Got myself into a pickle

[Necroshine]

Handed out some business cards last week during my bowling league. A lady I bowl with was interested in getting an estimate. Was weary, but needing some business I went for it.

Its a small horse farm, a few steep hills I won't touch, brush removal in a few large lots that I'm not equipped for as well. She also needs weed killing , fences built, gates installed, and other odd jobs around the house. In her words, she's desperate for somone she can trust to do this.

I also told her I'm not liscensed for chemicals, the hills were too steep, and the grass in the horse pastures is too high for my mower ( 12-16 inches) and I won't touch it. Lord knows what obstacles I'll run into on the first pass as well. I recommended to her that she would be better of with a full service landscape company and maybe a handyman, since I'm fresh starting out and pretty much setup for suburbia for now. I even had a few numbers for her to call too.

This wasn't too good an answer. I though it was good, though:) . She gives me this I know you and trust you and need someone who I can trust to come in here. After a going back and forth, she said if you can just mow the house that will be fine. I bascially got guilt tripped into it. I figured, its 1 mowing, I'll charge by the hour and not return. I see so many red flags, bells, whistles... good thing i'm getting this outa the way now!


I know its my fault for agreeing to an estimate to somone I sorta know. I should have stuck to my principles, but I saw $$, now its biting my in the arse:hammerhead: Anyhow, when I'm through tonight with this one cut, I won't be doing any more work for her.

What is a good way to turn down someone that is laying a guilt trip on you?

[me1223]

say no, or say that at the moment you aren't capable of handling a property with the needs that one has.

[29 Palms Property Management]

Wow! You should have her buy you all the necessary equipment to do the job, on a regular basis, and you might want to think about moving in with her as well with all of that work! :)

[PMLAWN]

Whats the pickle-- do any work you can for her and not anything else.
Also run by your local Sunbelt and rent stuff to do what you don't have equipment for.
Like pickles, her money is green -- isn't it??

[PMLAWN]

Handed out some business cards last week during my bowling league. A lady I bowl with was interested in getting an estimate. Was weary, but needing some business I went for it.

What is a good way to turn down someone that is laying a guilt trip on you?
What guilt trip is she laying on you. You asked for work and she gave you some??

[Necroshine]

Well, when she says you " do not " have to do any work for me if you do not want to. I figured after the estimate of the property, and that we are on the same team it may cause some friction if something goes wrong.

I took that all into consideration , and just feel that it might not be a good idea to work for friends, even if its just a casual aquaintenance. And after all was said and done, and she said that she'd understand if I don't want to take her on, I still feel like I'm being coerced into this by her.

I've got enough headaches at my normal job, and don't want need another one on job #2, at least not at first:rolleyes:

[jazak]

If she has a horse farm why doesn't she have a tractor? If I were you I would go get a JD or New Holland tractor with loader and mower and a ZTR for her yard and finishing around the barn or stuff like that. (If you do decide to go this route get AC and cab with the tractor, its a must) Then your set and you can get to work. :) Then give her a monthly price to up keep everything and you will pay back your equipment pretty quick. You could also find another person who needs this work so you can split the cost of the equipment and start to make big $$$$. Eventually you will be happy you know her cause maybe you can park your stuff for free there.

[yrdandgardenhandyman]

If she has a horse farm why doesn't she have a tractor? If I were you I would go get a JD or New Holland tractor with loader and mower and a ZTR for her yard and finishing around the barn or stuff like that. (If you do decide to go this route get AC and cab with the tractor, its a must) Then your set and you can get to work. :) Then give her a monthly price to up keep everything and you will pay back your equipment pretty quick. You could also find another person who needs this work so you can split the cost of the equipment and start to make big $$$$. Eventually you will be happy you know her cause maybe you can park your stuff for free there.



Important!! Is she willing to pay what the work is worth?

[yrdandgardenhandyman]

If she has a horse farm why doesn't she have a tractor? If I were you I would go get a JD or New Holland tractor with loader and mower and a ZTR for her yard and finishing around the barn or stuff like that. (If you do decide to go this route get AC and cab with the tractor, its a must) Then your set and you can get to work. :) Then give her a monthly price to up keep everything and you will pay back your equipment pretty quick. You could also find another person who needs this work so you can split the cost of the equipment and start to make big $$$$. Eventually you will be happy you know her cause maybe you can park your stuff for free there.



