Some business owners try to handle snow removal informally each winter, calling around after a storm hits rather than committing to a contract ahead of the season. This approach carries more risk than it might seem worth saving on paper.
Availability is the first problem. Contractors prioritize their contracted clients first, especially during a busy storm when every crew is stretched thin. A business without a standing agreement is often at the back of the line, calling around during the worst possible time and hoping someone has capacity to help.
Pricing without a contract tends to be higher and less predictable too. Emergency, one-off service typically costs more than a pre-arranged seasonal or per-event rate, since the contractor is fitting you in outside their planned route rather than as part of an efficient, pre-scheduled service area.
Liability exposure is the biggest risk. Without a documented, ongoing service relationship, there's no consistent standard of care being applied to your property, which makes it much harder to demonstrate reasonable care if a slip-and-fall claim comes up. Ad hoc service also rarely comes with the same documentation a contracted relationship provides.
Thames Valley Snow works with commercial clients on written agreements because storm-day scrambling creates real risk, both operationally and legally. If your current approach is calling around after every storm, it is worth setting up a contract before next winter.
What a Written Agreement Gives You
A contract settles the important questions before the snow arrives. With Thames Valley Snow, service starts automatically at 5 cm of snow, so no one has to call. Long storms get return visits. Commercial sites are cleared before opening, and sidewalks, entrances and ramps are hand-cleared and salted.
You also get a record. Every visit ends with a timestamped photo, and over the season that becomes a photo log showing when the property was cleared. Without a contract, there is usually no consistent record at all.
Choose a Structure That Fits Your Budget
A contract does not have to mean paying the same no matter what. Commercial clients can choose a fixed seasonal price, per-visit pricing, or an event cap that limits how much a heavy winter can cost. Monthly billing is available on request. Each site is priced from its paved area, walkway length and opening time, and a written quote usually arrives within 2 business days.
Check the Insurance Before You Sign
Thames Valley Snow carries $2,000,000 in liability insurance, with certificates available on request and additional insured status available. We are WSIB registered and a member of the London Property Management Association (LPMA).
Ask any contractor for a certificate before the season. If you are a tenant, your landlord may require it, and being named as an additional insured gives you more protection.
When to Set It Up
The best time is before the first snowfall, when there is time to agree on where snow will be piled, which areas come first and how you want to be billed. We pile snow away from doors and drains and mark edges, steps and drains before the season.
The Cost of Waiting
A business without a plan often loses the first hours of a storm day making calls. Meanwhile staff and customers are walking across an uncleared lot. A contract removes that delay because service is already scheduled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to call you after each storm?
No. Service starts automatically at 5 cm of snow.
How fast can I get a commercial quote?
A written quote usually arrives within 2 business days.
Want a fixed price for your property? Request a free quote, or call or text (548) 888-8702. You can also read more about our commercial snow removal and property manager services.
What's included… and what's extra
A Thames Valley Snow seasonal residential plan starts from $650 for a standard driveway. It covers clearing the driveway every time snowfall reaches the trigger depth in your agreement, plus the windrow the city plow leaves at the end of the driveway. Larger driveways are priced on our snow removal prices page.
Popular add-ons, priced per season: walkway and steps $150–175, salting $175, priority service $125, pet-safe salt $120, driveway extension $95 and city sidewalk clearing $90. Add only what your property needs; everything is listed on the quote so there are no surprises. Get your fixed price or call or text (548) 888-8702.
Want it handled for you?
Seasonal snow removal from $650 + HST. Automatic at 5 cm, photo after every visit.
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