Before you rent an inflatable, have a list of questions to ask the companies to whom you are considering renting from. First, is the company insured. A good inflatable company will go over all of the safety procedures upon arrival on proper use of the equipment. Should the equipment be faulty or not set up properly and an injury occurs through no fault of the renter, an insured company is the one you'd want to rent from.

Second, is the equipment cleaned and inspected regularly. With many communicable diseases, you want to make sure the company sanitizes their equipment before and after each use. Seams and zippers on units should be checked regularly. A company that inspects their units regularly will maintain the equipment and make any necessary repairs.

Third, is staff trained? There is a proper way to set up equipment and having trained staff who follow industry standards and set up equipment according to industry standards assures a safe, fun event. Units should be staked down. Not all equipment utilize the same size stakes. Trained staff will survey the site to look for hazards and determine that the set up area is suitable for setting up the equipment. They will look for things such as an area free of debris, no overhead power lines, level surface, etc.

Fourth, what is the cancellation policy? What happens in the event you need to cancel? Is there a deposit - refundable or not?

We all want a good, fair price. But keep in mind that you get what you pay for. If you can rent a bounce house all day for $75, that's a bargain. But.. don't be surprised if the delivery people are late, less than personable, if the equipment hasn't been cleaned in months.

To check and see if the company you are considering renting from is certified through the Safe Inflatable Operators Training Organization, visit their web site. To check and see if the company you are renting from has any complaints through the Better Business Burea and if they are a member, check out their web site.