BLOG NUMBER 10.83
As the number of slip-and-fall claims increases each year, it has become nearly imperative for property managers to consider contracting with snow removal companies to manage possible liability. When it comes to choosing a company to work with, there is much to consider as the job at hand requires highly detail oriented, reliable, and safe operations. Any deviance from these standards could cause huge liabilities and unhappy tenants and visitors.
Here are a few questions you should be asking:
- Is the removal company insured?
This is a loaded question, but a very important one. Most removal services will be insured, but a general liability policy is often not enough. The policy should be specific to snow removal and would preferably include workers’ compensation provisions. For further information on the importance of insurance, consult a snow expert.
- Does the company have the resources to meet your needs?
Doing research on the size and available resources of a company will prove to be a decisive factor. Minimizing clean-up times is paramount to liability prevention in the case of a slip-and-fall claim, and so is the contractor’s ability to resolve a snow event in a timely manner. Poor performance in this area could come down to a simple lack of resources or labor for the number of clients, an easy way to finalize the decision.
- Will your property be assigned a job site manager?
Having someone who is solely managing your property as opposed to all client properties ensures closer attention to detail and care for how your service requests are being met. It also means a higher level of internal organization for the contracting company and usually better communication in the end. These are great traits to seek in a removal service when deciding who to contract with.
In addition to answering these questions, it is always a good idea to ask the contractor for ample referrals and price estimates. Do your research on the businesses in question. What kind of local reputation does it have? Do they exhibit the qualities of an entity that you can trust? Oftentimes, a professional company with firm comprehension of the industry will provide answers to these questions before you even have to ask.
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