Apartment and Condos waiting until last minute

[Wes]

I have put in 20 to 25 bids on apartment and condominium complexes in the last 2 to 3 months and they all seem to be waiting till the last second to choose a lawn maintenance company. Is this common???? I've called them all back to check on their status and none of them have made any decisions yet.

In the mean time I've got 3 people who want to work for me and I can't tell them anything.

Just wondering if this is common??

[Eric ELM]

If you would fill in your profile so we know what part of the world you are in, this would help. When we did the commercial lawns, we knew before now if we had them, but I would think it depends on the company you are dealing with. It probably isn't common for this in Alabama, but it might be in Maine. Please fill in your location in your profile.
Thanks
Eric

[Wes]

Sorry Eric, I have updated my profile. I'm from Dayton,Ohio.

I have a couple of commercial accounts that were referred to me through other customers. The bids I put in early this year are basically cold calls. I called and asked if they had contracted anyone yet, if not would they like a bid. I was very surprised how many didn't already have contracts.

[lawnboy82]

the guys i talked to say that year long contracts start april 1. they should let you know anytime this month usually it is by the second week in march but you should be able to call anytime this month. maybe a visit is in order?

[Wes]

Lawnboy82,

One of the problems is that the people I can talk to don't make the decisions. They send my bids to corporate headquarters where they decide. I have tried to get their names and numbers, but no dice.

[lee b]

Patience is a virtue when dealing with commercial contracts. I've waited 3 to 4 months on some before they came to a decision. Grounds maintenance is very low priority for most companies. Don't give up, but don't wear out your welcome, they'll get around to it when they get ready.

[JML]

Same thing here. I still haven't heard from more than 1/2 of the proposals i put in..

[GREG R]

Most apts and condos in my area
decide well before the season starts.
Most want a contract so they can set-up
thier budgets for the year, We booked one
apt complex in January for mowing- can't
bet that one.
Also we tell them are contract starts
June 1, they pay the set amount until June
then it can be renew every year on june 1.
This gets you one the property the next year,
mowing and they usaully will not look at other
bids in march because your contract is not up
until june and if they go looking for bids in May or
June, most loc's are booked up or still trying to
play catch-up from spring
works great for us.

[Eric Green]

I bid on a nursing home last month and I stopped in to see what the hold up was for a reply and the site manager says" well our mowing season doesn't start until June..." I looked at her like she was from Pluto!! It makes more sense now. Whoever they had in the past has the contract set up to guarantee that they'll be on that property every season.

Eric

[UrbanEarth]

I have dealt with many property management companies, and they almost all left things until the absolute last minute. Many of them don't even give you a list of properties until the last possible minute! You then have to run around like a chicken with your head cut off to quote them all. I think some of them do that on purpose so that you do a fast quote, make a mistake, and put in a low bid.

This is one of the reasons that I no longer do work for property management companies.

Alan

[SLC1]

Unfortunately that is the way it is with a lot of commerical accounts, every year we wait until the last minute, we dont no to keep bidding to get more work or to stop and concentrate on what we are about to get, a lot of our goverment work comes out at all different times, some dont even come out to bid until the first week of April and then they want to have the cleanup, sweeping and mulching all done with in one week of the award, guess we just live with it, and a late winter storm or early spring snow doesnt help either with the commericals or residentials, Just My Two Cents

[kutnkru]

Consider mentioning that your price is good for a specific period of time. Tell them they have 15, 30, 45 days to answer your proposal. This will do one of two things: get you a call quicker if they like your price, or get you to the circular file that much faster.

I have a clause at the bottom of the estimate that tells thm the price is only good for 30 days. If they cannot get back to us within that amount of time they are subject to an increase in price!

I also tell them that I will be calling them within two weeks to see if they have any questions or wish to discuss our services in greater detail if I have not heard from them by then.

Good Luck this season!
Kris

[bob]

Cutting season is around 2 weeks away and I'm still waiting to here something on 3 large common areas that I've maintained over the past few years.

[lawnboy82]

i am very happy right now. i stopped by at like 9 pm on a sunday night to this condo complex where a guy was supposed to be handing in my proposal. i had gone to check on my status with them. he wasnt home. the daughter told me who the contact person was (the father wouldn't?) so i went and saw the guy. went to the wrong house and got by accident the guy in charge of the landscaping. so i talked to him and he seemed very happy with what i was proposing seeing as how this place looks like hell right now. i mean none of the gardens are edged / there is snow in the middle of the roads due to the fact that the old guys didnt put in for a loader / lots of thatch on the lawn all kinds of good stuff. so i am putting in a price of about 130,000 for this 50 unit townhouse complex. 2 roads and 50 driveways to plow get a skid steer and no problem. he told me that i would know in 2 weeks if i can have my bid to him by the end of this week. just finished it and am really confident. and all this at 18 years of age.