First Commertial bid

[BensLand]

Any one willing to share some advise or knowledge in landscape maintenace of an appartment complexe? I'm writing a bid or proposal and wonder if anyone would share one of thiers to help me formulate my own?

[Guido]

E-mail me at guido@pjsnet.com and I'll send you some stuff. Also, check out the samples on www.lawnservicing.com, they may help you also.

Not to bust your balls or anything either, but have someone look over your bids and any letters going to commercial clients to check for spelling and other error's.

[kutnkru]

Heres how I try to formulate my numbers for bidding:

TURF CARE
The best thing that you can do is to measure the property to calculate your services. You should take measurements for mowing, trimming, edging, mulch, fert. & pesticide apps, etc.
Try calculating mowing using these figures:
- use 44,000 as an acre
- multiply your square footage by your pricing structure (ie. $3.50/m sf)
- multiply this number by a degree of difficulty from 1.5(easy) to 3(difficult)

Try calculating edging using these figures:
gas or stick edger’s - multiply (x) 50 cents per 100 linear feet (lf)
line trimmers (turf-curb areas etc.) - multiply (x) 75 cents per 100 (lf)
line trimmers (along chain link fencing) - multiply (x) $1 per 100 (lf)

Most company’s when you place your estimates like to see that you are a conscientious contractor that wants to give their property a manicured look. I always estimate the amount of time I think we will spend picking up debris prior to/while mowing and calculate trash removal times as part of the mowing price.

ORNAMENTAL BED MGMT.
Measure the total linear footage of ornamental beds to calculate your edging times. Then you should measure the sq footage of these beds so you can put together your pricing for mulch. If they have existing mulch you can submit a price for topdressing or even just re-fluffing what is there if it was applied to heavy. If you were going to be putting down a fresh coat I would submit a price for a 2” layer. The only times many apply 3” is at the time of the installation of plants when the beds were first put in.

As far as shearing is concerned not knowing your skill level you can guesstimate your estimated times by figuring 5 minutes per small (under 2') shrubs, 10-15 minutes for medium (3'-5') shrubs, and up 45 minutes for large (6' above) shrubs and hedges. These times include the cleanup as well.

You will also want to look at the overall condition of their beds and put together a weed control package whether it’s hand weeding, chemical control, or both.

RENOVATION SERVICES
These services (aeration, lime, power raking, over-seeding, etc.) will also be based on the overall square footage of the area being treated. If you do a search you will be able to get the jist of how many bid these services out.

SNOW/ICE CONTROL
I don’t know the rates for snow/ice control in your area but you will want to factor in your estimate for plowing, site clearing (hauling the piles away) - sanding/salting vehicular and pedestrian pavements, hand labor for snow blowers, shoveling, dispersing ice melts etc. - figure whether your pricing structure will be contingent upon per push, per fall, and/or both.

I will send you a basic form that I have for submitting these figures.

Hope this will help you out.
Kris

[Lawns2nv]

KUTNKRU,

Could You also E-mail a Basic form you use for submitting those figures, for a commerical bid. I like the formula you use. Thanks

[Ric]

Guido & Kutnkur

Can I get in on this good info. I do residental and have been guessestimating for years. Thanks

yard@isni.net

[Lawnworks]

Me too!! If yall don't mind. rwallacw@cs.com I need to start bidding now or in the next month right?

Thanks
Rick

[greenml]

Could you send me a copy to please
Nick@GreenML.com

[kutnkru]

Heres a sample contract available online:
http://www.lawnandlandscape.com/files/contract2.pdf

[lawnranger]

I am always wondering about time, But instead I always try to work by the hour, plus hauling 1 hour, plus Dump fees. That way is fair for both of us the customer and me. Lawnranger

[TSS]

If you could please send me this info also. Been guessing since I started....never been under bid though. Usually been on the low side with low profits:mad: Thanks.

[Turfdude]

Do not ever write bid specs. for a complex of any sort. They should provide you w/ their specifications for the job. This way you can get a good idea on how well the management wants the property maintained. If you see that there are areas which need improvement, discuss them with the mangement, but don't waste any time bidding the additional work unless you are contracted first.

I wrote a spec package over ten years ago for a management company that had me doing 2 senior citizen properties. I no longer work for them, but still occasionally bid some of their properties. Guess what ..... they still use the specs I wrote all those years ago w/ very little modifications.

Seriously, go with their package! That way you are bidding apples to apples w/ other competitors. I found that some companies go lo bid, some go w/ a friend/relative of management and some go for a fair price w/ excellent workmanship (that's the one's I'm most interested in). We retain over 92% of our accounts from year to year. Some places we have total carte blanche. These are the types of accounts you want to win.

Good luck.

[Loyd Bowman]

If you don't mind, please send me the pricing information as well. Thanks alot. mibikerider@yahoo.com

[Dix]

Please send me the info too. It will help me refine the system I am useing.
Thanks,
Dix

[ronslawncare]

hey kutnkru send me one to please ronslandscaping@aol.com
thankyou

[Clint]

I would like a copy!

Clintnjack@hotmail.com

Thanks!

[ron]

Hello could you also send me a copy of bidding thanx..Here is a sample of one that I made up last year..

[VRL]

Guido/KutnKru

Me too, please. I am starting to bid on commercial properties.

Thank you.

vrlandscaping@yahoo.com

[LawnPro in NC]

Just what I've been looking for. Could I have a copy also?

Djmtan@aol.com

[lawnranger44]

me too!

corrky44@hotmail.com

[rats5656]

yes iwould like some of that too

[conepile]

Me too! How about posting it, or is it the link shown above?

Conepile@peoplepc.com

[KindGardener]

Kris,
thanks for taking the time to write what you did... I will be carefully measuring the site I am working on a bid for.

(just reopened homer's WalMart thread asking for suggestions)


Turfdude - great suggestion to ask if they have maintenance specs. Is it common for the company to have them, or if it a new construction project... might the landscape architect specify them?