Important!! Is she willing to pay what the work is worth?
Don't start off with this kind of clients with cheap prices. She needs you more than you need her. I'm not saying to gouge her. Just no special deals and freebies. This is a client who probably won't drop you too easily once you're established. Of course, if she's a cheapskate this could be the reason she can't get anybody else.

[jazak]

I agree with you. Just saying if she's willing to pay then be willing to go buy some equipment. :clapping:

[MMLawn]

I agree with you. Just saying if she's willing to pay then be willing to go buy some equipment. :clapping:


BS!!! That is the number one, best, numero uno way to go BANKRUPT!!! :dizzy:


I thought your post was a joke.....DANG you were serious!? :hammerhead: Let me guess. YOu are a teenager and it is your dad that has been in business for 20 years, not you....correct?

[grass_cuttin_fool]

Charge her your rate, maybe rent some equipment to get the work done the 1st time, sub out what you cant do and use it as a learning exp. Just dont get in too deep and BTW florida has hills that are too steep to mow :confused: :dizzy:

wayne

[topsites]

What is a good way to turn down someone that is laying a guilt trip on you?

Well, so she conned you right? This is definitely first-year misfortunes, I've had them pull my leg so many times I don't care to remember, but I can assure you that you are correct, it is a losing proposition from beginning to finish.

Here's a simple rule: Never work for or with friends, family, or neighbors. That's an easy way, that's how you do things, thank you.

Look here: No matter what happens, no matter if you agreed at the time to title your house over to them for free, you are the owner of your company. As such, you are under no obligation to finish what got started, you can quit or cut out anytime during the process, if this means agreeing and then never showing up to do it, I've been there and done that.

There have even been times I got into a pickle and in order to get out of it I'd tell them exactly what they wanted to hear, just so I could LEAVE! I knew even then I'd never show, but ohhh yeah, suuuure, I'll do this 2,000 worth of work for 20 bucks, uh-huh, yup.

Sounds dirty, but it's kinda funny in a way, poetic justice. This isn't the proper way, but when you're new and know not what to do, it's the only thing I know works. Also, if/when they call back and hound you (because you never showed), plan up a story about your truck or some important equipment being broke and in the shop and they have to order the parts and it's going to be a month and cost a fortune and you're not even sure if they can fix it stuff.

Now once this happens to you enough times, your skin gets so thick that you take one look at this stuff, look at them, say 'thank you' and walk away. It gets to the point, I usually see this stuff coming long before I even go give the estimate, which means I never even show up for that part.

On that note, that's one way: Whenever you get into the bs talk, you saw the flags, right?
Well, that's your cue, this is a waste of time <- Most of them are.
As for handling it gracefully, I'd say my schedule is booked full... But some don't take a hint, I don't know, you might lose so-called friends in the process, but brush them off long enough and eventually they all stop trying to drive your boat. That's all it is anyway, they just want to test-drive your new porsche, that's why they're all so excited about you - Take away the keys, and they go away as well.
On that last, don't be so excited about owning your business, that helps me tons.

[chesterlawn]

Sounds like she let all this work pile up because shes to cheap to pay to get it done. I think shes looking for a sucker.

[EMWEB]

I worked Florida as a storm adjuster for almost a year . . . West Palm & Tampa. . . There are more "needy" women with money and property there than you can imagine . . . And no insult to Florida residents, you guys have more crooked contractors and con men then any other state I have worked in . . . The elderly & the widows are like bait to con men from all over the country. . . So I can imagine any kind of offer to someone they feel they can trust . . .

[jazak]

BS!!! That is the number one, best, numero uno way to go BANKRUPT!!! :dizzy:


I thought your post was a joke.....DANG you were serious!? :hammerhead: Let me guess. YOu are a teenager and it is your dad that has been in business for 20 years, not you....correct?


No my son didn't write this. I also stated that to do this he will need more customers of this like. :)

[robbo521]

is she good looking?if so tell her i will be there.

[Jay Ray]

If I say I will do the estimate, I go and do the estimate. If I say I will do the job, I go and do the job -- even if it hurts.

Necro, what the lady needs is a ranch hand and you are being recruited. And she will continue to try to recruit you to be her ranch hand.

