Giving an estimate

[clallen03]

I just meet a guy today and after talking for a while I asked him about his lawn. He informed me that he was looking for someone to maintain his lawns for him so I told him I was a LCO and gave him my card.

After that he asked me "So when can you come by?" I told him I can come by today but he said Saturday and wrote down his address and phone #.

My question is: Would you bring your lawn equipment to his home just in case he want you to start today?

OR

Would you leave it at home and schedule another time to do the work if he agrees to use you?

I stay about 10 min away from the job site and he seemed like he wanted the work do right away, but I don't want to look unprepared.

Let me know how you'll do it.

[jpp]

If you are out and doing other work then take the equipment. If you are not I would not take it, set up a regular day for service. If he is in a bind and needs it done you can say you can come back later in the day.

[cwlawley]

I wouldn't bring my equipment...just be prepared to start the lawn soon afterward.

[Woody82986]

If it were a weekday I would say bring it if you already have it with you. It being the weekend though, leave it at home. I hardly ever bring my equipment with me when i go give an estimate. There is only a 20% chance that whatever day I give the estimate onwill be their service day anyway.

[gammon landscaping]

don't take it but if he wants it done go back there that afternoon or the next day at 7:30

[tjsquickcuts]

I just meet a guy today and after talking for a while I asked him about his lawn. He informed me that he was looking for someone to maintain his lawns for him so I told him I was a LCO and gave him my card.

After that he asked me "So when can you come by?" I told him I can come by today but he said Saturday and wrote down his address and phone #.

My question is: Would you bring your lawn equipment to his home just in case he want you to start today?

OR

Would you leave it at home and schedule another time to do the work if he agrees to use you?

I stay about 10 min away from the job site and he seemed like he wanted the work do right away, but I don't want to look unprepared.

Let me know how you'll do it.

Nice to see another ATLIEN on the board. To me, it really depends. If you have some really good commerical equipment, and a nice size trailer and set up, then I say take it. Its funny here in Atlanta, but everytime I seem to take my equipment with me to a estimate, i usually am able to pick up some of their neighbors too. Its a show, and sometimes the best show wins. I mean you can go with the guy with the lawn mower hanging out the truck of his girlfriends yugo, or with the guy who looks like he can take on any yard. If its not to far from your home, and you are not going to burn a lot of gas, then what do you have to lose, plus another bonus, it gives the appearence that you have been working so you must know what you are doing.

[clallen03]

What part of Atlanta are you working in this year? I'm down on the South Fulton side of things trying to make it happen. From what I hear the North side is were the money is, what do you say about that?
What do you do to advertise? If you do fliers, when and how?

Hit me back, let me know how you work thing out.

[clallen03]

You got a point TJ about the show factor. People do like to see things are in order and you are ready at any given moment, but I think I may hold off on the equipment this time. Im just goint to clean my truck up really good and go like that. I wish I had my logo done so I could were my shirt and hat but I'll just go with a nice collared shirt for now.

Thanks everyone for your input.

[HOOLIE]

I stay about 10 min away from the job site and he seemed like he wanted the work do right away, but I don't want to look unprepared.



If you don't want to look unprepared, then ASK the guy...does he need the work done ASAP, or is he in no rush. That's what I do...once the grass starts growing, I just ask 'em "Does it need to be cut NOW, or can it wait til next Tuesday when I'm in your area?"

[Madstriper]

If you regularly work on Saturdays, or dont mind it for a new customer, bring the equipment with you. You can knock it out and have a satisfied customer right away. Plus, being Saturday, more folks will be home and you may pick up a few more customers. You might even stay all day in the neighborhood, and get home tired, with a fatter wallet, and a longer clientle list.
Good Luck

[tjsquickcuts]

I am working Camp Creek, Cascade areas.....trying to stay in only the high end neighborhood, plenty of them going up everyday, and trust me, with the way the HOA has been putting it down in most of the newer high end neighborhoods, the $$$$$$$ is there. As far as advertising, you need to be out tonight...lol....but tomorrow.....Nice, warm sunny day tomorrow. Impulse buyers will be calling ya by tomorrow night. I try to start advertising around the time chemilawn starts training their army of ants in Jan. I am started my season on March 6th, and running through the week before xmas. I say go with signed contracts if you can. Good luck, plenty of business on that side of town, just dont start under pricing yourself, cause you will be mad at the end of the year with your profits.

