This year is almost over, which means a brand new year is right around the corner. If you own a property, a new year is a great time to consider the various renovations you might want to invest in over the next several months, including asphalt repair. Of course, you won’t be able to get much done if you lack the necessary finances — this is where strategic budgeting comes into play. Here are some ways to budget asphalt repairs for the coming year.
How to Properly Implement Asphalt Repairs
Get Your Priorities Straight
The best way to craft any kind of budget is to determine your specific goals and needs so you don’t waste time or money on extraneous projects. As you’re trying to budget asphalt repairs, take a close look at your asphalt surfaces and take note of what needs to be done in the new year. Hiring professionals to inspect your parking lot or driveway is always best, as they’ll know what to look for and be able to address the root causes of many issues (though receiving a professional inspection will factor into your costs, too). This closer look will reveal whether you’ll only need to worry about, say, asphalt crack repair, or if your asphalt requires more intensive care (e.g., drain repair/rebuilding, repaving/resurfacing, full-depth reconstruction, etc.). From there, you can get a better sense of how much you’ll need to spend in the coming year.
Take the Previous Year(s) into Consideration
If you’re somewhat experienced with budgeting, you probably already know how much data from previous years can help inform the upcoming year’s budget. While circumstances change year over year, certain patterns may emerge over time. For instance, consider how much you spent on asphalt maintenance last year, the year before that, and so on (if you have access to this information) — these numbers can help you create a model that predicts what you might spend next year. It’s also important to note how well (or poorly) these efforts turned out in years past. You might have spent a significant amount of time and money fixing up your asphalt before, only to be left with short-lived results. If you don’t wish to repeat these mistakes, you may need to spend more money on asphalt repairs this year than you have in the past, or at least direct your attention elsewhere.
Book Your Asphalt Services Early
If the coming year’s asphalt repair budget is limited (which is how it is for most people), any action that helps you save some time and money is welcome. Though not always the case, hiring asphalt contractors well in advance can sometimes yield a discounted rate. As we’ve mentioned in previous blogs, hot-mix asphalt paving projects don’t pick back up in New England until spring, when ground temperatures have risen. If you wait until spring to hire these services, you’ll not only have a harder time locking in reasonable dates — you’ll also run into more competitive pricing as property owners all over will also require similar services. So, the sooner you look into local asphalt paving contractors and schedule services, the better deal you’ll likely get. Getting a head start will also give you more time to compare quotes from multiple providers. The very start of the new year is the perfect time to start this planning process.
Start Off the New Year Right with a Reasonable Asphalt Repair Budget
This new year, add “asphalt repair” to your list of resolutions. Figuring out your priorities, relying on data from past years, and getting a head start on your search for asphalt service providers will help you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to taking care of your driveway or parking lot. At Cassidy Paving, we offer quality results with competitive pricing. Call us today at 866-978-9788 for a free estimate on your next asphalt project.