It is not every day that the average homeowner looks to hire a crane service. However, if you need something heavy lifted, such as an air conditioning unit onto your roof or a spa into your backyard, you may be looking to hire one. While it is important to pay attention to the price of the service, there are many other factors to consider as well. However, you may be unaware of these factors since you likely haven't hired one before. Here are a few factors to consider and pay close attention to when you are looking to hire a crane service to lift items around your house.
Who is Responsible for Obtaining Permits
Many counties and/or cities require one or more permits to use a crane in a residential area. This permit may allow the crane company to park their crane in a residential area, use the crane in a residential area or block off traffic or the sidewalk in order to safely operate the crane. If a crane is operated without a permit, the crane operator, the homeowner, or both can be fined, depending on the laws where you live. As such, it is important to ensure that the correct permits are pulled and obtained prior to the crane being used. When you are looking to hire a crane service, always ask if you or the crane service company will be obtaining permits. Unless you know exactly which permits to obtain and how to properly obtain them, it is typically to your advantage to look for a company that does it for you.
The Amount of Insurance the Crane Service Carries
When you are looking to hire a crane service, always ask how much general liability coverage and on-the-hook coverage the crane service carries. For example, if the crane operator is placing an air conditioner on your roof, and they make a mistake and hit the side of your house instead, their general liability coverage is going to pay for the damage done to your home, as well as any furnishings that were damaged inside. As such, you want to ensure they have enough coverage to cover catastrophic damage to your home. On-the-hook coverage covers the value of the item they are loading or unloading. If the operator is loading an expensive baby grand piano onto the 20th floor of a high rise condo building, you want to ensure they have enough on-the-hook coverage to cover the full value of that item in case it isn't properly loaded and falls off, or is damaged during the loading and unloading process.
If They Can Guarantee a Crane When You Need it
The last factor to consider when selecting a crane service is if they can guarantee the type of crane you need on the day or time you need it. Many residential areas have rules against leaving large items, such as a spa, sitting in the front of your home for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, some companies may overbook cranes or they may have a job take longer than they anticipated. This can leave you in a bind if you have something that needs to be moved and contractors waiting to set it up or if it is sitting in a place where it cannot stay. Taking the time to ask a crane service if they have a backup plan in place if the crane you need is running behind, becomes inoperable, or other unforeseen circumstances can help ensure you don't find yourself in this situation. Additionally, read over the contract to ensure there is some compensation to you if the crane does not arrive within a specified time period.
It is not often that the average homeowner will need to hire a crane service. However, if you find yourself in need of one, take the time to learn what factors to look for when hiring one. This will help you find the right company for your task. For more information, contact a company like A C Jones Trucking Inc.
