Aeration price

[dbc45420]

Hey everyone. real quick I wanted to ask what you all thought. I bid an aeration job yesterday at 9.00 per 1000 sqft. It was just under a half acre lot and after subtracting house and driveway was 17000 sqft. i told her 135.00. She said she has had it done for 85.00. Was i too high? This was my first estimate and had no idea of how long it would take. Should I call and meet her half way on difference? I dont want to seem desperate but Its a nice area and nice yards. I would like to work out there. I am leaning towards not calling back. What you think?

Brad

[AboveTheCut]

thats the cost of the machine rental. do you have an aerator? were you over seeding as well? you would probably spend $50 in seed. i think your estimate was fair. if you were aerating and seeding a half acre, i would say it should be around $250-$300. jjust remember that when you give an estimate, make sure you sound confident in your self. if the customer feels that you are confident, it will sell more jobs. good luck

[arnoldoutdoor]

In my area, northern lower peninsula of michigan, you cant even rent an aerator for the price she mentioned. So what are your costs? If you mowed the place nice and slow, how long would it take you? it shouldnt take much longer than that to aerate, unless for some crazy reason she wants the plugs off her grass when you're done. Anyway, actual time at the job shouldn't be much more than an hour, plus travel, rental, your labor, etc. are your costs and go from there.

she may have seen your inexperience and threw you a bogus figure hoping you'd bite. I can tell you that i wouldn't do it for any less than $135, but i would certainly call her back, always, always, always leave the customer with good thoughts of you, even if you dont do work for them. If you think you can impress her with your work, and that you will get more work from her as a result, then use the aeration as your loss leader (except for the loss part...dont lose money on the deal) do the job for cost...and that means that your employes get paid, and if you are the only employee, then make sure when you throw her a figure, that you are getting paid whatever you would have to pay an employee to do the job.

[Runner]

She could very well have gotten it done for that cost. Tru-brown is one of the most common companies that sell alot of this type service, and you can BET that they would do it for that cheap. 1/2 acre lots go for around 150 - 180 around here.

[topsites]

This is just aeration now, whether you rent the machine or own it, it's the same price because it's based on actual labor in yard.
gawdd@mn reading y'allses prices you must be in Iceland or Norway or some other expensive place. Here in Virginia, I price aeration at cost of grass-cut + $15 or so, thus a 1/2 acre would get cut for around $35 then + 15 = $50, maybe a little more if demand is high but never more than $60 for 1/2 acre, that's almost double the cost of grass-cutting and you can rent a machine around here for 25 - 30 for a half-day.
You did say 1/2 acre which means HALF an acre, NOT one-to-two acres.

[scout279]

You price is good. I wouldn't do it for less. Normally I am getting $10 - $11 per 1000sqft. w/ a min charge of $50 - $60. Need to figure your time and time is money. If your walking it would take a while. Most of my customers have no problem handing over $100 or more for 10,000 sqtf lawns. Like someone else said be confident and sell yourself that way and you normally will not lose and also will leave a good impression.

[dbc45420]

Thanks for the advise everyone. I am happy with sticking with my price but I did it over the phone. I looked at property when they weren't home and when she called I told her over the phone. I was planning on doing it in person.... I don't know why I did not do it that way then. I explained to her that I am a recognized busisness with 1 million in liability and I pay taxes on my income. She said if she was mistaken on the 85 dollar price she would call back. I really am in no position to turn down work but I always had the attitude of not working cheap. And this was just for aeration, no overseed. I really have no experience in overseed and choose to stay away from that for know until I learn more. Thanks again everyone.

Brad

[BravesFan]

Topsites,

I have no idea why you are charging so little. My crew will do close to 2000 aerations throughout central virginia this season. We haven't done one yet for less than $65. We're normally $75-$95 on average yards...and people are happy to pay it. $300 is the most we've charged so far this season.

$15 more than the price of cutting the grass? Gas is not cheap..and neither is the maintenance on a machine that is only used a couple months per year.

Where are you working...Church hill?

Dennis

[BravesFan]

65Hoss posted this in 2003...and it's never been more true...

"As far a price, I'm between $10-$12 per 1k to aerate only. Good equipment, tines and upkeep say there is no way to charge less. For seeding and fertilizing its $50-$55 per 1k with a $100 minimum. Problem with so many here they are thinking like a worker. They still haven't got past the "hourly worker" mindset. A business man thinks in profit. There is a huge investment in your equipment, you, your family, your name, etc to accept the low prices you have imposed on yourselves. Your only worth what you think. If you think your only worth $15 an hour then fine. That is probably true. Me, I didn't invest tons in this to make $15 an hour. I give the customers much more than they expect, but I also demand to be paid well. To each his own, but you will only get so far with a "dollar" mindset verses a "hundred dollar" mindset."

[stumper1620]

How much would you guys do 4 acres, double aerated, seeded & fert.??
Keep in mind that this is one of my best residential accounts.

[eliahwoodcutter]

hi every body ! my name is Eli, i am from est Europe ,i don't think that's important. but anyway, i start this business 2years ago.last year i did aerating for few yards.one of my costumers call me she asked me if i do aerating ,because she call her fertilizer company" true green" and they estimate her yard for over 200$( aerating and over seeding) i did it for her for $160. but i a had to rent the unit.this year i been checking around what this company charge.the cheapest one it was $250(aerating,fertilizer,and lime).i just bought one unit from lesco.i am ready to make some money.but if you guys talk about prices like" $ 25,$45 ,$65..."well than i am not going to make anything.plus it cost me so much this aerating.
thank you guys , sorry for my English!!!!!
appreciate any suggestions!!!!
ps. DO YOU GUYS DO ALL 3 THINGS IN THE SAME TIME (AERATING , FERTILIZER,LIME?????)

[6'7 330]

How much would you guys do 4 acres, double aerated, seeded & fert.??
Keep in mind that this is one of my best residential accounts.

What kind of equipment are you using, tractor or Z with a tow behind? certainly not a walk behind slit seeder or aerator?

Seed fert 6800$

[stumper1620]

hi every body ! my name is Eli, i am from est Europe ,i don't think that's important. but anyway, i start this business 2years ago.last year i did aerating for few yards.one of my costumers call me she asked me if i do aerating ,because she call her fertilizer company" true green" and they estimate her yard for over 200$( aerating and over seeding) i did it for her for $160. but i a had to rent the unit.this year i been checking around what this company charge.the cheapest one it was $250(aerating,fertilizer,and lime).i just bought one unit from lesco.i am ready to make some money.but if you guys talk about prices like" $ 25,$45 ,$65..."well than i am not going to make anything.plus it cost me so much this aerating.
thank you guys , sorry for my English!!!!!
appreciate any suggestions!!!!
ps. DO YOU GUYS DO ALL 3 THINGS IN THE SAME TIME (AERATING , FERTILIZER,LIME?????)
myself I charge 12 bucks a 1000 sq. ft, plus fert & seed, only reduce that for large good customers, I quoted 2600. on the 4 acre job I asked about earlier,

[BravesFan]

We're right at $12 per 1000...$65 min. to aerate only. $40 per 1000 to Seed and Fert.

Dennis

[stumper1620]

What kind of equipment are you using, tractor or Z with a tow behind? certainly not a walk behind slit seeder or aerator?

Seed fert 6800$
using my Z, your way higher than I went, quoted 2600, 174260 sq. ft at 12 bucks, seed 300 bucks and fert is included in the yearly fert program. billed separately.