Per-Storm or Seasonal? How to Choose a Snow Removal Contract in Greater Boston and the South Shore

Every September we get the same question from homeowners and property managers: pay per storm, or pay one price for the season? Neither is always cheaper. Here is how to pick based on your property and how much risk you want to carry.

How each one works

Per-storm: you pay a set price each time we clear, usually triggered at a snowfall depth of two inches. Light winter, you pay less. Heavy winter, you pay more.

Seasonal: one flat price for the whole winter, paid up front or in installments, covering every qualifying storm. You know the number in September and it does not change in February.

Who should go per-storm

• Small properties with a short driveway and a couple of walkways
• Homeowners who are home and can wait a few hours after a storm
• Anyone who would rather bet on a light winter

Who should go seasonal

• Property managers and landlords who need a fixed line item and a guaranteed response
• Multi-unit buildings and commercial lots where a missed clearing is a liability
• Anyone with an accessible walkway, a tenant with mobility needs, or a business that opens at 7 am
• Households who do not want to think about it again until April

The math in a normal Boston winter

Quincy averages somewhere around 45 inches of snow a year, arriving in roughly eight to twelve plowable storms. Seasonal pricing is set so that a normal winter costs about the same either way. Per-storm wins in a light year. Seasonal wins in a year like 2015. The difference is who carries the risk: with seasonal, we do.

What to look for in any contract

• A clear trigger depth and a stated response window after snowfall ends
• Whether walkways, stairs, and salting are included or extra
• Where the snow goes, especially on tight Quincy lots
• Proof of insurance. Ask for the certificate, not a promise
• A return visit policy for drifting and plow-back from the city

Why we lock in contracts before the first storm

Our routes are built in the fall so every property gets cleared in the order that makes sense geographically. We cap the number of contracts per route, which is what lets us hit the response window. Once the routes are full, they are full. If you are deciding, decide before the first forecast.