Hosting at Home? What to Know Before Picking Up Your Rentals

Hosting a gathering at home is a wonderful way to bring people together—and renting tables, chairs, linens, and dishware can help you welcome everyone without buying items you’ll only use occasionally.

Before you head out to pick up your order, a little preparation makes a big difference. Having the right vehicle, packing supplies, and storage space helps keep your rentals protected and your event plans on track.

Make Sure Your Vehicle Fits Your Order

One of the most common pickup challenges is arriving in a vehicle that’s too small. A few tables and a stack of chairs can take up more room than you might expect, especially when you add crates of dishes or bags of linens.

If you’re unsure whether your order will fit, contact us before pickup. Let us know what vehicle you plan to bring so we can help you assess whether you’ll need something larger or an additional trip.

Before arriving:

  • Clear out groceries, strollers, tools, and other belongings.
  • Measure the cargo space and the opening items must pass through.
  • Make sure seats can fold down if needed.
  • Plan for all items to fit securely without obstructing the driver’s view.

An SUV isn’t always large enough for banquet tables, and having a truck doesn’t automatically mean everything will fit in the bed. The size and quantity of your rentals both matter.

Bring Straps and Moving Blankets

Please bring appropriate tie-down straps and moving blankets for your order. These are especially important when transporting tables, chairs, or other large items in a truck or trailer.

Straps help keep items from shifting during transportation, while moving blankets protect surfaces from scratches, rubbing, and contact with the vehicle. Rentals should never be left loose or allowed to slide around during the drive.

Plan to secure everything before leaving, even if you’re only traveling a short distance. Avoid overtightening straps in a way that could bend, crush, or otherwise damage the items.

Come Prepared to Load

Plan to load and unload your rentals, and bring another adult if you’ll need help lifting or handling larger items. Make sure the person collecting the order knows what’s being picked up and has the vehicle and supplies needed to transport it.

Keep dishware and glassware in the crates provided, and leave protective packaging in place during transportation. When unloading, lift items carefully rather than dragging them across pavement, truck beds, or other surfaces.

It’s also worth planning ahead for unloading at home. A clear path and a ready storage area make the process much easier.

Double-Check Your Pickup and Return Times

Your event date may be different from your scheduled pickup and return dates. Before coming in, review your confirmation for the correct dates and available pickup and return hours.

If a friend, family member, or hired helper is collecting your order, pass those details along to them as well.

If your plans change or you’re running behind, contact us as soon as possible. Changes depend on business hours and availability, so please don’t assume you can pick up early, return late, or leave rentals outside when the store is closed.

Keep Rentals Protected From Weather

Once you pick up your rentals, plan to keep them in a dry, enclosed, secure location until they’re needed—and return them to protected storage after your event.

Tables, chairs, linens, and other event rentals should not be left outside overnight or exposed to rain, snow, sprinklers, or morning dew. Even when the forecast looks clear, moisture can damage finishes, stain fabrics, and affect materials.

A covered patio, open truck bed, or spot beneath a tree may not provide enough protection. Tarps can shift, leak, or trap moisture, so they shouldn’t replace proper indoor storage.

For outdoor gatherings, bring items out when you’re ready to set up and have a plan to move them inside if the weather changes. Turn off nearby sprinklers and bring rentals back indoors after use.

Renters are responsible for protecting items throughout the rental period, including transportation, storage, and the time between the event and return. Weather-related damage may result in additional charges under your rental agreement.

Plan for the Trip Back, Too

The event may be over, but your rentals still need a safe ride back! Keep your straps, blankets, crates, and packaging available for the return trip.

Before loading:

  • Break down tables and restack chairs.
  • Shake debris from linens and make sure they’re dry before bagging.
  • Scrape food from dishes and place them in the provided crates.
  • Return glassware upside down in its designated racks.
  • Check for any rental items that may have been moved during cleanup.

Use the same care securing and protecting the return load as you did when picking it up.

A Little Preparation Makes Hosting Easier

Before pickup day, ask yourself: Will everything fit? Do I have straps and blankets? Who will help me load and unload? Where will I keep the rentals protected?

If you’re unsure about vehicle space or how to prepare for your order, reach out to Front Range Event Rental before heading our way. We’re happy to help you plan so pickup day—and your celebration—goes smoothly.