How to Price Residential Snow Clearing | Lawn Thumbs Price Like A Pro

Freddy gives some tips on how he goes about pricing residential properties for snow clearing.
Let us know what kind of snow clearing videos that you want to see in the comments down below.
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[@johnteelsexcavatingjohnnys7095]

That’s good info, in 2016 I gained 30 properties up from the 10 local ones I had, by using the same method. I sold off those 30 properties last season, they were too far from home base, but at the time I thought I needed to get more clients, and I was having a hard time keeping good help, and equipment breakdowns were a pain, but route density is key. And also efficiency.I look after mostly commercial properties, with zero tolerance now in my home base area. I also base it on 30-50 visits to the properties, which includes monitoring.

[@LawnThumbs]

Nice! Yes route density is key. Even in a small service area like mine density is still hard to do. So some of my guys only have a couple houses while others have a lot. But commercial is best for snow $ but it’s nice to do residential for workers that don’t have a plow yet or new guys.

[@johnteelsexcavatingjohnnys7095]

@@LawnThumbs absolutely brother, keep up the good work

[@MosierSocialSolutions]

I own & Operate "Total All-Around Maintenance" in Napanee ontario canada. I am 1yr 6wk in business. I genuinely appreciate your content it has helped a ton

[@LawnThumbs]

Awesome, Thank you for that! and I thank you for watching!

[@guardianclean]

Brother! About the most informative and educational pricing vid Ive found. Appreciate you making this video! Thanks brother! All the best!

[@Enchanted3DPrints]

How about 500 for 10 pushes and 50 a push afterwards. That way you don't lose out

[@farmingourway8493]

I do like the season bid because your guarantied a minimum amount but it could bit you on the heavy years if you only expected 12 outings and did 24. and if you dont say we go out unless its 1" or more by that morning I feel like they would be calling all the time for the 1/4" snows.... or on the other side say it only snows 2 times well more then likely that customer isn't going to be to happy to pay that high amount for the 2 outings. I Just do it per outing, some larger 3-5 car garage properties (residential still) I go by the hr, $180/hr running a JD 1545 unit and 60" snowblower. other wise most driveways are $45-65. 40 is the lowest but have one thats $95. some years we go out 8 times and others 30, the range is so big for us to do a seasonal price and be fair for both sides, in my mind. from the southwest Minnesota.

[@smk3390]

I just found this channel, re-visiting my pricing. I am in Alberta Canada, on average I would say we get about 10-15 events per month, however we have usually 1 or 2 months were its nearly every day snow, the worst parts are, we are having more melting events in mid winter now, so tons and tons of ice and the other problem is our insurance rates here are going through the moon. My personal rates have doubled year after year the past 3 years, waiting for this seasons quote to come in. I work solo- i have a hand ful of commercial and residential properties I manage and with the new rules from the insurance companies here last year, i find it very difficult to offer any sort of expansion. Appreciate the video good information to share for sure, especially how to gauge the difficulty of properties.

[@LawnThumbs]

Thanks, Over here we average 10-12 storms December being the slow month and most our storms coming in February.

[@cameronmcnulty8732]

Thanks so much! I can’t wait to see what you’ll come out with this winter.

[@PAPAof5]

I’ve got over 1500 customers who’s gutters I clean and who’s houses I wash. I’ve been polishing that gem and fine tuning it during the winters.. now I’m prepared to add plowing for the winter months. My main questions: 1. How many driveways should I expect to be able to do by route planning them 2. Map quest only lets us route so many addresses.. what would you suggest for 100+? 3. What do you do if a blizzard hits and we have 4 feet of snow overnight like we did in Chicago about 12 years back?

[@bryanlafleur2419]

Awesome, Thank you!

[@changedmats4968]

Hey this was very helpful information does this also include salting the sidewalks or is just snow removal?

[@southlagoon]

The way I was thinking of doing it was essentially the same way, but instead of them paying me all upfront, I'd let them pay me biweekly or on a weekly basis so that they could work up to the money owed. that way if it stops snowing before the end of the term they can stop paying me and I won't have to work anymore for essentially nothing. And if they end up not paying me, then I can just stop giving them service and we both walk away without a loss. It also gets rid of the "my neighbor is doing my property for me" problem because then you don't stop by that day and they don't have to pay for it either. I might modify the way I charge them though as well and just do it each time based off a quoted amount using man hours. Thoughts? (This will also be my first season ever doing this by myself though I do have 4 years experience with snow clearing).

