When you’re deciding on what surveying equipment to invest in, you are usually faced with two options: to rent or to buy. Having the right equipment in the field is critical to getting the job done on time and on budget.
There are advantages associated with both renting and buying new survey equipment. In this blog, we are going to help point out some of what you need to know to make an informed, and proper decision.
One of the main benefits of renting used survey equipment is fairly evident. With surveying equipment rentals, you can test the product before committing to the purchase. Sometimes, the product just doesn’t perform like you anticipated. By renting survey equipment instead of buying, you’re able to field test it.
Additionally, by renting survey equipment, you’re able to see how compatible the equipment is with your existing workflow, and the type of surveying that you do the most. If you do an abundance of lot surveys for homes in the woods, for example, GPS may not be the best choice. You would get better results by using a robotic total station. By renting instead of buying, you can see just how well the equipment works for you and your company.
Another advantage to renting is how it affects your bottom line. Buying the wrong equipment can become expensive. By renting equipment, you’re able to keep your capital costs low, find out what works best for your operation, and potentially ramp up your operations with the money saved.
The most obvious advantage of purchasing equipment, is ownership. This is particularly true If the equipment purchased is something that has a long and useful life, or does not change from a technology standpoint.
Ownership has tax implications as well. Section 179 of the tax code was made permanent in 2015. This allows you to fully deduct the purchase price of the equipment up to $500.00.00 from your taxes. For example, if you are in the 25% tax bracket and you purchase $100,000 in business equipment this year, the net cost to you is only $75,000. Please check with your tax professional for how this can affect your financials.
Whether you are renting survey equipment or buying new survey equipment, having a company like AGS there to help with your survey equipment needs is a good call. AGS is a trusted Trimble dealer and has been helping countless surveyors meet their goals in the field. We carry both used survey equipment and new survey equipment, so we are confident that you will be able to find exactly what you’re looking for when you shop with AGS.