Aeration over-seed price

[LAWNGODFATHER]

I know this has been done before and just wanted to give you guys and gals somthing to do. I have a lawn that is 28,000 rounded up. It's a medium to medium rare dence turf.

Price it for all below and using Lesco Team-mates seed

Aeration:

Starter fertilizer:

Seed:

2,000 sq/ft of slit seeding:

I will try to sell this at the best price given. I know what my prices are. But this is somewhat of a contest. No prize, but pride. I will let you all know who won when I sell it.

LGF:blob1:

[HBFOXJr]

2K of everything or are the other services of greater sq ft than the slit seed.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

sorry plus 2,000 sq/ft of slit seeding. In the same area as you are aerating

LGF:blob1:

[HBFOXJr]

2K of everything? OR 2K of slit in a larger area aerated, fertilized etc.

[Lawn DOG]

Using my formulas this is simple. I would charge $808.00.

[HBFOXJr]

Sorry I missed the 28K in the beginning.

Aeration $288.00, one trip

fert $102.00 reg appl price for 28K

slit seed incl seed, Ryan Mataway, $70.00 1 way, 4 lb/k

total $420.00

esti prod time 2.25 hr +.5 hr more to mark spr
mobilize and travel allowance .50 hr

probable used time 3.5 hr
material 2 bags 28-3-10 w/ 50% Nutralene $25.65
8 lb Team Mates PLus $10.77
total$36.42 incl tax

$420 - 36.42=$382.58/ 3.5 hr + $109.59/hr returned to owner

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Thanx Harold. Since no one was repying, I sold it for $420. I noticed you put the same price. I did it today. Thanx for the reply. I guess we use some what the same price scale. BTW it took 2 of us 1.75 hrs to complete. Lawn Dog how did you come up with yours?

LGF:blob1:

[Premo Services]

Harold`s price was actually 460.00, I was thinking in the same lines with the aeration, and fertilizing, but was unsure about the slit seeding prices.

I have started doing this service, and have not bid on a slit seeding job yet.
So you are saying that the slit seeding rate is 35.00 per 1000s/f.
What would be the charge if you was to slit seed larger areas, say 10,000 or more s/f ? Do you offer a discount for larger areas ?
Thanks

[LAWNGODFATHER]

We used a tow aerater. One guy pulled it and the other spread the fert and seed and ran the slit seeder.

I just went fo $15 per 1000

$420.

Me forgot to add the extra 2,000 for slit seeding.DUH! Had to do in a hurry.

LGF:blob1:

[KirbysLawn]

How many pounds per 1000 did you apply? What was the cost of the seed?

Harold, 8 pounds seed for 28,000 sf of dead turf?

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Ray 6lbs per 1m
4.5lbs per 1m slit seeding

$1.07 per lb

I figured I made about $200 on the job

LGF:blob3:

[HBFOXJr]

Yeh my math should have been $460.

I thought the only seed was the 2k of slit seeding.

Goes to show you the importance of clearly written and understood specifications.

So how much seed area was really to be done 2k only or 28K with 26K broadcast and 2k slit?

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by HBFOXJr
... 28K with 26K broadcast and 2k slit? Thats how I understood it the first time I read it. But I dont use the materials he requested so I did not reply.

If we were able to use a tow behind aerator I would have done it for $7/m sf($196) or if a wb aerator was used $10/m sf($280).

The fert app ($102) is right on the money!!!

I think that the Mattaway price is low.
I like to figute $45/m sf for the machine plus $1.50 per lb of seed:
$90 machine + $12 seed = $102

Sorry I wasnt of assistance Mike B.
Kris

[wallzwallz]

I was working on this one,but am new to aerating so not to quick to respond. I had figured $15/k to aerate,but was going to add materials to that + $50-60 for slit seed. I don't own a slit seeder so I would have used thatcher,loosing up 1/2 inch of soil,then just broadcast w/ rest of lawn,back rake.Not familiar w/ teamates seed's price or type. I use Lesco's Park + athletic,about 1/3 each of blue,rye,fescue. Runs about $1.60 per lb. The rate of 6 lb./k seems high for overseeding here,the P&A seeds new lawn rate is 4 lb/k, with 2 lb/k for 50-75% density.So my bid would have been $ 420 aerate,$ 90 seed, $ 40 fert probably not add for thatcher use for $ 550 total,being new to this end not sure if that price would fly.What is the new rate of team mates seed?

[kutnkru]

Mike

$15/m sf seems to be about the running average for aerations. I like to bid the typical lot size of 8-15m/sf in my area using $12/m sf. When we get into larger sized lots and acerage bids I will often drop down to $10/m sf.

If it was possible to use a tow behind aerator in this case, I would have saved at least 45 minutes, thus I can afford to drop my rate to accomodate for the $75-85 savings in time. I like to gross $125/hr for aerations.

As far as rates go I like to go a little heavier with 6lbs/m-sf. The key to efficient pricing when you bid these renovations, is to try to get several sites lined up so that you are spending either 1-2 days or a week Slice-Seeding and Aerating properties. This way you can buy your seed in bulk and make even more profits. I mark my seed up 30% when i figure the cost of materials into our bids.

