Need some advice

[igm]

Here's the story. This could take a while.
I'm a one many show right now. I do 12 month agreements with my clients, manage the whole landscape. Grass, trees, shrubs, all chemicals, etc. 1 small commercial, otherwise small to mid size, high end residential. I'm happy with these type properties.
Recently, a friend of mine referred me to some people who he had worked for cutting grass or whatever needed to be done, for $10/hour. For legitimate personal reasons, he couldn't continue. Since then there have been a few people doing odd stuff, but the place has gone down hill. Property is huge residential. 11 acres, 5.25 acres fescue turf to be completely maintained, in the owner's words "golf course quality". Lots of trees, shrubs, trimming, edging, chemicals, odds and ends (picking up limbs, tons of leaves, etc.) It has many gray areas that they would want taken care of also (at an additional hourly rate). For no add-on's its probably 25k - 30k per year. But I'll have to bring on a crew and buy some more stuff. It's been 1.5 weeks since I measured it and started putting together a fairly comprehensive proposal, which I'm almost done with. I talk to the wife today and she takes a definite "tone" with me. Saying stuff like, wondering if I wanted the job, asking why it has taken longer than I thought to finish the proposal, she expected to have it by the time she arrived back in town, etc. I explain nice and professional like, my reasons. Frankly, it pissed me off.

My question: should I pursue it or not. Her attitude thus far, before I even get a proposal out, is a red flag to me, that I may regret landing the account later on. She had that polite yet snotty, I'm better than you and expect to be treated so attitude. I don't take well to that. I am a professional and expect to be treated as such, but I do realize I'm a bit tardy on getting back to her. I explained to her it was in the name of thoroughness which would benefit both of us. Call me over-sensitive, but I sleep well at night. All my other accounts are extremely happy with my service and trust me to do what I think is best. I'm afraid with the money they'll be spending that they will be impossible to please, and It may cost me before I can cancel the contract.
My attitude is I feel like I'll be successful with or without them, and I don't need the heartburn, yet I feel like I may be "running away" from opportunity because It's taking me out of my comfort zone.

What do you think guys? Help me out here. Sorry about the length.

[lawrence stone]

You are way out of your league.

If this guy had a "guy" working for $10/hr at say 10 hours a week=$100 how in the world do you expect them to pay you
$25k?

Forget about this one asap and concentrate on getting jobs in the hoods you already service.

I have a name for those women. They are usually married to doctors. They are called ---- queens.

[igm]

Stone,

Thanks for the reply. They've got the money, no doubt, but their perceived value of what we do I'm afraid is not up to par, especially when you stick 'em with a bill for $30 - $45/hour. I can't even drive over there and take a whiz for $10/hour. I know I'm competent to do the job, but feel more comfortable, as you said, staying with my normal 'hoods. "Queens"...I like that.

...Sam

[Edited by igm on 03-15-2001 at 02:58 PM]

[TJLC]

Please don't get me started on doctor's wives! I agree with lawrence on this one, walk away.

[joshua]

for a guy like me going 3/4 time this year i would even have to walk away to something like that. sorry but i'm used to $20 dollars a hour after exspnses. more jobs will come for you. your right it wouldn;t be worth the heartburn and stress that would come from someone like that. walk and keep to what you know what to do, your hoods as they say.

[lawnboy11]

I hear everything you say man. I too am Hans Solo and think you should say see ya later...
Unlesssss...you want to seriously grow and add a crew. If you do that you'll have to get more work to keep the crew busy full time, etc, etc, etc, a million headaches. You no sleepy so good then. If you do that one yourself and it takes you all day, but they do pay you 25,000 a year it would be worth it. Send them the proposal/contract, get the spring clean-up $ up front if they bite, go buy some sweet new toys, and go from there. I personally like less worries too though. The less stress the better. Never really get sick do ya? Smaller properties are goldmines. I'm thinking of getting rid of anything over 1/4 acre. Too much leaves and all that in the fall, tree limbs falling, blah blah blah. There are advantages to both options, just protect your own interests and peace of mind in which ever you choose. Good luck either way.

[jeffyr]

I have never had a situation like this, but my first thought is too many eggs in one basket. A conflict of any kind with this new person could create a major setback in your life.

jeffyr

[Charles]

I had a "Queen" give me the run around one time until she finally paid up. I too am thinking about giving up my large properties. Spent half hour yesterday picking up limbs and rocks for the tightwads in a spring cleanup yard cut(already done the leaves). Your money makers are the smaller 1/2 acre or less yards.

