When it comes to commercial snow removal gone bad stories, we’ve just about heard them all.
Some snow removal contractors never really show up when they’re supposed to. They arrive before a snowstorm starts and never return once it’s actually piled up.
They leave huge piles of snow in the middle of important thoroughfares like main roads, sidewalks, parking lots and driveways. They blow snow away with no strategy for where to put it, except onto beautiful old trees, snapping highly breakable branches, and onto cars, cracking windshields and making it impossible for the cars to move from their parking spots. These are some of the snow removal mistakes done by some commercial snow removal contractors.
Obviously, the people in the nightmare snow scenarios we described likely won’t hire those contractors again the following year, but in the meantime, they won’t have access to their businesses except by dogsled (Mush!).
Dealing with the Mess After Snow Removal
Situations like these make us wonder about a few things. This includes spending more money just to get the work done correctly the second time around.
First of all, how do these commercial snow removal contractors even stay in business? Where we’re sitting, if you aren’t doing your job well, you don’t get to keep it.
Second, why can’t we just be everywhere? Neave’s Snow and Ice Management division has checklists and plans in place to ensure that we’re providing impeccable training for our crews, upholding every word of our contracts and serving our commercial clients as best as possible.
And third, how can you, the client, prevent this from happening to you?
To begin: Prevent the problem before it starts. Be sure to do your due diligence when choosing a snow and ice management contractor, ask a lot of questions and, most importantly, find out what plans they have to hold up their end of the deal.
Your commercial snow removal contractor should be on call 24/7, particularly when the weather starts to get worse, and should offer plenty of ways for you to get in touch with them. There’s nothing more unnerving than not being able to get a hold of the company you’ve hired to take care of your business’s grounds during the hectic, messy winter season.
Communicate with the Snow Removal Company!
But if you’ve already hired someone and they’re doing unsatisfactorily, it’s important to communicate that to them up front. Arrange a follow-up meeting on-site to review the property and the contract you put together to ensure that you and the contractor are on the same page. You may need to re-establish your expectations for their service — and be firm!
During that meeting, your contractor may realize there are unforeseen issues with your property, particularly if this is the first year you’ve worked together. There may be factors that lead them to re-evaluate how they service your site: Snow drifts, refreezing issues, downspout leaks and more could all affect their performance.
Clearly stated expectations and open lines of communication are the best way to ensure your commercial snow removal contractor lives up to their end of the deal.
If you have more questions about managing your property during the winter months, contact Neave Group’s snow and ice management division at (845) 463-0592 or fill out the handy contact form to the right. We’re available 24/7 and ready to help. And be sure to download our FREE white paper, “The Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Snow & Ice Management Contractor”.
image credit: amandabanana87