Looking for some help to bid this residential please.

[bigw]

Well i got my first call from the new sign i put in my yard and i just went to go look at the property and here is what i found,i will be going back tonight at 7 to meet the home owner and to quote my bid. Any help would be appreciated. First of all the lawn is a train wreck to start,tons of over growth onto walkways and drive way,dont look like it was ever edged before.Now mind you this is an end unit that has a walking path 'black top" going around and up too this property.I took some notes and measurements while i was their and here is what i came up with--actual lawn to be cut is 193'x 44' or 8,492 sq ft pretty much open where i could use my 60 ztr but then again might be better off with my 36 wb due to the 16 obstacles i counted in the way like small trees,ac unit,old covered over rocks trying to make a tree ring etc.. If they want the entire property edged including the pathway surrounding the property and drive way its like 400 ft of edging and if not the about 150 ft for driveway and walk only.It is jan 28th and it looks like this lawn is in need of a cut right now thats how un cared for this lawn is.Now i know once i get the initial edging done and a fresh cut this wont be that bad to maintain and this would be an awsome place for me to get my foot in the door for their are like 300 homes in this place,only the end units are this size all others are like 1/2 size.

[bigw]

anyone have any thoughts?

[MarcSmith]

well asphalt is much "harder" imo to edge than Concrete. It looks like you have a lot of hand work, and the intial clean up is the key. figure your price first on regular maintenance IE tell them up front how much it cost to cut and maintain on a regular basis. Nu the key is to guestimate on how long it will take to get th e property into shape. a few hours?, is it something that you could do and then amortize into their monthly payment. IE say your monthly service equates to 100 a month and it will cost them 150 to "get into shape", you could then spread those payments over the life of the contract to help play down the sticker shock......so on a 10 month contract they'd be paying an extra 15 a month to cover the initial clean upon about an extra 8 bucks a cut....provided they stick with you all year....

what type of grass is it?

[bigw]

well asphalt is much "harder" imo to edge than Concrete. It looks like you have a lot of hand work, and the intial clean up is the key. figure your price first on regular maintenance IE tell them up front how much it cost to cut and maintain on a regular basis. Nu the key is to guestimate on how long it will take to get th e property into shape. a few hours?, is it something that you could do and then amortize into their monthly payment. IE say your monthly service equates to 100 a month and it will cost them 150 to "get into shape", you could then spread those payments over the life of the contract to help play down the sticker shock......so on a 10 month contract they'd be paying an extra 15 a month to cover the initial clean upon about an extra 8 bucks a cut....provided they stick with you all year....

what type of grass is it?

Im going to say tall fescue,so what would a good bid on this be for the weekly service?

[newbomb]

I think I would quote them an hourly rate to do the initial clean up with an estimate of hours to do it. Then a qoute for regular lawn care. Marc Smith suggested rolling the price into a monthly bill to make it more appealing to the customer. If this is new customer that you do not have a history with I think I would get my money at time of service. I would also estimate high on the hours needed so the customer is not overwhelmed when the bill comes. I you qoute 6 hours @ $40 per hour $240 and it takes 4 hours $160 you made fair money and the customer pays less than they expected. Everyone is happy.

For weekly service I would charge $35 per cut just to allow for all the trimming.

[takeittothelimit]

First of all what are they looking for, an initial clean-up, as well as seasonal maintenance? are they wanting thier lawn rehabilitated, or just manacured nicely. Take these issues into account, sell them mulch to go around some of those trees, check to see if they want you to reset thier rock tree ring or remove completly replacing with mulch. It looks like you got some sound advice on pricing from the other responses, I would think about talking to them about the issues I brought up in addition when you go, and good luck.

[Allens LawnCare]

Becareful with jobs like this....I'd draw up a contract....you don't want to give them a break on the inital clean up and cut to get "your foot in the door". Last thing you want is to do a great job and have them switch over to Joe's Lawn mowing for $20 a cut. I'd charge between 35-40 a cut.....and explain to them the estimate might sound high but due to the conditions of the yard it will be a lot of work but worth every penny.

[bigw]

Becareful with jobs like this....I'd draw up a contract....you don't want to give them a break on the inital clean up and cut to get "your foot in the door". Last thing you want is to do a great job and have them switch over to Joe's Lawn mowing for $20 a cut. I'd charge between 35-40 a cut.....and explain to them the estimate might sound high but due to the conditions of the yard it will be a lot of work but worth every penny.

