Snow removal expectations

Snow removal expectations

Jamie BraytonBusiness Member
Property Manager · Troy, NY · Member since 2017 · 204 posts · 81 votes

How do you manage snow removal and expectations?

By far, this is my biggest headache as a landlord. We’re on our second snow removal company and neither have been great, but it is so hard finding someone who is insured and is willing to shovel.

What does your contract look like with removal companies? We’re getting a big storm and tenants are getting impatient that our guy hasn’t shown up yet. Personally, I think it is unrealistic to expect immediate removal during a storm. Our lease states we remove anything over two inches, as does our contract work the snow removal company, but we can’t possibly expect he will be there exactly when two inches hits.

My biggest concern is always liability. We are adequately insured, but that doesn’t ease my mind much. We just got a text saying, “My husband almost slipped.” Any tips on managing this?

We do leave shovels and salt on the property, but I specifically try to avoid asking them to shovel. Some tenants just do pitch in, but I like to avoid that if possible.

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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
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Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
7y

Our country is slowly developing into a nation of litigious wimps.

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  • Real Estate Agent · Souderton, PA · Member since 2016 · 591 posts · 414 votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Jamie Brayton:

    @Peter B.

    This is great. I’m going to make this revision when we renew leases. We keep supplies our for tenants, as well, so it’s a quick change that could probably alleviate a bit of the headache.

    Do you tackle anything less than 3 inches yourself? Does you snow removal company take care of that?

    I'm still wondering the same thing.  I kind of think the big snow storms are easier to handle.  Tenants should understand it's going to take a bit longer to be cleared.  Plus, schools are usually closed, people have off work, etc.  It's the small snow storms that the contractors don't come out for that I'm having an issue with.  I can't do it, contractors won't do it, and the tenants don't want to do it.

  • Investor · Ogdensburg, WI · Member since 2016 · 273 posts · 351 votes
    7y

    @Jamie Brayton

    At 3" or less we usually wait to following day and self apply the sand and salt from our bins. If we get another small storm shortly after we will call in our contractor for removal. We explain our process to our tenants up front when signing the lease. There is also an addendum line describing... It has helped but still can't please them all.

    One thing you should always do is keep a log of self application. Your contractor will have a log you should as well. When it comes to a claim, and we have had a few... They have to prove negligence... That's difficult with a detailed log from your contractor and self.  

    I had a call from a slip a couple weeks ago.. This tenant has been impossible to please for 3 years.. Also the tenant that dosen't park in her garage which makes prpoper plowing difficult. Anyways she claimed to have fallen.. The one thing you can't do is discuss anything... send their info to insurance company let them, handle it.. I tell the them I'll turn their info over to my insurance company and they will be im touch. So I get my contractors log, my log and any photos.. I usually snap a pic after application..Send them over to my agent. This particular instance there was pics from 3 hrs before the claim of a generously sanded/salted parking lot. It went nowhere..

  • Member since 2018 · 60 posts · 10 votes
    7y

    I just purchased a 3-family investment home in Philadelphia.  There is a man who lives a few houses down.  It's my understanding that the previous owners paid him to take care of the property while it was vacant (security, removing snow, weeds, lawn-care).  When I spoke with the previous owners during closing, they said he is very reliable. He does seem like a capable man and I'd like to utilize his services because I live far away.  Perhaps he can be a sort of superintendent.  I'd like the following from him:

    -lawn care, weed removal

    -snow removal / salting

    -extermination

    - initial point of contact with tenants (handy man type small stuff he'll fix - i'll pay for materials) he'll project manage the potential big projects 

    What do you think is a fair price to pay him monthly?  What type of contract can I make with him?  Can he just be my contractor, so I'd get him a 1099?  

  • Whitesboro, NY · Member since 2018 · 1 post · 0 votes
    3y
    Quote from @Mike LeFever:
    Originally posted by @Jamie Brayton:

    @William C. I think I take such great care of my properties that I really don’t worry about a lawsuit.. except when it comes to SNOW. And I really do stay on top of it. Our leases state we take care of anything over 3 inches, and we are required to remove it within 24 hours per city ordinance. It isn’t realistic that we (or our snow guy) hop in the car mid storm once we’ve hit 3 inches. He does come mid-storm and then again after it is doing snowing, but even then I have tenants asking when he will be there. I never really know and can’t really expect he will always be there at a set time. I worry about these moments the most.

    I honestly think the only solution is to start my own snow removal company. Or grow fast enough to hire 1-2 handymen that can manage all of our properties. I think about this with every snow fall.

    I can find 200 guys that will do it for $25 a snowfall (vs. the insane amount I pay), but none are insured. I worry about this just as much.

    I am in the exact same boat with my partner and our plow contractor now. 

    We have already decided to get a truck/plow for our property next year and handle it ourselves. Eventually we would also like to hire a handyman and just let him use the company truck to plow the lot.  

    I have also plowed commercially for the last 6 or so years and the whole time its the same story from the contractor side as well.

    The plow guy can usually please every one of his customers during a 3 inch storm because its quick and easy to move the snow, which is why most contractors pick up 30+ properties with the larger companies having 3-4x that amount. However when a big storm hits and you are relying on a "plow company" that's actually 1 or 2 guys with trucks and 2 snowblowers, lets just say your not going to get the same service you've come to expect during the small storms. At least in terms of speed. 

    In terms of insurance, always worth the few extra dollars up front for a guy who's covered vs. the one who's not.


     Hello Mike,

    Who are you using in the Utica area?  We have properties in Yorkville.

    Thanks,

    Kevin 

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