Can you guys help me ?

[Esby]

Alright, I just got a call from a prospevtive customer. She said that she wants me to do her lawn (approx 6 acres) this spring due to problems with her Lawn Company that she hired last year. Here is what she didn't like about them.....she complained that they mowed areas that she didn't think that needed mowing. She said that she wanted it only mowed when she called, so like 2-3 days after she calls, the other company didn't want to do that. Well here is what i am asking, Is it worth it to take this, or is it going to only cause my problems?? I mean with out a deffinate schedule of when to mow it? What do you guys charge per acre of mowing? Should I take it?

[turfcat75]

If your really hard up take it,if not that's gonna screw up your route,i had customers like that last year..its not worth it!

[Mike Paulsen]

Only you can anwser that.How bad do you need the work? Sounds like a bad customer. I wouldn't want it.To each their own. If you take it I would make some set schedule.Being on call like that you can better she will call when you are knee deep with other stuff!!

[JimLewis]

I gotta agree. If you don't have much of a schedule and are desperate for customers, go ahead and take it. You can always ditch her later if it becomes a problem. But if you think you're going to have plenty of business without her, I'd steer clear.

Our company wouldn't touch that account. But we can afford to be fairly selective.

[Island Lawn]

If you take on this BOSS, explain to her that you may not be able to give her a long term commitment. When it comes time to drop her, try to give her a bit of notice. No need to start her trashing your name because you ran out on her.

You may be able to straighten her out down the road. If not, you should consider dropping her.

[dmk395]

To be on call like that make sure she is paying you well.

[Greenkeepers]

To take this it would have to be for at least $80-100 per acre every 2 1/2 weeks. Mainly because she is a pain and she only wants it done when she calls. If she calls 1 month after a cut then even higher. She would have to agree to all terms and put money down for a deposit. As you can see I really wouldn't want this job unless she is willing to pay for it..

[mowerman90]

Yessiree, I'd take that job in a minute. Then I'd go home and sit by the phone hoping that she'd call me. LOL

[GREG R]

Depends on that she is paying.
It might not be as bad as you think.
Like the suggestion above try it but
leave yourself and "out", tell her you
will get her through the spring and then
you will have to have another discussion with
her about the situation at hand. You might "click"
with this lady and the other company couldn't.
All business are different in alot of ways.

[Currier]

I think most times you want to establish a "win/win" meaning you and the customer benefit from the relationship. It sounds to me that this could be more of a lose(you)/win(her). It may lead to some serious resentment down the road.

It may also lead to some serious wear and tear on your equipment and your health!

At the same time...It is a job and maybe you have the personal skills to make it work. It would be nice if there was easy answers but I guess that is part of the trick to being a business. Some guys have mission statements that outline what their business does, and what it's purpose is. Then when they get a situation like this it is a matter of seeing whether or not it matches with your mission statement.

[EROSS17]

6 Acres could be pretty profitable, but if she's as big of a pain in the butt as she sounds, It could just be one huge headache for you.

[Dan Stoms]

As soon as she said "only when I call you" you should know that means a week after you think she should have called,so price accordingly.

[AB Lawn Care]

Personally I would not touch it with a 6 foot pole!But it's you job.Also keep in mind that even if it pays well,you may loose money becouse it screws up you route.And what if she is on of these "loser" clients that want you to come only when the lawn is 1/2 a foot tall.If you do take it,make shure you tell here that you will not cut it if it goes over a set heighth.

Be Careful!!!!!

[Esby]

Thanks so much for the great response!! I think I am going to go and take a look at it, and mostly talk to the former lawn company that was doing the service. I know just about all of them in my area, and see just how bad it was, and what the price is they got paid. I am not going to get Screwed in this. I have plenty of other new accounts waiting for me this spring. Thanks again!

[kutnkru]

We have a few, I stress few clients who came to us with similar requests.

This is probably where she is coming from:
a) She obviously doesnt want her lawn to turn into a hay field because of its vast size.
b) She probably had a crew(s) in the past who have provided her with shoddy workmanship and tried to cut every corner possible to make money for under bidding this account,
-OR-
She probably had a crew(s) in the past who cut the property every week regardless of the current weather and turf conditions, against her wishes and then sent her hefty bills for doing so.
c) She wants to have some sort of control in what she is paying for. Thats understandable too, and not irrational if you think about it.

What I have found works well for both parties in question is this:
First. I would meet with her to discuss her concerns about being ripped off in the future, and not having control of her finances with your company.
Second. I would explain to her that you would be more than willing to compromise with her to meet her needs and still accomodate your scheduling.
Third. I would offer to set her up on the mowing schedule that you would use during a dry season, so that mowings would not exceed 10 day intervals when its heavy and two weeks otherwise.