Thats abouth what i was thinking like 40.00 a week if they want it all edged and 35 if just the driveway and walk.I was thinking i will ask them if they want me to do an intial cleanup and mow at a per hr rate of somewhere around 45-55$ per hr,is that too low or high?

[bigw]

one hr left anyone else want to chime in?

[Johnson LCO]

Check your pms bigw

[zima]

first cut you need to finish in 3 hs $120. and $35 a week

[Coinshooter]

so whats the outcome??

[bigw]

Check your pms bigw

got no pm from you???

[LawnMastersTx]

I am curious about how it ended up going? What did it go for? Are you happy and are they happy?

[bigw]

so whats the outcome??

Well i was suppose to go to the house but just as i was ready to leave she calls me and ask me to give her a price over the phone,which i dont like to do especially with a lawn like this.Anyway i started to ask her about what all she wanted done as far as the intial clean up and weekly lawn care and she quickly said all she wanted was the lawn mowed and ocasionally edged.I asked her if she wanted just the driveway and sidewalk edged or everything and she said everything " which is 400ft " because of a asphault walking track that surrounds her lawn".I also told her it would be easier and better if i kept the edge clean by doing it weekly and she didnt sound to hip to that idea.I told her if she was going to clean up the lawn and get it ready for mowing that i would charge her $35.00 to mow,trim,blow and edge the driveway and front sidewalk only and $45.00 if she wanted the entire perimiter edged. Of course she said "Ok thank you ill talk to my husband and let you know bye". So do you guys think that price was ok or what? Give me some feed back please.I felt i was right on with the price if not a tad to low but i really want to get in to this developement because my trailer would be a nice billboard sitting their while i was doing her lawn.I got the feeling she hung up the phone and called the next guy!!

[Albery's Lawn & Tractor]

Your typical price shopper. I've learned to ask what area they're in and a few basic questions and quote over the phone (but always say "if it's worse then you say I'll have to charge more"). I know my area pretty well and it works good for me. Screw driving around town all day to quote 20 people who think $15 is the going rate.

[bigw]

Your typical price shopper. I've learned to ask what area they're in and a few basic questions and quote over the phone (but always say "if it's worse then you say I'll have to charge more"). I know my area pretty well and it works good for me. Screw driving around town all day to quote 20 people who think $15 is the going rate.

I knew where she was,i went their earlier today and looked at the place while they werent home.She called me as i was ready to go back as was planed

[Grits]

I wouldn't have quoted over the phone. It's easier for them to say no on the phone. In person you can walk around the yard and discuss what you will do to make it look better. It's an easier sell in person.

[bigw]

I wouldn't have quoted over the phone. It's easier for them to say no on the phone. In person you can walk around the yard and discuss what you will do to make it look better. It's an easier sell in person.

Did you read what i said,she didnt give me that option.I was suppose to go their and meet at 7 and she calls at 5 of 7 and says she just wants a quote over the phone,thats why i said she probably hung up and called the next guy.Im sure ill lose it to a 20.00 guy!

[F Y P M]

These are the people that think our time is nothing you are probably better off with-out but follow up anyway because of the sheer fact that you want to get into that particular area. If you only get the clean-up on her yard and you get 1 customer you are ahead.

[LawnMastersTx]

Its always better to not get a customer like this, b/c they will replace you if they get a cheaper price. Just wait, in a month or two your phone will be ringing off the hook from customers.

I quote the price, if they dont like the fair price, its fine with me, by the time i get home I will have another 3 messages on the machine for bids.

[Grits]

Did you read what i said,she didnt give me that option.I was suppose to go their and meet at 7 and she calls at 5 of 7 and says she just wants a quote over the phone,thats why i said she probably hung up and called the next guy.Im sure ill lose it to a 20.00 guy!

As a matter of fact, I DID read what YOU said. Did you read what I said?
I WOULDN'T HAVE QUOTED OVER THE PHONE!!!!!!

If someone insists that you quote over the phone, they are usually a waste of time.
Sorry, I tried to help. If you have everything figured out, then why post here?

[bigw]

As a matter of fact, I DID read what YOU said. Did you read what I said?
I WOULDN'T HAVE QUOTED OVER THE PHONE!!!!!!

