The Ultimate Winter Preparation Checklist for Businesses

The best way to ensure your business is ready for a successful snow season is by creating a winter preparation checklist.

Creating a pre-season snow checklist helps your business to:

• Maximize profits
• Minimize liabilities
• Identify potential obstacles
• Ensure no steps are skipped
• Fully evaluate every property each new snow season

Plus, the best pre-season snow checklist provides reassurance that all of the proper safety steps and precautions are being followed.

By the end of this article, you'll be able to create your own robust winter preparation checklist for your business today!

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Why a Winter Preparation Checklist Is Necessary

A winter preparation checklist is essential in providing mutually clear expectations between your business and the client.

As a result, clients are typically more satisfied and willing to:

• Paying premium prices
• Never leave for the competition
• Rave about your business to friends and family

Also, your checklist list:

• Maximizes profits
• Minimizes risks and liabilities
• Prevents unexpected interruptions
• Provides evidence of documented obstacles
• Holds both the business and client accountable

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Top Items to Include in Your Pre-Season Snow Checklist

Based on the services your business offers, the main items to include will vary.

To determine the most essential aspects to include, consider your business operations. For example, if you offer residential driveway plowing, then what clearance do your plows need to safely perform the service?

Here are a few basics to include in your checklist:

• Names
  • Client
  • Snow professional
• Date of pre-season snow visit
  • Arrival time
  • Departure time
• Pavement treatments used
  • E.g.
    • Salts
    • Sands
    • De-icer chemicals

• Detailed list of pre-existing damages
• Written documentation and pictures of all potential obstacles
• An open footer for the snow professional to make important notes for clients

Also, keep in mind, in addition to your checklist, it's equally important to inspect your equipment.

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Make Improvements Using Feedback

Before implementing your new pre-season checklist, it's crucial to have your snow professionals assess it for anything missing.

Additionally, take into account any disputes or complaints which might help in minimizing or eliminating these issues in the future.

Remember, even after implementing a new checklist, it's never too late to make the necessary adjustments for improvement.

In addition, it's important to follow up with your team a few weeks after implementing the new checklist to see how the checklist is performing.

Take a quick look at a few important questions to ask your team regarding the checklist:

• Has the checklist helped you more easily perform pre-season visits?
• Are there any adjustments to the checklist that can make pre-season visits easier?

Plus, you can ask a few (or all) clients about how helpful or unhelpful the winter preparation checklist is for them.

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In Service Autopilot, our automations send emails and texts to:​

Every lead after an estimate is completed

Clients after their property has been serviced​

Remind leads and clients to send you customer feedback​

Update outdated or declined payment information​

Inform them when a service can’t be completed due to unforeseen circumstances (i.e. weather)​

Remind them of maintenance tips (i.e. putting a cover on the outdoor faucet before the winter)​

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The Secret to Revolutionizing Your Winter Preparation Checklist

The #1 snow removal software has the power to streamline and automate the most essential aspects of your business - including winter preparation checklists.

Instead of snow professionals filling out manual, printed checklists, they can easily fill out these estimates anywhere in Service Autopilot's app. Plus, they can even upload pre-season pictures.

In turn, these pre-season photos can serve as formal documentation you can add to your client's account.

In addition, Service Autopilot gives your business things like:

• Custom forms
• Detailed reporting
• Flexible billing system
• Instant bulk invoincing
• Pre-built master routes
• Real-time team tracking
• Rapidly optimized routes
• Asset and chemical tracking
• Instant estimates on-the-go
• Same-day automated payments
• Automated everyday operations
• Client account history accessible from anywhere

Take advantage of what the best snow removal software has to offer your business, watch your business growth begin soaring today!

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Use Your Season Winter Preparation Checklist During Pre-Season Visits

Create the best winter preparation checklist for your pre-season snow visits, and get reassurance that:

• Minimize risks
• Maximize profitability
• Identify potential obstacles
• All necessary safety steps and precautions are met
• Every client receives consistent, high-quality services

Finally, you can use this ultimate guide to create your own winter preparation checklist today!

Related: 7 Reasons Why Pre-Season Visits Are Vital to Your Snow Business

Originally published Oct 5, 2017 6:00 AM, updated July 21, 2022 11:42 AM