Snow removal services help businesses remain open and keep employees safe. At Elite Landscape Group, snow removal professionals such as those at our company monitor storm conditions to know when it is necessary to dispatch crews for plowing and hauling away snow.
Contracts differ depending on the season, but most involve some combination of sanding/salting, sidewalk/parking lot clearing, driveway clearing and clearing driveway/sidewalk intersections. Utilizing software to generate estimates and plan routes efficiently is key for both residential and commercial clients alike.
Safety First
Safety should always be of primary concern during snow removal operations, including clearing sidewalks, driveways and parking lots of snow. Clearing these surfaces presents unique hazards to workers such as sprains and strains as well as carbon monoxide poisoning from using generators.
Preplanning is essential in minimizing injury risks during snowfall events. This involves visiting each location prior to its first snowfall and marking any potential dangers that might become hidden by winter storms, such as fire hydrants, drop-off points, signs, curbs or overhead obstructions that might otherwise go undetected.
Assuring vehicles are fully prepared prior to starting any season is also key; having cold-rated tires and enough de-icing salt or de-icing products in stock can significantly lower accident risks and improve worker safety. Communicating expectations and risk tolerances to employees helps further decrease potential hazards.
Equipment Dependability
Failures of snow removal equipment can be expensive for businesses. By taking proactive steps and using appropriate tools, companies can reduce downtime while simultaneously keeping customers satisfied while decreasing liability risks.
Choose a snow removal service provider who provides full-time winter services, to ensure they have enough staff and resources available to them to manage whatever Mother Nature throws their way. Make sure they can also provide documentation of their insurance coverage, detailing which areas they are licensed to clear snow from.
Jobber software enables businesses to efficiently schedule jobs, track crews and their routes with GPS technology, send quotes and invoices directly to clients for an efficient business process, offer multiple pricing options so clients can select what best meets their needs, such as offering both hourly and event-based pricing as well as 24/7 client hub access on websites, social media accounts or apps.
Timely Service
Snow removal requires accuracy and timely responses; your customers want to be assured they can rely on you to address their inquiries quickly, keeping their nerves calm during an event like this one.
To ensure prompt service for customers, clearly communicate your snow removal policies and processes. For example, consider including in your contract that your service is priced per push or per event so customers know exactly what they are getting into before signing their contracts.
Include how often you plan on providing services as this will give your customers an accurate idea of their payment and your availability to remove snow quickly. Make sure your services and prices are saved as line items in Jobber so you can create professional estimates quickly – plus easily add them to contract documents to prevent costly mistakes!