Trying to find a snow removal contractor in Prince George, BC, might be the last thing on your mind during the beautiful northern summers. Or, maybe you’re like us, and you think about it all the time… there is no shame in that. Either way, it would be very wise to plan for snow removal well before the first snow event of the year. Between sudden snow events in October, better pricing available to early birds, and even just the peace of mind - starting your conversations with snow providers early is a great strategy for your business. With that in mind, here are 5 things you should pay attention to when selecting a snow removal provider: 1. Are they properly insured? Yes, this is number one for a very good reason. The cost of snow removal insurance has gone up drastically in Canada in the last 5 years. In some cases, contractors 5 years ago are now paying over ten times what they were paying in 2016. This is a complicated issue, but insurers agree on the root cause of this spike in pricing - slip and fall claims have gone up drastically, especially on properties with high volume of pedestrian traffic. As a result, insurers have had to pay out significantly more money on these claims - and they are trying to recoup the expenses. A single slip and fall claim can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation and financial compensation. Despite that, many providers are not properly insured, and in some cases, not insured for snow removal at all. If a company is trying to skirt the expense of proper insurance in order to be more profitable, it opens the contractor is at an extreme risk of a claim which would inevitably bankrupt the business. It could also leave you as the client scrambling to hire a new company during a snow event, or worse, possible legal ramifications for not properly checking with your contractor. Long story short - insurance is not cheap to plow snow, but it is also not optional - make sure your provider has it and is willing to provide you a copy of their insurance! At Laser Line Painting, we carry 5 million dollar liability on all of our operations, including snow removal, so that all parties involved are properly covered. 2. Is their snow removal process transparent? Snow contracts are structured on an annual cost, hourly basis or per-push cost.  An annual contract has a fixed price for the duration of winter, meaning a fixed budget price for your business. Contractors usually will invoice you the set cost once or twice a month. These are generally used on larger properties, but not all the time. You will know exactly what you will pay for the year. A potential downside of this is the contractor may not provide you the absolute best service - if they are getting paid monthly regardless if they show up, you could be at risk of that provider no-showing during a critical snow event. Has your contractor clearly and concisely explained how they will service your property, even during an extended snow event, so that you are not left wondering where they are while the snow and piles up on your parking lot?  An hourly contract is structured with you being given a rate sheet for pieces of equipment, such as a plow truck, skid steer, wheel loader, sanding truck, dump truck and other pieces of equipment. This is generally used on smaller properties, but not all the time. In this structure, you only pay for when they are on site - so if it is a mild winter, you may very well save a lot of money. Conversely, if it is a heavier winter, you will pay for every hour those equipment pieces are on the property. Either way, “you pay what you are given”, and it is generally considered a fair-value to both contractor and client. A potential downside to this arrangement is knowing exactly how long your snow provider is actually on the property. For example, a lot of snow removal is performed overnight, and proper checks and balances should be agreed upon by both the client and contractor to make sure there is no “extra hours” slid onto invoices or plowing reports.  Finally, a per-push cost is similar to hourly - but instead of a paying by the hour, you simply pay a lump sum for each snow event. Before the snow season, the client and contractor will agree to what this lump sum price is. Often, a contractor may have a different scale depending on the snow volume for each event. For example, they may agree to perform all plowing and ice control services for any snow event less than 2 inches at a set price, but if it snows between 2-4”, the price is incrementally higher to account for the longer time required, which goes up according to a preset volume scale. Often, there is a “blizzard clause” in these - where any event over 8-10” switches from a lump-sum to an hourly rate to account for extreme snow events. In any event, it is imperative that both client and contractor agree to specific mobilization terms in a contract - so that the client isn’t left wondering “how come they didn’t arrive?”, or worse, “How come they came to the property 7 times when it only snowed twice last month?” No matter what contract structure you decide upon, make sure your contract with the provider has clear, transparent terms, and proper checks and balances are in place to ensure fair service for both parties! At Laser Line Painting, we use a unique cloud-based storage system so that you can access all weather data, site pictures and other important project information anytime - that is one of the most important checks and balances we use to ensure proper service. 3. Are they actually going to perform your work? While most companies use entirely self owned equipment and employees, some companies use a blend of employees and subcontractors to fulfill their snow contracts, depending on their volume of work. However, other companies exist that subcontract the entire work process to another company - these are known as snow management companies, or broker companies. This may still be favorable for a client, as long as the subcontractor delivers on their end of the bargain, and the snow management company is properly ensuring their clients are looked after. However, some clients have hired snow management companies with no idea that they were not the actual company performing the work. Issues can arise if their is a direct issue with the performance of the subcontractor - the client usually is directed not to communicate directly with the operators plowing your parking lot. Additionally, the risk of liability often falls entirely on the subcontractors. At Laser, we operate with our own equipment and employees, but may subcontract a specialized service out, such as snow hauling. However, it is our belief that the only way to deliver the level of service our clients demand is to be the primary contractor on any job site we run - we will always be there to answer your questions. 4. Is the company you are talking to best suited for your property’s needs? While many companies would happily take on as many snow contracts as possible - thinking that volume of projects will be the best approach for the business- the fact is that not all companies are suited for all contracts. In fact, this approach can severely impact the service of ALL of that companies clients, as they struggle to maintain the high volume of work they attained. Some businesses are very small, and would struggle mightily to fulfill large properties or more demanding client bases (grocery, hospitality, and health care facilities are prime examples). Conversely, if you are a small apartment manager, you may be struggling to find a reliable partner that falls within your budget and what you need accomplished on a smaller site. At Laser Line Painting, we work closely with our existing client base - primarily large commercial properties - to deliver effective snow removal services. However, we also work with residential properties who are interested in having an effective snow removal program and snow contractor who can self-perform the contract, and looks for a long-term relationship approach. We recommend you reach out to us in Prince George to discuss if we would be a good fit for your property. 5. How do they respond when you ask the tough questions? Don’t be shy. Any question you ask, a provider should be able to confidently answer those questions with specific solutions. For example, if you manage a large commercial site with multiple tenants, one of the key questions you should be asking is “How are you going to meet the demand of our key tenants and their lease requirements?” Of course, any contractor can promise you that you will be a #1 priority - but it takes open communication and asking tough questions to truly ascertain the strategy, tactics and approach that your contractor will use to fulfill the contract. Other questions you would want to ask include:  “Can I see a copy of your insurance certificate and WorkSafe status?”  “Do you have a contract that we can look over from other clients?”  “Do you have references available?” As you ask those questions, pay close attention to the answers, and let that guide you in your decision making process. Ultimately, hiring a snow provider is a serious buying decision - but it also doesn’t have to be daunting or intimidating. A good provider will be there to work with you, not for you, in delivering a successful season of snow and ice control. If you would like more information about snow removal services in Prince George, BC, reach out to us at Laser Line Painting, and we would be happy to discuss your specific needs and how we can help.