Wow’s Winter Guides · October 19, 2026 · PlowWow company guide

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Start at the entrance and follow the common route

A winter plan should show how people move from the public frontage and parking access to the building entrance. Mark the agreed common walks, stairs and landings. Separate individual-unit paths from shared routes. In dense Metrotown or Brentwood sites, access and storage can matter as much as route length. For Lougheed or hill properties, identify grades and the turning space equipment will need.

Match the brief to Burnaby’s sidewalk guidance

The City of Burnaby’s Snow Smart guidance says owners or occupiers must remove snow and ice from sidewalks surrounding their properties no later than 10 a.m. each day. Identify all relevant frontages in the contractor brief, including corner exposures. Ask how the proposed route and attendance terms address that obligation. A general online estimate is not a contractor’s acceptance of a specific service deadline.

Ask how repeat work is handled

The agreement should explain clearing triggers, continued accumulation and additional ice treatment. A single snowfall can require more than one clearing pass, while treatment can be needed without new snow. Do not equate historical snowfall days with billable visits or count a clearing visit’s included treatment twice. Discuss monitoring, reporting and the authorization process so council understands the expected work and the terms for additional attendance.

Agree on machinery and where snow goes

State whether the contractor is clearing lanes only or also recovering parking stalls. Discuss suitable machinery and any dedicated equipment request. Identify approved storage areas and how access is maintained as piles grow. Routine pushing differs from later relocation, truck loading and off-site disposal. Those additions need a clear work order and current rate basis unless already included.

Choose a workable seasonal proposal

Compare equivalent scope and the full amount before GST. Keep the season dates, response terms, inclusions, exclusions and payment schedule in the council record. Ask about insurance, references and backup equipment. PlowWow can review a Burnaby property brief and explain the proposed service. Availability and final terms require confirmation; a quote request does not itself book winter coverage.