November Winter Walkthrough Checklist for Property Managers

4 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

Why walk the site before it snows

Once snow is on the ground, curbs, drains, speed bumps and landscaping disappear. Problems that were obvious in October become invisible and get found the hard way, usually by a plow blade or a tenant’s foot. A walkthrough in November, ideally with your snow contractor, lets you see the property as it really is and agree on how it will be handled.

Surfaces and hazards

Start with the ground itself. Look for:

• Potholes, heaved slabs and broken curbs that could catch a blade or trip a pedestrian
• Speed bumps, islands, light pole bases and bollards that need markers
• Low spots where water collects and will freeze
• Downspouts that discharge onto walkways or parking areas
• Landscaping edges and planters close to drive lanes

Install tall stakes or markers at anything a plow operator needs to see.

Drains, fire routes and exits

Locate every catch basin and stake it so snow is never piled on top. Walk each fire route and note its full width. Check that hydrants and fire department connections are marked and visible. Open every exit door from the outside and note which ones need to be cleared, including rear and stairwell exits that staff rarely use.

Entrances, ramps and accessible parking

Walk the full route from the accessible spaces to each entrance. Check curb cuts, ramps, landings and handrails. Make sure the access aisles are clearly identified so they will not be used for piles. Note which entrances must be ready first on a weekday morning. On every one of our sites, sidewalks, entrances and ramps are hand-cleared and salted each visit, but the crew still needs to know which ones you consider the main ones.

Piling areas and site plan

Choose where snow will go. Good locations are away from doors, drains, walkways, fire routes and sight lines at exits. Mark them on a simple site plan, and share it with the contractor and on-site staff. Decide in advance what happens if the piling areas fill up later in the winter.

Paperwork and contacts

Finish by checking the paperwork. Confirm the written contract is signed and matches the site, the certificate of insurance is current and names the right parties, and you know how to access the contractor’s photo log. Update the contact list for after-hours issues, and send a short notice to tenants explaining how snow service works and how to report problems. Our property managers page and how it works page explain what we set up before the season.

Take photos while you walk

Bring a phone and photograph the property as you go. Pictures of curbs, islands, lawn edges, fences, signs and pavement condition before winter give you a baseline. If something is damaged during the season, you can compare it with the November photos instead of arguing about whether it was already broken.

These photos also help new staff or a replacement superintendent understand the site quickly. Save them in the same folder as the contract, the site plan and the certificate of insurance, so everything about the property’s winter plan is in one place. When spring comes, a quick comparison walk with the same photos shows what needs repair and helps plan any changes for next winter.

Get a written quote for your site

Thames Valley Snow measures each site from City of London maps and aerial imagery, provides a written contract for every property and keeps a timestamped photo log every visit. 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.

What's included… and what's extra

Commercial snow service is priced per site from paved area, walkway length and opening time. A typical contract includes plowing at the agreed trigger depth, clearing before opening, hand-cleared entrances, sidewalks and ramps, and a timestamped photo log of every visit.

Common extras are quoted separately so you only pay for what the site needs: salting and de-icing per event, extra sidewalk or ramp coverage, after-hours or priority service, and snow relocation when piles run out of room. See commercial snow removal or request a site quote by calling or texting (548) 888-8702.