I Believe I've posted this link in the past, but for those who lost colonies last winter, this is a pretty good check list to follow:
http://nybeewellness.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/winter_deadout_key_2-24-14_final_draft-2.pdf
http://nybeewellness.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/winter_deadout_key_2-24-14_final_draft-2.pdf