If someone insists that you quote over the phone, they are usually a waste of time.
Sorry, I tried to help. If you have everything figured out, then why post here?

wow calm down big guy i was only asking because i didnt know if you read the part where i said i was heading out the door when she called,I wasnt being a smart ass so relax.My point was i had no intention of quoting over the phone but what was i going to do when she caught me off gaurd like that? Trust me i asked if i could still come over and she just said id like a quote over the phone so i gave it to her.Sorry if you took my last post to heart i didnt mean nothing by it!

[Sunstate Lawn]

It definately sounds like she's not really looking for a proffesional service, but rather kid who wants a little work after school. We are full of people like that down here. It gets easier to let them go.

Sunstate

[Whitey4]

The fact that the place was overgrown and run down was the first clue. When I put my door hangers out, I walk right past houses like that. The place hasn't been maintained for a reason. If she was a problem for just taking the time to meet with you, you are much better off without her as a customer. I'd give ten to one odds she is a late payer. Think about it.... if you were going to hire an LCO, wouldn't you want to at least meet the contractor? I never ask for a deposit. For a house like that, I would. Other LCO's aren't working there for a reason. Be glad you didn't waste anymore of your time.

[bigw]

The fact that the place was overgrown and run down was the first clue. When I put my door hangers out, I walk right past houses like that. The place hasn't been maintained for a reason. If she was a problem for just taking the time to meet with you, you are much better off without her as a customer. I'd give ten to one odds she is a late payer. Think about it.... if you were going to hire an LCO, wouldn't you want to at least meet the contractor? I never ask for a deposit. For a house like that, I would. Other LCO's aren't working there for a reason. Be glad you didn't waste anymore of your time.

Eactly how i felt,i told my wife who would want to hire somone without even getting to meet them first,i could be some crack head or something.

[F Y P M]

Big W remember it is January maybe she wanted a rough quote, maybe she just bought the house, maybe she had visitors suddenly, nobody knows do not prejudge because at this point in the year we have nothing to do. Could be start, I always follow up with a call and tell them I took the liberty to look at the property. Then go from there if she snubs again be done with period.

[bigw]

Big W remember it is January maybe she wanted a rough quote, maybe she just bought the house, maybe she had visitors suddenly, nobody knows do not prejudge because at this point in the year we have nothing to do. Could be start, I always follow up with a call and tell them I took the liberty to look at the property. Then go from there if she snubs again be done with period.

No i talked to her yesterday when she first called and i arranged to go look at the house today with the agreement to meet tonight but then she called,maybe she did have co or something. I asked her how long she has lived their and she said about 5 years.I will give her a call in a day or two and see where i stand,if she says no should i ask her why? I would just be curious so i know where i went wrong or if she was just being cheap.

[F Y P M]

By all means follow up but if she says no, do not ask why let it go, thank her and tell her to call you anytime if she needs anything. You don't want to come across desperate it would just give her another way to lower your worth. Remember its January lots of time yet.

[bigw]

By all means follow up but if she says no, do not ask why let it go, thank her and tell her to call you anytime if she needs anything. You don't want to come across desperate it would just give her another way to lower your worth. Remember its January lots of time yet.

yeah i think you are right,i guess i just thought if i knew why maybe next time id do things different.I think if its no,i already know why right...price!! But then was i too high?

[F Y P M]

Don't overthink things. We will never be right. All we can do is put our best foot foward. My advice is just follow up with a call and then a flyer in a month. Trust me there will be many many calls in the near future. You'll be knee deep and trying to keep up, it's the nature of the business.

[Whitey4]

BigW, you siad you had been in lawn care for some time before starting your business. You should have a pretty good idea of how much time it would take to get this place squared away. With that info, I think you knew well enough how to price it. If SHE thinks you were too high, that means SHE thinks you were too high. Don't let this cause you to low ball your next quote. Learn from this, but don't let it change how you quote... you know how to quote.

[bigw]

BigW, you siad you had been in lawn care for some time before starting your business. You should have a pretty good idea of how much time it would take to get this place squared away. With that info, I think you knew well enough how to price it. If SHE thinks you were too high, that means SHE thinks you were too high. Don't let this cause you to low ball your next quote. Learn from this, but don't let it change how you quote... you know how to quote.

no i never said i was in lawn care,i might have said i mowed lawns b4 but never as a business.Thats why im here trying to learn.