As far as the $40 for the fert, this price should be what you would charge them for an application. Just because its not a pre-m or insecticide, doesnt change the basis for your pricing structure. For $40 I would fert a property not smaller than 6m/sf and not larger than 7500sf.

Hope this helps.
Kris

[wallzwallz]

Thanks Kris, as far as the $ 40 for fert that was material only, i figured labor in to the $15/k aeration price. I was wondering why you would drop price using tow behind? What if you have dense turf already do you still add seed? Like I said, new to aeration so just fine tuning my pricing + knowledge. Thanks for any help

[kutnkru]

Many people stand stringent on their pricing factors. I try to take into consideration overall production when I bid. If I am able to gross $125/hr for my service based on $12/m sf for a wb aerator, but can do 3 times as much production an hour with a tow behind in the right conditions, should I still be charging clients excessively for hours not used in producing the results they expect???

Its like with any other service I offer based on hourly production rates. If I can do a job in less time YES its better for me. However, if I can do a 4 hour job in 1.5/hrs it makes sense to me to charge for when I am there (or say 2.5 hours) using the equipment I have at hand, not how long it used to take using out dated or smaller equipment.

It comes down to greed in my mind. If you can charge more within reason theres nothing wrong with that, but when you start talking hundreds of $$$, its about whats fair to both us as contractors and them as clients.

Sometimes depending on the time of year and workload I will bid double or tripple for services because we are booked solid. If they are not willing to wait for when their slot comes up on the list two-three weeks later, I will gladly come back at the end of a long day for triple time. LOL!!!

Kris

[wallzwallz]

Kris , I agree w/ giving the customer a break, but what if it's 1 shot deal? My regular customers alwys get a break when I profit large, I don't mind sticking it to the one time customer for any service. What about dense turf + overseed? thanks again

[HBFOXJr]

KKru is right on dropping prices for efficiency. Yougotta do it or you'll be overpriced and eventually be out of work or develop a reputation for being high priced that will work against you. What you gotta factor in on price dropping is the inceased cost of more efficient equipment if you need it.

If your just using your same old, same old and the efficiency is from larger, easier areas yopu gotta figure it's only worth so much per hour. Thats how you sell and keep working. Any time we can get close to $100/hr for equipment & labor with out materials, you gotta be doing good. Less and your a working fool, outlandishly more and you may be an unemployed fool sitting home.

[kutnkru]

Thanks Fox you explained it a little more simpler than I could find the words for! :D

Mike

I believe that if its a one shot deal the same ground rules should apply. Unless, its during the busier times of the year and they are not willing to wait.

If someone asks for an estimate and I tell them within 3 weeks we can be there to render the service and they are willing to wait, I wont necessarily "sock it to 'em!". I may charge them a little higher for taking them on when we are busy, but will also take into consideration that they have been polite enough to work with us on scheduling.

I also like to keep in mind that ANY account we service is not just a "one shot deal". Everyone has friends who look for referrals and I bulid my reputation on word of mouth.

Each customer we service above and beyond our mowing/landscaping clients gets a letter of "Thank You" and a brief note of other services we offer that they may need at some point in the future.

Kris

[HBFOXJr]

You have to sell relationships not jobs. Relationships can last a long time. A job lasts a few hours, then you have to find another job.

[wallzwallz]

I have plenty of relationships,it's not me looking at one shot service. I've been bidding long enough that you can tell when the person is a one timer.No matter if the price is high or low, quality good or bad they just won't call again because they don't use services until their yard looks like hell,then think once every 3 years should make it all better.As far as high prices, I don't mind charging more as long as i give quality work. I haven't advertised in over 5 yrs + my phone rings year round for new work,so i must be doing something right:cool:

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by Michael Wall
... What about dense turf + overseed?I would think that if a property has a dense turf mat, that regular aeartion would be best. IMHO the real purpose of selling renovation services is to render what is necessary to obtain a healthy, dense, mat of turf.

Sorry I missed this ??? before. Hope this helps.
Kris

[wallzwallz]

thank you both Harold + Kris for your help.I agree w/ not charging outrageous amounts.$100 an hr is great money! I just used to bid a little low,get the customer than have trouble raising price.Now i try for higher price to start.the reason i asked on dense turf is i thought it was a waste,don't like to do work that only puts money in my pocket + no gain for cutomer. What do you guys tow the aerator with? I wouldn't mind seeing more posts like this one, I do a lot of hourly work, I really don't bid anything for my regular customers + my bidding skills always need some sharpening

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Lazer and a old Wheel Horse.

LGF:blob1:

[Lawn DOG]

How do you guy's do it? I must be too high. But I don't cater to the poor.

I would never want the reputation of being cheap or affordable.

This was a no brainer using the formulas that I have developed over the years and as you can see very profitable.

I am happy to say all of my customers are happy and usually reccomend us to thier nieghbors.