How do I check an event rental company’s storage warehouse for wear or pests?

Rental stock lives in storage most of the year, so the warehouse tells you more about condition than a spreadsheet will. Bring a torch, gloves and a notepad. Pull items from the back and bottom of racks, not only the front. Linens, tent tops, cushions and wooden furniture show damp and pest damage first. Look for the signs: stains, a musty smell, droppings along walls, gnawed packaging, and traps or bait stations that nobody seems to check. Ask who handles pest control, how often they visit and whether you can read their service reports. Check the roof, floor drains and loading doors for leaks, because water damage tends to spread to whole sections of stock.

Wear is a separate question. Sample each category and ask how often items are repaired, retired or replaced. Compare a random pick of items with the inventory list, since missing or unusable stock changes what you are really buying. Finally, look at how the space is run. Labelled shelving, a cleaning routine and a check-in process for returned items suggest the stock is looked after. Photograph what you find.

Key takeaways

• Inspect from the back of racks and the bottom shelves, not only what is displayed at the front.
• Ask to read pest control service reports and repair records, not just hear about them.
• Match a sample of physical items to the inventory list before you rely on it.