Good, fast or cheap? Pick any two… Good service cheap won’t be fast; good service fast won’t be cheap and fast service cheap won’t be good. So what matters most?
Not every contract is right for every corporation, but in every case, you must consider the following questions.
What happens when the work is not completed? How detailed is too detailed? Who will be assuming the liability? Who is responsible for what? Is it clear? Is your contract verbal or written? Does the contractor understand the difference between standard, common element and freehold condos?
How is the contract priced? Per inch? Per push? Does it include salt, or is salt extra? Or is salt included up to a certain number of applications?
What are the contract terms? Is there an escape clause for non-performance? Are the contract extensions monthly? Are the payment terms net 30 days? Who is signing the contract – the Property Manager or the Board of Directors?
Before you sign – a few tips for interviewing contractors:
- Ensure the estimate is clear on the scope of work
- Ensure the contract is in compliance with your local city authorities
- Ensure that you understand all the costs included in the estimate
- Ensure both the board and the contractor know the conditions of termination
- Ask for references and check them out!
And finally, the basic requirements your snow contractor should bring to the table:
- WSIB clearance
- Certificate of insurance (minimum $5 Million)
- Membership in industry associations (Landscape Ontario, SIMA)
- GPS enabled fleet
- Provide snow maps to operators and clients
- 24/7 on-call line; staff and snow clearing logs
- E-notifications and communications bulletins
- Comprehensive staff training (LandscapeSafety.com training modules)
