Rental trends, as seen at Home Depot
It’s no surprise that trends in the rental market shift throughout the year. However, there’s more to it than simply ‘more snowblowers are rented in the winter months.’
At The Home Depot Rental, we base our business on making sure we have the right pieces of equipment needed at any given time of the year. We closely monitor rental trends year after year to speculate on what will be the most popular pieces of equipment, so we know how to keep it in stock. That said, advancements in technology and changing weather patterns could always influence those trends. There are many factors that influence rental trends. Here are a few that we monitor.
Seasonality
The seasons play a huge role in rental trends, as one can imagine. While early spring is typically huge for landscaping, that doesn’t necessarily slow down when cooler weather occurs. The projects just change a bit. Outdoor projects change to clean-up rather than creating.
The demand for leaf blowers and log splitters goes up in fall, and in tailgate-heavy regions, generators are also an extremely popular rental. We also see an increase in aerators, overseeders, and power rakes being rented in fall as people start to prepare their lawns for the winter months. As colder weather approaches throughout much of the country, people start thinking a little differently about what projects they want to complete. While spring and summer see rentals that will enhance someone’s backyard, such as excavators and augers, those projects typically come to a halt in the winter months. This is when we see snowblowers and even floor cleaners become more popular, as people are looking to fix up the inside of their home. While cleaning tools are more prevalent, we have also seen a greater demand for items such as floor sanders during the winter months, as well.
Extreme Weather
While seasonality is a big factor in what is being rented, all those trends can be thrown out the window if extreme weather hits. In areas where extreme weather is prevalent, we try our best to keep key pieces of equipment in stock in case of an emergency.
In fact, The Home Depot Rental provides rental trailers in several areas which house a multitude of remediation equipment in one spot, providing additional inventory to local communities that may have been hit hard. These will include items such as generators and dehumidifiers, which are needed in areas hit with a lot of water damage. Excavators and dump trailers also become more in demand when a lot of demolition is necessary, as are backhoes and bulldozers.
On the smaller scale, chainsaws of all sizes are a necessity to help with the clearing of debris.
Holiday and Event Rentals
One of the most interesting trends we’ve seen is the uptick in aerial equipment being rented around the winter holidays. Whether to create outdoor lighting displays or hang commercial decorations, there is always an increase in items like towable scissor lifts and boom lifts being rented during that time of year.
The back-to-school season is another time during the year when we see an increase in certain products being rented, but in this case, it is truck rental. With students moving into new dorms or apartments, there is definitely a large demand for truck rentals during the end of August for move-in, as well as the end of May for move-out.
The rental market is continuously evolving and adapting to the ever-changing needs and preferences of consumers. From seasonal fluctuations to a surge in demand influenced by extreme weather or holidays, these trends keep rental professionals and DIYers on their toes. As we move forward, it’s clear that convenience and cost-effectiveness are driving forces behind the success of the rental market. It’s important for us to continue to monitor these trends and provide our customers with flexible solutions to help meet their every need.
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