Snow Removal - Western Suburbs (how much, house, price)

[BelizePlease]

Hello!
Does anyone know of a good reliable snow removal company that will do driveways? If so...how much would one expect to pay for each time they remove snow? (I share a duplex with my sister-she's on one side, I'm on the other and we have a "two car garage" driveway...not long at all!)
Thanks!

[chet everett]

Basically there are three major categories.

Guys who cut lawns in summer and then put blade on truck in winter. Generally cheap and reliable unless snow is crazy deep. The smarter guys LOCK IN only the number of clients they can handle, prebill, and then ZIP ZIP ZIP get to each house as quick as can be done REGARDLESS of the snow -- they'll be out for 1/4 inch or 4 inches! Early in the season they'll even have their young partners use shovels / blowers to clear you front porch.

Guys who have work for a larger 'dispatch service' that contracts out to the bigger lots to shopping centers and office parks, but will get around to your house for a price -- generally the more you pay the higher your priority. It you pay enough they'll dispatch a road grader to your home! The guys that are pros will come out ahead of time (too late now) and will install reflectors and stakes, not so much for your sake, but so they can send their subs out and not worry about them tearing up your lawn or their truck on an hidden boulder. Great for people that MUST get out of their drive no matter what, like ER doctors. They tend to have guys that are "truck based" and guys that are "crew based". If you don't care about the front porch/walk the truck guys may be all you need.

Third is guys that have a 4x4 and like to make money on the side. Generally the cheapest way to go, but their reliability is spotty. Some guys are good, and have shovels too, but it is hit or miss.


Best advice: If you know a guy in the "cuts lawns" categories AND HE IS REAL CLOSE BY, so that you are gonna be his "first stop" that is your best value. Figure $20.