Professional service providers must
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Have the proper insurance as well as the financial stability to maintain and grow their business. |
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Be totally dedicated to service and quality. |
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Keep their equipment running and stay up to date on products to improve service and help grow business. |
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Be associated with trade associations that keeps them in tune with the industry. |
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Work with you, get the job done safely, on time, and within budget! |
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A Guide to Finding the Right Winter Services Provider
Here are some important items you should consider:
What do I need my service provider to do?
The lot needs to be plowed; will I need some form of de-icer applied? Do I want a contractor that has the equipment to handle big storms or a blizzard? Will I need to have he snow trucked off site? These are questions that should be answered before you start looking for someone to do the job.
Is my current level of service sufficient?
Does the present provider have the financial strength to manage during slow economic cycles and continue to maintain their snow removal equipment, provide the necessary personnel to service your property and keep up to standards? Can they deal with a blizzard or major equipment failure? Is your existing level of service preventing potential litigation due to slip and fall accidents? If that's the case then there's no need to change. As long as your relationship with your service provider is mutually beneficial than it's in your best interest to stay with them.
What to look for in a winter services provider?
Insurance?
This is a non-negotiable item. If the provider doesn't have the proper insurance coverage, they shouldn't work for you. You have to consider the potential liability if anything happens on your property and your service provider is not carrying the right levels of insurance. Always ask to see proof of insurance coverage. Any real professional service provider will be willing to make this available to you.
Does the service have qualified references?
Make sure references have similar needs to your business. Excellent service to for a strip mall might not qualify someone to deal with a million square foot parking lot, which must be up, and running around the clock.
Always get an estimate.
Call a service provider for an estimate; they should visit the site before submitting an estimate. A site visit determines the best way to approach the job, plus a first hand look at potential trouble areas must be noted. Without a site visit the provider will be plowing blind and cause unnecessary damage to areas that should have been mapped out prior to a blade touching a surface.
Has the service provider been in business long?
Look for a provider that has experience and stays up to date on equipment, products, and technology. Ask if they are affiliated with a professional trade association, like the Snow and Ice Management Association. Do they belong to any professional organizations? These are indications that the provider is trying to maintain as high a level of excellence as possible and attempting to stay up with industry innovations.
What to look for in the service provider contract?
The contract should clearly define the level of service to be provided including the pricing of services as well as payment terms. Any additional services required should quoted as well such as piling, stacking or hauling snow away.
Are the way the prices are quoted clear and concise?
Pricing will be the last area for comparing potential service providers. For better or worse it is to often the # 1 factor in awarding a contract. Do you really want to know how much per hour it will cost you to have the job done properly? Not likely, as this pricing would be different depending on the quality and kinds of equipment that each service provider will use. What you should be interested in is how much it will cost to do the job right while meeting your qualifications.
The four ways a service provider prices services:
1. By the Hour/ By the Truck
Inexperienced providers most often use this type of pricing. It's a favorite for large national accounts because it makes the bidding process easy. No expertise required. While most providers are honest some are unscrupulous and add unwarranted costs to a job to increase profit. This happens when a client is off site or during the night when the work is being completed. They always get caught which only makes it more difficult for the true professional to create a long lasting relationship with the client.
2. By the push
'Per Push' pricing takes time and expert figuring. The provider has to know what their equipment capabilities and production are in order to best price the job. It must be noted that all responsible contractors include a clause in their contracts that allow for additional charges in the event that the snow accumulation exceeds a certain total. If a provider has to plow a certain site more than once during the storm, they have to charge for each visit.
3. By the Season
This pricing is usually combined with other services, such as grounds & landscape maintenance, and sweeping the parking lot. It typically includes at least a three-year contract. This pricing is based on the average number of snowfalls in a given season, a three-year contract allows both the provider and the client the benefit of the law of averages. With this type of pricing the client won't have to worry about increased costs in a season that has above-average snowfall.
4. By the Inch
This pricing is usually set aside for large accounts that are in located in areas of the country where snowfall totals vary from 0 inches in one year to 5 feet the next year. Airports, schools, and very large properties are examples of where 'by the inch' contracts are usually used.
Nearly all providers' pricing structures are usually in the 'by the push', 'by the hour' or 'by the truck', or 'by the season'. Any combination of these approaches can be used by the provider for the unexpected storms and unpredictable weather that often occurs.
A true professional will price their services to be competitive in the market place, to meet the needs of the customer, and to create the necessary dollars to improve business.
Choose a professional that will work with you, get the job done safely, on time, and within budget!
info@prosnow.com
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