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By Katrina Oliver
If you’re looking for a fun activity for your kids this summer, a bounce house is sure to be a crowd favorite.
It’s perfect for a big birthday party or a summer family barbeque.
All it takes is a little bit of extra space in your backyard and a few minutes to set up, and you’ve got yourself hours of playtime entertainment!
Bounce Houses: To Rent or to Buy?
There are a few different options to consider when acquiring a bounce house.
The first major decision is whether you want to buy or rent your bounce house.
Buying has the obvious advantage of being able to keep and reuse the bounce house in the future, but it also has some drawbacks.
For one thing, you may be able to get a much bigger or elaborate bounce house by renting rather than buying.
Most of the bounce houses available for consumer purchase are going to be on the smaller side, and it will be difficult to find very elaborate ones with extra attachments.
However, when renting it’s easy to find the biggest and most elaborate bounce houses.
Renting Pro: Cleaning & Maintenance
Even if you can find the exact bounce house you want available for purchase within your budget, there is also the setup, takedown, care, and maintenance to consider.
If you’re hosting a big get-together, you may not want to take the time to set up your bounce house or take it down.
Especially for large or elaborate bounce houses, the setup can take some time.
You may want to rent a bounce house for the convenience of having someone come in to set it up and take it away.
Renting also means that you don’t have to worry about cleaning or maintenance, which while not overly extensive, can take some time.
Renting means that the job of caring for the bounce house is completely out of your hands.
You don’t have to worry about finding the space to store it or the time to properly clean it.
Buying Pro: Cost
The other major deciding factor between renting and buying is cost. Purchasing your own bounce house depends widely on the size and style you’re looking for.
Even the most basic of bounce houses will generally cost you no less than $200 to purchase, with more elaborate models costing anywhere from $300-$600.
The cost to rent will fluctuate a bit depending on the market in which you live, but to rent a modest bounce house for a few hours will generally start around $100.
However, the prices climb sharply as you upgrade to a more elaborate setup or a longer period of time.
For a bounce house that includes fun features like slides, ball pits, water features, or trampolines, you can quickly find yourself paying $400-$600 for your bouncing time.
Because of this, renting is generally much less economically sensible than simply purchasing your own.
NB! If you’re looking into renting, also check to make sure that services like delivery, setup and cleaning are including in the price of your rental.
The last thing you want is unexpected fees!
Lastly, the important thing to remember is to have fun!
Bounce houses are a great way to have a blast with your family, get outside, get moving, and make incredible memories with your family.
Photo by kali9