Dirt Drenched Decisions – 5 Considerations When Choosing a Crane Hire Company For Your Next Project

Whether you’re building a small structure or you’re involved in the construction of a huge building, hiring a crane is unavoidable. In fact, it’s not just unavoidable, but necessary and extremely helpful.

Deciding on whether or not to use a crane in your construction isn’t difficult.

The hard decision comes when you have to choose which crane hire company to opt for. With so many companies offering so many different options, it’s tough to know where to start.

Vigilance is key. Remember, this is a serious decision and one that will likely have a major influence on how your building project turns out. You need to know that the crane is up to code, is able to complete the work you need and is backed by a crane company you can rely on, trust and work well with.

We take a look at five things you should always consider before deciding on a crane hire company.

Are They Experienced?

First and foremost, you need to ensure that your crane hire company you select are experienced professionals. Find out how long they have been in business, and ask around to see if anyone you know who has rented cranes in Melbourne can vouch for them. Enquire as to what kind of jobs they have completed in the past and ensure they have some experience with projects similar to yours.

Check Their Credentials

When asking about the company’s experience, make sure that you ask for a portfolio of their completed jobs. If for any reason, they are reluctant to provide a portfolio, you might want to think twice before hiring any heavy machinery from them. Pay close attention to the construction companies they have worked with in the past, this will be a good way to see if they are a legitimate, trustworthy operation or not.

Safety Concerns

As with any equipment hire, safety must always be a serious concern. It’s not just the safety of your own employees, which is at risk when using large machinery, but the general public also. Ask questions about the operator and any other staff who will be involved in the working of the crane.

Check to see if they have a maintenance program for the rental period, to keep it working in peak condition and also ensure that any required, mandatory inspections are carried out thoroughly. Industry standards must be met before the crane can be operated on-site.

The Right Equipment

There are a huge variety of crane designs out there, each with their own special set of uses. Speak to the crane hire company in detail about your project, tell them exactly what you need the crane to be able to do and ask if they have a machine that will fit your requirements. If they don’t have the right crane for the job, then it’s probably best to go elsewhere.

Pricing

Once you are happy with the company’s credentials, reputation and you are satisfied that the equipment is up to the job and up to code; it’s time to negotiate a price. A reputable crane hire company should be able to offer an attractive, competitive price for the hire that will work within your budget. Talk to them and work out a price you are both happy with. Of course, if you get offers of knock-down, ‘too good to be true’ prices, then walk away. The old adage always applies “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is”.

Hire in Confidence

Hiring a crane for any job, big or small, should be a relatively straightforward, painless process if you follow our checklist above. As with any equipment hire, you need to be cautious and do your homework, to ensure you find a hire company with a stellar reputation, top-of-the-range equipment, and competitive pricing. Be sure to spend some time discussing your building project’s requirements to ensure they have the right machine for the job and you’ll be taking your building project to new heights in no time!