Every winter, we can see massive amounts of snow piling up around our commercial properties, residences, and pretty much everywhere in the city. These piles can cause lots of problems and safety issues for drivers, as well as pedestrians, if not taken care of promptly.
Of course, we can take the matter into our hands, get our shovels and get to clearing snow. However, DIY techniques are usually highly inefficient and can lead to all kinds of injuries. Instead of taking risks, a much better option would be to hire a reputable snow plow service. But, how should you go about finding one? Simply hiring the first service you come across is not advisable. If you are not sure how to do this, let us help by providing some tips for hiring a snow plow company.
Hiring A Snow Plow Company
1. Ask around
Of course, start your search by making a small list of potential companies. To do that, ask your friends, colleagues, and family members if they have a service to recommend. Also, try to start your search on a local level, rather than city-wide, since local companies will most likely respond faster and charge you less.
2. Contact the companies
Once you have made a small list of companies, your next move should be to get in touch with each of them in order to inquire about their services. By calling the companies in person, you will get a much better idea of how they conduct their business. You will see what kind of customer service they have and how helpful and knowledgeable they are with potential clients and customers.
Even though this is not the ultimate indicator of a company’s level of quality, by conducting a small question and answer session, you will get a much better insight into how a company handles various types of jobs and how it values its clients.
3. How do they charge
When talking with a company’s representative, start by asking about their payment plans. Find out whether they charge for the entire season, month, or each visit. If they charge on a seasonal level, make sure you are on the same page when it comes to defining a snow season. Check if they are willing to give a discount in case you paid one lump sum.
4. Are they properly insured
Next up, ask about the insurance. Snow clearing is a rather complex task, one that carries a considerable number of risks. It only takes a second of negligence to cause some damage or for someone to get hurt. If you want to avoid paying for something that wasn’t your fault, make sure that a company is fully insured.
5. Check their equipment
The efficiency of a snow plow company largely depends on the equipment they use, in addition to their experience and expertise. To get a better idea of how well they are equipped, check out the plows they commonly use, and the equipment they use for walkways and sideways. See if they use machines, which can easily break down the ice, or simple shovels, which can make the entire process much slower. If a company uses modern machines, it is a clear sign that you can expect top-notch services from it.