We offer 24 cuts to our clients in this case vs. the 28-32 cuts of a normal season. Its not that difficult to add them in, and if nothing else you could gain some clients from her as well. Usually these 'squeaky ole bats' are some of the best clients if dealt with by offering respect, and an open ear.

It has worked for me, and if you think your interested I would definitely consider this option. Dont forget, you are compromising with her, and if she doesnt like the schedule you present to her, then you can always recommend another company for her to use.

Hope this helps.
Kris

[TGCummings]

I wouldn't touch it.

If I can't schedule lawns on a regular basis (weekly or bi-weekly) then they're just interfering with my set schedule. Above all, you need to be able to set your schedule, and with this one you're opening the door to let someone else set your schedule for you. Get a few accounts like that and you'll start to wonder who it is you're really working for.

I would tell her that unless you can set her on a regular schedule then she can call and you'll schedule a cut at your earliest possible convenience. Remind her that, during the growing season, demand is high and unscheduled cuts will sometimes have to wait weeks to fit in the rotation. Sheduled cuts come first, then unscheduled work is done on a first-come, first-serve basis. In my case, I only have one day a week to do unscheduled work so if I have three days worth of extra work requested, the latest request has at least a three-week wait.

Good luck!

-TGC

[John DiMartino]

I had plow customers like that at one time-no more.They want to run your business ,cant be done.Like Kris said,if you can come to terms on a schedule in advance-fine,but to be on call like a doctor-no way-I schedule a week ahead-I wont be at her beck and and call,a 6 acre job isnt going to take 10 minutes,and i bet by the time she calls-the grass is 8" tall,so you'll be killing your equipment.Be straight with her-and tell her that you cant be on call.If your real desperate-do what you gotta do.

[VLM]

John said it all! Sounds like a pain and you'll probably wind up dropping here afterall. Also, what if she stiffs you? That's a pretty big bad debt. You might consider pay in advance since you know going into it she is likely to be a problem. Good luck.

[bob]

Don't let your lawn customers write your schedule. Tell her you'll cut it every 10 or 14 days. Iv'e had customers like this before. She'll call when your behind after 4 days of rain.

[Bassman]

This type customer has bit me in the arse enough where I won't take them anymore. If it's not weekly or biweekly, I don't want it. Another point to remember is like another poster said, often with this type customer, they wait until everything is overgrown. If you take it, make sure they know the price will vary depending on the condition of the property.

[Acute Cut]

I would only take it on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule as well. Bassman said it appropriatly. Do you discharge your grass clippings or collect them? Probably discharge with 6 acres, but i am wondering about the quality of the cut if she waits too long. If you discharge 1 ft tall grass then you are going to clump badly and waste alot of time because you have to go so slow.

Make this lady your best friend. Find out what the other companies schedule was. Talk to her and find out about things that they may not have offered. If they came and mowed and ran then maybe she is actually desiring a little more customer service. (talking and gabbing comes to mind)

I would offer to her the bi weekly mowing. By doing this then you let her know when she can expect you. Then she can budget appropriatly. This will also keep the lawn somewhat manageable. I would NOT take the bi weekly mowing however if she wants you to fert the whole thing too. YIKES!

Explain to her the bennifits of mowing more often than once a month. I would also most definitely find out EXACTLY what she wants mowed. By doing this then you can avoid unnecessary mowing. I would walk around the grounds with her and have her point out exactly what she wants. When doing this then you can get a better idea of time, landscape, and you can give the pitch to her then for the amount of mowing needed to "give her the best possible service you possibly can".

Let us know what you do.

[Esby]

I much thank you all again for your great responses! I have determined exactly what I am going to do. I have set a date in which I am going to go out and view the property with her this spring. I have driven by and it looks like a nice account, fairly level with scattered trees, but not too many. She has several large gardens that dont look to present much of a problem. I have known this family for several years, so I do trust the women that she will pay as they dont seem to be struggling for $$$, her husband is a doctor. Once the 30 some inches of snow melts, I am going to walk the property with her and see what she wants done. I will find out what parts she wants cut regularly, the other parts she said grow very slowly and wouldn't need to be cut every time I came. I told her that if she was to put me "on call" that most of the time I wouldn't be able to get to her right away, because of a busy schedule, so I offered a 10 day or 2 week schedule. She suprised me by saying just as long as I come somewhere between 10-14 days each time. So now I can really decide when to cut. I think in the end this is going to turn out to be a good customer. Sping time will tell all though. Thanks again.

[bobbygedd]

no way! we have to be on an organizes schedule in order to provide quality work in a timely fashion. i would tell her its either weekly, or bi monthly, and charge accordingly.

[HOMER]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, I think he...............nevermind.