Jungle Lawn!!!!

[smc1984]

Hello again, here is the scenario.. an elderly lady calls me up- she asked how much would it be to remove vines along with maintain here lawn. well i jumped right over to look. I get here and the lawn is maybe 3000 sq ft. however the boundaries are old hedges with grown up vines- the kind with thorns.. approx 1500 to 1800 sq ft of total hedge line. the vines are very thick in places climbing up the trees. anyways I know I can handle the job, but it looks like a all day job. 6 to 8 hrs. Including a huge pile of debris, I sure It will fill up my 5 x 11 -maybe even twice. I want the job because i need the cash, seeing as i new. Beside I kinda like the job no one else wants! my problem is i priced her 450. I am not sure even after im am done she will like the look, due the fact it will show even more work yet to complete. " kinda like washing your truck, the more you clean it the more you see the dirt" Her husband call me, and ask me what is he getting for 450. as if I over priced the job..well I told him it will take two of us, all day to get manageable. so, he wants me to do a walk around with him. what do ya think... have any one ran into this type of yard?

[Uranus]

Run away. They will nickle and dime you to death. If you do the job they will find something that they thought you were going to take care of and decide since you didn't do it they should take some money off. You will end up losing your mind trying to deal with this type of person. Next they will ask you if that is the senior citizens price. If you do a walkaround that is just more time you spent on the job. one time to bid, second time to walk through, third to do the work, fourth walk through again cuz they think you missed something, and time number 5 will be trying to collect your money. Your 8 hour day will turn into 12 hours over the next 3 weeks.

[kmann]

Run away. They will nickle and dime you to death. If you do the job they will find something that they thought you were going to take care of and decide since you didn't do it they should take some money off. You will end up losing your mind trying to deal with this type of person. Next they will ask you if that is the senior citizens price. If you do a walkaround that is just more time you spent on the job. one time to bid, second time to walk through, third to do the work, fourth walk through again cuz they think you missed something, and time number 5 will be trying to collect your money. Your 8 hour day will turn into 12 hours over the next 3 weeks.
Not to mention he will probably come out when you tell him your finished and start pointing out more things he wants done. It will go on and on.

[smc1984]

I figgured if it was put into writing, and make em sign it before we begin? Im under the impression if they sign and dont pay, we can call the authorities and fill a record and sue for it?:drinkup:

[huh]

all of the people on this forum that have been doing it a while have good points....and yes some people will nickle and dime you to death....BUT you said you need the money.....so YOU need to evaluate YOUR time and YOUR situation

2 guys at 15 an hour +10 per hour overhead @ 8 hours = 400 bones....still leaving 50 more for dumping or more overhead ect.

If it was me I would probably go back and do the walk through and make it VERY clear IN WRITING what is offered for that price...and make it CLEAR that EXTRAS ARE JUST THAT EXTRAS

again I came to this site to learn and that I have, but some of the more established guys already have things they can be doing with their "work hours per day" and they can afford to pass over some PITAS....if you paid yourself 15 an hour that is 120 right to you and right to your friend.....with 210 left for equipment, fuel, dumping ect.

120 can buy me a lot of meals....and 210 can cover a lot of overhead especially if you have only limited equipment and work out of your home

yes down the road there may come a day you would not even go give the origional estimate for this job....but if it was me I would go back.....you have $5 in gas to lose and what an hour of your time (that you have nothing else to do with that time as it is now) if the client does not want to pay you 450....at least when you go back you know they have considered your offer at 450 and they MAY be prepared to pay it....only you can decide if 5 in gas and an hour of time is worth it to take a risk on getting the 450 for the work you quoted....If you pull up and the first think out of his mouth is I will only go to 250 well put it in drive and pull away....PERHAPS after the walk through AND YOU SELLING YOURSELF he will agree with you that there is more work to be done and you can get additional work from them....or you could lose 5 in gas and an hour of your time and chalk it up to learning your business

[MattsMowing3535]

This is my first year in buisness and im only 15 a nice lady down the street had a a lot of vines that were growing all there the brush in her back yard. I of course had no idea how many vines were down in the grass that I couldnt see. I price it at 40 dollers to mow the brush and 60 to get ride of 2 vines. In the end it took me 10 hours alone nad 3 with my dad so it was about 16 hours of work. Of course more and more had to be done. I underpriced the job and got 275 in the end. Just make sure that you tell them EXACTLY what your goign to do and like stated above extras are extras and nothing more. If they are going to try to nickle and dime you then forget it. But if you need the money its not all that bad. If you have a ZTR or you can get your truck in the back yard bring a chain hook the vine up and rip it right off the trees. It works great, Took me a while until i got my old lawn tractor and tried it. But it actauly doesnt hurt the tress much so. I would try it if I were you. Maybe take it easy with a truck though. . .good luck though!

