Why are we talking about winter already?!
Budget Season!
Summer is flying by and soon our kiddos will be back in school and the colorful fall leaves will begin to change. We all know what that means. BUDGET SEASON is rapidly approaching. Come fall, many property managers begin meeting to prepare their operating budget for the winter season. So how do you know if you need to switch up your Snow & Ice Management Services? One of the most efficient tools for building a budget that meets the needs of a property's tenants is to perform an analysis of their satisfaction. Were the tenants satisfied with the quality of service your snow and ice management team provided? But what is the most efficient way to gauge the tenants' satisfaction? Property owners will often send an email survey to get feedback. Email surveys are efficient, and will often organize the feedback for you.
There are many tools for property owners to utilize to send surveys via email:
SurveyMonkey
Google Forms
SoGoSurvey
FluidSurveys
ClientHeartbeat
Check out this link for more information on these survey platforms and more: Click link here.
If you want to Make a Change, NOW is the time.
Christmas in July? If budget season doesn’t normally occur until Fall, why is NOW the time to make a change? Believe it or not, making the decision to switch your Commercial Snow Company in the summer is mutually beneficial for both parties. For us, it means we have good visibility of the property to gauge how long it will take to clear so we can manage our busy season better. For you, it means you have more time to collect proposals to be able to compare and contrast and ensure you are getting the best team possible.
If you wait until the fall months to begin your search for a snow removal team, you might find yourself making a “rushed” decision which could lead to unsatisfactory services.
What to Look for in a Contract.
Before looking at a snow and ice management contract, you will want to ask the following questions:
Does the snow removal company communicate their operations plan prior to the snow event?
Do you have multiple parking areas?
Do you have sidewalks? Are all doors and fire exits easily accessible?
How important is it that the snow is plowed early vs late?
What kind of contract do you want, seasonal or per-event?
What determines the need for plowing services? This usually is determined by accumulation.
Hours of operation that the snow removal company is available to provide services.
Anticipated wait period (within 24 hours of snow fall, vs within several hours of snowfall).
Will they come more than once in a day if the storm is big enough (does that cost extra)?
Average time it takes to plow based on the size of the lot. (this will be helpful to share with tenants).
The best way to contact the snow plower.
How are payments made / what is the payment schedule?
Are salting services included in the service or do they cost extra?
Does the company in question offer third-party certified weather reports?
While the items in the list above are important, the most critical component of a snow and ice management contract is the section regarding insurance. With snow and ice comes liability, especially for commercial property owners. You will want to make sure that the service provider maintains insurance throughout the duration of your contract with them. You will want to make sure that as the property manager, you are not liable for damages, claims, losses ext. Don’t be afraid to ask the snow and ice management company for proof of insurance and a breakdown of what that insurance covers.
The company you select for your snow and ice management services can make or break your tenant experience in the winter months. We want to make sure you have the tools you need in place to make the best decision for your property. We are happy to meet to discuss any concerns you may have about your services!
