Another how would you bid?

[KerryB]

Ok everyone, I measured this one today. Lets see how you would bid on this one.
Drive time a little long, 40 miles one way. A drawback for sure but wait this is a twice a month cut, no hedges or flowers or bushes. Also could be a way in to other Walmart superstores. Also there is a lot of other prospects in the immediate area.

Total sq ft 85,332.
39,408 sq ft can be cut with rider no problem. Its flat and has no obsticles. 30,612sq ft to be cut with wb 21" as it is 18" wide strips. The other 15,312 is the problem. Its a bank, 22ft from bottom to top. May be able to push, more than likely string trimmer.

This prop has 3,259 ln ft to edge. And 454 ln ft to cut with string trimmer along a chain link fence.

All in all without a pic the best I can help is that 39,408 sq ft is a difficulty factor of 1.
45,924 a factor of 3.

[kutnkru]

I would estimate drive time at 2 hours.
I would estimate Line Trimming/Edging and blowing off vehicular/pedestrian pavements that have been edged at 90 minutes.

I would figure your estimate for the banked portion (15,312 sf = $153) of the turf areas using a self-propelled 21”
2 cycle engine mower because of the gradients. I calculated this the same as the other trim mower section
(30,612 sf) and then doubled it because of the apparent magnitude of the grade, and inevitable wear on your equipment.

I would recommend that you stay away from line trimming this section if possible because of the uneven appearance it will project, and it would also include more time than cutting with a trim mower.

I would estimate the island portions (30,612 sf = $153) of the turf areas as having to be cut using a 21” trim mower as well.

I calculated the remaining turf areas (39,408 sf = $118.20) using deck mowers.

So my estimate would read as follows:
Mowing: $424 per cut (+) Line Trimming/Edging & Blowing: 90 minutes at your labor rates. (+) Travel Time: 2 hours at your labor rates (=) Bid Price.

[65hoss]

Man this sounds familiar.

I had something similar recently, 10000 sf of trimming on a very steep bank. The responses I got generally ended up saying, "Are you sure you want this?". Well, I finally decided no. I put the bid in, but I raised my price 2 extra times. If I got it great, it would be worth the trouble. If not, even better.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Good one Hoss

LGF:blob1:

[kris]

I'm sorry, but I don't get these questions.

example... I am 15 years old - o overhead ( my dad pays my gas)

I will do the property you talked about for $100 dollars a week...that could be my summer job!!!

I feel myself ,that I would rather see how much time fellow lco's think this project would take.

[TGCummings]

I plug it into my formula and, without looking at it, come up with $2633/month. Obviously, looking at it could change my mind depending on obstacles, actual time traveled to and from, and other odds and ends. All things being equal, however, that's what I come up with...

-TGC

[lawrence stone]

It's a 5-6 man hour job plus travel.

Go to Home Depot any buy the cheapest lightest thin steel deck POS 21" Murray. Or buy a used one from a local for $25.

Remove the handle, relocated the throttle on to the engine, attach an eye bolt to the rear of the deck then attach a rope to the eye bolt.

Stand on the top of the slope and go fishing with you new toy.

Since you have a 80 mile travel issue this job will go to a local contractor for about $250-275 per service. Can you meet that price?

[KerryB]

LMAO
Thats a nice tool Stone.lol
Well a local had this job and did a pi$$poor job. He was suppose to cut it twice a month, sometimes he didnt do it at all.
I didnt even know about this prop till the manager stopped by one of my other props and asked me to come look at it.
TG I want to move to Calif.
Kutnkru, again thank you. I had estimated $529.00 per kut. This one has even scared away the scrubs so I dont think anyone will be doing it for $100..each cut.
65hoss you may be right, this one may be more trouble than its worth but if I get it at $529.00 it will be a good paying job.
The manager said not to be afraid of pricing it the way I need to to make money. So that makes me think maybe he is looking for a quality service and not fishing for price. I could be wrong, and if I am someone else can have this headache.
Kutnkru, I enjoy reading your posts. You really try to help everyone. Thanks to you I have gone from buying a new exmark to being torn between it and a dixie. Just cant make up my mind. Any help here?

