Free Resource Guide

The Snow Removal Contractor's Guide to 5-Star Reviews

Everything you need to build a reputation that wins contracts before the first flake falls. Includes 15+ ready-to-use templates, timing strategies, and the exact playbook top contractors use to dominate local search.

87%
of customers check reviews before hiring snow removal
3x
more calls for top-rated businesses during storms
68%
of revenue comes from online search discovery
4-5 mo
compressed window to build seasonal reputation

The Seasonal Challenge

Unlike plumbers or HVAC techs who work year-round, snow removal companies have a narrow window to collect reviews. Your entire reputation-building opportunity is compressed into 4-5 months.

Property managers research contractors in summer and fall—which means your reviews need to be strong before winter hits. When storms arrive, homeowners make decisions in seconds. They Google "snow removal near me" and call whoever has the best reviews. Every job that doesn't turn into a review is a missed opportunity you won't get back until next season.

The templates and timing strategies below will help you capture reviews at the moment of highest customer satisfaction—right after you've cleared their driveway and they're grateful.

SMS Templates

Text messages get 98% open rates vs. 20% for email. These templates are optimized for snow removal—copy them directly into your review request system.

Post-Service (Residential)

Within 2 hours of service
Hi {first_name}! Thanks for choosing {company_name} to clear your driveway today. Your property is all set! Mind leaving a quick review? It helps us keep serving neighbors like you. {review_link}

Post-Storm Thank You

Morning after overnight service
Hi {first_name}, we hope you stayed warm during the storm! {company_name} cleared your property at {time}. If we exceeded expectations, a quick review would mean the world: {review_link}

Seasonal Contract Start

After first service of the season
Welcome to the {company_name} family, {first_name}! We're ready to keep your property clear all winter. If you've been happy with our service, please share: {review_link}

Commercial Property Manager

Within 1 hour of completion
Hi {first_name}, {company_name} completed snow removal at {property_name}. All access points are clear and salted. Your feedback helps us improve: {review_link}

End of Season

April, after last service
Hi {first_name}! Another winter done. Thanks for trusting {company_name} with your snow removal. If we made your winter easier, we'd appreciate a review: {review_link}

Pro tip: Send SMS within 2 hours of service completion. Response rates drop 50% after 24 hours.

Email Templates

Best for commercial clients and follow-up sequences. These templates work well for property managers and HOA contacts.

Post-Service Follow-up

Subject: Your driveway is clear! Quick favor?

Hi {first_name},

Thanks for choosing {company_name} for your snow removal today. We hope you found your property safe and accessible when you needed it.

We're a local, family-owned business and reviews from customers like you help us compete with the big national chains. If you have 30 seconds, would you mind sharing your experience?

[Leave a Review]

Thank you for supporting local!

{your_name}
{company_name}

Commercial Contract Thank You

Subject: Your {property_name} snow removal summary

Hi {first_name},

This season, {company_name} has completed {number} snow removal services at {property_name}:

- Total snowfall cleared: {inches}"
- Average response time: {response_time}
- Service reliability: 100%

We value our partnership and would be honored if you'd share your experience working with us. Your review helps other property managers find reliable snow removal partners.

[Leave a Review]

Looking forward to another successful season together.

Best,
{your_name}
{company_name}

Review Response Templates

How you respond to reviews matters as much as the reviews themselves. Google factors response activity into local rankings.

Weather Delay Complaint

Empathetic + Solution

"We're really sorry we couldn't get to everyone on time during the storm. Due to the 14" snowfall, we prioritized emergency access routes first. We've since added two more trucks to prevent this. Can we make it up to you with priority scheduling next storm?"

Property Damage Claim

Professional + Action-oriented

"We take property damage seriously and want to make this right. Please contact us directly at {phone} so we can assess the situation and file a claim with our insurance. We carry $2M liability coverage for exactly these situations."

Pricing Complaint

Value-focused

"We understand snow removal is an investment. Our pricing reflects 24/7 availability, commercial equipment, and full insurance coverage. We'd be happy to discuss a seasonal contract which offers 20% savings compared to per-push pricing."

5-Star Review Response

Grateful + Personal

"Thank you so much, {name}! Reviews like yours are why we brave the 3am storms. We appreciate you trusting us with your property and look forward to keeping you clear all winter!"

Important: Respond to every review—positive or negative—within 24 hours. This shows potential customers you're engaged and care about feedback.

When to Ask for Reviews

Timing is everything. Ask too early and they haven't experienced your value. Ask too late and they've forgotten. Here's the optimal timing by customer type:

ScenarioBest TimingChannelExpected Result
Residential One-TimeWithin 2 hoursSMS32% response rate
Residential ContractAfter 3rd serviceSMS + Email41% response rate
Commercial PropertyEnd of monthEmail28% response rate
HOA/Multi-propertyEnd of seasonEmail + Phone45% response rate
Post-Major StormNext morningSMS52% response rate

Peak opportunity: The morning after a major storm has the highest response rate (52%). Customers wake up to a cleared driveway while neighbors are stuck—that's the emotional peak.

Platform Priority Guide

Not all review platforms are equal. Focus your energy where it matters most.

Google Business Profile

Critical

90%+ of local searches. Directly impacts Google Maps ranking and local pack visibility.

Tip: Focus 80% of review requests here.

Facebook

Important

Community groups drive referrals. HOA boards often check Facebook before hiring.

Tip: Good for residential, less important for commercial.

Yelp

Moderate

Less relevant for B2B but matters in some markets. Yelp filters aggressively.

Tip: Don't ask directly for Yelp reviews (against TOS). Let them happen organically.

HomeAdvisor/Angi

Low-Moderate

Pay-to-play model. Reviews matter but platform reach is limited.

Tip: Only focus here if you're paying for leads.

BBB

Low

Matters more for trust signals than discovery. Good for commercial RFPs.

Tip: Maintain an A rating but don't prioritize review collection.

Commercial Contract Strategy

Property managers and HOA boards research contractors before signing seasonal contracts. Here's how to use reviews to win commercial business.

Use Reviews in RFPs

  • Include your Google rating and review count prominently in proposals
  • Quote specific reviews from other property managers in your RFP response
  • Create a "Reviews" page on your website that's easy to link in proposals

Ask Commercial Clients Differently

  • Use more professional tone in templates (see email templates above)
  • Ask at end of month/season, not after every service
  • Follow up with a phone call if they manage multiple properties

Worth noting: One review from a property manager mentioning reliability during heavy snow can be worth thousands in future contracts. Commercial clients read reviews differently—they're looking for reliability signals, not just star ratings.

Ready to automate your review collection?

These templates work great manually, but they work even better when automated. GetMoreReviews sends review requests automatically after every job—so you can focus on clearing snow.