Everything You

MUST Know

Before Hiring a

Snow Removal

Company

Introduction

Snow is an inevitable part of life. Snow can create a number of problems that

requires that it be removed. Whether you live in a part of the country that routinely

receives heavy snowfall or if you live a region that only occasional has to deal with

falling snow, odds are you are going to need the services of a snow removal company

at one point or another.

Removing snow can be a daunting task. Even if you have a relatively small

residential property, handling snow removal on your own can be tiring, troublesome and

difficult. If you happen to own a large residential property or a commercial business, it

may be impossible to remove the snow by yourself. Proper snow removal makes life

safer for everyone. In many locations you as the owner are legally responsible to

remove the snow that lands on your property. This could mean that you would have to

relocate and possibly remove what could end up being several hundred pounds of

snow. It may also require you to put down salt or sand.

In order to accomplish this task you may need to have access to heavy snow

removing equipment, such as a plow, a bobcat or even a truck to haul the snow away.

Unless you happen to have this equipment sitting in your yard you will probably require

the services of a snow removal company or contractor. Not all snow removal companies

are created equal, so it is important that you choose the right contractor for the job.

Here is everything you must know before you choose a snow removal company.

Do You Need the Services of a

Snow Removal Company? Some situations will require the services of a snow removal company and some

will not. Since the services of a snow removal company will cost you money it is

important to determine if you actually need their services before you go out and hire

someone. In many instances you may be able to go out and get the job done yourself

with a snow shovel.

Here are some situations that may require you to hire a professional snow removal

company:

You have a large area that requires a lot of snow removal where shoveling it by

hand would be impossible.

You cannot get to the area that you need snow removed from because you are in

a different region or state.

You have multiple locations where snow needs to be removed.

You do not have the proper equipment to remove the snow by yourself.

It has snowed too much for you to handle the situation on your own.

You own a business that requires multiple snow removal jobs in order to comply

with local laws.

Snow removal is required in order for you to avoid personal liability issues.

You don’t have the time to remove the snow by yourself.

You hate shoveling snow and just want someone else to handle it for you.

Potential Problems Not all snow removal contractors are created equal. Like all contractors, some

snow removal contactors are fair and honest while others are just looking to steal your

money and waste your time. There are many potential problems that could arise if you

happen to choose an unreliable or dishonest snow removal contractor. This is why you

will want to perform a little research before you make your decision.

Here are some potential problems that may be associated with choosing the

wrong snow removal company:

The contractor may not show up at all- leaving you stuck in the snow.

The contractor or company may not complete the job to your specific

requirements.

The job may not be finished completely or it may be done incorrectly.

You may be charged for services that were not rendered.

You may be over-charged for services that were either not rendered or done

incorrectly.

The contractor may quote you one price before the snow falls and another after

you are stuck in it.

The contractor may not be insured and bonded, so any damage they cause to

property could leave you responsible.

You may get stuck with hidden fees and additional costs.

Your property may be damaged by the company’s employees or by freeze-thaw

runoff from an incomplete snow removal job.

The snow may not be plowed but not actually removed from your property,

leaving you to deal with a huge pile.

You could be held personally liable if snow your property is not removed in a

timely fashion or of someone is injured as a result of snow-covered obstacles.

How to Find Snow Removal

Companies in Your Area Locating several snow removal companies that operate in your local region is the

easy part. Choosing the best contractor for the job is a lot harder. It is highly

recommended that you create a list of 4-5 potential choices and research each one

independently before you make your final decision. This way you can best determine

who will do the best job and how much you will probably end up paying for your snow

removal services. To start this process you must first find some local contractors for

your list of potentials.

Here are some places to look for local snow removal companies:

Recommendations and referrals from people you can trust.

This is the best place to find potential contractors because you will already have

a good indication of the type of job they will be able to do. Ask people that you

can trust if they have ever used a snow removal contractor before. Odds are you

already know someone who has used the services of a snow removal contractor.

Check with your friends, family members, neighbors and co-workers. Ask for

specific company or contractor names. Ask your trusted sources if they were

happy with the services they received and if they thought the prices they paid

were fair.

