Snow Doesn’t Have To Be a Messy Hassle
The winter wonderland of snow that makes children’s wishes of no school come true can also be a messy hassle for homeowners. Depending on where you live and how much snow you are used to getting, your needs for hiring snow removal might vary. Some people may do just fine breaking out the old snow shovel themselves or paying the kid down the street a few bucks to do the job, but there are many situations where neither of these options is convenient. If your area typically gets a lot of snow or even if your area gets a few heavy snowfalls per year, you may want to consider calling for professional snow removal.
Don’t Underestimate the Benefits
As with hiring any service, professional snow removal is only worth the cost if you cannot do the job adequately or conveniently on your own. Homeowners in cities and towns who simply have a sidewalk to shovel might find that it’s simply less of a problem (and less expensive) to do the job themselves. Those who have a large driveway or live in an out-of-the-way area might find that the time saved by hiring a professional snow removal service is a lifesaver when it comes to getting to work on time or simply staying out of the cold for hours on end. Even with a snow-blower, the results you’ll get doing the job yourself may not be as impressive as what a pro can do with a plow they are trained to use well. Another big reason to hire a snow removal service comes about when you own rental properties. Whether it is an apartment complex or a few houses around town, having a professional snow removal service working for you will ensure that your tenants are happy and safe.
Snow Removal Worth the Investment
The holidays may be the most important time of all for quick, efficient snow removal. With guests coming and going frequently throughout the season, hiring a snow removal service would be worth your investment. It will make your life easier and provide you with more time to spend with loved ones. Especially if you’re expecting visitors who are elderly or who have very small children, removing snow and ice from your property will make their stay a safer one.
Most snow removal services will offer several different kinds of plans. You’ll be able to decide if you want an on-going service that shows up every time it snows or if you want to call on an as-needed basis. It’s a good idea, however, to have some sort of understanding set up before the snow begins to fly, because once the roads get bad, scheduling becomes a big issue for these companies.
Plan Ahead for Professional Removal
If you’ve never hired (or even considered hiring) a professional snow removal service, there are a few things you should think about before you call. If your main concern after a big snowfall is simply getting your car out of your driveway and onto a state maintained road, you might do a little shopping around to see if you can find a company that will dig out your car as well as plow your driveway. Prices and services will vary by company, and if you have a good idea of what you need, you’ll be more likely to find a place that can meet your criteria at a reasonable price. The level of service in the snow removal business can be very different from one company to the next. For example, one company might offer a low contract price but there’s a limit to how much service you get. If the limit is 20 visits to your property, you will pay more for anything above 20. If it’s a light winter, these types of contracts can be a bargain. But anything above average snowfall could cost you a bundle. There are companies who have contracts that state that they will only come out when there is two inches or four inches or even six inches of snow. This is another way of offering low contract pricing with built in protection for the company. During a very cold spell even two inches of snow can create a thin layer of ice especially on shady driveways and walkways.
Consider Equipment Used
The type of equipment a contractor uses is important. Sometimes a guy will say he offers Truck, Loader and Blower Service. In reality he has a truck with a plow, and he has a friend who has the front loader and another guy who will sub contract the blower work. Knowing what type of equipment your contractor has and how many pieces of equipment he has will help the homeowner make a smart choice.