Accountability
Who do I call when something goes wrong?
This is the most important question on the list. Ask for the name and number of the person who will answer when a building gets skipped at 8:30 PM. A ticketing system or a regional office that calls back the next day means your team handles the fallout in the meantime.
Who owns the company, and where are they based?
National providers have more crews to draw on. With a local provider, the owner is usually close by and involved day to day. Either can work. Ask how fast someone who can make a decision gets involved when there’s a problem.
How are missed pickups handled?
Ask what happens when a resident reports a missed bag, and how fast it gets picked up. Ask whether you’ll be told about missed buildings or whether you’ll hear about them from residents first.
Crews and insurance
Are crews uniformed and identifiable?
Crews will be walking your property after dark. Residents should be able to tell at a glance who they are. Ask about uniforms and reflective safety gear.
What insurance do you carry?
Ask for a certificate of insurance before signing. At minimum, confirm general liability and workers’ compensation coverage. Your management company may require being named as an additional insured.
Pricing and contract terms
What is the all-in monthly cost?
Get the per-unit rate and every fee that can be added to it: fuel surcharges, equipment charges, pass-throughs, setup fees. See how valet trash pricing works for what to look for.
What happens to the price after year one?
Ask whether the contract includes an annual escalator, and by how much.
How long is the term, and how do I get out of it?
Read the renewal and cancellation terms closely. Watch for automatic multi-year renewals with a short notice window, and for termination fees.
Service details
How many nights, and what window?
Confirm the nights per week, which nights, and the collection window. Ask whether the schedule can be adjusted for your property.
What happens with non-compliant bags?
Loose bags, overweight bags, and bags put out on the wrong night will happen. Ask whether the provider leaves a note for the resident, reports it to your office, or both. The right answer keeps residents informed without filling your inbox.
What does onboarding look like?
Ask how long it takes from signed contract to first night of service, and who produces the resident communication materials. See how to add valet trash to an existing community for a rollout plan.
Already have a provider?
If you’re replacing a valet trash company rather than starting fresh, the same questions apply, plus a few about timing and your current contract. See switching valet trash companies.
How Redstone Valet answers these questions
- The phone goes to the owner, Cam Ferguson.
- Locally owned and based in Huntsville, Alabama.
- Uniformed crews with reflective safety gear.
- Full liability and workers’ compensation coverage. Certificate of insurance on request.
- Flat per-unit, per-month pricing with annual renewal. No fuel surcharges, no pass-throughs.
- Four to five nights a week, 7:00 to 9:00 PM, with the schedule set per property.
- Courtesy notes for non-compliant bags. Repeat issues go to your team only on request.
- Service starts two to three weeks after contract, with resident materials provided.
Redstone Valet is a locally owned valet trash company based in Huntsville, serving apartment and multifamily communities in Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, Athens, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Nashville. Request a proposal and we’ll walk your property.