If you are sitting down and trying to figure out how to estimate your commercial snow plowing budget, you have your work cut out for you. The biggest challenge you face is the fact that you simply don’t know how much snow will fall in Chicago during the winter months.The good news is that although the process isn’t easy, with some hard work and investigative skills, you can come up with an idea about how it will cost to have a professional snow plow contractor keep your parking lot and walkways clear.
1. Get an Idea of What the Upcoming Winter will be Like
In the early fall, you should make an effort to get a rough idea of how long and snowy the winter will be. One of the best ways to do this is consulting the Farmer’s Almanac. The people who put the almanac together take a long look at historic weather patterns and use this information to help you know what to expect. More often than not, the Farmer’s Almanac is in the ballpark when it comes to overall forecast snow dumps.
Listening to the local weather stations when they discuss the long term weather forecasts is another good way to get an idea of what your commercial snow plowing budget will be. If they seem to be dreading the upcoming winter, you should plan on setting aside more money for snow removal.
2. Look at Previous Years
Take a look at your expenses for the past few years and use past snow removal bills to help you project your upcoming expenses. The only time this doesn’t work well is when the year before was mild, so you may want to take an average of several years.
3. Talk to Commercial Snow Removal Companies
Don’t assume that the snow removal company you use will charge the same rate that you paid the year before. There are a variety of issues, including the cost of fuel and materials that have an impact on how much they charge their customers. It’s in your best interest to contact them early in the fall, not only to learn what they intend to charge, but to also try to lock them into a lower price.
4. Brace for the Worse
When it comes to putting together a budget for commercial snow removal, you should plan for the worse. This ensures that you have enough money in your budget to handle however much snow falls on Chicago. If you don’t spend your entire snow removal budget, you can roll the remaining amount into next year’s available funds.
Contact us at Brancato Snow & Ice Management to find out how we can keep your parking lot and walk ways clear of snow and ice this winter.