Yeah, I know. Snow removal is one of the worst parts of owning rental property for a lot of reasons, but mainly because many property owners do not put much thought into the plan for removal until the flakes start to fall. Guess what? By that point it can be to late. Here are some tips for how to effectively deal with this issue.

Have Your Tenants Remove

Is your property a single family and/or do tenants have their own driveway? If this is the case you should be writing into your lease that the tenant is responsible for removal. This saves you money, stress, and time and is a complete no brainer. If your property has a parking area shared by multiple tenants I would not recommend this plan.

Call Contractors Early

Do not wait until the last minute! Most legit snow removal contractors I know book clients from October 1-November 15. Get the ball rolling early on and it could lead to developing a relationship with a reliable contractor that lasts.

Get Direct Referrals from Others Who Have Used the Contractor

The proof is in the pudding in this business which is why a lot of the fly by night operations don’t last. This is one of those crafts where you aren’t going to know how good someone is until you see them in action so lean on people you trust who have seen their work first hand.

Always Go With Someone Who is Local

News flash, it is difficult to drive in the snow and when those bigger storms come it can even be difficult to drive trucks. The closer someone is to you, the more likely they will be able to be there no matter how many inches fall.

Signing a Contract is Normal

I know property owners who have gotten freaked out by a snow removal contractor making them sign a contract. Why? You want something that clearly outlines the expectations on both sides so come the day snow is falling everyone is on the same page. Some aspects of a snow removal contract may include: the amount an owner is charged based on the amount of inches, where specifically they will remove snow/ice (driveways, walkways, sidewalks), etc…