Buying Used Heavy Equipment for Home Building Projects – Worth It?
90DegreeAngles
| Posted in General Discussion on
I’m working on building a new home and debating whether to buy used heavy equipment like a backhoe or loader from Boom & Bucket to speed up the process. For those who’ve gone this route, how did the equipment hold up, and was it a good investment for your home build? Or would you recommend renting instead? I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether buying used machinery is a smart move for a one-time project like this.
Replies
Great question! Buying used equipment can definitely save you money, but it’s important to consider the condition and maintenance history of the machines. Many people find that renting is a more flexible option, especially for a one-time project. It might be worth getting quotes for both options and weighing the potential resale value if you decide to buy. I'd love to hear what others have experienced!
When we built our home I hired an excavator who could pick your teeth better than floss.
He dug our hole and footers from the inside on our hillside location .
When finished he “walked” the backhoe out of the hole.
Any other excavation I used him, the professional. His equipment, his expertise.
Worth the investment.
bad idea to buy used equipment for one job. dont know what your getting !!!!
If you're intent on doing it yourself (and are extremely confident that you can achieve the end result correctly and safely), then the next important question is whether you have the skills or resources to fix something that breaks and can maintain it. If the answer is no, then you need to rent.
The only guys I know who have bought heavy equipment are on the extreme end of DIY and also extremely OCD when it comes to maintaining their stuff.
I thought about renting. But it doesn't differ that much from buying used equipment (I'm speaking about the prices). I'd better have my own equipment for any other further projects. That's why I'd better buy used equipment.