Recommendations from other contractors

Other contractors that you hire may also be able to recommend a snow removal

company. You may want to ask your landscaping company (many of these

companies will handle snow removal during the winter months), your roofer, your

plumber or any other contractor if they can recommend a specific snow removal

company.

Perform an online search

If you don’t have anyone to ask or you are looking for more potential choices, you

can always perform an online search using a major search engine such as

Google or Bing. Simply type something like “snow removal” plus your region or

zip code and odds are you will get dozens of results.

Use the Yellow Pages

The Yellow Pages or phone book still exists and it can provide you with plenty of

local snow removal contractors in your area. You can even take a look at the

online Yellow Pages if you prefer.

Through traditional advertising techniques

Many snow removal contractors will advertise themselves through traditional

advertising channels. These channels can include television or radio ads, print

ads in magazines and newspapers and on signs, billboards and flyers.

However you choose to go about locating a local snow removal company is fine.

The important thing to remember is that you will want to find several different companies

for your list of potentials, so that you can research each one independently.

Questions to Ask a Potential

Snow Removal Company Once you have a list of 4-5 potential choices, the next step is to interview a

representative from each company to find out what types of services they can offer you

and what their pricing structure will be like. You can conduct these interviews over the

phone, but it may be better if a representative of the company visits the work location in

person. This is especially true if the work location presents any specific challenges such

as a remote location or specific obstacles. Many snow removal companies will offer you

a free estimate.

Here are some important questions you should ask any snow removal company

before you decide whether or not to hire them:

1. What specific services can you offer me?

Different snow removal contractors will be able to offer you different types of

services. Do you need commercial snow removal services, such as removing

snow from a large parking lot or commercial storage space, or are looking for

residential snow removal services? Can they handle removing large amounts of

snow or is their fleet mainly comprised of smaller trucks with plows? Can they

take snow away with them or will they just pile it somewhere and leave it? Will

you need snow removed from sidewalks and roofs as well as from driveways and

parking areas? You need to know in advance what specific types of snow

removal services you will require in order to find a contractor who can provide

them.

2. How often will the company come by to remove snow?

Some snow removal companies will come by the day of a snow storm and others

won’t come till a few after the storm. Some will make multiple trips to remove

snow from your property while others will only come once. These are things you

will want to know about in advance, especially if you are looking to keep a

business open during inclement weather conditions.

3. Can the company provide sanding and salting services?

Dumping sand or salt onto the pavement can help drivers and walkers maintain

friction and avoid slipping. Some snow removal contractors can offer this service

while others can only remove snow.

4. How does their pricing structure work?

There are many different pricing structures that can be offered by snow removal

contractors. Some will offer a yearly contract that provides complete snow

removal each time it snows. Some will offer a storm by storm type of service.

There are additional charges and fees that you may want to be aware of in

advance as well. For example, some contractors will charge by the inch or by a

percentage for very large storms that dump a large amount of snow. Sometimes

a contractor will charge an additional fee if they have to make additional trips to

remove snow from your property. A company may even charge differently for

snow plowing services versus snow removal services. You definitely want to

know in advance how the company’s pricing structure works before you choose

to hire them.

5. Is the company fully licensed and bonded?

The answer to this question should be yes. Choosing a snow removal company

that is licensed to operate in your state and that is fully bonded and insured helps

protect you legally. The company should be able to show you proof of their

licenses and insurance.

6. Will you provide me with a free estimate?

Some snow removal contractors will provide you with a free estimate and some

will not. In general a free estimate is a good thing.

7. Will we be signing a written contract?

Again, the answer to this question should always be yes. Always sign a written

contract with any snow removal company. Carefully review the contract to make

sure that it includes all of the services you require and that it clearly outlines what

price you will be paying. Keep a copy of the contract for yourself. Also, make

sure that it clearly states how you can terminate the contract if you choose to do

so.

