Many people think it is easy to decide if they should buy or use access platform hire. They look at the price and think buying is better because it looks cheaper in the long run. But this is not always true. There are many costs that are not clear at the start. These hidden costs can come later and make buying more expensive than hiring. It is important to look deeper before making the final choice.
When you buy an access platform, you feel like you have full control. You think you can use it any time you want, without waiting. This feels good, but owning the machine brings many responsibilities. You must pay for storage, insurance, regular repairs, and legal checks. These are not one-time payments. They come again and again. If you forget or delay them, you may face big problems. Over time, these small costs grow into a large amount that you may not plan for in the beginning.
Access platform hire gives you more choice. When you hire, you can pick a different type of machine for each job. Not all work needs the same platform. Some jobs need a boom lift, some need a scissor lift, and some need a smaller or larger one. If you only own one type, it may not be good for every project. Then your machine sits without use, and you still pay for it. Hiring lets you choose what you need when you need it. This helps save money and avoid waste.
Many people forget about the value of the machine after a few years. When you buy, the value goes down every year. This is called depreciation. If you want to sell it later, you may not get back much money. Also, new machines with better features may come out, and your old one may not be useful anymore. This is a hidden cost that many do not see. But when you use access platform hire, you always get a machine in good condition, and you do not need to worry about the loss in value.
When you own a platform, you also need to follow many legal checks and safety rules. You must do regular MEWP Services & Maintenance. If you miss any of them, your machine becomes unsafe. It also breaks the law. Some companies forget or delay these checks. Then problems come. With hiring, the supplier usually does all the checks before giving the machine to you. So, you know the equipment is safe and ready.
Even if you use platforms often, hiring can still be a smart choice. Projects change fast. Some sites are small, some are large, some have tight spaces. If you only have one kind of machine, it may not work well in every place. You may try to use it anyway because you already paid for it. This is risky and can slow the work or cause safety issues. Hiring gives you more freedom to match the right platform to the job.