Go and mow the lawn around the house at least once (you said you would), but unless you really want to, and it is profitable for you, don't let her sell you on expanding YOUR scope of work. Definitely, don't go buy equipment just for this one country spread.

Keep making it absolutely clear that just because you agree to do job A, that does not mean you will do job B, C, and D. And that is not negotiable, period.

A lawn is a lawn is a lawn, and it might turn into a good regular lawn -- although it doesn't sound very promising.

It is her problem to come up with a way of getting the ranch hand stuff done, not your problem. Nothing says you have to do anything more than the house lawn (which you said you would do one time), unless you weaken and say you will do other things.

You cannot let this lady become your dependent and her problems become your problems.

Really, she sounds like she is in over her head (c'mon, a country spread with no tractor on it?), and she might ought to think about selling.

[Surf'n'Turf]

Dude, you did the right thing....don't feel guilty about it. Just try to find someone good you can refer. You don't have the proper equipment (set up for suburbia) you don't have app. license and you don't want the job. Know your market and don't try to be all things to all people....smart call if you ask me.

[Surf'n'Turf]

If I say I will do the job, I go and do the job -- even if it hurts.
:hammerhead:

[PMLAWN]

Well, so she conned you right?

How did she con him?? She asked him to do work


Here's a simple rule: Never work for or with friends, family, or neighbors. That's an easy way, that's how you do things, thank you.

Than who do you work for.

Look here: No matter what happens, no matter if you agreed at the time to title your house over to them for free, you are the owner of your company. As such, you are under no obligation to finish what got started, you can quit or cut out anytime during the process, if this means agreeing and then never showing up to do it, I've been there and done that.

There have even been times I got into a pickle and in order to get out of it I'd tell them exactly what they wanted to hear, just so I could LEAVE! I knew even then I'd never show, but ohhh yeah, suuuure, I'll do this 2,000 worth of work for 20 bucks, uh-huh, yup.

Sounds dirty, but it's kinda funny in a way, poetic justice. .

Now I know why you don't work for friends or family-- If this is the way you treat people than you have no friends and you family would disown you.--

Why not produce work in a way that your clients can be your friends or that your family would be proud of.

NECROSHINE-- DO NOT buy a A/C cab tractor to cut just one or two lawns. :hammerhead: Lots of education here???

[AAELI]

Do the job. Use it as a learning experience. Either improve your communication skills with customers or expect to learn more hard lessons.

Just because others on this site cannot deal well with family, friends and neighbors is no reason for you to adopt a poor attitude towards the same.

I work for family and friends quite a bit. They have always treated me well. I undercharge family and they always find a way to overpay. It is all part of our culture here. I routinely care for widow's properties as a service to them. Many have been friends for years and I don't want to see their property decline as they age just because their husbands have passed. Most are widows of veterns. I honor myself as a vet when I care for their places.

My wife agrees and helps out on all these properties. Family is first, both our blood and those who are believers, sharing what we have and doing what we can for them is only right. Money is incidental under these circumstances. I have been well cared for and do not lack for having done these jobs.

[HVC]

You could have done the work in phases, especialy if this is a part time business. I would have rented a brush hog and taken care of the mowing first.
She was looking for someone trustworthy... Your proposal could have stated that work is only completed during such and such time because you are only part time. Equipment will need to be rented or leased for specific projects etc. If she hires you then she has to abide by the rules.

[LALawnboy]

pmlawn and aaeli, i'm glad to see someone else thinks the way i do. i'm always afraid to say anything on here about cutting a few of my neighbor's lawns. in my parents' neighborhood alone, between my dad and i, we have 9 yards (not including my parents' yard) and there's only about 22 houses on the street. everyone always laughs asking when we're just going to take over the whole street. i've never seen a problem with working for family/neighbors. they always pay, always offer a bathroom (definitely plus when that dinner you ate the night before didn't sit well) and even offer food/drinks. i don't see the problem with lending a helping hand whenever possible. for example, my dad also does another neighbor's yard for free. she's a single mom with 2 kids and the husband flat screwed her out of everything. i know there's a lot of people on here who would never even think of doing such a thing. but remember, when you leave this earth, the times you lent a hand in another person's time of need will always be remembered, not how big your business was or how much money you made.