What to Expect Before the First Snowfall: Getting Your Property Ready
Winter prep isn't just about your furnace and your gutters — it's about your driveway too. A little bit of planning before the first flakes fall can make the whole season go a lot smoother. Here's what to expect as Northland gets your property ready.
Driveway Markers: What They're For and When They Go In
Driveway markers are typically installed in late October and removed in early April, weather dependent. They help our crews find your property's edges in the dark or in low visibility, so precision doesn't suffer just because the storm rolled in overnight. If a marker comes loose during the season, please don't throw it away — just fill out a quick repair request and we'll come reset it at no extra charge. It's a small detail, but it's the kind of thing that keeps service consistent even during the roughest weather of the year.
What Triggers a Visit
Standard service begins once snowfall reaches 3 inches of accumulation. At our discretion, we may service below that threshold when drifting, ice, or the forecast calls for it — there's no need to call and ask, since we're already monitoring conditions around the clock. During a major, multi-day storm, crews run continuously and multiple visits may be scheduled as accumulation continues, so you're never left waiting through an entire storm before your driveway gets attention.
How You'll Know We're On the Way
You'll get a proactive storm plan before snow even starts falling, a dispatch alert the moment crews head out, and a live GPS tracking link roughly an hour before arrival. Once service is complete, you'll receive a confirmation along with a quick link to share any feedback — no guessing, no waiting by the window, and no need to track down a phone number to find out where your crew is.
What's on You: Salt, Ice Melt, and Sidewalks
Northland handles the driveway, but applying salt or ice melt in the event of freezing rain is the homeowner's responsibility. Sidewalks and front steps aren't part of standard seasonal driveway contracts either, though we do offer hand shoveling as an add-on service starting at $150 per year if that's something you'd like taken care of as well. Knowing where the line falls now means no confusion when the first icy morning shows up.
Already a Customer? Here's What Changes (and What Doesn't)
If you've been with Northland before, most of this will feel familiar — the same markers, the same storm alerts, the same live tracking link. What's worth double-checking each year is your contact information and any changes to your property, like a new fence line or a driveway extension, so our mapping stays accurate. A quick update now saves any confusion once the season actually gets underway.
New to Northland? Here's How to Get Started
If this is your first season with us, getting set up is simple: reach out through the website or by phone, and we'll walk you through your options and get you set up with an electronic agreement — no printing or paperwork required. From there, you're on the calendar for marker installation and storm alerts, and the rest happens automatically as winter approaches.
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
None of this requires much from you beyond knowing what to expect. Once your markers are in and your season pass is set, Northland takes it from there — watching the weather, dispatching crews, and keeping your driveway clear all winter long, storm after storm, without you having to think twice about it.
