Anybody else have plowing problems?

Question

I hate plowing season! I've had 5 different plow people in 10 years. I've always hired based on recommendations of others. Usually they'll do okay the first few storms, then later they get sloppy or late and tenants call me. I want to keep my tenants happy. They have jobs and need to get to them. I also want them to be safe from slipping on ice, yet have to keep calling to get plowing contractors to do what I'm paying them to do! I pay the plow companies on time and am not demanding. Plowing is one thing I have tried to completely outsource from the beginning, but I can't seem to extricate myself from the drama caused by every storm.

Am I the only one? How do you handle the plowing of your properties?

Am I the only one?  How do you handle the plowing of your properties?

Ryan Murdock · Answer

I've found that tenants are generally as bad with exaggerating the circumstances as plow guys are for not showing up. I also have a hard time sympathizing with a tenant who drives a vehicle completely ill-equipped to deal with the climate in which they have chosen to live. A car that looks fresh off the set of Fast & Furious might be fun in CA but wasn't a real wise choice for ME winters.

Another favorite are the tenants who refuse to move their vehicles when the plow truck arrives but then call later to complain that their driveway isn't cleared....

As @Matthew Paul stated snow is not planned and rarely happens at convenient times. The guys just have to deal with it as it falls. Tenants seem to have this notion that the plow company has one driveway as their sole account and should be there keeping the pavement bare. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

Set your expectations early in the season and if you do require higher-than-normal service make that very clear but be prepared to pay for it. There's always a balance between cost and quality. If your contractor is not adhering to the scope of work you both agreed to then find another one. Quickly.

Ryan Murdock · Answer

I have never been asked nor would I ever sign a plow contract that relieved the contractor of liability.

Matthew Paul · Answer

Just imagine the cost if the contractor had the liability .  After the first snow or Ice event , I would have to constantly have to check each and every property 24/7 for freeze and thaw and the resulting conditions .  A perfectly clean lot , and then cars come in from the street and the snow and water drips off the car and refreezes . Wind blown snow , etc .  if the contractor would be liable , just to cover his butt he would have to keep re treating and clean the lots . And charge each and every time .

There are shopping centers that do require this type of service , and it isnt cheap . One of my associates has a large mall that requires about 40 trucks and equipment .  After the first snowfall , and its all plowed he has to make 3 trips every 24 hours to monitor , salt and touch up .   But the place is triple net leasing , so the bills get passed on to the tenants .  And the bills are obscene .

Matthew Paul · Answer

Now , plowing isnt expensive in Md , its just cheap in Maine .  As far as liability , any pro that plows has you sign their contract and it has a clause that relieves them from liability  Customers wont pay the price for the plow guy to assume liability .  The equip is expensive , a new plow is about 5 to 6 grand , a  sander/salter about 4 to 5 grand , and a new truck is  35 to 70 grand .

Amy A. · Answer

@Matthew Paul yes, it's about $35 per driveway.  In big storms that need a 2nd push they usually charge an additional fee, but not double.  We also pay extra for sanding, but many won't take on the liability for sanding and the equipment is expensive so it's harder to find people to do it.

Wow, plowing is expensive in MD!  Good thing for landlords that you don't get as much snow there.   In ME everybody has a truck, so I think some like to plow as a way to help pay for a nicer truck.   I did lose one decent plow guy a few years a few years ago when fuel was so high that he couldn't make any money.  This time I decided to go with a larger company with more trucks so tenants wouldn't be out of luck if there was a breakdown.  So far this year there have been 5 breakdowns during storms, causing late plowing.  What are the odds?

Matthew Paul · Answer

It may be different in Maine , but here in Md residential driveways come last after the commercial properties are done . Another thing about snow , its not a planned event , it starts when it wants and stops when it wants , more snow , less snow . The plow drivers have to deal with traffic . If it stops snowing at 5 am , I cant have 15 properties done by 7 am . Just the way it is .  Basically priority is given to the highest profit customer .  From what I understand they get next to nothing further north for plowing , about $ 35 to clear a driveway .  Here In Md , I wont drop the blade for less than $ 125 and thats per push . So we get 12 inches , I will be there 3 times at $ 125

Anybody else have plowing problems?

Most Popular Reply