At Mirage Landscaping, we are committed to being completely transparent with our snow removal contracts, but we know that, unfortunately, that’s not the case for every company. Snow removal contracts are often vague and lack detail, which can actually leave you open to liability. It’s important to know what to look for so that you can be sure your commercial or residential property will be well taken care of.
In order to help you know that you are getting what you paid for, here are some tips and tricks for deciphering your snow removal contract. Just think, if the company you are looking at for snow removal doesn’t care enough to provide you with all of the details you need, it’s likely they won’t care much about the actual services they provide.
Tip#1: The company should provide specifics about when they will arrive
City bylaws require snow and ice to be removed from all public pathways within 24 hours of the snowfall ending. It’s clearly stipulated that bare surfaces must be visible after shoveling or plowing. If they are not, you could be subject to a fine, plus the cost of having your snow cleared by city crews.
Sometimes snow removal companies will not put in writing how quickly they will arrive after a snowfall. This is because they do not want to be on the hook for slow response times, or even their failure to show at all. Snow removal contracts should clearly describe what the company qualifies as a snowfall, and how quickly they will be there to clear your property. Generally speaking, any snowfall of one inch or more should be attended to by your snow removal company.
Tip #2: The company should ask where you would like your snow piled
Commercial snow removalrequires that a lot of snow be piled in parking lots, and it’s easy to get this wrong without a discussion with the property owner. We always ask if there is a preference for where commercial property owners would like their snow piled, as they know best what is the least disruptive for their customers and clients. We can always provide suggestions using our expertise, as well, such as piling near to a gutter or drain. We are also aware of where City of Calgary bylaws stipulate snow must be piled. Snow removed from private pathways and driveways must be piled on that private property, while only snow removed from public walkways can be piled on the road.
Tip #3: Your snow removal company should be covered by insurance and offer WCB to its employees
The whole point of snow removal is to reduce the chances of someone getting hurt on your property, and that includes snow removal employees. Accidents happen, but there’s no way that you or your business should be held responsible. If your snow removal company does not have proper insurance or WCB coverage, it is essentially an illegal operation, to be blunt, and it places you in danger of liability.
Tip #4: Watch for wording that may allow for extra calls
Most snow removal contracts – including ours – offer monthly billing that makes it easy to budget. It can be frustrating when months go by with no snow and you’re still paying … we understand this. But we do need to be able to continue to pay our employees, service our equipment, and basically stay in operation. We do our very best to provide quotes that will reflect the amount of service needed and we are among the most competitive in the market.
We caution against snow removal contracts that contain wording allowing for additional visits that you could be billed separately for. There are some companies that will basically take advantage of months with heavy snowfall, and add on extra charges for what they might call additional services. According to the terms of the contract, you will be required to pay. This is unethical, in our opinion, and, unfortunately, causes many to be suspicious of snow removal companies. We will never try to tack on additional charges to your bill.
Southeast Calgary Snow Removal Services From Mirage
Residential and commercial snow removal services are our specialty at Mirage Landscaping. We have dozens of both residential and commercial clients who rely on our professionalism and expertise to ensure Calgary’s snow removal bylaws are adhered to and that their properties are safe for all visitors to come and visit. We look forward to the challenge presented by every snowstorm as we hustle to clear your sidewalks, pathways, driveways, and parking lots as quickly as possible. We always clear away snow to the bare pavement, never leaving behind ice that could be a potential hazard.
Here are six reasons to choose Mirage to be your snow removal company. We have over three decades of experience clearing snow in Calgary’s southeast communities, serving the areas of:
Auburn Bay, Chaparral, Chaparral Valley, Copperfield, Cranston, Douglasdale, Heritage Pointe, Lake Bonavista, Mahogany, McKenzie Lake, Mackenzie Towne, Maple Ridge, New Brighton, Odgen/Lynwood/Millican, Parkland, Riverbend, Sundance, Walden, and Willow Park.