After last winter’s brutal weather, everybody’s low on salt. Industry experts report that after last year’s harsh winter, everybody wants more salt. But salt can only be mined so fast.

The shortage this winter is a serious issue for those in the snow and ice management business.

If you hire a professional to tackle the snow and ice on your commercial property, it’s a serious issue for you, too.

Here are five things you should know about this winter’s salt shortage — and how it affects your New York or Connecticut commercial property.

The Cost of Salt Has Skyrocketed

Be aware the shortage has caused salt prices to double or even triple. Contractors have to come up with much more money than usual to secure their supplies. That means you should plan to spend more, too.

The Big Guys Get First Dibs

Salt distributors, in most cases, sell to their biggest clients first. This means municipalities and large snow management contractors have the upper hand in the case of a shortage.

In order to keep their bigger clients happy, distributors will sometimes hold salt in inventory for their larger clients. Smaller contractors who only buy small amounts of salt each year will be locked out. Be aware of this when hiring a contractor.

Storage Space Is An Issue

Many contractors don’t have sufficient space to store large quantities of salt. When shopping for a contractor for your business, make sure you choose one that can handle the large salt inventory needed for a crazy winter.

If You’re Underserviced, You’re At Risk

Pay attention to a contractor’s salt usage. If they use salt sparingly on client properties to make their resources stretch further, those shortcuts put their customers in danger and property owners at risk of a lawsuit.

Do Your Homework

Customers looking for a reputable snow contractor should make sure they hire a contractor who has the means to purchase, store and apply enough salt to keep their property ice-free and safe for customers.

This may come at a higher cost this year. But it’s money well spent, and cheaper than defending a lawsuit due to negligence. Download our FREE Ultimate Guide To Hiring A Snow & Ice Contractor for all the questions to ask as you select who to work with this winter.

Neave: Your Snow & Ice Partner

Neave Snow and Ice Management works with commercial property managers to create a fully customized snow and ice management plan.

Neave works with three different salt distributors and divides its purchasing equally to maintain solid relationships with all its distributors. We also also own a salt shed large enough to store 1,500 tons of salt — we’re well-stocked, even during a shortage.

Neave Snow and Ice Management is fully insured, offers the highest level of customer service and has years of experience. Our commitment to excellence has put us among Snow Magazine’s Top 100 snow contractors in North America.

If you’re in the Hudson Valley, call us at (845) 463-0592. If you’re in Westchester County, call (914) 271-7996; from Connecticut, dial (203) 212-4800. Or, fill out our simple web form, and we’ll contact you about setting up your free consultation.

We’re on call 24/7 for emergencies, and pride ourselves on being proactive, preemptive and professional. We’ll make sure your business remains operational, accessible and safe during the winter season.