Trying to come up with a proposal paper what do you think of this one?

[syzer]

It needs help so dont beat me up =), what do you think?

http://www.members.home.net/mane/Proposal.doc

[Fantasy Lawns]

Looks Good ....Nice and straight forward .....not too wordy

[GreenQuest Lawn]

I agree nice, Easy to read and straight forward

[jeffyr]

Syzer,

It's neat and straight forward---I like that it won't scare people off by being "over the top"w ith rules. I feel that residentials may feel that they are missing something that will screw them if the contract is too wordy.

Waht are the blanks for at the left after the number ? Prices?

jeffyr

[cst51]

Syzer,
Me like. If you don't mind i may try to "Tweek" it for myself. Do I have your permission??

Cary

[syzer]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Jeffyr:

Yes the blanks are for prices. I have added little $ signs in my new revision =).

Cary:

I have no problem with you tweaking it and using it for yourself. Thanks for asking.

[toddco]

Here's my $.02

Rather than start with a blank space for price, start with the key word for the line item, MULCH for example. It would then look like

1. Mulch - (description)
2. Spring Clean-up - (description)
3. Fall Clean-up -
etc.

I'd suggest you order them by some type of importance. If a customer can't afford all then they should start with #1, then #2, etc.

Put the price to the right on a line below the item. Then a blank line before the next item, as you've done. A total on the bottom is probably also a good idea.

I'd also suggest you add information on when these items should be done. This will help push the customer to take action. For example, perhaps you only have 2-3 weeks when you can do pruning w/o damaging the plants. Or perhaps you'll be over booked soon. Let them know.

Love the logo and company quote at the top, makes it look professional. I'd also have the contractor put their name on the bid - I can never remember a name when people give me a bid. Help the customer have a personal connection to the person who visited.

Perhaps a section for conditions noticed on the property. For example:

Lawn Issues:
red thread present
bare spots in lawn near garage
thatch buildup

Hope this doesn't sound picky, it does look good! I just do this type of thing in my job (and I come to this site to learn how to care for my lawn). <grin>

[syzer]

Thank you for your comments toddco, I posted it for criticism so it doesnt bother me in the bit, I am still working on it and actullay did some of the things you posted =). I really didnt like the price out front like that either but wasnt sure if it looked right below it. Thanks again.

[Clinton D. Wagner]

<b>Chris, You may want to start out with the Clints name
and address with phone number etc.

Then close with a place to sign, "who gave the proposal with a date".
Also you may want a place to show the date for
how long this propsal is going to be good for.

In looking it over, I think you are making it to easy for your
competitors to use the information you are outlining for
your customer of what you are going to do and how much
product you are going to use along with SF in your proposal.

When I was contracting we never gave our clints any step by
step proposal for area sf, cy's qty's, etc. that could be used
by our competitors....

We had to use two forms when we went out on a Call....

The first was a page that we had check boxes so we could
check off what the customer wanted us to bid on......

( )mulch flower beds At ( )2" deep ( )3" deep ( )4" deep
( )mow front and back, ( )only front ( )only back
( )fertiz
and the list went on...

Then we would measure it all up price it out and fill out the
proposal that would have the Clints,name,address,phone,
date of proposal, date for how long it was good for, etc...
again we would have check boxes of what we was going
to do without any totals of Sf, Cy's,or anything that our
competitors could use without them doing the same as
we had to do...get out and measure everything and come
up with the qty's for them selfs....

After we check off all the boxes for what we propose to do
we just gave the clint a total price at the bottom for doing
the check work.....
My .02</b>

[syzer]

Thanks for the suggestions Clint, my brother just said the same thing =). I just got back from a bid and I used the new proposal, I love it =), made things so much easier. I will mod it to not be so specific (I assume you were referring to the mulching of beds).

The first think I noted was I forgot a place for the clients name and address =(. I will take care of that now though.

[Clinton D. Wagner]

<b> Yes, Chris, Anything that would show QTY's
at what price, hours, ETC...

Good Luck and Happy Bidding</b>

[syzer]

I have uploaded an updated version of all the most recent revisions. Tell me what you think.

http://www.members.home.net/mane/Proposal.doc

[Clinton D. Wagner]

<b>Chris, Now that is looking Great....
However you are still showing me what you are
bidding for each item....
can you just put a box in front after the No.#
so they would know that if it was check then it
was park of the bid....
and at the bottom you would show just your total
bid....Sure I could say that I can beat that price,
but, I would'nt know what you was bidding per line item nor how many cy's or sf you are talking about...this way if your clint likes your price and wants to sign your contract you will have it all spell out in it for that price...but if
they don't sign it you donot leave it with them.

My .02 again</b>



[Edited by Clinton D. Wagner on 03-27-2001 at 08:36 PM]

[B LAWN CARE]

I LIKE THE PAPER CAN I USE IT TO HELP ME

[lawnman_scott]

I love it, looks alot better than what I used to use. Only thing i would do different is but the #'s, or the first phrase, like mulch, or fall cleanup, in boldface. you did a great job with it.

