Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Snow Plowing With the FEL

[gmason]

I guess that's why I don't "charge" I just accept "donations".
Now, I know there probably isn't much legal difference, I think here when we get these "freak" snows that people are much more likely to "forgive" me for killing their cat. I'm very cautious around doors and cars, but as for brick inlays into the concrete, unless the owner advises me of it's wareabouts, and to be carefull, I don't have xray vision. Sometime it's hard enough just to figure out where the drive ends and the turf starts. There are lots of sprinkler heads located near the edges of the driveways here.
I've done this same neighborhood the last 2 snowfalls ('00 and now '02), and these people are sooooo glad to see me coming, they line-up to have me push water./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I guess I'll cross the legal issue when I need to(maybe too late)
Now as far as insurance, we were told(not in writting) that the tractor itself did fall under our homowners and umbrella policy.
BTW, I did the local Firestation for free....this time and the last snow too, and glad to do it.
gary

 

[MikePA]

I just read your bio - a SAS programmer?

 

[Bob_Trevithick]

<font color=blue>...Also, do you have insurance for plowing other people's driveways? I ask because I posed the same question to my insurance agent, i.e., "If I plow the elderly neighbor's driveway because I am a nice guy, does my homeowner's policy cover me?". The answer was 'No'.</font color=blue>

My insurance agent told me I was fine provided no money changes hands. If it does, all bets are off. And, in fact, NYS DMV told me I could drive the tractor on the road without registration provided no money changes hands. If it does, I have to trailer the tractor to wherever I'm going.

I don't take money, and only do friends houses. I'd pull a stranger out of a ditch, of course.. but not for money. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[therrien]

If the people give you money after the fact and you never asked for the money AND the money is CASH there is no proof.
Proof would only be needed if the nieghber or whatever is trying to sue, after you helped them out.
Not nieghberly at all.

 

[Bob_Trevithick]

Sure, but if I knock down their house while plowing, they might feel less neighborly toward me. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Reminds me of a story I read, under the heading "Thanks a lot!" The fire department came and got someone's cat out of a tree. When they left, they ran over the cat. /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

Stuff happens...

 

[PaulinSD]

I don't charge for plowing out the neighbors. I'm not insured for snow plowing and don't want to do it either. I view it a neighbor helping a neighbor. I don't want to see folks out shoveling a foot of wet snow and have a heart attack. Christmas time brings plates full of cookies, cakes and the like, one dropped of a $25 gift cert. for a local eatery. I've been in the position many years ago, that I needed help like that and others plowed me out. I'm doing the same now that I can help out someone else.

Paul

 

[jhburke]

I live on a deadend lane. There is 5 houses on the lane witch is 826 feet long. I have plowed out the drives and lane for the 24 years I have been here. I do it for free simply to let everyone come and go as they please. Much simpler than having an emergency and having to try to help then. JIM

 

[DRFoster]

After reading the recent threads on the TBN forums, I talked with my insurance agent (State Farm) and he confirmed that my tractor wasn't covered by my homeowners policy when the tractor is off my property. We added a policy specifically to cover it when its off my property (its still covered by our homeowners while its on our property.) The annual premium is something like $250. Steeper than I was expecting, but I do help neighbors remove snow, help our property owners association when necessary as well as other jobs away from home.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I live in Maine and we get snow. I've probably cleared it more ways than I care to remember. And they all work ... some just better than others.I used to work for a large landscae company that did commercial snow removal. That gave me a sense of efficiency, timing, and cost. My own driveway is 350 feet long with a good sized car park. I've cleared it with a JD 400 with hydraulic angle blade. Then it was a JD 855 with a 5' snowblower. Neither of these methods was satisfactory. Then on to a Curtis angle snow blade on the 70 loader arms. That's efficient and really good when the banks get high.
My concern for someone using a FEL to clear snow is the need to trailer it around which can be dangerous. I definitely would not do this without insurance which means the customer is going to have to help with the costs.
Hope this helps.

 

[John_Mc]

Re: \"Charitable Plowing\"

I've always been a little worried about being deemed a commercial operation when doing favors for friends and neighbors such as plowing snow. What I've ended up doing is one of the following: for someone who I don't think can afford to pay (or if I'm just in that mood that day), I tell them "some time in the next year, I expect you to tell me a story of a favor you did for someone else, and that ask you asked them pass the favor on". For those with a few bucks to spare, I say "How about giving a donation of at least whatever you think it's worth to XYZ charity" or "pick your favorite charity, donate to them, and let me know who you picked next time you see me [political contributions don't count in my book]"

I suppose if I ever got into it seriously, I couldn't afford tthe wear and tear on the tractor (and me), but so far it's worked out great. No insurance hassles, and you get to feel even better about helping someone out.