. Those who are ready to improve their home in a short period of time can consider which of these projects will yield the most significant results in their home.

 

 

Nov 15

Renting vs. Owning Construction Equipment

Renting vs Owning Construction Equipment

Building, maintaining and enhancing an inventory of work related equipment is costly, risky and often times frustrating. Few can tell you this better than those owning and operating construction companies. The quality and diversity of your inventory determines not only the type of work you can do but also the time frame in which the work can successfully be completed. The traditional way of approaching this topic is for company owners to maintain their own inventory catered to their specialties, this method, however, does come with some major draw backs. An alternative option that comes into play and has been becoming more popular is renting the equipment needed. There are several factors to take into consideration when determining whether or not renting vs owning

renting vs owning construction equipment

construction equipment is the right route to go:

  • financial flexibility when renting vs owning construction equipment
  • maintaining equipment compliance
  • operating cost vs rental cost

Financial Flexibility When Renting vs Owning Construction Equipment

Big machinery, like that which is common at construction sites around the world, is quite expensive so much so that is is necessary for companies to either leverage an existing line of credit or secure a loan/lease. This is often times risky as it not only ties up cash flow but can also effect future borrowing. With the current state of affairs there is no way to guarantee work years or even months out which contributes to the risk level. Although there may be an immediate need for equipment there is no way to guarantee the same type of work once the immediate project wraps up which means you could be stuck making up payments on a piece of equipment that is sitting idle. Shelling out large amounts of money for a piece of equipment which could end up going unused for months at a time is a very real concern for these companies and certainly one of the more important considerations when determining whether renting vs owning construction equipment makes more sense. Although renting the same equipment may seem short-sighted it is a way to avoid tying up large amounts of cash as well as avoiding equipment sitting idle.

Maintaining equipment compliance

Although this is a smaller part of much larger maintenance requirements it is one that renting construction equipment can directly address and the first factor to look and when deciding whether renting vs owning owning vs renting construction equipmentconstruction equipment makes more sense. With any large scale construction project there are environmental regulations that come in to play. With the government monitoring compliance of regulations that get tighter and tighter each year there is the very real concern of heavy fines being placed for violations caused by human error and faulty equipment. Covering every aspect of a piece of equipment including coolant, batteries, tires and even storage staying on top of the ever evolving list of regulations can in itself be a full time job. As we already mentioned a single violation can incur large fines which would then be attributed to the operating cost of the equipment that caused the violation. As regulations become tighter older equipment becomes less and less relevant as they don’t have the requirements to keep up with these enhanced regulations. That said, having more current models of specific pieces of equipment is a preemptive method to avoid the fines that come with a violation of one of the many environmental regulations. As mentioned above outright purchasing pieces of equipment may not always be possible for many reasons and that is where renting vs owning construction equipment comes into play. Rental companies cycle their inventory regularly to ensure their offerings are as up to date as possible thus attracting clients. With this comes the opportunity for a construction company to stay up to date with their inventory without having to constantly purchase newer and newer models. Equipment rental companies stay up to date with rules and regulations to ensure they themselves aren’t responsible for violating environmental regulations taking more concern off the plate of the construction company owner.

Operating cost vs rental cost

When deciding between renting vs owning construction equipment the biggest influencer boils down to cost. Operating cost vs rental cost to be more specific. As we’ve already shown construction equipment is expensive to purchase and with the larger equipment unrealistic to purchase without some type of credit or loan. Having said that the operating cost of a piece of equipment, especially the larger ones, doesn’t end with the purchase. Maintenance is regularly required, especially after vigorous usage on a job site, storage is required either a large yard or a warehouse space to keep the equipment from being stolen, additionally fuel cost and the like add to the overall operating cost. On top of that if something were to happen to the machine, such as a breakdown or issue renting vs owning construction equipmentthat requires specialty knowledge to correct job down-time and the cost of the specialty labor to fix the machine both go towards the operating cost. With all of these in play its easy to see how a necessary piece of equipment can quite easily and quickly become a money-pit that can not only delay a job but can cut into the profit of the work. However, with rental equipment some of the concerns around operating cost are addressed. Of course no rental company is going to pay for your fuel, they will however be able cover insurance and in the case of a broken piece of equipment most rental companies can provide a replacement which will drastically cut down on the job-site downtime. We also mentioned previously that rental companies regularly cycle their inventory which cuts down on the loss of profit through equipment deterioration which is one of the major highlights of renting vs owning construction equipment.

