Tent Rental FAQ

Got tent rental questions? Not sure about tent delivery? Find answers to all your rental party tent, rental wedding tent and rental party equipment questions here.

Don’t see your question? Give us a call at 630.742.2407 We’re here to help!

General Tent Rental FAQ

Can I pick up my rental tent or equipment?

Affordable Backyard Tents does not offer customer pick up at this time.

Can I customize a tent rental package?

Yes, all of our tent rental packages can be customized.

Can you install tents over decks, patios, or driveways?

Yes. We can install our frame tents over decks, patios, or driveways if the required amount of space is available. This requires concrete buckets for anchoring, which Affordable Backyard Tents supplies for an additional charge. Please let us know up front the type of surface you plan to place the tent on.

Are your tents fire retardant?

All our tents have a certificate of flame retardancy. They are also certified by the California State Fire Marshal (the state with the most stringent fire codes in the nation). We will be glad to email or fax a copy of the certificate to you upon request.

Do you have insurance?

Great question! Some tent companies may say they have insurance, but you can never be sure. We will be glad to provide you with a copy of our insurance certification at a small fee upon request.

What should I do about underground electrical wire or sprinkler systems?

State law requires all tent installers to contact J.U.L.I.E. (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) at 811 before they install a tent. We typically call J.U.L.I.E. on the Monday or Tuesday before your event. The locators usually arrive within 48 hours and mark the area where the tent will be installed. We always request that the locators use flags to mark the area rather than spray paint. Although this is only a request, flags are used about 80-90% of the time. If there are no utilities located near the area, no flags will be placed. We will not be responsible for any damage to a sprinkler system that is not marked or is marked incorrectly.

Tent Rental Reservation Questions

How do I get a quote for everything I need for my event?

We can give you a general quote over the phone at 630.742.2407 for most types of events or parties.  Or, you can fill out our Easy as 1-2-3 form. For larger events, we may send out a representative after we receive your deposit. Our representative will review the event details and view the event space.

Other tent rental companies may charge hidden fees or surcharges. Be assured that the price Affordable Backyard Tents quotes you is the price you will pay!

Do I need a reservation for tent rental? What about equipment rental?

Yes. You need to make an advance reservation for any of our rental party tents and rental party equipment. We need advanced notice so we can schedule delivery. But don’t be discouraged if you need something right away. Give us  a call at 630.742.2407 . Sometimes we have cancellations at the last minute. We’d love to try to help you if we can!

When is the best time to reserve tent rental equipment for my party or event?

You should plan on reserving your tent rental equipment as early as possible before your event date. Without a reservation, we cannot guarantee that the items you want will be in stock. If you’re unsure of the exact number of guests, we can always modify the reservation to suit your needs.

How do I make a reservation?

Please call our office at 630.742.2407 to make a reservation. On all orders, we require a 50% non-refundable deposit that can be paid by cash, check, or credit card.

How do I cancel my party tent rental reservation?

We understand that life can get in the way of a party. Because we have held your rental aside, we retain 50% of the fees for any cancelled rental.

Any cancellation within 7 days of the delivery day requires full payment. We do this because we usually can’t re-rent the equipment in that time frame. 

If you have more questions about party tent rental with ABT, you can click here to view our rental contract.

Pricing and Payment Questions

How does pricing work?

Pricing is based on a full, single day rental. If you require a longer rental, please call us for more information.

When is final payment due?

Final payment is due on delivery. If you need to make other arrangements, call us in advance at 630.742.2407.

We accept cash or credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover Card). ABT adds a 3% convenience fee to all credit card purchases.

You may also prepay at any time!

Is there a charge if I cancel my party tent rental?

We retain 50% of the rental fees for any cancelled rental.

Any cancellation within 7 days of the delivery day requires full payment. We do this because we usually can’t re-rent the equipment in that time frame. 

Click here to view our rental contract.

Rental Delivery Questions

Do you deliver to my area?

