Winter is here, so businesses need to be prepared for snow and ice. Without proper care, snow prevents employees and customers from accessing your parking lots and walkways, and ice could lead to slips and falls—a liability you don’t want. Every year, businesses struggle with the winter weather. Fortunately, there’s an affordable and easy solution: hire a commercial winter contractor.
A winter contractor can take care of all of your landscaping needs, from commercial snow removal to deicing and more.
Keep reading this blog post for 6 things to consider before hiring a commercial winter contractor.
#1 Timeframe/ Turnaround Time
When a blizzard happens, you need a snow removal service that can be there in a timely manner so your employees and customers can access your business. Ensure the contractor you hire is capable of delivering a timely service so you can keep your business operating as usual.
#2 Cost
Before choosing a winter contractor, create a clear budget for what you can afford. This will help you qualify which contractor is best for your business. Additionally, comparing costs from different contractors ensures you are getting the best deal. Be certain you have a good understanding of what services are included in the price, and make sure it aligns with the services you are likely to need.
#3 What Services are Offered
Before you begin looking for contractors, make a list of winter services you are likely to need. Think about your past experiences to guide your decision. No matter what, you will want a contractor capable of providing timely service in the aftermath of a blizzard and can effectively remove dangerous ice. For example, at Procare, we offer emergency services for our customers so they can be assured their business will be safe and accessible as soon as possible.
What equipment and materials do they use to provide services? Are they using outdated or secondhand equipment? What type of salts are they using? Different salts come with their pros and cons.
Another thing to look out for is how they deliver their services. Is it easy to communicate with them? Do they respond quickly? Do they provide updates on the delivery of their service? These are important things to consider that aren’t necessarily direct services but are essential for good customer service and a quality experience.
#4 Availability
There are only so many winter commercial contractors, and many businesses need their services. It’s important to book your winter services with a contractor as soon as possible to ensure they have the bandwidth to service your business. Be sure to understand their capacity so you can have the confidence your business will be a priority.
#5 Insurance/Safety
Does the service provider carry proper insurance? Although we hope every commercial winter contractor has good insurance and follows best safety practices, it’s not always the case. If your property endures damages from the contractor’s services, you want to be protected. Additionally, you want to be sure that the company is treating its employees ethically and keeping them safe from harm.
Finally, it’s important that you have liability insurance in place in case an accident does happen on your property and someone gets hurt.
#6 Research the company and its reviews
Every company will present itself in the best light possible. Be sure to do your own research on the company and read the reviews on Google and third-party websites. If there are not any online reviews, that may be a red flag.
However, it’s important to remember that even the best companies can get a bad review, so be sure to use your critical thinking skills and analyze the reviews rationally. At the end of the day, online reviews will provide a fairly accurate look into what you can expect from the contractor.
Hire Professionals You Can Trust
At Procare, we have decades of expertise in winter landscaping services. We provide completely customized snow removal services depending on the unique needs of your commercial property.
We employ a large fleet of snow-plowing equipment, which allows us to maintain short routes and provide fast service. Because different businesses have different snow and ice needs, our equipment selection allows us to provide the specific snow removal options you require.
Keep your facility accessible and your employees and customers safe all winter long. Contact us today, and let’s make a plan for winter.