The first measurable snow in Greater Boston typically arrives in late November or early December — which means late October is exactly the right time to get your winter preparation in order. The properties that handle winter well aren't the ones scrambling after the first storm. They're the ones that locked in their vendors, confirmed their protocols, and walked their buildings before the season started.
Here's what that preparation looks like, and why the next few weeks matter more than most property managers realize.
Confirm your snow removal coverage — now
The most important thing you can do in late October is confirm that your snow removal coverage is in place and you understand exactly what it covers.
Snow removal contracts vary significantly in scope. Some cover parking lots only. Some include sidewalks. Some specify a trigger depth (removal begins when accumulation exceeds two inches, for example) that may or may not match the conditions your property actually needs addressed. Some include ice melt application; others treat it as a separate line item.
Read the contract. Know the trigger. Know whether sidewalks, entry approaches, and loading areas are included — and if they're not, figure out who's handling them, because those are your highest-liability surfaces.
A note on 78-Clean's snow services: sidewalk clearing, entry approach maintenance, and ice melt application for building entrances and common exterior areas are services we provide as part of our relationship with contracted cleaning clients. If you're already a 78-Clean customer, talk to your Relationship Manager about what winter coverage looks like for your property. If you're not yet a client, this is a good time to have that conversation!
Walk your exterior before the season starts
A pre-season walkthrough of your property's exterior surfaces is one of the highest-value things you can do in the next few weeks. You're looking for conditions that will become problems under snow and ice:
Pavement condition. Cracks, heaves, and uneven surfaces in parking areas and walkways are slip hazards year-round, but they become significantly more dangerous when they're obscured by snow or ice. Document them now. Repairs made in October are far less expensive than slip-and-fall incidents in January.
Drainage. A drainage issue that's manageable in October becomes an ice formation problem in December.
Entry mats and transitions. The transition from exterior to interior is where most winter slip incidents happen. Check that entry mat systems are in good condition, properly anchored, and appropriately sized for the traffic your entryways see. An undersized or curled mat at a high-traffic entrance is a liability.
Exterior lighting. Days get short fast. If your exterior lighting isn't adequate for the pedestrian traffic your property sees after dark, address it now. A poorly lit walkway in December, covered in ice, is a significant exposure.
78-Fixit handles pre-season exterior walkthroughs and can address lighting issues, door seal and weatherstripping replacement, and any repairs identified before the season starts. Coordinating this through a single walkthrough alongside fall cleanup preparation is the most efficient way to get into winter in good shape.
Know your response expectations — and communicate them
One of the most common sources of friction between property managers and their snow vendors is mismatched expectations about response timing. A contract that says "snow removal begins at two inches of accumulation" doesn't tell you when your sidewalks will be cleared after a storm that ends at 6 AM. Know the answer before the season starts, and make sure your tenants and building residents have reasonable expectations as well.
For 78-Clean clients with winter exterior coverage, our crews are dispatched right as accumulation begins, and may conduct multiple passes throughout a storm to ensure exteriors stay clear.
The window you have right now
Late October and early November are the window for this preparation. Once the season starts, schedules fill quickly, repair crews are harder to book, and decisions that could have been made deliberately end up getting made under pressure.
If you're a current 78-Clean client and want to review your winter coverage, call your Relationship Manager or reach us at 617-78-CLEAN. If you're evaluating vendors heading into the winter season, visit 78clean.com — but give yourself the time to do it properly before the first storm!