[Randy Scott]

I don't know how fast the grass grows down by you, but don't forget to factor in time for possibly having to double cut it because it will be longer when you only do it every two weeks. If you waited two weeks in Wisconsin to cut grass, you might as well plan on bailing it as hay! Just something to consider also.

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by lawndoctor
... a new exmark ... torn between it and a dixie.I presume that you are talking about a dilemma between WBs and Zs.

I have strayed away from the Z craze because 98% of the properties serviced in our area range from 8-15m/sf. This inlcudes the vast majority of commercials too as they wouldnt be much more at approx 18-20m/sf.

I feel that although just as Eric has shown that operated properly a Z will not harm your turf. As a volunteer firefighter I also am aware that properly operating a motor vehicle can limit the damage to ones body. I see an awful lot of wreckers/flatbeds loaded full while working - LOL!!!

I think that the first rule of thumb IMHO is: Can you pay the machine off completely in the same season as the purchase? If not then I would say that you are not ready for it regardless of what it is - bed edger, line trimmer, commercial mower, etc.

Then you need to acess your local market from a clients perspective. If the majority does not have a problem wirth these units because they are baby boomers who simply dont care as long as the property looks good - you should be alright with a Z purchase for smaller sized residential properties.

On the other hand. If you have a client pool like mine who are retired IBM'ers and Engineers from other Industries that are avid golfers who drill their course super's for knowledge, these are a tougher sell on the Zs unless they know that they have a vast acreage account that warrants such machinery.

Hope this helps.
Kris

[KerryB]

Most of my clients are commercial props.
I would like to add a couple of appartment complexes and would have too if it wasnt for the cops scrubbing. But that is another problem.
I have been looking at the idea of buying a hydro wb. Exmark seems to have a good selection. What size is a good all around mower. I have several props that are small around 30,000 sft. I would also like to move into the resid. props next year. Most of the other lawn care co's have Jd riders. I have seen a few good hydros that were turned into inexpensive riders. I guess I will just keep looking and demo a few in the coming months.
Thanks again.

[kutnkru]

IMHO you can get the most versatility with a 52" hydro and a sulky. This machine will allow you to get into tighter spots than the 60" and massive 72" decks plus it gives you that extra "oomph" that a 48" lacks.

The other reason I like the WB is our terrain is very hilly and more often than not a Z would sit on the trailer or be very risky for cutting up here in our hills.

You on the other hand have mainly flat properties from what I saw last year when in the GSO area, and might be able to justify a 60" Z.

I used one of these last week and literally finished the route in about 2/3 the time. Of course like Eric pointed out with "Rookie of the Year" on my jersey I was more often than not sliding into turns.

If you are 75% grater than 30m/sf and are mostly wide area, minimal obstacles than this sounds like Z country to me. Like I said though WE are primarily 8-15m/sf in size and clients balk in OUR residential neighborhoods.

You also mention Commercial which would lead me to believe that the dissatisfaction with "type of machinery" should not be an issue for you.

I would "test drive" both a 52 or 60 hydro wb with sulky and a Z to see which best suites your companies needs.

Good Luck!
Kris

[HOWARD JONES]

If you're able to walk on the bank to do string trimming, you should be able to walk it with a lightweight "push" mower - right? Or is the bank also rough?

[KerryB]

The bank is very rough and rocky. This is in a part of the area known for lots of rocks and red clay.

[lsylvain]

Us the trimmer on the bank. Mowing it will take longer every time. (providing it is to steep to use a w/b). All you will do with a push mower is make really good time for the first half of it then get really tired and suffer the rest of the day. Beleive me I live in the mountains of West Virginia. Every property I do has at least one large bank. I've tried everyhting to cut down time.

As far as the apearances goes If you take your time it will look better than what a mower does because the mower overtime will leave ruts in the bank and kill the grass everywhere your tires touch.

as far as price goes I would say about

5-6 hours $400