A commercial snow contract should spell out the service area, the plow trigger, who salting and ice management covers, where snow can be stacked or hauled, how work is logged, and what insurance is in place, all before the first storm. Those terms are what property and facility managers can compare, and they are what keep a lot, an entrance and a walkway from becoming a midstorm debate.
The Difference Landscapes has handled commercial snow plowing and ice management from Lee since 2003, for businesses, HOAs, condo associations, single family HOA neighborhoods and multifamily properties. If you still need a plan for this winter, the checklist below is the conversation we have before a property goes on a route.
Why these terms matter on the Seacoast
Seacoast winters change quickly. A light, wet snow and a cold, slippery night do not ask the same things of a contractor, and neither does a commercial lot that must be open for first shift. If the contract is vague, boards and property managers are left arguing about whether a two inch event was “enough to plow,” whether walks were included, or where the snow was allowed to sit.
Settling those points in writing protects the property and the people who use it. It also gives you a fair way to compare proposals. The goal is a plan you can hand to a board or an operations team and stand behind when the first storm arrives.
What to settle in writing
Use plain language. If a proposal skips one of these items, ask for it before you sign.
Service area and surfaces. Name every area that is in scope: parking lots, drives, loading areas, walks, stairs, entries, and any unit walkways. Unit walkways depend on the contract, so do not assume they are included unless they are written down.
When service starts. The Difference Landscapes typically uses a 2 inch plow trigger, and that trigger varies from contract to contract. Put the number you agree on in the contract. Do not leave it as “as needed.”
Ice management. Salting and ice management should be defined too. We salt whenever slippery conditions exist. Pre treating is not automatic. It is decided storm by storm, because every storm is different. The contract should say who decides, and which surfaces get treated.
Snow storage. Agree in advance where snow can be stacked, and what happens if a site runs out of room. Tight condo drives, mailbox clusters and parked cars need a plan before the season starts, not after the third storm.
Timing around your operations. We base our work on the property’s hours of operation so lots and entries are cleared before opening and stay accessible during the event. There is no single clock time that fits every site, so write your opening hours and access needs into the scope.
How work is logged. Storm service reports are available on request. If your board, insurance carrier or management company wants a report after events, say so in the contract so the expectation is clear.
Insurance. We provide a certificate of insurance on request. Ask for the certificate before the season starts. Coverage amounts are set in the certificate, not in a blog post.
Who you talk to. We assign one account manager per property. Put that point of contact in the agreement so your team knows who to call.
Contract type. We work on seasonal contracts, and we will do per event work on a case by case basis. Many clients also use one combined year round contract, with one invoice, for landscaping plus snow. If you want that structure, ask for it up front.
A short checklist for comparing commercial snow contracts
When you line up proposals, look for clear answers to all of these:
- Which lots, walks, stairs and entries are included, and are unit walkways in or out?
- What plow trigger is written into the contract?
- When is salting done, and is pre treating included or decided by storm?
- Where can snow be stacked, and is hauling addressed if storage runs out?
- How does the contractor time work around your opening hours?
- Are storm reports included, or available on request?
- Will you receive a certificate of insurance on request?
- Is there one account manager for the property?
- Is the pricing seasonal, per event, or a combined year round landscape and snow contract?
- Does the contractor hold NH Green SnowPro certification?
The Difference Landscapes holds NH Green SnowPro certification from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. That training is about using salt responsibly. For the official program description, see the NHDES Green SnowPro page. This article is not legal advice.
We offer 24/7 snow service. New inquiries use (603) 605-8880, the website number. We do not publish a separate storm line.
Our commercial snow equipment includes plow trucks, loaders, skid steers, sidewalk machines, and salt and sand spreaders. A pre season walk is done at every property so the route, storage areas and access points are agreed before the first storm.
Local context on the Seacoast
Commercial snow service is available for businesses, HOAs and multifamily properties across the wider Seacoast, including Portsmouth, Dover and Exeter.
Residential driveway plowing is separate, and it is offered only in Lee, Newmarket, Durham, Madbury, Stratham, Greenland and Newfields. If you are comparing contracts for a private home, start with those seven towns and our commercial snow service page only for context on how we work. Home driveway service is not implied for any other town.
Read more about the commercial program on our commercial snow removal page.
Ready to get your property on a commercial snow route this winter?
Request an estimate at our contact page or call (603) 605-8880. We will schedule a pre season walk and put the scope in writing before the next storm.
Frequently asked questions
What should a commercial snow removal contract include?
It should name the service area and surfaces, the plow trigger, how salting and ice management are handled, where snow can be stored, how work is logged, insurance, and who the property’s account manager is. Settle those points before the first storm.
Do you use a set plow trigger?
We typically have a 2 inch trigger, but it depends contract to contract. The number you agree on should be written into the contract.
Do you offer seasonal commercial snow contracts?
Yes. We work on seasonal contracts, and we will do per event work on a case by case basis. Landscaping and snow can also be combined into one year round contract with one invoice.
Do you hold NH Green SnowPro certification?
Yes. The Difference Landscapes holds NH Green SnowPro certification.
Do you plow residential driveways?
Yes, in Lee, Newmarket, Durham, Madbury, Stratham, Greenland and Newfields only. Commercial, HOA and multifamily snow covers a wider area.
Can we get a certificate of insurance?
Yes. We provide a certificate of insurance on request.
