Snow Removal Advice Needed in St. Paul, MN

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Snow Removal Advice Needed in St. Paul, MN

Eric Bate
Rental Property Investor · Waukesha, WI · Member since 2016 · 43 posts · 13 votes

I'm looking for a snow removal company for my duplex in St. Paul, MN. I live out of state.

This is my first time needing to hire this out, so please forgive my naive questions. How do you go about finding a company? (Craigslist? Angie's List? Google? Is there an app I should know about?) And how much should I expect to pay?

Of course, if you have any specific companies to recommend (or warn me away from), let me know!

Thanks,

Eric

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John Woodrich
Flipper/Rehabber · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y

@Victor Lebegue do you service St. Paul?

Regarding contract vs event = you will have to look at your crystal ball to figure out which is a better deal.  Two years ago I was on per event and lost my butt.  Last year I was on a contract and won.  This year I am on a contract again.  Can't predict how much snow we will have and being out of state you won't want to follow the weather trying to figure out when to hire it out.  I would go the contract route.

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  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
    Moderator
    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    6y

    I would just do a Google search for "snow removal St paul mn" and you will have 20 companies you can call. Be careful using Craigslist or going with a small provider. You want a professional company that has been in business for years with a multiple person crew. Small operators are notorious for not showing up. Also avoid prepaid contracts or flat rate. Pay per job as the work is done. Make sure you include ice melt as part of their service.

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  • Eric Bate
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Waukesha, WI · Member since 2016 · 43 posts · 13 votes
    6y

    Thanks Joe! Why would you avoid prepaid contracts and flat rates? If the company has been in business a while and is reputable, wouldn't that be good enough?

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  • John Woodrich
    Flipper/Rehabber · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    @Victor Lebegue do you service St. Paul?

    Regarding contract vs event = you will have to look at your crystal ball to figure out which is a better deal.  Two years ago I was on per event and lost my butt.  Last year I was on a contract and won.  This year I am on a contract again.  Can't predict how much snow we will have and being out of state you won't want to follow the weather trying to figure out when to hire it out.  I would go the contract route.

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  • Jordan MoorheadBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Austin, TX · Member since 2015 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    @Eric Bate I'd call  (or msg) @Victor Lebegue. He's reliable and does a great job. He can also do lots of other contracting related things.

    [email protected]512-888-9122
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  • Blake S.
    Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2015 · 12 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    I have had a difficult time finding help in 55106. Searched FB groups, angies list, craigslist, prop mgmt companies. Honestly either people want big money or more likely dont service the area. hopefully your in a different zip. Contracts are brutal sticker shock but seem more and more worth it every year.

    The best help I found was through a FB contact last year and he was a one man side business kind of shop, sadly he is no longer doing removal. Dont discount the small shops - after all thats what 95% of us are.. PM me for the company that I went with this year. I cant say if they are any good yet for sure, but they were responsive on angies list and are a well established business. 

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  • Adam Widder
    Real Estate Agent · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2017 · 138 posts · 87 votes
    6y

    I think average snowfall in cities is around 60. last year it was 90... Think of it this way, contractor would be more willing to sign a long term contract on snow for a flat rate because the average snow fall over a period of 3 years will be average. but if you sign a 1 year contract, the contractor will want per event because now its risky if it doesn't snow a lot, they lose money. for you, it works out if you contract per event and it never snows, but if you do a flat rate and it doesnt snow you lose money. So I'd aim for a long term contract 3+ years on flat rate, steady numbers you can project into your cashflow as well.

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  • Jonathan Bender
    Investor · Saint Paul, MN · Member since 2018 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    What neighborhoods are you in Eric? I might be able to help if they're in the same as mine. 

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  • Nick Holty
    Real Estate Agent · Roseville MN · Member since 2016 · 30 posts · 9 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Eric Bate:

    I'm looking for a snow removal company for my duplex in St. Paul, MN. I live out of state.

    This is my first time needing to hire this out, so please forgive my naive questions. How do you go about finding a company? (Craigslist? Angie's List? Google? Is there an app I should know about?) And how much should I expect to pay?

    Of course, if you have any specific companies to recommend (or warn me away from), let me know!

    Thanks,

    Eric

     DM sent for plowing for 2021

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  • Eric Bate
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Waukesha, WI · Member since 2016 · 43 posts · 13 votes
    5y

    Any new recommendations for this coming winter? Victor Lebegue was great last year, but he's not plowing this season.

    @Jonathan Bender, my duplex is in the West 7th neighborhood in St Paul.

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  • Adam TafelBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · St. Paul, MN · Member since 2017 · 592 posts · 402 votes
    5y

    nextdoor.com is great for this. Team up with neighbors to get a group rate, and hire someone in your neighborhood. Best way I've found to keep costs down. 

    Upside Property Sales 4.9108 Reviews
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  • Eric Bate
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Waukesha, WI · Member since 2016 · 43 posts · 13 votes
    5y

    @Adam Tafel, I live out of state. Nextdoor is no longer available for me. I was on there while I lived in the duplex, but I closed my account because I really didn't like it.

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  • Alyssa StromBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Saint Paul, MN · Member since 2015 · 225 posts · 214 votes
    5y

    @Eric Bate The guy I'm using this year may still be taking on new clients in Saint Paul. I'll PM you.

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  • Corey Hawkinson
    Rental Property Investor · Bloomington, MN · Member since 2019 · 404 posts · 542 votes
    5y

    @Eric Bate Alyssa is great so you probably already have your answer. If not, you can also try local Facebook groups if next door is not an option. For example, I own a property 30 minutes from my house. I joined that city wide community Facebook group and found great suggestions. And a couple terribly bad suggestions but that’s what you get from Facebook groups.

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