Nobody Cares for Customers Better Than a Local Contractor
The benefits of hiring a professional speak for themselves, but does it really matter if your choice is local? It certainly does. Here are the many reasons why a contractor from your own neighborhood is a cut above the rest.
Right off the bat, a local business is quite literally invested in their community. They’re not some big national corporation or shady company from out of state who lack all the right licenses. When you hire a local contractor, you’re choosing a team that has roots in the same ground you do. It’s an empowering relationship for all concerned. Customers get the best possible service while the contractor further cements (pun intended) their standing in the community.
It goes beyond this, too. A local professional understands every aspect of their job and that includes the legal and financial alongside the manual.
A local contractor knows the letter of the law
Legal requirements for contractors vary from state to state. The companies who really care will know what’s needed for their locality and make sure they’ve got it. This tells a customer two important things at once. First, this contractor takes the law seriously. Second, they care deeply about their customers and their own reputation; an unqualified contractor sets their customers up for trouble just as much as themselves.
Here in New Jersey, contractors need to carry insurance before they’re even allowed their license to start working. This is an excellent and disciplined approach which quickly presents the best available option to the client searching. It holds local contractors to a higher standard and protects everyone involved. The same goes for being bonded. A bonded contractor will be compliant with all local (as well as state) license laws. Since New Jersey contractors are all licensed at either the city or county level, bonds really show awareness and dedication to their home turf.
A local professional has the right insurance and permits
Plenty of contractors will tell you they’re insured, and an uninsured one is easy to spot these days. Check out their website to see if they have their insurance details prominently displayed. If they don’t, they’re breaking the law and putting you at risk while doing it.
All manual labor puts workers at risk. The right contractor will have worker’s compensation in place to protect their employees alongside other coverage like general liability and umbrella. As the name suggests, umbrella coverage protects them from a lot more than general does. Safety is of the utmost importance to us, which is why every Mikula Contracting operator is qualified under the strict standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
OSHA (as they’re more commonly known) treats worker safety as an absolute priority and they set the bar nationally for contractors when it comes to looking after their team. It’s more than common sense and laws; a safety-conscious contractor makes sure their customers don’t foot the bill for workers injured on the job.
We took an in-depth look at permits in our previous blog which are another benefit of hiring a knowledgeable local contractor. We’re also dedicated to keeping our local community as pristine as possible which is why we’re certified with the New Jersey Department of the Environmental Protection Agency.
A local contractor shares your weather woes
If you’re in the contracting business in New Jersey, you had better know about snow! Last year’s winter had many of us thinking we’d broken a record (but we had a long way to go). Any contractor can stay up to speed with our state weather via the web, but it’s only a local contractor who has the same experience customers do with ensuring your neck of the woods maintains business as usual.
Snow can be a sudden hazard. It can box you in overnight and leave driveways, highways, and commercial sites crippled for days, weeks, or even months. New Jersey’s northern communities are often the hardest hit and that’s why we provide both emergency and ongoing snow plowing and removal services with our state-of-the-art equipment.
What it all adds up to
Everything you’ve just read shows you why a local contractor beats the rest. Mikula Contracting is fully licensed throughout the state of New Jersey and we’re adding to our 73 year-long list of satisfied customers every day. We can be there to get the job done no matter where you are in NJ.
Mikula Contracting, Inc. provides commercial and residential customers with a wide range of excavation, demolition, environmental, snow removal, trucking and soil materials services. For more information, call 973-772-1684 or email info@mikulainc.com
Are You Ready for the Next Blizzard?
Why businesses need to have a snow removal plan in place early
While we’ve already had our fair share of snow in northeast New Jersey, the worst could be yet to come. According to weather experts, our area may see as much as 75 inches before Old Man Winter decides to call it quits. The reason for so much snow is likely due to an El Nino system that could develop. Of course, the last El Nino caused “Snowzilla” in 2016, but the one currently predicted isn’t expected to be as strong. However, everyone – especially business owners – have to be prepared for a big storm, as well as the aftermath.
The government’s role in snow removal
Different cities and counties have their own rules when it comes to snow removal, but in Clifton, the plows won’t start moving until two inches have accumulated. And, of course, when the snow is falling fast – and it just keeps coming down – it can pile up very quickly. Even if the plows do get to your neighborhood right away, it may take days for them to return. This is why business owners can’t rely solely on the government to clear the snow. In fact, according to Chapter 383 of Clifton’s city code, they are required to get rid of snow and/or ice in a timely manner.
Section 383-1 states that “The owner or tenant in possession of any lands abutting or bordering upon the sidewalks and gutters of any public streets of the City shall remove or cause to be removed all snow and/or ice therefrom, within 12 hours after the same shall fall or be formed thereon.”
Penalties for non-compliance
If a business owner doesn’t have snow or ice removed within 12 hours, the city may do it for him or her. However, the owner will still be on the hook for the costs. This will then “become a lien and tax upon such lands and shall be added to and become part of the taxes next to be levied and assessed upon such lands.” On top of that, a violation could result in a $500 fine or even a jail term of 90 days.
Why businesses should be proactive
Despite having the most-advanced forecasting tools at their disposal, often weather folks still get it wrong. Suddenly that storm that was only expected to drop a few inches has now become a blizzard. Business owners need to be proactive about getting rid of the snow, even days or even weeks before it falls. This is why it pays to work with a snow removal company you can count on. In addition to staying compliant with local laws, there are numerous other benefits of having snow pros on speed dial, including:
Improved safety
Having parking lots, walkways, and other areas clear of ice and snow will help improve the safety for customers and clients. In addition to giving them peace of mind, this will also reduce your liability for injuries. Plus, if you and your employees are the ones doing the shoveling, this increases the chance of someone on your team getting hurt.
Cost cutting
Paying for snow removal services may seem like the opposite of saving money, but it’s not. For one thing, if you’re going to do it yourself, you will need to have the right equipment, including shovels, scrapers, salt, etc. For bigger jobs, you’ll probably need a plow to attach to a truck or SUV. Even if you have all of this stuff already, spending time on this task will take attention away from other parts of your business, resulting in lost productivity.
Fast work
Being closed for any amount of time during regular business hours can be detrimental. A commercial snow removal company has the best tools and experienced professionals who will make quick work of the job. Plus, they can get there well before you open so that the disruption to your business can be minimal.
Hire experts to clear your snow
Before the next big one hits, get in touch with Mikula Contracting. We have been helping businesses in northern New Jersey with snow removal for over 70 years. For more information on our services, please call us at 973-772-1684 or send us a message through our online contact form.