[clallen03]

OK, Im convinced! You guys really have some good points. I think I have changed my mind. I think I will just bring my equipment, what the hell. I only live 10min away, and it looks good when I have it all set too.

[tjsquickcuts]

OK, Im convinced! You guys really have some good points. I think I have changed my mind. I think I will just bring my equipment, what the hell. I only live 10min away, and it looks good when I have it all set too.

Thats the attitude....I guess after we :hammerhead: it in your head.....lol.....good luck man. I will keep in touch to see how you are doing. Like I said, its out there, and we just gotta go and get it....well I just signed up my 84 customer today, and still have a few on a waiting list. I started last May/2005 also, so if thats not motivation, I dont know what is. I have honestly had well over a 100 accounts, but due to having some many people in two are three areas, I cut alot of accounts off because they were no longer in my zone....lol....but you gotta want it bad, cause I did and its starting to show.

[clallen03]

I saw on another post, you said that you have got 3 call already from flyers. What does your flyer look like and how many do you put out? Do you go door to door? If not how do you do it? In new to the game, trying to go legit and make my what in the business. I need all the help I can get.

Im going to be a little further South then you. I'll be working the homeowners in Fairburn, Palmetto, and I might check out the Camp Creek area. I have noticed the Market Place has brung in several new sub-divisions so I may see what I can do over there too.

[HOOLIE]

I'm not in Atlanta but my in-laws lived in Marietta and later on in Acworth. Just curious what those areas are like in terms of business??

[clallen03]

Looks like you have about the same type of set up as I do. You know what the average size yard is on this side of town, what are you charging per yard. At least what is your minimum on a yard.

You said try to get contract accounts too, you probably know very well that is hard to get contracts on this side of town. What is your approach when it come to that?

Look I have a million questions, and I hope Im not taking too much of you time but Im always looking to talk with someone that had had success in my perfered field, especially when they are that close to home.

Let me know what going on.

[clallen03]

Those areas are not bad either. That would be considered the north side of Atlanta, and Im focusing on the south side. I do know a guy that is working that side of town and is very succesful. He is one of reason I decided to go into this business. There is plenty of $$$ all over Atlanta, you just have to know how to get it.

[tjsquickcuts]

Looks like you have about the same type of set up as I do. You know what the average size yard is on this side of town, what are you charging per yard. At least what is your minimum on a yard.

You said try to get contract accounts too, you probably know very well that is hard to get contracts on this side of town. What is your approach when it come to that?

Look I have a million questions, and I hope Im not taking too much of you time but Im always looking to talk with someone that had had success in my perfered field, especially when they are that close to home.

Let me know what going on.

Nawh, you are okay, ask away, I know I did when I was starting out. As far as the Marietta/Acworth areas, its plenty of business, and lots of money because people in those areas tend to spend more money making the outside look good, but the southside is starting to come around with the new growth. As far as pricing, my min is $35 for the smallest yard for the basics mowing, edging, blowing, etc. I also will do shrubs at no additional charge if they sign up for fertilizing and weed control programs also. Takes just a few minutes, and it helps with making the entire lawn look great. As far as getting accounts to sign agreements, I just tell them that I will be by with a agreement so ensure that services will be carried out as I have told them. I never ask them, I bascially just tell them they have to sign one. For those who balk, I explain to them that the agreement is just to make them feel better about the services they will be getting. Once I explain to them, most of them come around, and the ones who don't, I asked them what the problem is with signing it, and go from there. But I do know how hard it is to get southsiders to sign up though.....lol.....but it is changing.....and I can give you a few neighborhood to go post flyers in also. I say if you can, pass out about 500 flyers a day, 9am to 5 pm if you can, and within a week or so, your phone will be ringing off the hook.

[clallen03]

Is it possible I could contact you outside of this forum? I read on another post you have Nextel, I use them too. Can I direct connect you or call you to talk Lawn Care 101?

