Is my price fair,low, or high?

[Albery's Lawn & Tractor]

Just picked up a new mowing account in the country club. It''s the largest house in the club, but the landscaping has been let go for a few years (owner's going through a divorce). So while I was mowing last week the lady asks me to go ahead and fix up her landscaping, do what ever it takes and send her the bill. All bushes need trimmed way back, the bradford pear tree closest to the house beside the drve needs to be removed, red scallop borders around main island need to be removed, flowerbed created around shed, all beds edged and filled with mulch. Material cost: Mulch $900, Rental Fees (bed edger & pole pruner) $150, Dump Fee of $250. Total Materials $1,300. I think 2 of us can do it in 3 days. I am thinking around $3,000 but want to be fair to her. What do you guys think about the price?

[Albery's Lawn & Tractor]

few more pics.

[MJM landscaping]

Low to me but anyways I would suggest letting the customer of a ballpark range. She might think it will only be $800 or she might be under the impression it would be $5000. Just let her know before you guys to the work and get screwed.

[bustin88]

I think you should let her know a roundabout on how much it will cost her. You dont want to take her for a ride, but not for nothing that looks to be a lot of work, dont short change yourself. Problems could always arise, you say 3 days with 2 guys it could run you longer, hey you never know.... $5k seems reasonable.. given the cost to you... Remember you have to eat too... Good Luck

[cgland]

Way too low! I would be in the 4K-5K range and I own all the stuff you need to rent. It's alot of work, don't screw your self on time. Sell your companyto her and let her know quality comes w/ a price tag and that tag doesn't say "SALE"

Chris

[Albery's Lawn & Tractor]

Sell your companyto her and let her know quality comes w/ a price tag and that tag doesn't say "SALE"

Chris

Thats good advice. I told her we wouldn't start till Oct 20th and I have cleared 5 days in case of weather or anything else. I realize it's alot of work, we've done much bigger jobs before, but I foresee alot of oppurtunities here with this customer. She has a back patio (if you can even call it that) that I would love to sell her on a large patio project ($20K & up range) next year, as well as a paver driveway & sidewalks.

[lifetree]

... I told her we wouldn't start till Oct 20th and I have cleared 5 days in case of weather or anything else. ...

What price did you finally tell her ... I was thinking around $ 3,500 to 4,000 !!

[Albery's Lawn & Tractor]

I told her that the day she stopped me while mowing as I new Fall Cleanups were coming.

[tthomass]

I don't think you know your overhead.

What is your daily overhead?
What is your daily reguired/goal net?

If you're asking if the price is 'fair' I don't think you know where you need to be each day. If you did, you would know your overhead, where you need to be and assemble a firm proposal knowing exactly where you need to be on the project.

I see your list of toys, must be making a profit. I think you can make a lot more if you spend a day with a calculator.

Food for thought on future work.

[Albery's Lawn & Tractor]

I don't think you know your overhead.

What is your daily overhead?
What is your daily reguired/goal net?

If you're asking if the price is 'fair' I don't think you know where you need to be each day. If you did, you would know your overhead, where you need to be and assemble a firm proposal knowing exactly where you need to be on the project.

I see your list of toys, must be making a profit. I think you can make a lot more if you spend a day with a calculator.

Food for thought on future work.

I understand what your saying, and I guess my real reason for this post was to more or less find out how my price would compare to others in different markets. We have a fairly low cost of living, which also equals lower wages when compared to other parts. I price myself @ $40 an hour so gross I am usually @ $300-320, and after all my expenses (taxes, ins, fuel, repairs) I am around $200-250 NET. Not a great salary compared to others but locally your lucky to net $300 a week @ at 9-5 job.

[tthomass]

For comparison, I usually charge $50 per man hour but it varies based on the job and # guys.

Bobcat, generally $75 hr though I am still figuring how to charge accordingly for it......prob won't until winter either, too busy.

[lawn dogg]

how much do you want for the 16' equipment trailer can i see a pic.

[Albery's Lawn & Tractor]

The only trailer I have for sale is listed here: http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=200580

[WALKER LANDSCAPE]

L
O
W
I can see where your coming from though we usually charge $60 a man hour.
Your going to spend some time there even if it is 3 days with 2 guys. I think you can make more for yourself than that thou. IMO GOOD LUCK WITH IT.

[SwihartServices]

Walker, what expo are you talking about?

[shane mapes]

what i was thinking was $3500.00-$4000.00 because it will probably be 4 days by the time your completely done . this seems fair

[Stillwater]

48 hrs. X 40.00 + 900.00 materials + 150.00 rental + 250.00 dump = 3,220.00

I think you might be a little light on the labor, meaning it might take longer. I suggest giving her a baseline cost 3,300 to possibly 4,400 I don't recommend going cheap in hopes of a large hard scape job. Let your honesty, quality, and reliable service sell that hard scape job. It is super hard to guess but in southern Ma. my area would/could be well over 4 grand many variables what ever you do i don't recommend a firm price

[Ramairfreak98ss]

Way too low! I would be in the 4K-5K range and I own all the stuff you need to rent. It's alot of work, don't screw your self on time. Sell your companyto her and let her know quality comes w/ a price tag and that tag doesn't say "SALE"

Chris


Yeah id say by the pictures id probably estimate higher than 3k.. maybe 4k at least. I can usually average 1k with two guys in a days work for this type of stuff.

[forestfireguy]

Take a deposit, Divorce could mean sloppy payments.........

[NNJLandman]

I think it'd be easier for you and cheaper and more cost effective for her to rip everything out and do a complete redesign and new landscape. Pictures aare a bit hard to tell but some of the trees and plants are probably salvagable with trimming, but I would rip the majority of everything out sell her on new plants, mulch, some hard scape even. Some nice stone pillars with some lamps on em etc would really set it off as well as other lighting features. If she wants to spend her money the right way its the only way.

Jeff

[roguesuerte]

I second the deposit advice and I would opt for a detailed & signed contract before you begin the work. We get this divorce thing every so often, and usually estranged party tries to use the accumulating debt/pressure he puts on his spouse as a bargaining chip, to make them settle cheap. Dont be caught in the middle out-of-pocket and without legal recourse. It may sound negative but I have heard "I dont belive that SOB would do this to me, after twenty plus years of marriage" umteen times.

[ed2hess]

I second the deposit advice and I would opt for a detailed & signed contract before you begin the work. We get this divorce thing every so often, and usually estranged party tries to use the accumulating debt/pressure he puts on his spouse as a bargaining chip, to make them settle cheap. Dont be caught in the middle out-of-pocket and without legal recourse. It may sound negative but I have heard "I dont belive that SOB would do this to me, after twenty plus years of marriage" umteen times.

I would agree with this post I would be careful and get a deposit. I don't see anything for major tree trimming which it needs. I wouldn't add any beds for round one just clean it up and see how things look.

[DuraCutter]

Thats good advice. I told her we wouldn't start till Oct 20th and I have cleared 5 days in case of weather or anything else. I realize it's alot of work, we've done much bigger jobs before, but I foresee alot of oppurtunities here with this customer. She has a back patio (if you can even call it that) that I would love to sell her on a large patio project ($20K & up range) next year, as well as a paver driveway & sidewalks.

Yeah, but future possibilities don't pay the bills right now either.
Go easy on the future keeping your eye on the now for profit.

:)