As a property manager, selecting a commercial snow removal service is a big decision. Who you decide to partner with helps ensure the safety of your tenants and/or employees. After all, the company will be responsible for clearing walkways, deicing paths, and making sure every entrance is accessible.

Given how important snow removal is, we’ve outlined all the questions you should be asking before partnering with a commercial removal service.

1. What is Your Salt Availability?

It’s particularly important to make sure your property is free of ice during the colder months. This means regularly salting all areas around it. From walkways to entrances, steps, parking lots, and more; making sure your property is ice-free is critical to avoid slips and falls.

That’s why you need to ask what a company’s salt availability is like. A reliable company should have ample access to salt, and enough to supply an entire winter. If they don’t, it may be in your best interest to keep looking.

2. Do You Have an Emergency Response Plan?

Another good question to ask a potential snow removal partner is if they have an emergency response plan for when a winter storm is approaching. This is a good question to ask because it gives insight into how prepared they will be.

It also shows you how organized their removal process is, and what the priorities are when particularly bad weather is on the way.

As their partner, you will also want to know how they intend to tackle your property. Including what their response time is, available equipment, and the number of employees in the event of an emergency.

3. What Will Communication be Like?

Since the snow removal company will be partnering with you it’s a good idea to ask how they intend to communicate with you. You should know exactly who to contact and how (by email or phone for example) and if there is a line to report emergencies.

A good follow-up question to ask about their communication style is inquiring about how they intend to relay information to you before, during, and after a storm. For this, you should be looking for one direct point of contact who can let you know what time a contractor will be there, what is being done, and if they will need to return.

4. What Kind of Equipment Do You Use?

Before partnering with a snow removal company, you should pay close attention to what type of equipment they have access to. Knowing the answer to this question is particularly good for large commercial buildings which require heavier equipment.

So, be sure that the company has enough trucks and plows so that the property can be consistently cleared.

5. Do You Have References?

It’s always a good idea to check out reviews of a company before hiring them. This can be done by simply looking into online reviews or asking them if they can provide references from current customers. This is a good way to check with similar-sized property owners to see if they are happy with the service they’ve received.

6. Do You Monitor the Weather?

A good snow removal company knows to diligently monitor the weather. That’s why it’s a good idea to ask companies about how they do it. Partnering with a company that actively monitors the weather means they’ll be prepared and on standby when a storm hits.

7. What Type of Contracts do You Offer?

You don’t want to get stuck in bad contacts. That’s why you should be asking about the type of contacts the removers offer before signing an agreement. Contracts differ depending on the company and can vary in price and scope.

For example, some snow removal companies may offer seasonal, per application, salt by the ton, or a customizable option. Given how many varieties of contracts there are, you’ll want to look for a company that is transparent with its services (and pricing) to ensure you get exactly what you need.

Ultimately, we understand how vital snow removal is to a commercial property. At State of the Art Landscaping, we work with owners to develop a strategy that puts them at ease throughout the whole winter season. So, consider giving yourself peace of mind, regardless of the weather, by getting in touch with us here.