Introduction
The winter season isn’t over yet and that means you still need to remove the snow accumulated at your property. You can do that on your own or search for “landscape companies near me” and hire the right professionals for the job. Here’s how you can find a good snow removal contractor:
The Details
- Get free quotes – Consider hiring a snow removal contractor as a job where you interview a bunch of people in search of the right talent. Snow removal companies offer a vast array of services and design several packages around that. They also design custom packages according to your needs. For instance, if you’re a business owner you’ll want the snow to be cleared from your property more frequently if you generate a lot of traffic safely.
Accordingly, contractors can quote you the price of a single snow clearing if you’re a homeowner with a modest yard and driveway. However, snowfalls numerous times during the cold season and that’s why choosing a package with multiple clearings is the usual norm. Call different companies and get free quotes depending on your needs. If a company offers you a free consultation, grab that offer. This will help you compare different quotes.
- Communicate – Interviewing different snow removal contractors also allows you to figure out how they communicate with their customers. This is very important if you live in an area that receives extreme snow once every few years. You want your contractor’s action plan and how they’ll communicate with you during emergencies. Interviewing them also lets you figure out how much snow needs to fall for the contractor to come for a service call.
Good communication is key to avoiding stress and misunderstandings during an emergency. Snow removal contractors have a very tight schedule during the snowy season and that’s why it’s important to figure out how you’ll get updates from them during such events. Interview them thoroughly and figure out all their ways of communication for a normal service call and for emergencies.
- Arrival time – While selecting a snow removal contractor it is crucial to work out the estimated time of arrival. This thing is usually written in the contract and if a contractor refuses to work out the details it’s a big red flag. If there are severe storms it can slow down services and that’s why you should look at the estimated time of arrival with a pinch of salt.
Don’t be fooled by “guaranteed” arrival times. Irrespective of a company’s high-quality equipment and advanced vehicle it’s impossible to win against nature. No honest and reputed contractor would offer you “guaranteed arrival times”. However, if they have been in the business for a few years, they should have built a reputation, and asking around or checking out online reviews should help.
- Professionalism – During your interview process, you should be able to figure out the professionalism of the contractor. Look for strong communication skills, how well they are integrated into the industry with at least a few years of experience and what kind of reputation they have built up.
Apart from showing their professionalism through their behavior and people skills, the contractor should be able to back it up with proper paperwork. They should offer insurance coverage so that you aren’t liable when people get injured on your property. Without insurance, the contractor may be able to offer you a lower price than their competitors. However, it will come back to bite you in the form of expensive lawsuits if someone gets injured on your property.
Check if the contractor has employees who are covered by the corresponding Workplace Safety organization. If your municipality issues snow removal licenses, make sure that the contractor has one with him or her and all of their vehicles should be registered for the same. The contractor should also back up his or her professionalism with a written contract containing all the services you are paying for.
- Check the equipment – You also need to check the equipment of the snow removal contractor before you hire their services. If it’s an experienced contractor who has been in the business for a few years, he or she should have their own equipment instead of rented gear. The equipment would also be in pristine conditions and well-maintained if they are used regularly by the contractor. Check the contractor’s plows, snowblowers, skid-steer loaders, and any other equipment they have.
- Pricing – Pricing is another important aspect of choosing snow removal contractors. If it seems too good to be true, you need to do a lot of research and dig deeper before you accept it. Snow removal contractors usually have a per-season charge or per-removal charge. Some companies provide easy financing options in terms of installments to make it easier for you.
If the price is too low compared to other contractors you need to thoroughly inspect the contract, licenses, insurance, and other documentation. Even if the contractor isn’t able to offer installment payment options, they shouldn’t charge all the money upfront. Stay away from such deals.
- Reviews – If the snow removal contractor is a small local contractor, he or she may not have a website or online reviews. However, word of mouth is still strong enough and goes a long way if the contractor offers great service. On the other hand, if the contractor has been in business for a few years check out if they have a Google My Business listing on Google Maps or other such online platforms. Otherwise, you may demand the contact information of previous clients and ask them directly about the quality of service and other tiny details.
Conclusion
As long as you know what you’re looking for and compare the quotes with the scope of the services offered to you, you’ll be able to find the perfect snow removal contractor in no time. To hire the right professionals for the job you can search for “landscape companies near me”.