[tjsquickcuts]

Is it possible I could contact you outside of this forum? I read on another post you have Nextel, I use them too. Can I direct connect you or call you to talk Lawn Care 101?

Anytime man, I am all about helping because I know it will come back in the long run. Most guys arent willing to give up secrets or details to their success because they are afriad you will become competition, but it enough accounts out there for all of us to eat steak and shrimp. My DC # is 155*137037*5. Anytime tomorrow will be cool, will be out and about taking advantage of the weather tomorrow.

[clallen03]

Your name is TJ right? Im Corrie. Thanks for all your help. Im going to alert you in just a min to store your DC in, but I'll hit you up tomorrow to talk.

[tjsquickcuts]

Thats cool, and yeah I am T.J......I need to go out to my truck and get my phone anyway......

[PMLAWN]

I never drive a truck to the est. only the car with me clean and dressed nice. Last thing you need is to sit in the mans kitchen with grass falling off you and smelling bad.
Always plan the route and tell him when he will be serviced each week. At this time of year there is no need to desperately cut on the same day.
We also will not cut a one time that just walks up to us and asks. Only after an appointment, so we do not pull up and hope to get all the neighbors running out for our service. We do not sell ice cream, only a years worth of professional property maintenance.

[PMLAWN]

Is it possible I could contact you outside of this forum? I read on another post you have Nextel, I use them too. Can I direct connect you or call you to talk Lawn Care 101?

I would do your learning on this site. Read a lot and get answers from all sides. After reading the points and counter points you will be able to create a good working plan. Talking one on one can be a danger if the other person is new to the business. You may be talking to a guy that has been doing this less than a year. Does not have a license to do pesticides and yet does, Cuts grass every other week. Puts pre-emergent down in fall and feels it is good because there is no crabgrass in spring.
No advice is better than bad advice

[daveintoledo]

I never drive a truck to the est. only the car with me clean and dressed nice. Last thing you need is to sit in the mans kitchen with grass falling off you and smelling bad.
Always plan the route and tell him when he will be serviced each week. At this time of year there is no need to desperately cut on the same day.
We also will not cut a one time that just walks up to us and asks. Only after an appointment, so we do not pull up and hope to get all the neighbors running out for our service. We do not sell ice cream, only a years worth of professional property maintenance.

you are on a sales call, make the sale, then schedule the work.....

[tjsquickcuts]

I would do your learning on this site. Read a lot and get answers from all sides. After reading the points and counter points you will be able to create a good working plan. Talking one on one can be a danger if the other person is new to the business. You may be talking to a guy that has been doing this less than a year. Does not have a license to do pesticides and yet does, Cuts grass every other week. Puts pre-emergent down in fall and feels it is good because there is no crabgrass in spring.
No advice is better than bad advice

This dude is a trip, its quite obvious that he lives in a small town. Dont mind this cat! SMH......I know one thing, I am way ahead of most of you guys and I have less time on the job. Learn about your grass type, and then come back. Pre Emergent is GREAT in the Fall on BERMUDA grass. I can just imagine what your lawns look like in the winter. And with the weather we have been having in the southeast, weeds would be everywhere. You might need to come take a class too

[PMLAWN]

This dude is a trip, its quite obvious that he lives in a small town. Dont mind this cat! SMH......I know one thing, I am way ahead of most of you guys and I have less time on the job. Learn about your grass type, and then come back. Pre Emergent is GREAT in the Fall on BERMUDA grass. I can just imagine what your lawns look like in the winter. And with the weather we have been having in the southeast, weeds would be everywhere. You might need to come take a class too
You are very right, Small town USA. And you are right that I am way behind you:rolleyes: . Your timing may be good but the comment was about the lack of crabgrass in early spring??
And two weeks to recut Bermuda, I guess it adds variety to life, Long green grass when I go to work,- Short brown stuff when I come home, I will add that to my service list!

And my post to Corrie still stands. You spread chemicals without a license and now you want to teach others just starting, how to run a business.
I feel that is a disservice to others and I will state that

Happy Mowing