Contact us to Hear More Benefits of Renting vs Owning Construction Equipment

As you can see there are quite a few benefits to renting vs owning construction equipment. It is best to evaluate each situation rather than using one solution or the other for everything. In fact the best solution is often a combination of owning and renting as some pieces of equipment can be used across many different types of jobs where as some are for very specific situations. As a equipment rental company serving the Chicago and North-west Indiana areas we at Aide Rental take pride in the ability to offer a very diverse inventory of equipment to an array of companies and especially those working in the construction realm. We strive to find the best options for our clients and love our repeat clients. For more information on how to best leverage rental equipment for construction purposes please contact us at 708-756-4020 for our Chicago location or 219-838-4300 for our Indiana location. To find specific pieces of equipment or to find more information about renting vs owning construction equipment visit our website http://www.indianaequipmentrental.com/.

Nov 07

How To Landscape Your Home In The Fall

landscape

For homeowners who keep a garden, with the change of seasons comes a task list. There are basic tasks for gardeners — for example, raking the leaves, sharpening your tools. And, there are advanced tasks, too, which includes identifying and removing plants and trees which may be dead, and covering compost to prevent rain storms from leaching nutrients.

For homeowners in frost-free areas, November is a good time to plant roses and azaleas; prune flowering trees; and, start your fall vegetable garden.

The cooler fall and winter months are terrific for leafy greens such as spinach and kale; and carrots. Protect plants with row covers, when necessary.

For homeowners in colder parts of the county, November is when you should circle evergreens with burlap and wrap the bottoms of young trees with mesh wire to protect from wildlife; and empty and roll up garden hoses for storage.

It’s also when bulbs should be planted. Tulips, crocuses and hyacinths are easy to plant and will welcome you come springtime.

 

fall

For all homeowners, consider this list :
Aerate lawns to improve root development and drainage
Check and clean gutters from fallen leaves, needles, and twigs
Perform a round of weeding

And then, to discourage weed growth throughout the winter, place down a pre-emergent, and mulch around bedding plants, shrubs, and trees.

If your temperatures in your area tend to go below freezing, be aware of your plants which are sensitive to de-icing salts. Consider buying sand or sawdust for traction purposes near these plantings instead.

Lastly, remember that the fall months are a terrific time to take note of what worked in your garden during the summer, and what didn’t. Use a notebook and put your findings to paper. Attention paid now will pay dividends next spring.

Oct 27

3 Autumn-inspired Decor Ideas That Will Spice Up Your Home

autumn

With the season of jack-o’-lantern’s and crunchy leaves under foot, there can’t help but be plenty of ways to integrate the loveliness of autumn into your home decorations. Whether you’re looking for a simple touch or a statement that will completely define a room, here are a few ideas for highlighting the best the fall has to offer.

Showcase a Seasonal Bouquet
A vase full of flowers can add a lot to any room in the house, but a great way to integrate the season outside with your home is to make a bouquet that will utilize the best of fall’s vegetation. Instead of opting for the usual bright colors, gather an array of colored leaves that strike your fancy and add a collection of branches to a vase that suits the purpose. If arranged right, this can be a striking and unique embellishment to your front entrance.

Carve Out a Candle Holder
An easy way to join the cooler weather with your inside atmosphere is to utilize the help of the season’s most familiar vegetable, the pumpkin. Instead of going for the typical Halloween carving, cut the top off of a small pumpkin, clear away all of the seeds and let it dry out. Once this is complete, you can put a candle in the pumpkin, and create a unique lighting look for your home. If you like it enough, you may want to consider doing it with several pumpkins for an even more festive display.

A Falling Light Fixture
Instead of making something from scratch, you might want to consider using the pieces you have in your home and switching them up to complement the changing season. If you happen to have a chandelier in your dining room and you also have kids who like to craft, have them put together some paper-mâché leaves and pumpkins so you can hang them decoratively from the chandelier. While this is a look that will take more work, it will be a particularly striking way to illuminate your chandelier – and your dining area!

autumn

Adding some fall inspiration into the mix for your home decorating can be a great way to better enjoy the season and have some fun with your family. From a festive chandelier to a striking autumn bouquet, there are plenty of ways to become crafty for the fair season.