We deliver to most towns within the greater Chicagoland area. Here are a few, but we definitely deliver to more,

Berwyn

Brookfield

Burr Ridge

Chicago

Clarendon Hills

Downers Grove

Elmhurst

 

Elmwood Park

Forest Park

Franklin Park

Hinsdale

Itasca

La Grange

Lisle

Oak Brook

Oak Park

River Forest

Riverside

Westchester

Western Springs

Willow Springs

To find out whether we deliver to your specific town, please give us a call at 630.742.2407

What are your delivery fees?

In surrounding areas, we add a small delivery fee to cover fuel and driving time. This delivery fee is typically between $25-$150 and covers both delivery and pick-up.

*Special fees are added if we must load equipment into elevators or carry it up flights of stairs.

What time will you deliver my items?

For Saturday events, delivery is normally done the Thursday or Friday prior to the event. Sunday event delivery will normally be on Friday or Saturday. We typically schedule times for delivery the Wednesday or Thursday prior to your event. On either Wednesday or Thursday before your event, we will call to confirm your order and give you an estimated 3-hour delivery time window.

We realize that your time is valuable. Occasionally, traffic or weather conditions cause delays for our delivery personnel. If this happens, our delivery personnel will try to call you to keep you updated on the progress of the trucks and give you an updated time of delivery.

What if I need delivery at a specific time?

Give us a call at 630.742.2407 and we will try to accommodate your request for any special delivery times whenever possible. Extra charges for same-day delivery and pickup are: additional $100 from 8am-5pm. $150 after 5pm.

Do I have to be home for delivery?

This is a one of the most common tent rental questions.

We recommend that you or a representative be present at the time of delivery to ensure that your items get delivered to the correct location and the tent where you want it. If you cannot be home, we will deliver the items to a pre-designated location. You can leave a chair to mark the center of the tented space.

Do your personnel set up the equipment?

Our trained personnel will properly set up and secure all tents. We will install lighting, sidewalls, and dance floors per your request. We’ll stack tables and chairs underneath the tent or near the set-up area. If you would like us to set up tables and chairs, we can do it for you at a $50 per hour rate.

Rental Pickup Questions

Is there a fee for equipment pick-up?

No. Delivery fees cover both delivery and pick-up.

Should I do anything with the items before you pick them up?

ALL ITEMS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP EARLY THE NEXT MORNING.

We would love it if you could wipe down tables, stack the chairs and leave them under the tent. Please place rented table linens in the bag provided and place it under the tent. Please do not attempt to take down the tent structure.

THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR ANY DECORATING ITEMS NOT REMOVED PRIOR TO PICK-UP.

What happens if items are damaged or lost?

The customer is responsible for all items from time of delivery to time of pick-up. You will be charged replacement or repair costs for lost, stolen, or damaged equipment due to misuse or negligence. There is also a charge for equipment not accessible at the time of pick up.

Click here to view our rental contract.

What if I need pickup at a specific time?

Give us a call at 630.742.2407 and we will try to accommodate your request for any special pickup times whenever possible. Extra charges for same-day delivery and pick-up are: additional $100 from 8am-5pm. $150 after 5pm.

What to Look for when Choosing Your Tent Rental Company

Make sure you get satisfactory answers to these questions before signing a rental contract:

  1. Is the company a member of a business or trade association? Do their employees and business associates abide by a code of business ethics?
  2. Are their products (in inventory) state-of-the-art or outdated?
  3. Can the company supply the best items for your event or do they try to convince you that what they have in stock is what you need?
  4. Is the operation organized and do you feel confident that it can adequately supply your party needs?
  5. Are last-minute changes a problem?
  6. What customer references can they supply?
  7. How can they help you with a surprise party?
  8. Will they provide you with personalized service?

What your tent rental company should know about you

Here are some of the tent rental questions your rental company should ask you:

  1. Date, time, location and approximate number of guests who will be attending
  2. Whether your event is formal, informal, simple or elaborate
  3. Buffet or sit-down style (a buffet requires less space per person than a sit-down)
  4. If you’re renting a tent, are there underground sprinklers, cables, wires or any other underground items?
Please Note

Customer pick-up is NOT available.

We add a delivery charge to every order. The amount depends on the delivery location.

We add a 3% convenience fee to all credit card transactions.

Click here to view our rental contract.

Call our Oak Park office today for your FREE consultation!

Click on this special offer to learn how to save on your party tent rental or party equipment rental today!

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