Key takeaways
- The trigger depth and the multi-pass billing rule cause most snow billing disputes. Get both in writing.
- Ask whether salt is included or billed separately, and what they use below 15°F.
- Ask how completed stops are recorded. If nothing is recorded, nothing can be checked.
- Ask how they will communicate during a storm, and who answers at 5 a.m.
On this page
Questions about when they come
1. What is your trigger depth, and is it in writing? The trigger decides when you get plowed and when you get billed. Expect a number in inches. Ours is over 2 inches residential and 1 inch commercial.
2. Do I have to call, or am I dispatched automatically? You should never have to call past the trigger. If the answer is "call us when you need us," you are buying on-demand service during the busiest hours of the year.
3. What happens during a long storm? A 14-hour storm cleared once at the end leaves you snowed in all day. Ask whether the route runs again during long events, and how the second pass is billed.
4. Roughly where is my property on your route? Somebody is first and somebody is last. An honest company will tell you which end you are closer to. See how snow plow routes work.
Questions about what they clear
5. Do you clear the apron and the road-plow ridge? The ridge the city or county plow leaves at the end of your driveway is the heaviest snow on the property and the part that traps you. It should be part of the visit.
6. Are walks, steps and the public sidewalk included? Many Macomb County communities require property owners to clear the public sidewalk, often within 24 hours. Know whether that is part of your service. Our sidewalk ordinance guide has the details.
7. Is salting included, and what do you use when it is very cold? Rock salt slows badly below about 20°F and stalls near 15°F. A good answer names a different product for deep cold, or tells you honestly when waiting is better.
8. Where will the snow be piled? By February, the easy spots are full. Agree on locations now, away from drains, sight lines at the end of the driveway, and anything that will die under a pile.
Questions about money
9. Per visit or seasonal, and what is the break-even? Neither is always cheaper. Ask the company to show you where per-visit overtakes seasonal in an average winter. Our seasonal vs per-push guide does the math.
10. Are there storm, fuel or overtime surcharges? Surcharges that appear after the fact are the most common billing complaint in this trade. We do not charge them, and the question should get a straight yes or no.
11. How do you bill a skipped or partial visit? If a car blocks the apron and the crew cannot finish, what happens? The answer should involve a return visit, not a full charge for half a job.
Questions about accountability
12. How do you record which stops are finished? Look for a recorded completion time for every stop. A company that cannot answer this cannot tell you whether you were missed.
13. How will I hear from you during a storm? A text when the route starts is the minimum. Ask whether you can text back and whether a person reads it.
14. Who answers the phone at 5 a.m.? If the answer is "nobody until 8," plan around that.
15. Can you send a certificate of insurance? Before work starts, not after something goes wrong. Check that it names the business you are hiring and covers the season.
How our answers compare
| Question | Our answer |
|---|---|
| Trigger depth | Over 2″ residential, 1″ commercial, in writing |
| Do I call? | No. Past the trigger you are dispatched automatically |
| Long storms | The route runs again during extended events |
| Salting | Quoted separately; we switch products or tell you to wait below about 15°F |
| Surcharges | None: no fuel surcharge, no storm surcharge |
| Skipped stops | Marked with a reason on our route board, with a text and a return visit |
| Records | Every finished stop carries its recorded time |
| Communication | Storm texts to the whole route, and replies go to a person |
| Insurance | $2,000,000 general liability, $1,000,000 workers compensation |
Answers above describe our standard residential and commercial service in Macomb County.
Written by the Macomb Lawn & Snow Solutions team in Macomb Township, Michigan. We plow and salt homes and businesses across all 26 Macomb County communities, November 15 to April 15. Published September 28, 2026. About us · How we research these guides · How our dispatch works