Seven Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Snow Removal Contract in Massachusetts

A snow contract is a promise about what happens at 5 am in a storm. Most of them are vague on purpose. Here are the questions that separate a company that will show up from one that will not.

1. What is the trigger?

The snowfall depth that starts service. Two inches is standard. If the contract does not name a number, you will be the one calling to ask whether they are coming.

2. When will you be here?

Ask for a response window after snowfall ends, in hours. For residential, "within 8 hours of the storm ending" is reasonable. For commercial lots that open at 7 am, you need "clear before opening" in writing.

3. Do you come back?

The city plow fills your driveway apron an hour after the contractor leaves. Does the contract cover a return trip for plow-back and drifting, or is that a second charge?

4. What exactly is cleared?

Driveway only, or driveway plus walkway, stairs, and sidewalk? Are cars cleared? Is salt included on walking surfaces? Every one of those is a separate line on our contracts so there is no argument in February.

5. Where does the snow go?

On a tight Quincy or Dorchester lot this matters. Piles that block sightlines, bury a hydrant, or end up on a neighbor's property are your problem, not the plow driver's, unless the contract says otherwise.

6. Are you insured, and can I see it?

Ask for the certificate of insurance, not a yes. A plow that hits your garage door or a slip-and-fall on a walkway they salted is covered by their policy or by yours. Massachusetts law also lets you require that commercial contractors carry a minimum liability limit; most property managers ask for one million.

7. What happens over 12 inches?

Big storms take two passes. Does the contract bill that as one storm, two storms, or a multiplier? Ours says 1.5 times, in writing, so nobody is surprised.

What to do with the answers

If a company cannot answer these in writing, keep looking. Routes fill in October and November; the companies that are still taking contracts in January are the ones with room because they lost clients last year.