How to Compare Commercial Snow Quotes Line by Line

3 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Start by building a simple comparison sheet

Put each quote in its own column and list the items below down the side. Fill in what each contractor actually wrote, not what you assume. Blank cells are the important ones: they are either things the contractor forgot to mention or things they are not planning to do. Ask about every blank before you decide.

Scope: what surfaces are included

Check that each quote covers the same areas. Look for:

• Parking lot and drive lanes, with the full paved area
• Sidewalks and walkways, including their length
• Entrances, steps, landings and ramps
• Loading areas, garbage enclosures and side doors
• Fire routes and the space around hydrants

A quote that says "plow lot" with no mention of walkways is a different product from one that says walkways and ramps are hand-cleared and salted every visit. On most commercial sites, walkways are where the labour and the risk are.

Timing: when the site will be ready

A good quote states when the lot and walkways will be cleared relative to your opening time. If one contractor commits to clearing before opening and another says nothing, you are not comparing the same service. Ask how each one handles snow that keeps falling after opening, and what happens on weekends and holidays if your business is open.

Pricing structure: fixed, per visit, or capped

Quotes may be written as a fixed seasonal price, a per-visit price, or a seasonal price with an event cap. Each spreads the weather risk differently. A fixed price gives budget certainty; per-visit pricing tracks the actual winter; a seasonal price with an event cap sits in between. Do not compare a seasonal total directly against a per-visit rate without thinking about how many visits a typical London winter needs at your site. Also check what is charged separately, such as salt-only visits or snow relocation, and how billing works.

Records, insurance and paperwork

Lay out what each contractor provides beyond the plowing itself:

• Proof of commercial general liability insurance and the amount
• Whether your company can be named as additional insured
• WSIB registration
• Service records, such as a timestamped photo log each visit
• A written contract that spells out scope and terms

These are not extras. If someone slips on your property, the quality of your contractor’s records and insurance matters a great deal more than a small difference in price.

Read the contract, not just the quote

Once you have narrowed it down, ask for the actual contract. Check that it matches the quote, and look at the start and end dates, how added visits are billed, how damage is reported and how either side can end the agreement. If anything you were told verbally is missing, ask for it in writing. Our FAQ answers many common questions about how our contracts work, and our commercial page lists what is included on every site.

One last check: ask each finalist how they measured your site. A contractor who measured the paved area and walkway length, from a site visit or from city maps and aerial imagery, has priced your actual property. A contractor who guessed from the street may come back mid-season saying the job is bigger than expected. A measured quote is easier to trust and easier to hold someone to.

Get a written quote for your site

Thames Valley Snow writes every commercial quote per site, measured from City of London maps and aerial imagery, with the scope, timing and pricing structure spelled out so you can compare it fairly. Request a measured price through our quote form, or call or text (548) 888-8702. A written quote usually comes back within 2 business days.