[@TLASPEK]

When do you go out and remove snow from driveway? Do you start very early in the morning? Do you wait until the snow stop falling? What if it os snowing all day? Do you go back to same houses in the same day to clear the snow?

[@LawnThumbs]

Yes we go really early, there are times that we just keep doing round robbins until the snow stops falling. or until 4pm we tell clients we don't work past 4pm. as long as you are clear with that durring time of sign up and follow up with emails about it you are good.

[@myezlawncare]

So is that season price pre pay? Or do you do flat rate monthly?

[@EuroYardService]

You’re back

[@LawnThumbs]

Yes I’m back! Same with you. Haha.

[@cleangreenlawncare1337]

Extremely helpful!!

[@saldoug7467]

thanks, great video

[@shyguy2481]

Great video

[@LawnThumbs]

Thank you!!

[@JMTZ15]

Fredy new in the channel This price is snow removal and salting?

[@brentbanks8314]

Is this pricing structure you mentioned still accurate? We are considering jumping in this year. Thanks!

[@LawnThumbs]

No really accurate anymore. I’m going to do a new residential video soon maybe today or tomorrow

[@Zwrld781]

Hi yes please @lawn thumbs

[@FocusRS-vs6un]

Can I ask are those your price including salting a property or no? If not what are you charging to put salt down as well?

[@LawnThumbs]

Yes they do.

[@midwestgroundup8403]

Good info, what’s the trigger of snow depth for your crews to service a residential property. Say for 12 seasonal prepaid events. It snows 1/2 inch do you clear? How about 1 inch and freezing temperatures in the forecast etc. just curious what your average threshold is. I’m guessing it fluctuates per customers request. Just curious if your model has a minimum across the board as some companies do. Example, some companies in my area don’t clear anything under 2 inches for anybody. Another example, we clear anything over a 1/2 inch for at least a dozen of our residential customers. We usually service these customers twice as many times as others who have a average 2” trigger for snow clearing. There are so many good ideas and methods for us to share. I don’t think we could get $120 for a property that size per push tho. We service very high end properties with sometimes 7-8 different companies servicing properties on the same block. It’s ridiculous sometimes. I can say this tho, we are one of the only companies servicing residential properties in our area when there is under an inch of snowfall. It works out great for us and our higher demand types of residential customers. Milwaukee, WI area. Peace

[@LawnThumbs]

My trigger is if the cracks of the sidewalks disappear than we clear and salt. The trigger for my guys to leave their house is if there is snow on the grass then they have to go and check/drive their routes. Because some areas get hit harder than others.

[@FocusRS-vs6un]

Do you use a contract for the pay ahead for the year customers?

[@EuroYardService]

Have you trained your office staff how to determine the property difficulty level?

[@LawnThumbs]

Yes, well “most” of my office staff can do it.

[@EuroYardService]

We have 3 options and charge per month. Premium incl unlimited visits and ice management Incl, up to 12 visits and extra for each visit thereafter plus extra for ice management, up to 7 visits and extra for each visit thereafter and extra for ice management

[@jeremygary9296]

What about about 20 pushes at a time

[@cortaza007]

Do you do Little Falls NY

[@LawnThumbs]

No I’m in Utah

[@DanielGomezTX]

What is a push?

[@LawnThumbs]

Term used to clear snow.

[@gabrielmontague1199]

How do you build a good email list?

[@LawnThumbs]

Get every email from all your clients. Then send them regular emails to keep your team busy.

[@jamessickles4758]

How to price commercial

[@LawnThumbs]

Definitely going to do a commercial pricing video, I just wanted to hurry and put out a residential since it’s easier to get started on that service.

[@rbljackson]

@@LawnThumbs I just watched both videos. Great info! Maybe we can get a follow up video as a Q&A. First question relates to the liquid de-icers. It wasnt mentioned but in a previous video in a past year, I know you were doing a little bit of that at least....strictly bag salt? OH.....and second question....is it one visit per storm only? If it dumps 10" are you waiting and only making one visit, or do you have a clause for every X number of inches of snow, you get charged one visit/push (these questions apply to both your resi and commercial videos)? I do lawn care and weed control so far...but have researched the snow and ice removal game a few times to learn pricing/tips, etc. This really helps! Can you do a similar set of videos for pricing structure on your weed control and fert game as well?