The first real snowstorm of the season always seems to show up before anyone is ready. For businesses, HOAs and property managers in North Idaho and the Spokane Valley, being unprepared means closed entrances, unsafe walkways and calls from tenants and customers. A little planning in the fall makes the whole winter easier. Here’s what to take care of before the snow flies.
Lock In a Snow Removal Contractor Early
Snow removal companies plan their routes before the season starts, and the best time slots fill up first. If you wait until the first storm to start calling around, you may end up at the end of someone’s route or without service at all. Reach out in September or October to get your property on a contract.
Choose the Right Type of Contract
Most commercial snow removal is priced one of two ways:
- Seasonal contracts: A set price for the whole winter, no matter how much it snows. This gives you predictable costs and usually priority service.
- Per-push or per-visit pricing: You pay each time the crew comes out. This can cost less in a light winter but more in a heavy one.
Ask what’s included in each option, such as sidewalk clearing and de-icing, so you can compare quotes fairly.
Agree on Trigger Depths and Priorities
A trigger depth is how much snow has to fall before the crew comes out, often one or two inches for commercial lots. Decide this ahead of time, along with what gets cleared first. Most businesses want entrances, fire lanes, accessible parking and main drive lanes done before employees and customers arrive.
Walk the Property and Mark Hazards
Before the ground is covered, walk the property with your contractor. Point out curbs, islands, drains, fire hydrants, landscaping and anything else a plow could hit once it’s buried. Stake or flag these areas so they’re easy to see in the snow. This is also the time to agree on where snow will be piled, away from entrances, drains and parking you need.
Plan for Ice, Not Just Snow
Freeze-thaw cycles are common in our area. Snow melts during the day, runs across walkways and refreezes overnight into a thin, slick layer. Ice causes far more slips and falls than snow. Make sure your plan includes de-icing for entrances, steps and sidewalks, both before storms and after melting and refreezing. Learn the difference between de-icing and anti-icing.
Check Your Roofs
Big snow years can put heavy loads on flat and low-slope commercial roofs, and ice dams can force water under shingles. Know who to call for roof snow removal if snow starts piling up.
Document Everything
Keep a record of when your property was plowed and de-iced. Good documentation helps if there’s ever a slip-and-fall claim, and it shows you’re getting the service you’re paying for.
Get Your Snow Removal Plan in Place
GreenMax Services provides 24/7 commercial snow plowing, sidewalk clearing, de-icing and roof snow removal in Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls, Rathdrum, Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley. Call (208) 818-4822 or request a free estimate to reserve your spot for this winter.