You’ve done it before, but you’re not proud of it. Instead of taking out the trash, you shoved your paper plate onto the top of the bin and crushed the trash down a few more inches.
The average American makes more trash than you might think. Studies show that each person averages almost 5 pounds of trash produced each day!
One way to make sure that you have enough space to store your trash until trash day is to have a large enough residential dumpster. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about renting a dumpster and how much it costs.
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What Size Dumpster Do You Need?
One of the biggest factors that affect your cost is the size of the dumpster you intend to rent. The bigger the dumpster you need, the higher the price tag on the rental, unless you get a discount from the rental company or catch a good dumpster sale.
The most common size dumpsters range anywhere from ten yards to forty yards. Try not to overshoot your dumpster needs too far or you’ll waste your money.
A ten-yard dumpster works for home projects, junk removal, and spring cleaning. For the most part, this size is good for a single household that needs to do some decluttering.
Dumpsters that hold between ten and twenty yards work well for remodeling and landscaping waste. If you’re replacing your deck or overhauling the garage, you want a dumpster in this size range.
For the largest dumpsters that hold more than twenty yards, they can prove helpful during new home construction, demolitions, major home renovations, or roofing. Most professional construction companies use giant forty-yard dumpsters when they work on a project.
How Much Does a Residential Dumpster Rental Cost?
Once you know what size dumpster you need, it’s time to start checking dumpster rental pricing. Make sure to tell the company how long you need the rental for and see which company offers the best price.
Some of the factors that can affect the pricing (and give you wiggle room to haggle are):
- Dumpster Size
- Length of Rental Agreement
- Allowable Weight
- Number of Dumpsters Rented
- Time of the Year
- Type of Rubbish Going into the Dumpster
The average dumpster will set you back between $300 and $500 including related fees like transportation to and from the location and environmental fees. Make sure the rental company breaks down the cost including fees on your estimate so you can compare apples to apples.
You can use this information to negotiate with a company you prefer to end up with a better price than what they quoted. Don’t act pushy, but see if they would match the lower estimate or come closer to that number before you sign a contract.
Another tip is to ask about extensions to your contract. Sometimes projects take longer than expected. How much does the company charge if you need to keep the dumpster for a few more days or weeks?
How to Pick a Rental Company
You can’t trust every company out there these days because so many companies fail to serve their customers. So, how do you know which rental company to trust with your business and your money?
Look for recent reviews from current and former clients including your friends and family. That way you know they’re a reputable company and get an idea of how they run their business. Old reviews can help too, but may not reflect the company as they are now versus how they were in the past.
Get a few quotes from your top few companies and choose the best company based on the value they offer. The best choice isn’t always the cheapest one.
Another tip is to look at the quote the company gives you. A good company offers an easy to understand and fair estimate in writing for your reference. A bad company may avoid giving you an estimate or throw out a low ball number to lure you in.
Talk to the associates of the company you want to work with. Do you get along well and do they answer your questions in a way that you understand? Those are good signs that they would do good business with you.
The way a company communicates with the customers says a lot about how you can expect them to handle it if an issue arises. If you can’t get anyone on the phone now, how much harder will you try to get ahold of someone if there’s a problem?
As long as you do your research and pick a good company, your dumpster rental experience should end well. But, rushing in and choosing the wrong company could result in a trashy nightmare you don’t want to end up in!
Don’t Let Built-up Trash Get You in the Dumps
Not only does a huge pile of trash look bad, but it smells horrible and attracts unwanted animals and pests. It’s best to have a sturdy dumpster to keep your refuse tucked away until the garbage truck comes.
If you need a dumpster for long term use, make sure to ask the rental company if they offer discounts for long term contracts. You could save yourself a few more bucks that way!
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned a few things about renting a residential dumpster. If you’re looking for more great articles about projects, parties, and more, check out the rest of our blog today!