[syzer]

Clint your saying go more along the lines of something like this:


http://www.members.home.net/mane/Proposal2.doc

as opposed to this


http://www.members.home.net/mane/Proposal.doc

I def. see your point, thank you for your advice, I have to figure out how to draw them damn little boxes =).

B Lawn Care:

Thats what this site is for, go ahead and use it, welcome to the site, and I hope it helps you.

[klite]

The Boxes are in Wingdings 1 Font Use (p) for Box. And I would use Bookman Old Style for the font for the doc.,is alot more clear.

Just My .02

[Edited by klite on 03-27-2001 at 10:26 PM]

[Chip]

What about adding a line for your weekly mowing.

[kutnkru]

Lawn Maintenance Estimate

Spring Clean-Up:
All shrubbery and ornamental beds are cleaned of leaves and debris. “Hand Picking” of shrubs and plants for leaf removal will be performed at this time. Collection and disposal of all limbs, branches, and leaves smothering turf areas. We will define all sidewalk, curb, driveway, and ornamental bed edges where applicable.

Pruning & Shearing:
Light tree pruning will include the removal of dead or unwanted branches at a height not to exceed 25 feet. Shrubbery will be sheared to retain the existing height and shape without removing excessive growth that could cause damage to the plants health.

Mulch:
Ornamental beds will be replenished at a depth of _____” with double shredded hardwood mulch.*
*NOTE: We offer a variety of mulches and colors to match your landscape needs.

Mowing & Trimming:
Unless specified in writing, all lawns will be cut weekly on a weekly basis. Clippings will not generally be caught so that nutrients may be recycled and development of broadleaf weeds reduced. Clippings are removed during the heaviest times only. Trimming and edging will be performed weekly during the heaviest growth periods otherwise the trimming will be done on a bi-weekly basis.

Fall Clean-Up:
All ornamental beds, shrubbery, and turf areas will be blown free of debris. Collection and disposal of all limbs, branches, and leaves smothering turf areas.

Core Aeration:
This is the mechanical removal of small cores of soil and thatch. There are several benefits to your lawn: (1.) This gives the grass roots room for expansion. (2.) By extracting from every square foot lawn, aeration relieves soil compaction. (3.) The cores breakdown and speed up the decomposition of thatch.

Dethatching:
Is the mechanical removal of dead matted grass, which lifts the grass blades allowing vital nutrients to quickly reach and be absorbed by the root zone. The roots will have the ability to spread and to grow. Dethatching will also help reduce fungus damage.

Fertilization:
A beautiful lawn is the result of thorough knowledge of turfgrass requirements and using the best products at exactly the right time. High quality lawns, which are healthy and beautiful, require a coordinated effort between mowing and nutrition programs.


Contractor: ________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________


(Estimate is good for 30 days from date below.)

[Clinton D. Wagner]

<b>Yes!, Yes! That's IT....I Like it
Now if your customer had shown me that
I would have nothing to work with other
than what you said you was going to do
for that price, I don't know if it's
high or low, Darn I got to measure it all
out or just S.W.A.G. it from what you are
showing them...

use No#2 Proposal with the boxes.

Chris it does look good...

Good Luck and Good Bidding</b>

[syzer]

Thank you Kris and Clint, I will be modding it some more with some of Kris' suggestions which I like. The goal is to try to keep it on one page. I called kinkos last night and they can make me two sheeted single sided copies for $.20 so 100.00 for 500 copies which is good that way I can retain the original for myself and leave on with the customer. klite thanx for the wingding font I didnt even think about checking with them funky script. Thanks again guys.

[SJR Lawncare]

Syzer, Try to remember when pricing leaf removal, Its extremely difficult to tell in the spring, how many leaves will be on the ground in the fall. Also, how many times will you do leaf removal. This is why I charge by the hour. Another thing, How many Fertilizer applications will you do? Crabgrass Pre-em? Broadleaf weed Ctl? Etc??
Just a couple things to think about. Good job.

SJR

[yardsmith]

Not too bad.......
ONE THING- make sure you word the aeration part so that your customer doesn't think you will put holes all over his lawn that are 3" wide!!!!!! (some people you never know)
3" deep holes would explain fine.

[yardsmith]

P.S.-I also put all the legal mumbo jumbo at the bottom of my proposals/contracts so my butt is covered if they decide to stiff you in the future or try to modify the elements of the contract, change things, etc. If you have them sign a contract other than this, then put all the clauses & things on it. If the proposal you posted here is the actual contract, put it on this one.

[syzer]

SJR, yeah this is just a proposal for what I am going out to estimate at the time. Not for like a fall clean up in the spring. Like you said its just too unpredictable.

Yard:

Thanks for the suggestions. I have a contract signed on all my jobs other then this with all the legal stuff on it. Though it would be nice to be able to put it along with a cusotmer sign line at the bottom and just use it. I have to try to keep it on one page though. I will maybe try to fit it on there, but I dont want it too cramped.

[cos]

Nice logo!!!!!!