[bigw]

Don't overthink things. We will never be right. All we can do is put our best foot foward. My advice is just follow up with a call and then a flyer in a month. Trust me there will be many many calls in the near future. You'll be knee deep and trying to keep up, it's the nature of the business.

I hope so.

[topsites]

The customer secretly did you a favor by cancelling, nothing to feel bad about and I'm sure you could use the work but you're way better off without this headache, and maybe she realized this or maybe she didn't, who knows..?

But either way that job was full of red flags so just don't worry about it, happens all the time, you did fine.

[Allens LawnCare]

Thats abouth what i was thinking like 40.00 a week if they want it all edged and 35 if just the driveway and walk.I was thinking i will ask them if they want me to do an intial cleanup and mow at a per hr rate of somewhere around 45-55$ per hr,is that too low or high?

I try not to bill hourly unless asked. Some days I blow through cleanups etc....I've billed hourly $90 for two ,but it's a little depressing when you just quoted $350 on another job and get it done in the same two hrs....As far as price per hour you need to figure out your cost....I work alone so some jobs will be 40-55 per hr. depends on the job. I could do it for less but the other guy that has huge overhead gets $50........So should I. The biggest thing is doing a great job. A customers happiness will lead to more work for them, thier relitives, friends etc...I'll take word of mouth over the yellow pages any day!

[Allens LawnCare]

No i talked to her yesterday when she first called and i arranged to go look at the house today with the agreement to meet tonight but then she called,maybe she did have co or something. I asked her how long she has lived their and she said about 5 years.I will give her a call in a day or two and see where i stand,if she says no should i ask her why? I would just be curious so i know where i went wrong or if she was just being cheap.

Don't call her.....Stop by. Did your quote over the phone of $35 include the first initial mow. Some times it takes 2 passes and alot of grass removal. Even if she wanted it mulched in you'd have to kill yourself to get it looking good.

[MarcSmith]

have to remember you wont get all of your bids. if you do, then it means you are working too cheap...But yeah its easy for folks to call and shut you down over the phone. At least with the "in person meeting" you could have shown her what the edging would have looked like when you were finished. You could have whipped out the edger and done a couple feet just to show her....You'll get im. remember rome wasn't built in a day...

[bigw]

thanks for all the advice guys,ill let you know if i hear anything else on this.

[topsites]

At least with the "in person meeting" you could have shown her what the edging would have looked like when you were finished. You could have whipped out the edger and done a couple feet just to show her....You'll get im. remember rome wasn't built in a day...

In my early years that might've been an option but today I bristle at the mere mention of a meeting. This is not a job interview, I'm neither their boy nor their about to be hired employee, I know what I'm doing and I know what needs to be done. I understand some Lco's may not feel that level of confidence within themselves and I can accept that, but then it's not usually rocket science either. Possibly one valid point would be a sample of my work, oddly enough I have never had that come up at these meetings and if it did it's because I had to force it in there and then the concept fell flat on its face.

They've already had the opportunity to ask for what it is they want done, so my take on it is what the hell is it that needs to be blabbered on about here? Because I should already know what it is they want done here, what they want me to do?

See the whole problem with jobs like these is they are confusing and overwhelming, even after 6 years I run into one of these and it's like I wouldn't even know where to begin. I'm standing there looking at this mega project of neglect and I can feel my mind reeling while I'm trying to figure out lord knows what, and why?

I need the work in question to be defined a little more precisely, the goals should be doable without too much further ado and they should be clearly or at least somewhat visible. I should be able to see, in my mind, what the end product looks like, certainly to a better degree than with this kind of a mess.

That's all I was saying, it's just a headache, I'm not saying it should be spat upon because I can honestly say I took on more than one of these projects myself when I first started, and if you are new then as likely you may get your share, also I didn't say anything earlier because you never know, but when a customer cancels for any reason it's really not that big of a deal either.

[Grits]

Don't worry about this one. Just forget it and move on. You will get these types throughout your lawn career. You just have to get past it and move on to the next one.

I must have took your post the wrong way. Sorry about that.

[bigw]

Don't worry about this one. Just forget it and move on. You will get these types throughout your lawn career. You just have to get past it and move on to the next one.

I must have took your post the wrong way. Sorry about that.

no problem buddy i get the same way sometimes when i read a response,it sometimes gets emotional when you get advice especially when its not what you want to hear! You always give me good advice and i thank you!