Is Your Snow Provider Measuring Up?

The best time to find out whether your snow provider performed as promised is before the first storm, not during it. Think back to last winter and ask yourself the six questions below. If any of them give you pause, there’s still time to make a change, and switching is easier than you think. 

For property managers and facility managers, snow and ice management isn’t about whether the lot got plowed. It’s about whether your tenants, employees, visitors and deliveries got in and out safely, every event, all season long. When a provider falls short, it doesn’t just leave a mess. It leaves you with the liability. 

Not 100% happy with last winter? Call or email us, and we’ll respond immediately. 
(517) 202-5543
info@rdlandscape.com 

1. Was your lot cleared when it mattered most? 

A clear lot at noon doesn’t help the crew that arrived at 6 a.m. or the shift change at 6 p.m. Think about when your property actually needs to be open, accessible and safe: when residents leave for work, when the first employees pull in, when visitors and deliveries start arriving. Did your provider plan around your schedule, or theirs? 

2. Was ice treated before someone slipped, not after? 

Snow gets all the attention. Ice causes the accidents. Ice untreated is the No. 1 cause for slips and falls, and it doesn’t wait for a storm. Refreezing overnight, black ice in a shaded corner of the lot, a walkway that looked fine at 6 a.m. and isn’t at 9 a.m.… or 6 p.m. 

A good provider watches changing pavement conditions and treats ice before it becomes a problem. If treatment only showed up after a complaint, or after someone had already slipped, that’s a red flag. 

3. Were they proactive, or did you have to call them? 

Did your provider show up with the right equipment at the right time before each storm, not just the first one? Or did you find yourself calling to ask when the crew would arrive? 

Proactive snow and ice management starts with a site-specific plan and a prepared crew. It means your provider is watching the conditions and making the call to go out, so you don’t have to. 

4. Did you hear from them during a storm, or did you have to chase them down? 

Communication is part of the service. You should know the plan, the progress and what to expect, every event. If you spent last winter leaving voicemails and waiting for callbacks, you were managing your snow provider instead of your property. 

5. Were all access points covered, not just the front door? 

Entryways, walkways, loading docks, dumpster pads, turning areas and employee lots: every place someone walks or drives onto your property is a place someone can slip, or where a delivery can’t get through. If your provider cleared the main lot and left the side entrance or the loading dock for later, your people and your operations were exposed. 

6. Did you get the value you were promised? 

This isn’t only about the invoice. It’s about whether you got what you were paying for: a safe, accessible property and one less thing to worry about. Did your provider perform as promised? Did the details get handled without you having to ask? 

If You Hesitated on Any of These, Let’s Talk 

If you’re not 100% happy with your provider, now is the time to change… and it’s easier than you think. Many commercial snow contracts begin Nov. 1, so the window to make a change before the season starts is short. 

R&D Landscape handles the transition so you don’t have to. Every property gets a site-specific plan, the right equipment at the right time, and a prepared crew before each storm. We monitor and treat ice before it’s a problem. And you’ll hear from us: the plan, the progress and what to expect, every event. 

Since 2001, R&D has helped keep Mid-Michigan hospitals, senior living communities, schools and campuses, office buildings, HOAs, hotels, restaurants, grocery and retail centers moving all winter long. When the snow melts, the same team keeps your grounds in shape all year, with one point of contact for every season. 

Your liability is our priority. 

Already Signed for This Season? Keep Our Number Handy. 

If your provider falls short once the snow starts, you don’t have to wait until spring to make a change. R&D has the crews, equipment and experience to step in and finish the season. We’re right in your neighborhood and can be there at a moment’s notice. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

How do I know if it’s time to switch snow providers? 
If your lot wasn’t cleared when it mattered most, ice was treated after someone slipped instead of before, or you had to chase your provider down during storms, it’s time to look at your options. The best time to switch is before the season starts. 

Is it too late to change snow providers this winter? 
No. Earlier is better, since many commercial contracts begin Nov. 1, but switching is easier than you think. R&D can be there within 24-48 hours. 

What should a commercial snow and ice management plan include? 
A site-specific plan for your property, the right equipment at the right time before each storm, proactive ice monitoring and treatment, coverage of every access point (not just the front door), and clear communication every event. 

Ready to Talk? 

Call or email us, and we’ll respond immediately.
(517) 202-5543 
info@rdlandscape.com 
rdlandscape.com 

Your liability is our priority.