Choosing a Snow Removal

Company Once you have interviewed each snow removal contractor candidate on your list

of potentials, you are just about ready to make your final decision. But just because a

company passed your interview doesn’t necessarily mean that they have a good

reputation. This means that you may want to perform a little extra research to find out

more information regarding a specific contractor’s reputation.

Here are few places to look for information regarding a snow removal company’s

reputation:

The Better Business Bureau (www.BBB.org)

Even if the contractor has changed locations and business names the Better

Business Bureau will have records of any consumer complaints or violations

lodged against them. They will also offer a grading system that will help you

determine if the company has a good track record with its clients. Look for a

snow removal company with no complaints or violations and one who offers an

A+ rating. You can also find information about specific companies through your

local Chamber of Commerce.

Online consumer review websites

There are many online consumer review websites that allow you to read

testimonials from other customers. A good example of such a website is Angie’s

List (www.angieslist.com). Remember that no company can please every

customer 100% of the time, but avoid snow removal companies that have

multiple complaints from different customers.

Referrals from previous customers

You can always ask the snow removal contractor for referrals from previously

satisfied customers. If possible you should always check on referrals and

references provided by the contractor.

Recommendations from friends and family

Again, you can always ask for recommendations and referrals from people you

can trust. These are by far the best places to find out information regarding a

snow removal contractor’s reputation and level of customer service.

Once you have done a little research and determined that your potential snow

removal company has a good track record and reputation you are ready to make your

final decision. Remember that the lowest price isn’t always the best option. Choose a

snow removal company that can offer you the services you specifically need, who can

meet your pricing demands and who has a good track record of satisfying their

customers.

Once you have made your final decision the next step is to sign a detailed

contract with the company of your choice. Once the contract is signed you can sit back

and wait for the snow to fall.

Tips for Hiring the Right

Snow Removal Company Here are some tips for dealing with your snow removal company:

Keep all areas on your property that need to be plowed free from debris, vehicles

and other obstacles so that your snow removal contractor can get the job done.

Make sure that your contractor is aware of any specific problems, requirements

or obstacles on your property before the work begins.

Keep in mind that heavy snowfall makes travelling difficult for everyone, including

for your snow removal contractor. You may have to give them a little extra time to

arrive at your property during heavy snowfall.

Make sure that you have a phone number to call in advance if something goes

wrong with your contractor, like if they don’t show up when they are supposed to.

Knowing who to report problems to in advance can be very helpful.

Report all property damage to the company right away and give them a chance

to fix it. Document all damage to property caused by your snow removal

contractor by taking your own photos.

Give the company a chance to resolve any of your complaints before you begin

bashing their reputation. Sometimes bad things happen and the company should

take the appropriate steps to fix the problem, so give them a chance to do so.

You can report problems and complaints against your snow removal company to

your local Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau if necessary.

If your snow removal company does a good job- recommend them to others

either through word of mouth or on an online consumer review website. Good

contractors deserve your recommendations!

Checklist for Hiring a Snow

Removal Company Determine what specific snow removal services your property requires, whether

they are residential or commercial services. Include any additional services

required, such as sidewalk shoveling or rooftop snow removal.

Locate 4-5 find snow removal contractors that operate in your area through

recommendations from friends and family, through online searches, or through

traditional advertising techniques. Make a list of potential choices.

Set up an interview with a representative from each company. Ask specific

questions regarding their services, their pricing structure, their contracts and if

they are licensed and bonded. Ask for an estimate.

Double check the top choices on your potentials list for information regarding

their reputations. Check with previous clients, the Better Business Bureau and

with online consumer review websites to determine if the company has a good

track record.

Decide on a snow removal contractor based on their level of service, their prices

and their reputation.

Sign a written contract with your chosen snow removal contractor and wait for the

snow to fall.

Conclusion Taking the time properly research various snow removal companies will go a

long way towards helping you make the right choice. It will also help prevent many of

the problems that commonly occur with these types of contractors. If you are able to

choose a snow removal contractor who is reliable and dependable then those snowy

days will be as stress free as possible. Proper snow removal is safer for everyone, so

take the time to pick a qualified and reliable snow removal contractor. You will be happy

that you did!