Snow removal is one of the many services you must provide your tenants in exchange for rent. Snow removal is also a necessary preventative measure to reduce slip and fall risk and liability for not only your tenant, but also your family, friends, and other visitors to the property. Prevention starts at the front door and ends anywhere someone might walk, slip, or fall.

How and when to protect your property

Snow should be shoveled every day before you or your tenants go to work. Ice should be removed every hour if necessary, especially if there is a storm. If you use a contractor, frequent discussions with them are recommended to determine the best times to visit your property.

Mark the date and time the snow was removed from your property. Also have your contractor do the same. If you are sued for a slip and fall, you can use the dates and times the property was serviced as a defense with your homeowners policy.

Some homeowners think that shoveling a path across the sidewalk is enough. Not only is it not enough, but one blizzard after another will make it more difficult to complete the task of shoveling. Snow that is not shoveled will be compacted and heavy. Also, you will find it difficult to find a place to put the snow. A good road clearance should be at least 42 inches wide. Designate a space for your patio or driveway in anticipation of a big snowy winter.

When there is a blizzard, it can snow day and night. You’ll want snow plowed so your tenants can get to work in the morning to prevent slip and fall suits. Also, research your city ordinances regarding required snow removal. In Boston, Massachusetts, homeowners must remove snow and sleet from their sidewalks within 3 hours of a storm, or they will be fined every day for noncompliance.

Make sure the path to the trash cans or dumpster is clear. If not, people will no longer throw their rubbish there. When it snows, they will leave it in the place closest to the bins.

If your commercial tenants have a lease that states they are responsible for their own snow removal, take a walk and see if they are doing it right. Otherwise, send them a warning letter, with a specific deadline for the fulfillment of the lease.

Again, check local snow removal ordinances. Some cities charge a substantial fine for shoveling snow on your neighbor’s street or sidewalk.

Hire someone else to shovel the snow

Your back is killing you, your legs feel like jelly, and your head is throbbing from a cold. I think that’s when it’s time to call it a day. A shovel full of snow might average 7 pounds, not including the weight of the shovel. Add to that the effort of throwing the snow over your head onto the front lawn.

Do you have any form of asthma or bronchitis? If there’s snowstorm after snowstorm and you have a full-time job, why are you out there shoveling snow and dumping melted ice? Hire a company whose job it is to make sure your driveway and sidewalk are always clear when you leave and return home from work. It is a tax-deductible property expense.

When you hire a snow removal company, the onus is on them. Make sure the business has liability insurance. Give clear instructions on when you want snow to be removed from your property. Talk about what to do if it rains and the sidewalk freezes.

This is a high risk time for people to fall on your property. Protect your investment by having someone remove snow and ice, regardless of snow or rain. You can still go solo and throw in some salt and sand.

If you hurt your back, are sick, or have to stay on the job for overtime, having a contractor will save you the hassle of doing it yourself. Also, your contractor can hire people to do this work even if one of your employees gets sick.

If you live on the property, ask your contractor to shovel your car out as well. Again, why shovel and sand your property in your business suit before heading to work?

Consideration

1. Fire Hydrants – A major snow storm will cover what could be a life-saving device. Remember to clear fire hydrants and instruct your snow contractor to do the same.

2. Wheelchair accessibility, the disabled and the elderly – Winter is especially difficult for the disabled, the elderly and those who have to go to work in a wheelchair. Give them enough clearance to navigate sidewalks with ease. Don’t just shovel one driveway – shovel the entire sidewalk. If your property is next to the end of the sidewalk, shovel the handicap ramp.

3. Plant life: Don’t plant flowers or shrubs where you plan to dump snow for the winter. Sand and street salt mixed with snow will kill your plants. I have found that bulb plants can survive. However, if you have a prolonged snow season that goes into April, your tulips may begin to grow while the snow and ice are still on the ground. It’s best to strategically plant your flowers and bulbs where you don’t intend to shed snow and ice during the winter.

4. Rock Salt Vs. Ice melting: Rock salt, which contains water, will only melt snow and ice down to freezing temperature. Rock salt also has a corrosive nature and will wear down the cement on brick stairs. Ice melting is a bit more expensive, but is better in the long run as preventative protection. Ice melt is better for indoor rugs.

Use sand to give people some traction in these areas. Sawdust is really messy when tracked around your apartment.

5. Maintenance – Keep your snow blower tuned up after every snow storm. It will increase your longevity. Do not store gasoline in your home.

6. Before shoveling or plowing, spray a little WD-40 oil on the plow or snowplow blades. It will help snow slide off the blades quickly and prevent ice from forming on the blade and shovel.

Keep your snow removal efforts proactive to reduce risk and liability. You will also find that consistent and thoughtful snow removal management will earn your property a good reputation.