A bounce house can be an extremely cost effective way to provide hours of entertainment for your guests. Bounce house rentals are available nationwide and there are hundreds of options to choose from when renting a bounce house. Over the next few days, I'll be providing tips on what to watch out for regarding renting a jumper.
There are several things to keep in mind before renting a jumper. The most important thing to keep in mind, Price isn't everything! The old saying, "The cheap comes out expensive" could not be more applicable than in the bouncy castle industry. There is a reason why some companies are drastically cheaper than their competitors. The main reasons some companies are extremely cheap are:
Cheap companies are usually not insured. It is very expensive for a bounce house company to insure each and every one of their bouncers. If there is an accident in your rented bounce house and the company is not insured, "YOU WILL BE SUED PERSONALLY!" Make sure the jump house company is insured by providing an Additional Insured Certificate naming you or your organization. By the way, most homeowner's insurance policies specifically exclude coverage for bouncy castles. So, you're probably not protected by your homeowner's insurance.
If a bounce house company is hesitant to give you an additional insured certificate or if they tell you that you don't need one, then they are usually not insured. If the jumper company wants to charge you extra money for the insurance certificate, then they are probably not insured.
Any professional party rental company who is insured not only has commercial general liability insurance but they are proud of that fact. Usually, an insured bouncer company will promote the fact that they are insured.
But don't just ask for an additional insured certificate. Ask for the insurance agent's name and phone number and follow up with the insurance agent. A common trick in the party rental industry is to only insure a couple of pieces of equipment but then show an insurance certificate for an uninsured item. Contact the insurance agent and ask them if the specific item you want to rent is insured or not.
Any professional, customer-service oriented party rental company will gladly provide the information you have requested. If they don't provide that information, then they are not properly insured. DO NOT RENT FROM THESE COMPANIES! You will be held financially liable if someone is hurt and your future financial and emotional well-being is in jeopardy.
Rent a bounce house for your next party but don't let something as minor as lack of insurance turn your special event into a nightmare. Avoid looking for the cheapest company. Saving a few bucks now may end up costing you hundreds of thousands of dollars later in a worst-case scenario. Avoid the stress of worrying about your guests not being protected in case of an injury. Make sure to hire a professional, insured jumper company when you make your next party rental reservation.