[AVRECON]

The thing about it is, you'll probably get the place looking good and at the end of the year you'll probabably need to up the price because you didn't make what you thought you would, then get low balled from some newby that don't have a clue. And thats the problem in my area if you don't work for free you just about don't work.

[bob]

Stick to properties that you know you can handle. If you bite off more than you can chew, than all of your other good customers will suffer. Some jobs you just have to say ,no to.

[igm]

Everything you guys are saying is making sense. Right on target. Guess I just needed to hear it from someone else. I heard a speaker once say that to be successfull you have to move beyond your comfort zone. I kinda like my comfort zone...it's ...well...comfortable. I like my peace of mind. Sticking to my bread and butter for now sounds good. Let the growth process move a little more incrementally like it has been.

Thanks a lot

Sam

[Runner]

It sounds to me like these people aren't looking for a servICE as much as they are looking for a servANT. This type will drive you nuts with requests for this and requests for that - at no additional charge of course. She'll make you feel like she's got you by the...well, over the barrel anyway. Not only that, but if everything isn't "just so", guess who will be expected to come back. I don't know, if they were offering you a place to live to, perhaps you might have something, but then you would have to wear a straw hat, tend their pool, and fill her iced tea glass too when she asked.

[MikeGA]

You should be able to pick up enough smaller jobs around Canton and on over around Cummings to keep you in your COMFORT ZONE. I have an Aunt and some friends who live off hwy 20 just past 400 and I wish I lived over there to start up a business like this!!!! People paying $200000 to a half mil for a decent size house driving 30 minutes to 2 hours one way to work every day trying to make payments on the house don't have much grass to cut, but don't have the time to cut it either.

Good Luck, Neighbor.

[igm]

Your right Mike. This place has turned into a
honeyhole for this type work. Those houses you
mentioned are exactly what I'd like to have a
bunch more of. Thanks.

Sam

[Vibe Ray]

You know what you should do? Jack the price MAJORLY for the anticipated trouble! If you estimated $25,000, then go for $45,000! That way you don't have to turn the job down and if they accept it, great!!! I think the extra $20,000 will take care of any sleeping problems you might have! If not, you'll have so much $$$, that you could buy all the sleeping pills you'll ever need!!!!LOL

Seriously though, Consider just giving 'em a proposal for $45,000 a year. Also, if they are paying $45,000 a year to you, they will treat you differently. People respect high prices! It seems to me a win'win solution. What ya think?

[Paradise Yard Service]

You are spreading yourself too thin on this one. With a crew you will eat the contract as mentioned. What invariably happens is stuff will not get done (rightly so at $10.00 per hour) and then your service will not look good(hey who does that yard its not completely finished).

There was a post yesterday on doing a full service contract only method. And the response was that if you can not do full service for whatever reason then you look junk. I thought good piece of advice. Rethink hard and you will see the light.

Sleep on dude, more lawns a-comin.
Aloha,
P.Y.S.

I Love My Job, I Love My Boss, I Am Self-Employed!

[HOMER]

We did a yard yesterday for a local Dr.s wife. She called in a panic and needed it done asap, she was having a study club coming over at 3:00pm. I was working on everything, sharpening blades and replacing a bad belt on my 72..............the belt took a little time. I didn't know there was a time limit until we got there at 12:00 noon. I surveyed the property and it was BIG. Has at least 300 trees on it and the driveway has actual curbs all around it. I told her that it would cost her 85 to a 100 bucks. I figured 2 hrs at least. She didn't comment so I told my wife to get her ars in gear, we had work to do! (No I did not)
2 hrs and 15 minutes later I knocked on the door, I told her it would be $100.00............she said her husband was going to die! I said sarcastically "OK make it 95.00. This house is probably 6000sg ft. sitting on a 5 acre lot. He is a heart doctor. It's heated and cooled by water, has a pond inside the house????????? She said all they ever do is work around that house. You think I'll ever hear from her again.

WhenI looked at the check later that afternoon it was made out for $95.00 :rolleyes: I couldn't believe it. We still made pretty good on the job but it goes to show you how the rich will hord $5.00.

Answe to your question is NO, let somebody else get the shaft, that's what they want to give!

[Paradise Yard Service]

Homer,

Used to be a bartender. Worst tippppppppppeererererrrrrrrssssssss! Doctoooooorrrrrsssss amd theree wivessssssssss.
Hope you can read. Post tranatic strressss comin on as I read bout Doctors!@!!!.
Just Funnin!

Aloha,
P.Y.S.