Gary
If you’re gathering marquee hire quotes then you’ll have probably already realised just how many different types of marquee there are out there. And as the quotes roll in you’ll see that they are available at a wide variety of price points too.
In this blog we’ll give you a few pointers on how to go about gathering quotes, what to expect to be asked and the things to consider. It’s your event, so find the most suitable marquee for you. Once you start gathering marquee hire quotes you’ll discover that the quotes vary as much as the marquees; read our full marquee hire guide to find more useful information to help you in your search.
Why are marquee hire quotes so varied?
There are many different types of marquee out there. In addition to that the quality of marquees can vary from supplier to supplier too. Marquee has become a bit of a cover all term (excuse the pun). Think about it as you would if you were buying a car; there are different brands and different quality levels too.
The higher quality the marquee, and the more experienced and skilled the marquee supplier is, the higher the price tag is likely to be. Remember, you get what you pay for so make sure that you create a list of must have’s and don’t just focus on price alone.
Depending upon the marquee you describe to the marquee hire company, you may find that the quote you are given includes features that push the quotation up. It’s tricky, a more attentive marquee supplier may draw your ideal marquee out of you and then provide an all inclusive quote to match. Another marquee supplier may just give you the cost for hiring a PVC or canvas box…
Interrogate your quotes!
Because quotes and marquee quality can be so varied you’ll need to make sure that you interrogate your quotes thoroughly. Compare them to one another too. Some quotes can look more expensive than others until you check out exactly what each quote includes.
Some marquee companies quote for the marquee alone, while others include items such as generators, flooring, electrical hook ups, lining, furniture, lighting and more.
Beware of quotes that seem too good to be true. You might be attracted by the price versus other quotations, but in the long term you could end up paying more. Compare your quotes very carefully and check out exactly what is included in each quote.
What will the marquee hire company want to know from you?
A good marquee hire company will want to understand as much about you and your event as possible. If they don’t ask lots of questions and sound genuinely interested in your event then alarm bells should start ringing!
Here are a few things that you might expect to be asked when gathering marquee hire quotes:
- How many guests are you expecting?
- What type of event is it? A wedding, birthday party or something else?
- Will there be dining and or dancing?
- What is your event location?
- Where would the marquee be situated? Grass? Hard standing?
- Will you need a catering marquee?
- Do you need toilets?
- Will you want space for a band or DJ?
Of course, there are many other considerations too. If you have an idea of how you’d like your marquee to look then describe it to any potential suppliers. If you’ve seen photos of marquees that you like then email those to anyone providing you with a quote.
Site visits
Once you’ve spoken to potential marquee suppliers and narrowed down the list of possibles, make sure you book a site visit with each.
At site visit, suppliers will measure the space available, advise on the optimal location, marquee layout and will show you images of marquees and interior elements such as furniture, carpets, bars, dance floors and linings.
It’s here that you’ll meet the suppliers themselves, you’ll really get a feel for them, their levels of professionalism and experience. After the site visits you’ll receive a series of more accurate quotes and it’s at this stage that you’ll need to do a full comparison of what’s included and the quality of the marquee equipment and supplier before making your decision.
Good luck! Enjoy the process and feel free to pick up the phone to Lifestyle marquees if you’d like more, free, no obligation advice. You can also download our marquee hire guide here.