[Shadowroll]

SMC...my take is maybe he had another quote already and it was for say $900...now he is wondering how you can do the same for half the price. Worth the time to go talk to him I would guess...then make your decision.

[fiveoboy01]

2 guys at 15 an hour +10 per hour overhead @ 8 hours = 400 bones....still leaving 50 more for dumping or more overhead ect.



I dunno, I just think that is low for what he's describing.

I just did a small cleanup. Took me and one other guy an hour and a half, had a fair amount of crap piled on my trailer, and I charged 150 for it.

If you're talking 8 hours for 2 people to complete the job, plus dumping, I don't think I'd touch it for any less than 750-900 including the dumping(especially if you have to make 2 trips to dump).

I'd just tell the customer, if they're waffling on the price and what's to be done - 90-100 per hour(for 2 workers), 40-50 per trailer load for a dumping fee, and that way, if they want to come out and tell you do do this and that extra, then at least you will get paid, because you will be there longer.

OR, type up an agreement and make it VERY CLEAR the scope of the work, and the price, and that anything above and beyone the original stated work will be billed at an hourly rate.

[Precision]

I have the proper equipment and am not sure that you do, but 2 guys and 6 hours seems like a really long time. However, you were there and know your capacity. Having said that. $450 is lower than I would charge based on your description.

2 guys at 6 hours each would be $720 plus the $75 minimum disposal fee. So $795. And yes I charge AT LEAST $60 per hour for clean up work. Usually $75-100 per MAN HOUR.

And yes make a detailed description of what is to be done and get a signed contract and get 40% deposit and terms that the remainder is due upon completion.

If they refuse to pay, then put a mechanics lien on their house.

If they refuse the deposit. Just walk away. Be nice but just walk away. It is way better to not get paid before you do work than after.

[paul vroom]

This ladies yard sounds like what mine used to look like. Vines get tangled in bushes and around trees and are a pain to get rid of. Stick to your guns, I would have paid someone $500 to do my yard if I couldnt have done it myself. They dont understand.

[RedMax Man]

Smc... I'm 17 and have attacked some jungle properties also. They are risky business but can generate a good profit if aproached properly. I recommend that you do a thourgh walk around the property with the customers and explain exacty what you plan on doing. Keep an eye out for potential problems that you could encounter while working. I also provide a detailed written invoice that explain all the work i am going to perform and have the customer sign it before i drop the gate of my trailer and begin. these types of jobs are usually pretty tough so pay your self as best as you can and have all your extra expences covered (dumping fees, overhead, equipment).
I did a property last week that was all out of shape and made pretty good money off it. I charge $50.00 an hr. for this stuff.
If the customers start asking you all kind of crazy questions and make up silly excuses about prices then it may be safer to just backout of the whole deal. they will learn that you get what you pay for.
Hope this helps & i hope you make some $$ :)

[smc1984]

Thanks for all the kind responses. Aye I love these kinds of properties. I like the enjoyment of making a difference. I love the jobs no one else wants.

As older folks they come to the conclusion that maybe it better for us to an $85. dollar(2hrs) job vs an all day job@$450.. This is a rental property and there goal is to get it presentable and rent-able. As an ex-sales man it really does pay to be honest and set the expectation right off the bat. Although my partner screamed at me not to put neg. thoughts in there head. He is also an ex salesman ... where as he sold cars 18 yrs... and I sold furniture..lol Bet your wondering how in the heck did we get into pushing a mower..lol long story. in short.. I grew in this field .. back to this property... the wife 81 was handling the hiring of us.. but she drank alot! I knew this; I was very worried by this..however she also wanted her home done was well. which was very unkept @ 26208 sq ft. which was just the front yard. with about 40 mins of hedge trimming. we priced at $225. ending up right at 3hrs, after an hour of blowing...shewww The husband confronted us and asked if we could just do a clean up at the rental property to make it presentable. I agreed! Yes, this would in your interest. I told him that at a later date we could come back and continue to remove the over grown vines. He agreed. the basic to this story is: Protect your customer! try to look after there best interest. I like to think that I approach my customers if though they were family. Set the expectation Low and realistic in some cases-like this one. The lawn no-one seems to wants. Then when you allow the home owner to reclaim there yard -Now your a hero. This very well could end up being a long time customer. In the end.. I was happy and they were very pleased. :usflag:
Thanks again for your attention and helpful advice.

[smc1984]

arggg a double post..