Need help with estimate. . .

[no1knosme12203]

Hi,
My name is Nick and I am 16.I was just asked about doing a decent size job ( for me that is ) and I can't figure out how long it will take me, so I can't figure out how much to charge.The job includes doing the following :

Digging up 7 dead bushes
Digging up 10 small dead shrubs
Weeding a 3 X 10 garden
Weeding a 3 X 15 garden
Clean up leaves out of 5 X 10 garden
Pick up cement ( little pieces on the grass) on a 10 X 10 area

So what do you all think? I think it will take me between 5 and 6 hours to do, but im not sure if thats way to much time? how long would it take you ( 1 man crew).

I would appreciate any type of help : )

Thanks in advance,
Nick

[daveintoledo]

my price would be around 400.00

[wski4fun]

Really depends on the size of the shrubs and bushes. If they aren't mature and can come out relitively easy then $400 may be a good price. On the other hand if they are large 30 yr old yews, it may be to low. Also, when you rip up the bushes do you have to regrade and seed? maybe it wasn't dicussed but the customer might expect it. It's better to bring that up now from a c.s. standpoint.

[Splicer]

Really depends on the size of the shrubs and bushes. If they aren't mature and can come out relitively easy then $400 may be a good price. On the other hand if they are large 30 yr old yews, it may be to low. Also, when you rip up the bushes do you have to regrade and seed? maybe it wasn't dicussed but the customer might expect it. It's better to bring that up now from a c.s. standpoint.
Agreed. Regardless I think it will take more than 6 hours to do the job well (correctly). JMO...

[no1knosme12203]

Thanks for the advice. She told me that maybe later we could get dirt and spread it, and also mulch it. She said that she wanted to wait to spread the dirt and mulch later, because she is busy working on the house, and wants to wait on that. Any more advice would be appreciated.

Thanks again,
Nick

[Adam3669]

When your giving an estimate on how long it will take, I would atleast add on half of the original time...just to cover your ass when it takes longer than expected.

[rfed32]

350-550 depends

[chriscraft]

Depending on the size of the shrubs and the amt of weeds , i would figure uder an hour fir us with a 3 man crew. if it was close by maybe 120.00 if it took us 6 hours we would be around 240. the market around here wont let us make $70.00 an hour pulling weeds or raking leaves.

[wski4fun]

How big are the root balls/stumps. Around here not many places take them and when they do it is pretty expensive. Just try to figure every possible angle first and what your true cost is not just the time you may spend at the actual site.

[cwlawley]

I'd be charging about $150 maybe a little higher if it looked like it could possibly take a little longer; stubborn bushes, a ton of leaves, over kill of weeds.

[topsites]

I'd say you got yourself a 300-400 ballpark, which is my guesstimate as well.

But it depends on those bushes, what kind are they, how big are they, how long have they been dead, and does she want the bushes just gone from sight, or you did say dug up, yes... Well, I've spent 20 minutes before pounding on roots with a sharpened shovel (yes, sharpen the edge with a grinder so it cuts) and it took everything I had, pounding the whole time and sweating like a pig, for one dead boxwood. But I've had others I could rip out with my hand without hardly any effort. So, it really depends, to me this is where the big IF comes regarding price.

In a lot of cases you can't be sure, but I'd go back out there and see how solid they feel. Don't hurt yourself, but give them a few tugs, see if they even budge, so to speak - at least get some idea.

[no1knosme12203]

Wow, you all have some excellent advice! i really appreciate all help. i figured $200 or so but everyone has me thinking that is to low? i may run by tommorow and check out how hard the bushes are to tug. I am going over there friday to talk price and all, but I dont want to underestimate or overestimate my first big ( for me ) job. This week is going really good for me. After school, I have a lawn almost everyday and just got 3 clean ups lined up ( im 16 and I didnt expect to get all the lawns at once). Im excited lol I have made 12 accounts ( i want 16 ) so far in the past 2 months and with word of mouth, I keep getting more calls.

Soooo back to the subject . . . is $200 to low for 6 hours by myself ? the roots aren't big enough to worry about hauling off. with all the debris pick up down here, it will be picked up pretty soon with no trouble. I really need to go by the house tommorow and get the plant names and size and then figure it out. The weeds must be hand picked, and the leaves will most likely either be blown or raked out. I will try to sharpen the edge on the shovel and see how that works.

Thanks
Nick