Snow Removal CONSUMER TIPS
Finding the right winter services provider for your needs can be tricky.
Whether you are looking for a provider to clear your driveway or one to clear
a 5-acre parking lot, or something in between, there are many things you should
consider. Don't worry about searching for a snow removal company that meets
all these requirement because we here at JVS meet all these requirements!
However, here a few questions to keep in mind:
Ask yourself, what services do I
require of my service provider?
In addition to keeping your lot
or driveway plowed, will you need a deicer applied?
Do you want a provider that is equipped
to handle high accumulation storms?
Will you need to have snow removed
from the site?
All of these questions need to be answered
before you begin your search.
Are you satisfied with your current
level of service?
Does your current service provider
have the financial position to survive economic slow periods,
fix and maintain snow removal equipment, carry the necessary
deicers and provide the necessary staffing to service you
properly?
Can they handle an unexpected storm
or equipment breakdown?
Is your current level of service
lowering your exposure to potential litigation due to slip
and fall accidents?
If you answered "yes" to all of these
questions, why change?
A long-term, mutually beneficial relationship
with your service provider is in your best interest.
What should you look for in a winter
services provider?
Does the service provider carry proper insurance? This item should be non-negotiable.
If they do not have the proper insurance coverage, their bid should not be
considered. Why? You must consider the cost to you if anything
should happen on your property and your service provider is uninsured or underinsured.
It's not worth the risk! Don't be afraid to ask to see proof of insurance,
any professional service provider will be happy to show this to you.
How long has the service provider been
in business?
You should be looking for a provider that is
knowledgeable and keeps current on changes in products, equipment
and technology.
Do they belong to a professional organization?
Affiliation with a professional trade organization, such as SIMA, indicates
that the service provider is interested in excellence and keeping abreast
of industry changes.
Is the service provider able to give
you comparable references?
When considering references, be sure that you are comparing apples to apples.
Just because the service provider gives excellent service to a small restaurant
does not necessarily qualify him/her to handle a hospital, which must be maintained
24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Getting an estimate:
If you are calling service providers for estimates,
you should be aware that they might wish to visit your property
before giving you the estimate. Not only is it necessary to determine
how they will approach the job, it is also necessary for them
to note items that may be easily damaged if they didn't know
exactly where they were before coming out to plow, such as flowerbeds,
fire hydrants and mailboxes.
Does the service provider use contracts?
A contract should be used to clearly define the level of service provided,
the pricing of those services and the payment terms. It should also disclose
the cost of additional services should be they required, such as stacking
of snow or hauling away of snow.
Do you understand the different ways
a service provider prices his/her
services?
Pricing should be one of the last areas for comparison of potential service
providers. Unfortunately, it is often the motivating factor in awarding a contract.
As a customer, do you really want to know how much per hour it will cost you
to have your lot cleared? Probably not, as this price would vary depending
upon the type of equipment that each service provider intends to use.
What you are really interested in is how much
it will cost to clear your lot to your specifications. To help
you better understand the pricing options, here is information
on the four basic ways a service provider prices his/her
services: per hour/per truck, per season, per push or per inch of accumulation.
Per Hour/Per Truck - inexperienced
service providers most often use this type of pricing; it also
is a favorite amongst national accounts, as it makes the bidding
process easier. It is the easiest way to avoid learning snowplowing
as a business. Little, if any, expertise is required. This method
also requires a tremendous amount of trust between you, the customer,
and your service provider. While most service providers are honest
and fair, some unscrupulous contractors can add "ghosts" to
a job site in order to increase revenues. This happens because
the unsuspecting customer is not usually at the site in the middle
of the night when the services are being performed. These providers
always get caught eventually, which makes it that much harder
for the honest service provider to generate a trusting relationship
with the customer.
Per Push - Pricing plowing sites on
a "per push" basis requires considerable
expertise; as the service provider must know what their equipment production
capabilities are in order to properly price the job. It should also be noted
that all responsible contractors have a clause in their "per push" contracts
that allow for additional charges in the event that the snow accumulation exceeds
a certain amount. In addition, if a service provider has to plow a particular
site more than once during the snow event, he/she must charge for each visit.
Per Season - this type of pricing
is usually tied into other services, such as landscape maintenance,
parking lot sweeping or complete grounds maintenance but it doesn't
have to be and is normally at least a three-year contract. Since
this pricing is based on the average number of snowfalls in a given season,
a three-year contract allows the service provider and the customer the benefit
of the law of averages. With this type of pricing, in those years when there
above average snowfalls, the customer doesn't have to worry about the increase
in cost as they will continue to pay their agreed upon monthly payment.
Per Inch - this type of pricing is
usually reserved for very large accounts that are in areas of
the country where snowfall totals can vary from nothing one year
to 65+ inches the next. Universities, airports and extremely
large
sites are prime examples of where "per inch" contracts are normally
used.
Most services providers' pricing structures
normally fall in the "per push, per hour per truck or per
season" categories. A mixture of these three types
may be used by the service provider to allow for the unexpected forces of Mother
Nature.
A professional will price his/her services
in such a way to be competitive in the market, to service the
needs of the customer and to generate the necessary revenues
to grow his/her business.
SUMMARY
As earlier stated, finding the right service provider can be tricky, but keep
this in mind. Professional service providers may not be the lowest bidder,
they are maintaining and paying insurance, payroll, taxes, overhead and reinvesting
into their businesses. They are committed to service and quality.
They keep their equipment operable and purchase
the necessary products to maintain their accounts and grow their
business. They normally are members of a trade association that
keeps them abreast of the ever-changing industry. If you receive
a low bid, use caution, they may not be properly insured and
if they are underbidding the market, they probably won't be around
for as long as they will not have the cash flow necessary to
survive. Don't be fooled by a fly-by-night operation, always
choose a professional.
Don't worry about searching for a snow removal
company that meets all these requirement because we here at JVS
meet all these requirements!
